...Atlas triple sticks, center console, Winters shifter, and heater all figured out -

Used Allstar suspension links (#64305) to thread onto the Atlas shift rods (1/2-20, 3/8 pin), heims, and homemade rods, then 3/8 yoke ends at the bottom of the shifters, then 1/4 heims for the doubler box - works awesome - SO much better than using Morse cables etc. Mounting the fuse block is next...







Generic Summit Racing heater, #991108 - should work great -

 

found a fun way to mount the fuse block - made a hinged panel that tucks up to the roll bar, then just loosen a thumb screw to release it to swing down and towards the driver for easy access/mnx -

 

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...)...

 

This is definitely a sweet build, I love that you’re getting rid of all the nonsense wiring and making it simple.

Sweet dash too! Thanks for sharing.

 

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 -

 

...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 -

 

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

I'm hoping to take it to Moab in October (at a 'minimum' capacity)...but if it doesn't make it I can still take the wife's big 08 JKU on 37s, and either way I'll just keep jammin' until it's ready.