Coyote; aka my 96 D1 5 speed build thread

[Ray_G]

Got a few moments during Thanksgiving to both use the vehicle as intended as well as take some pics to update this thread (priority on using the vehicle, though the update is long overdue I suppose).

Enjoying the Outer Banks:
IMGP2038.JPG
I made a Saudi style grill of sorts over the past few weeks just to open the front end up a bit and change the appearance slightly. It's not perfect but it works for the application, especially since the winch & bumper drive a lot of factors.
IMGP2040.JPG
Next couple of posts I'll cover some of the internal nav/communications that I went with as the build progressed

[Ray_G]

My previous truck had a touchscreen tablet on the dash in a RAM mount; worked great for how it was utilized (navigation, mapping, limited onboard computing). This time through I wanted something smaller and a bit more user friendly for on road navigation. Looking at the demise of the 276C and the rest of that class of GPS's as Garmin appears to have let them go into obsolescence created a dilemma.

I ended up shelling out the cash for the Garmin 650T and while I'd say that I haven't really used it to potential, I'm pretty happy with it. A few pics of its placement (same RAM ball mount was moved into this truck and then the AMPS rugged mount is utilized to provide hardwired power. No sound, I could figure that out I suppose but had enough going on with the stereo via the aux input for ipod and Sirius (in the lower left of the pic)
IMGP2042.JPG

The Garmin's screen is easy to read, manipulation for most action right now is via the Nuvi auto style interface but I'll come back with some more pics of the topo functions. Overall I'd say it cost a lot for what I got, but I like the idea of moving it to my bike or being able to pop it out and use it as a large handheld + geotag capable camera. The multipower options (hardwire 12v, internal lithium or AA battery pack) also appealed to me.
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Tough to read the iphone pic, but I do love it when I'm being told I'm driving on an unpaved road (or in this case, a beach)
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[Ray_G]

So something I installed that proves that hope springs eternal is the Yaesu 7900R (spent a few weeks studying after I got back from deployment to take the test to earn KK4DPX). I say hope springs eternal since I've had no call to use it here on the East Coast, at least not yet. Most trails done up until now are with folks that are on CB or FRS radios...but the desire to go out West is alive and well. The side benefits of the 2m/70cm for other circumstances notwithstanding, overall my desire was to get something into the truck that would be unobtrusive and be a foundation for communications down the road.

The install, via the help of a friend, went in where the front light normally goes. The microphone lies in the storage area on the passenger side there (the downside to the Yaesu face sep kit is that it takes the mic with it, I'd rather have had the mic come out from the center console but maybe in time I'll get around to rewiring.
IMGP2041.JPG
You can also see the switch for the Diamond antenna K9000 motorized mount; I need to do a better job with a dremel recessing that but it works for now and functions well enough. The motorized mount is awesome for the convenience, an unnecessary expense for many but I was on a shopping spree and figured why not.

Antenna being used is the Diamond NR7700HB.

All told I'm happy with the setup and I'm glad I got it all in place, this winter one of my goals is to play with it all more and get more comfortable with US civilian amateur radio infrastructure as most of my experience now is with the DoD VHF/HF/UHF/UHF(SAT) equipment.

Cheers-
Ray

[franko]

Tell me more about the grill, where did you get it from or did you make it?

[Ray_G]

Grill was just a spare grill with the plastic dremeled out, mesh was from Home Depot (for my application the stuff that goes over a gutter was the right length/width). I originally tried to just epoxy it into place but that was not working well. Ultimately I used small bolts with fender washers to hold it in place. The bottom has rubber tubing (vacuum tubing from the local parts store) that was split and then glued to the bottom of the mesh so that handling the winch clutch or line doesn't risk cutting your hand.

I got a badge from the back of the D1 that I'll probably put on at some point.
r-
Ray

[Ray_G]

Thread resurrection. Long winter with a lot of stuff going on (moving, engagement, work, etc) coupled with mild but annoying weather so a lot of stuff was planned, less was executed. Still made some progress. Changed out the wheels for RRC Cyclones (retained the steel wheels which will get a set of MT's on them). First shot shows them at the gate leading from Spruce Cabin
Spruce Cabin 1.jpg
Wheeling there was fun, mild weather mitigated snowfall in the Poconos so it was a little muddy but still good fun.
Spruce Cabin 3.jpg
Though a few folks had less fun
disgruntled traveler.jpg
The other big milestone past re-doing my rear cargo setup (next post) was going past 90k!
90k.jpg

For that the truck got treated to some preventative maintenance, D90 front calipers/rotors, and stainless steel brake lines.

