My latest addiction

I am in pure "Parts Gathering" mode since the body, frame, and axles are still out on walkabout.  I have become addicted to powdercoating - the parts leave here a grimy, oily mess, and come back all shiny new looking.

I am also addicted to browsing the vendor websites for all the new shiny parts they sell.  I have to curb myself to a "just-in-time" approach and only order what I need for the next big task.  Here is a portion of what I've had powdercoated as well as purchased

not sure why the picture is upside down - it isn't that way on my computer and yes, I tried rotating and uploading to fool the software but it keeps "right-siding" it.

So the next big task is to get all of the underframe components back on: axles, suspension, brakes, engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshaft - all the things that are easy when the body isn't sitting in the way.

Bodyshop time

I dropped off the frame at the bodyshop so they could finish up the front end portion - they wanted to reattach it to the frame to keep the alignment.  Sounds like a good idea to me.  Anyway, they are documenting the work and gave me the link to where to find pictures.  Byers Custom Restoration

Christmas in October

The frame came back from the blast shop all shiny and clean.

So now I have to bolt/weld the front shock hoop and rear double shock mount (see it on the floor) onto the frame and back it goes for powdercoating.  Plus all those skid plates you see there and the main gas tank in the background.  

I have been going back and forth between powdercoating and using POR-15 paint.  Leaning towards the POR-15 because I could do it myself and since it is paint, I can do touchup.  I even bought a starter kit.  Until along with the frame came these.

Those are front coils, radius arms and dust shield for the disk brakes I had done in Ford Blue just to get a feel for the powdercoat end result.  They turned out awesome and have made a powdercoat convert out of me.  If anyone local to Seattle is following this and needs powdercoating... go here.  Northwest Powder Solutions in Kent.  Jeff was nice enough to pickup and deliver my frame.