FreshSeaBass Build Thread

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I've always thought a Ford Transit Connect would be cool to have. Small enough to still get anywhere you need, but tons of cargo space.
The ProMaster would be great if you realistically plan to use it for camping or loading a lot of payload (both volume and weight). They are just really big and don't have the towing capacity that a real truck would have. If that is something you need or care about. Not much more tow capacity than our 4runners or a stock tacoma.

If it's a DD that you want with a lot of cargo space, I'd go with the Transit Connect. If you want a camper or something to haul a lot of payload then the ProMaster.

I could see us going out and camping with the Promaster and using its space as we are constantly remodeling the house and needing to move around a lot of stuff. This would 100% be my daily driver, so I am trying to make the right decision. The Promaster is only really justifiable if I can get a diesel for the mpg. The whole idea of having a car payment sucks, but this is a case where I cant continue to add more project cars to the list.

Thoughts?
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
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I could see us going out and camping with the Promaster and using its space as we are constantly remodeling the house and needing to move around a lot of stuff. This would 100% be my daily driver, so I am trying to make the right decision. The Promaster is only really justifiable if I can get a diesel for the mpg. The whole idea of having a car payment sucks, but this is a case where I cant continue to add more project cars to the list.

Thoughts?
That's a big ass vehicle for a DD. If you use it as intended then go for it, but you might get tired of the limitations that a big as vehicle like that has. No drive thru's, parking garages or tight parking lots.

One of the reasons I like driving my 4runner over my tundra is how easy it is to drive around town and get into tight areas.

Transit Connect seems more practical as a DD, but the ProMaster seems like a better utility vehicle if you actually use all of it's space. And 4wd would be super badass if you can find one.
 
Joined
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That's a big ass vehicle for a DD. If you use it as intended then go for it, but you might get tired of the limitations that a big as vehicle like that has. No drive thru's, parking garages or tight parking lots.

One of the reasons I like driving my 4runner over my tundra is how easy it is to drive around town and get into tight areas.

Transit Connect seems more practical as a DD, but the ProMaster seems like a better utility vehicle if you actually use all of it's space. And 4wd would be super badass if you can find one.


I was going to ask you about your Tundra because the only other consideration is a truck with removeable bed shell. The transit connect also seems like a fun car to drive in the mountains for what it is. Hell, I might even throw the rtt on it once in a while. I feel like the size of a larger van could be the winner and might even encourage the use of the pure utility in it.
 
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Well, some interesting developments. I'll make the update brief.... I've been living in California out of a hotel for work, and I had my little daily driver taken to a shop back in Ga. The short story is that the hatchback has to go as repairs will put it well over the actual value of the vehicle and it isn't worth keeping another project car. I am working on plans for a new vehicle and I've narrowed it down to either wanting a Van like maybe a Ram Promaster Diesel, a Ford Transit Connect Titanium, or something like a Truck with a camper shell.

Reason: Mountain bikes, climbing gear, and kids in the not too distant future.

Anyone have experience with any of these or thoughts?

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Drop your comments!
Stay as far away from promaster as you can. Our rental fleet is shit
 
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We don't get the diesels because customers have a hard enough time figuring out if an international with a cummins takes diesel or not. If our vans were diesel they would all be contaminated lol. Parts are hard to come by and expensive because they are fiats and come from fucking Italy

Why can't diesel be the norm?!? Ugh!
 
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Hey y'all. Update time.... Mid-July I was given two weeks notice from work that I would need to be traveling out to Santa Cruz for 5 weeks to finish out a project, so that became my first California experience. Did all there is to do in the Central Coast area, drove a bit further than San Luis Obispo just to see what I could, tons of mountain biking with the guys based in Scotts Valley/Santa Cruz, and I've been home for a few weeks now. Hit a major slump and wanted nothing to do with wrenching while adjusting to the job/taking care of the homestead, but I've been back at it for a little over a week.


Finishing up the front tub ( Patching pinholes, seam sealer, rust proofing, and undercoating), finishing up flattening the rear quarter panel sheet metal work, and getting back on track with Eimkeith's bumper. It's all dimpled of course, but just working through some fitment issues I am having on my particular truck with the body lines that follow the bumper wing. Nothing major, but really important stuff.

Finishing sound deadening and interior will follow, so that I can get this back on the road and most importantly out of the garage for some much needed renovations to make it a better working space.
 

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Joined
Dec 12, 2019
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Dahlonega, Georgia
Well, I'm ultimately catching up and picking up steam on my to-do list. Sheet metal is all done and I've moved on to installing the molded vinyl flooring as well as seam sealing the last quarter panel and hitting it with some undercoating. Here are some updates over the last few days...
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The rear quarter is done! No picture since I've sealed it up, but you get the idea. No more dust ingress. I will make myself a nice window vent insert just to have as a fresh air inlet "cabin pressure vent"
 
Joined
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Bumper work. Body lines weren't dead nuts on likely due to the frame expansion over the years or something to that effect, but a quick relief cut on the bumper wing and preloading the bumper mounts a touch puts it right back in line.

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I'm really happy with how the dimple dies turned out. I have some dimple action on the front end as well and plan to tie some into the sliders. A bit of a classic 'offroady' look in my opinion.

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Yes, they are evenly spaced. Wide angle camera = optical illusion
 
Joined
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Tubs done all the way around, it feels good to have this knocked out and off the list. Full disclosure, I've not been out driving the truck much if at all over the last year. I started the tub sometime late last year and have just been slacking....

Woe is me.... back at it

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I'll be getting rid of the tower now, too difficult to get the resi fitting to clear well and a hoop will be easy. Thinking to so something along these lines.

More to come on that.

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Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
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Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
Alternator shat out on me AGAIN. Thinking it might be time to do the big 3. Went with an Ultima from O'Reilly's and hopefully the voltage regulator doesn't fail on this one. Ended up replacing the washers stacked to keep the alternator in place on the block. Had a 7/8 inch shock shaft that made a perfect chunk of bar stock. The stack of washers I previously used....
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1629112828860.jpgChucked it up and made a spacer .2375" thick, bored out to 7/16"
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14.4 volts steady and a much better fit on the alternator bracket.
 
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Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
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Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
Something a bit daunting... Yesterday was the first day I was able to recognize the difficulty of acquiring replacement parts for 3rd Gen 4Runner. I was fortunately able to source a new AC button after running without it for a year. Granted, I hardly drove the car over the last year and it never became much of an issue. This is the first part of replacing a couple HVAC components and I'm glad to have AC for a short time as fall has already started to make somewhat of an appearance here in the mountains.

$40 for a button. Ouch.

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I want this camry, big time!

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