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AWOLs 1997 M1097A2 Build

Awol

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Laying down some primer and base coat. The doors are pretty straight right out of the box. One had a gouge in it from shipping, but that was easily filler and blocked smooth. I will say, they have been a nightmare for fish eyes. It must be the release agent used when building the doors. I chased those for a little while, but got thru em.

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Awol

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Alignment day. Just for reference, the shims on the upper control arms were decently thick. I took a pic with my micrometer.

As for the tires. They were toe out 3" overall. The measurements before aligning it were 87" rear, 90" front. lol

Now they're set at 88 1/2" front, and 88 5/8" rear. I took these measurements from outside to outside on the levels placed against the tires. I made sure both levels were set at the same height via jack stands.

The first pic shows how bad the toe out was.

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Mogman

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How many shims did you have in the rear top brackets and how many did you remove?
I was looking at a M1097R1 I have in the shop and it has three shims under each upper bracket, one shim under each bracket looks fairly easy to remove as they would drop down and two that would need to be brought up which would not clear the body so I assume the brackets would need to be completely removed.
 

Awol

Well-known member
534
525
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Location
MA
How many shims did you have in the rear top brackets and how many did you remove?
I was looking at a M1097R1 I have in the shop and it has three shims under each upper bracket, one shim under each bracket looks fairly easy to remove as they would drop down and two that would need to be brought up which would not clear the body so I assume the brackets would need to be completely removed.
Mine also had 3 shims per bracket. Fortunately all mine were able to be removed downward, so I only had to loosen the bracket bolts, not remove them entirely.
 

Mogman

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Mine also had 3 shims per bracket. Fortunately all mine were able to be removed downward, so I only had to loosen the bracket bolts, not remove them entirely.
Did you remove all of them?
 

Awol

Well-known member
534
525
93
Location
MA
Windows tinted! I wanted to go with 20% all around, but all I had left was 5% and 35%. I bitched out and did 35% all around. I guess it's not a huge deal, as the sunset around here is getting closer to 5pm now, and will end up damn near almost 4pm soon enough. So it'll be easier to see out of in the dark. I think in the spring I'll redo them darker, but for now they look good.

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Foxclub83

New member
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Location
Texas
Took it for it's first trip down Rt95. Did very well. Maintains 70mph pretty easily, and no weird vibrations or any pulling.

I've put almost 200 miles on it the last few days.

View attachment 925987
Nice rig! You’ve done an awesome job. I’m planning to put a 4 speed in my 1097r1. I can barely get to 55 with 3 speed. Is yours stock 4 speed and can do 70 comfortably? I only ask because I figured just swapping the trans might not help enough to cruise at hwy speeds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Awol

Well-known member
534
525
93
Location
MA
Nice rig! You’ve done an awesome job. I’m planning to put a 4 speed in my 1097r1. I can barely get to 55 with 3 speed. Is yours stock 4 speed and can do 70 comfortably? I only ask because I figured just swapping the trans might not help enough to cruise at hwy speeds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yup, stock 4 speed truck. It maintains 70mph pretty easy. The only time it needs to work a little hard is when the hills start. Even then, it's not bad.
 
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