Oh wow I have not updated here in a long time! Does anyone even get on here anymore?? Anyway here is an update: Finally back on the road...ish!!
The truck is 95% back together now sporting a green bed and blue tailgate. Wiring is 90% complete with just the AC and future trailer harness left to complete as well as continued tidying up.
The viper system worked... until it decided not to and I couldn't show off the coolest feature of the truck at the car show
The dakota digital gauges are working great and calibrated. I did the manual calibration using gps on the phone so I'll have to see how that pans out in the future.
Scored a mint factory radio from a facebook group member and threw some old speakers behind the seats to jam some cassettes! In the future I will install new door speakers and a bluetooth amp.
I finished up the interior with sound deadening and closed cell foam, corbeau seats finally installed for the final time and a custom center console comprised of a smittybuilt console an a custom extension to house the shifters. Sound deadening and foam still to come for the doors, roof, and back wall. The classic auto air system is mounted, plumbed, and lines crimped, just need to finish wiring and charge the lines.
I decided to put a new fill cap on the inside rear of the bed rather than running a long hose to the front of the bed. This allows me to run the original tank as an auxiliary tank and also avoid filling problems many people have reported. With the 2" fill hose I don't have to monitor the pump when filling up!
Unfortunately I ran into some bad news, the 4l60e (2l60e as I call it now) is trashed. Even after driving the donor 90 miles prior to disassembly with no issues I lost 3rd and 4th gears shortly after getting the truck running. The only work I performed on the transmission was replacing the filter and fluid so I have no idea why it failed but a reputable transmission shop confirmed it is dead. Oh well, new built transmission from performabuilt on the way!
So after 2 years of wrenching after class, after work, every free weekend, the truck finally left the street on its own power to a local annual car show! And without 3rd or 4th gears to boot
Every minute of work has been worth it for the joy I had at the car show and cruise, don't give up guys!