cool - my local metal supplier also has large metal-working equipment, and was able to brake a perfect 3/4" lip across the front of my dash cover panel, and it turned out great - just some edge work and it'll basically be done.  Now there's tons of storage for any/all small gear, the radio, gloves, etc...and hey like 300 ducks - ha! (...no...)...

nice fab work on the dash.

thanks - I'm really diggin' how it's turning out -

Couple more with the defroster vents and GMR-25 in place - I'll have a couple dividers to keep items from sliding around, and of course end caps, but this is pretty much it -







...and here's my wheel, along with a simple way to re-center it after some full-hydro 'drift'

orbital valve and column linkage - tried to get the o.v. as far away from the exhaust manifold as possible -

Got the glove box lid figured out, made another access port for the t-case linkage, pulled the body back off, and now am going front to back finishing everything I figured out over the last couple months, the first of which is taking the tranny to a local shop to be 're-sealed' - it's leaking many places and I'm going to have my tranny guy make those pesky problems go away once and for all.
Also, just before deciding to ditch the Dakota and build a Jeep, I started noticing a significant engine oil leak at the back of the block, and the good news is...as far as I can tell anyway...the oil leak was actually coming from the intake seal, and not the rear main...I think -

Ok - time to make stuff purty before final assembly -

Manifolds are sandblasted, and coated with POR-15 high-temp grey -








Frame/axle priming in work -

looks good !
however, i have been meaning to ask you for quite a while, how do you post more than four pictures at a time, when i was under the impression four was the limit ?

Thanks, and regarding the pic count...hell I dunno - I didn't know there was a limit. All of my pics are hosted on Imgur...if that helps...

...got a lot of prep/priming/painting done (using good ole' rustoleum rusty metal primer and satin black paint), including the frame n hardware, gas tank cover, Barnes 3/16 shield, and front axle. Gas tank, front axle & suspension are bolted in -

...think I read there needs to be just a smidge of toe-in, so I measured right at 3/16 -







was able to utilize the 4th (d-side) ram mount by welding half of it to the removable plate for diff cover access - worked great -

great progress !

360, 46rh, Atlas, and front shaft are in for good - rear 14b gets sprayed today.

We're heading to Moab in October and I'm gunnin' to have it ready (at a 'minimum' capacity) for that gig...but it's cool if it doesn't make it cuz I can still take the wife's big 08 JKU on 37s, and either way I'll just keep jammin' until it's ready.

Goal dates are always good, they keep you moving towards them.

I am impressed with the amount of planning and the great craftsmanship you are putting into this project.

Keep posting, I'll keep following. Gene

me too !

alright - after a month of measuring/marking/cutting/grinding/drilling/welding/sanding...I have both sections of the belly armor ready for paint. The main core section 'interfaces' with the Barnes gas tank shield and carries the shield to the other side, and completely protects the t-case, and trans cooler, which I'm mounting behind the t-case. It's all 3/16" steel, including 20 feet of 2" strap to reinforce the long panels against 'caving in'.

The engine/trans shield 'interfaces' with the core shield, all connecting up on the trans crossmember. The entire thing is completely 'smooth' - no bolt heads or edges to catch on stuff - just the drain holes...if those really count.

Next, the exhaust goes right along the d-side along with a corresponding heat shield. I'll be tacking the exhaust together for good once I have some other hardware in place. Ok - pics -

Core Shield -

Engine/Trans shield (about 1" of gap between the shield and oil pan(s)) -

...one thing I neglected to fully evaluate was how to drop the belly shield without inducing undue stress to the trans cooler lines, so I decided to mount the cooler and lines to the chassis and have them 'hover' above the shield, making it much easier and less messy when I have to pull the shield. The main bracket is welded to the big rear support bracket, which is removable/bolts to the crossmember, which makes the whole bracket removable, making it possible to pull/service the t-case, etc. Still some finish work to do, but here it all is -







line clamps attached to a plate welded to the trans mount bracket -

...ahhhh - love the smell of oil-based paint - always takes me back to my early days helping Dad and my bro-in-law paint the Jeep . Belly armor is primed and painted - should be ready to bolt it all up tomorrow -







...and if I ever flop on my side this will be the view 😁



ISSPRO fuel level float/sending unit installed - sanded the tank at the seal to smooth it out/help eliminate leaks - put Gasoila E-Seal on the threads and cranked the bolts tight into the collar, and it acts like studs and won't fall out if I ever need to service the float unit -

Just an assembly tip - for those doing full hydro or any other application with a very shiny and perfect rod like shocks, etc., use a piece of leftover radiator or fuel line hose to protect the surface area from dirt, debris, and for sure welding slag -







Lastly, here's an interesting view under the 2bbl throttle body -

Man, your doing some really nice work.

The stuff I do is down and dirty get the job done stuff. You make my stuff look really crude. Keep going, its inspiring me to improve what I do.