Thanks Tom, it's slow....but steady! :lol:

Thanks Stuart! How is your bucket of of bolts coming along anyways? :rofl:

Thanks Mike! Much appreciated!

Time for my yearly update.......
 

Although moving at a snails pace....I'm still moving forward. Hopefully this thing doesn't rust out before completion! :lol:

Here is a shot of the grill support I had to make. I ended making about 1.25" wider than the factory one. Without the factory latch and support in the middle the original one was a little flimsy. This area in the middle is extremely tight now with everything I had to compact in there, not to mention I lost the area for the latch. Probably overkill but I made it out of 16 gauge. It is plenty stout now. Plus about 8" in on each side I ran a bar down to the frame for additional support. With no room for the latch I decided to use hood pins, although I didn't want anything seen outside. You will also notice the 5/8" holes in the support about 4" in on each side. The pins themselves will mount on the hood, go through the support and I will pin them through the grill opening. I'm starting to work on mounting the pins now.


http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps7dbb1936.jpg

With the air intake there was no way the factory hood support would work - not to mention they are a little ugly IMO. Fortunately I was also able to use the hood support that EMS makes. It clears the air intake by about 3/8". Got lucky! Very nice piece. I'm suprised it took this long for somebody to step up and make one. For the forward support bars I ended making a bracket for the hood and used tubing with LH & RH rod ends.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps9ff76110.jpg

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps490a6374.jpg

I also got the air intake completely mounted. So I was finally able to get everything final gapped. I ended up closing up the ends at the radiator shroud. Looks more finished. I was the I could have ran the gaps tighter around the crossbar but the way you have to manuever to mount - I needed the extra space.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...psb0e58216.jpg

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...psdb1695ef.jpg

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps9883f1b5.jpg

I also finished gapping around the fuel rails

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps7b89a19c.jpg

Here are a couple overall shots....

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps6cc5cb7d.jpg


On this front shot you will notice where the factory grill has a missing bar on top where the factory hood latch comes through. The grill I'm using is stainless steel. I plan on having a bar welded in across this area and have it finished so you will never be able to tell it was there.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/s...psec323a9b.jpg

I like what you've got going on!


Hey --- That blue tape.... that stuff is rated for "days" on -- not months.... just saying ---- you might want to try to peel some of it off.... cause it can be a real you know what when it goes south! It's a paper back and doesn't like to come off in strips once its gone bad.

You can leave the green on for FAR longer... than the blue. But then it also costs 4 X's as much. But so do parts. :D

I love the intake cover. Real sick!! :yes: :yes:

Awesome.I am really liking all the rod end's in the frt grill surport.Air intake cool too.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thanks Greg....In regards to Blue tape...Months?? ...Hell I'm going for years at this rate! :rofl: I know not fun to get off. Defintely didn't think it would be this long. The oldest stuff is on the fuel rails - as you see how it is not liking to come off. Fortunately everything will be painted or coated in some fashion, so I do not have to worry about the polished finish.

Thanks Scott! Much appreciated!

It lives... and hopefully breathes soon! :unibrow:

Very cool intake cover Brent. :thumbsup: