front knuckle

The knuckle assemblies were cleaned, sandblasted, painted and polished.  They were then reinstalled with new drilled and slotted rotors, lugs and nuts. The refurbished front calipers were installed with new pins, fasteners and pads.

front axle

The front axle was treated the same as the front.

All unnecessary brackets and tabs were cut off and ground smooth.  The Assembly was then sanded, primed and painted base coat/ clear coat metallic bronze.

rear axle

The rear axle was taken apart.  All unnecessary brackets and tabs were cut off and ground smooth.  The Assembly was then sanded, primed and painted base coat/ clear coat metallic bronze.

firewall

The original 1967 firewall was sandblasted.  The rusted lower section was removed and reformed with new steel.  The center was changed to accommodate the new larger V8.  

transmission

The transmission was sand blasted and sprayed with a ceramic protective coating. The dipstick, PTO plate, and shifter assembly were all bead blasted and painted with Urethane paint.

engine

The engine was taken apart, cleaned, measured, machined and reassembled after each component was painted powder coated or polished.


All the seals and gaskets were replaced.


All fasteners were replaced with 316 stainless socket head cap bolts. 

chassis

The chassis was shortened to 100" wheelbase and the engine was shifted aft 8" for better center of gravity.  The rear was bobbed and unneaded brackets were cut off.  The whole chassis was then sanded and painted with thick semi-gloss black epoxy paint. 

Donor Vehicle

I located a 1997 Discovery on Craigslist in Dallas.  I towed it back to Austin and began dismantling.  This vehicle would provide the chassis and drive train I desired.  

Original Vehicle

I purchased this little 88 on ebay and had it shipped from Indiana to Austin.  The chassis had severe rust damage and was unsalvageable.  This vehicle would be used as the body donor. 

Rear suspension

The rear lower control arms were cut in half.  New larger diameter hardened steel tubes were sleved over the rear solid rod ends.  The front ends had threaded bungs welded in place to hold new heavy-duty ball joints.  The rubber inserts were removed and replaced with 3/4" ball-joint brackets.  

The cast upper wishbone arms were sand blasted, smoothed and painted.  

The upper wishbone center ball-joint was cut in half, lengthened, welded, smoothed and painted to adjust the rear axle caster to accommodate the lifted suspension.

front suspension

The front radius arms were sand blasted and each cut into three pieces.  They were then placed in a jig and welded back together with a 3" offset.  This will allow the caster to remain stock with the liftted springs installed.  They were then smoothed sealed with epoxy and painted with urethane paint.  Lastly they were installed with new bushings and huge 3/4" stainless fasteners.  

The springs were sandblasted and painted with urethane paint with an added flex agent.