[Ray_G]

The other thing that has come to fruition lately is the opportunity to re-do my rear cargo setup. I posted my previous truck's version early on in this thread and was never satisfied with some aspects of it, nor with the interim solution I had in the back of this truck pending a better working area where I could weld and fabricate more stuff. A few weeks ago timing worked out for me to pull out the old setup and start anew. Here's some shots as it progressed.
This had to go:
IMG_0136.jpg
Needed to retain access to the fuel pump, just in case:
fuel pump access.jpg
Fabricated and welded together a shelf frame from angle iron:
rear shelf frame.jpg
Rear cargo frame 2.jpg
rear shelf frame 2.jpg
Will add a following post to detail how it all came together in the truck.

[Ray_G]

The frame bolted into the bracket around the rear ac on the driver's side, feet bolted through the floor on the passenger's side. The flooring is sealed plywood with tan carpet on it. The center area forms a storage area accessible via the hatch on the shelf. The hatch was sourced from Cabelas. Tools are in the Peli on the driver's side. Final setup looked like this:
Final cargo setup (2).jpg
The center storage area has spares in it first. A number of things were put in there based off the 4.0 GEMs or 'normal' issues with Discovery's such as: Coil pack, MAF, spark plugs, fuel filter, brake switch, relays, fuses, 2xu joints (can get the rear DS working worst case), wheel bearings/seals/washers, hub removal socket, spare brake line, brake caliper bolts (b/c finding one of those is a PITA), serp belt, zip ties/JB weld/tape/hardware/gasketmaker/etc:
spares.jpg
On top of that I added in some summer weight stuff just in case (snugpak, spare clothes, Nalgene survival kit, etc). There is more elsewhere in the truck and I still have space to fill
spares (+).jpg
The passenger's side wheel well got the Powertank-finally back from hydro testing-and the orange ammo can that is secured in the bracket beside it contains tire repair kit and air tools.
PT & air tools.jpg
The right side pelican case now holds some of the recovery gear. Roof rack has tree straps, winch controller is elsewhere, and the truck has recovery points front/back but this is stuff beyond that like clamp for hi-lift, lift aid for the same, snatch block, shackles x4-5, tow hitch shackle receiver (for the inevitable person that doesn't have recovery points), soft shackle, and kinetic rope. Still have more to add (winch extension) but it's a start for basic stuff.
recovery.jpg
Rear door was configured to cut back on rattles and added in a base camp radio for the heck of it. Doesn't offset the VHF, CB, or other FRS but is in a good location for when the kids go running off with FRS while I make camp.
rear door redux.jpg
rear door redux2.jpg
Still got fine tuning with this, and of course a list of other mods to do-but the good news is she'll get used this weekend!
cheers-
Ray

[MedicalCowboy]

Awesome disco bud looks fantastic! Any chance you could give me some info on how you did the rear door. Also thanks for your service and everything you've done for our country. I'm in ems and it seems like other than our troops people cold care less about us.

[Ray_G]

Awesome disco bud looks fantastic! Any chance you could give me some info on how you did the rear door. Also thanks for your service and everything you've done for our country. I'm in ems and it seems like other than our troops people cold care less about us.

Well I can tell you I definitely appreciate EMS folks, for a multitude of reasons starting with seeing those skill sets needed too often makes one value folks willing to do it a great deal.

Rear door was a piece of alum diamond plate ordered from metal depot (I don't remember gauge/size right now, but it was a rectangle that I cut to fit. Fairly thin). Use the old door card as a template and just a jig saw with a metal blade and it should go fine.

First time/truck I mounted it to I used self tapping screws. This time around I've got 1/4 rivnuts so it is easier to take on/off. From left to right:
-Fire extinguisher sits on an l-bracket to hold up the weight and is held on by 2xquick fists. When mounting stuff make sure it doesn't cause bad fitment by rubbing up against the door's existing frame (I ended up cutting holes throughout the door at times in non-essential places to make the new setup fit flush.)
-Table is from Pit Posse (easy to google/find on ebay), they make stuff for racing/motorcycle trailers and the like.
-12v outlet is from WestMarine, wiring goes through the door's existing wiring loom back into the truck. A PITA but worth it.
-Bottle opener from New Belgium just b/c Fat Tire & 1554 are personal favorites.
-Switch controls light on the rear of the roof rack that is useful if offloading in the dark. Wiring runs along with the 12v outlets through the door loom.
-Basket is from the container store or something...took awhile to find it to be honest, as I wanted something that would hold the modified 1st aid kit but not interfere with the rest of the cargo area. Its mounted using brackets from tie downs to hold it in place/minimize rattles.
-Pelican case holds ratchet straps that I use either on roof rack or in the cargo area (it has 6x straps in it)
-First aid kid is modified to mostly work ABC stuff; i.e. I'm def not EMS and know what I know mostly from the Marine Corps so it has a lot of pressure bandages along with some 1 arm tourneys and stuff.

It was a fun project done a long time ago that I tinker with here and there. Overall I'd say focus on what you want out of your rear door but less is more; in the past I'd had a bunch of stuff hanging off it and found it to be less useful than when it was just fire ext/table/basket.
r-
Ray