Last set for now.

Looks great, nice work sir..

Thank you Sir.

Putting the front end together, going through everything.

Looks great!

I had to send my front shocks off to Fox to be rebuilt, only 1 had a leak but I had them replace the seals in both. My shocks are new and unused but I found out from Fox that the green oil that was originally used in them deteriorates the seals. I just got them back with new seals and Fox red oil in them now.

This is the first time I have been able to see what the front end is going to do travel wise with all the modifications I have made, this is the inner lower shock mount which gives the most travel. I have not checked the outer lower shock mount yet.
Shock on 12.5 inches to the shock bumper, the measurements in the pictures show it with the shock bumper compressed, I tried to get better pictures but it is 41 7/8 to 55 1/4. I measured using the top of the cotter pin (easier to see) . There is still more free travel top and bottom so the shock is the stop not the ball joints. This is the right front, I am putting the left front together tomorrow.

Are shock springs going to hit on the frame at full droop?

No Sir, I did install the shocks with springs on to check clearance prior to welding.

First time standing on her own.

A few more.

Holly ground clearance, man it's looking good. Nice work.
It looks mean.

That looks amazing Steve. Your work is always top notch. Definitely a lot of ground clearance!!! I can't wait to see it finished.

Thank you guys.
It is getting close, I have the upper steering shaft shortened & straightened out, the power steering bracket is in place which took care of angle and length on the lower shaft.

I am working on a new upper shaft support now, I have the steering column pieces left from when I did my son's Odyssey I am thinking of using the lower section that holds the bushing. The pilot column is cut inside at the upper section for the upper bushing, I am hoping to be able to cut the lower section to length, cut the inside of the top on a lathe to hold the upper bushing in place, basically shorten the whole thing and build it to hold all column parts, upper + lower bushings, thrust bushing and washers. I want to turn it upside down so the lower bushing is closest to the wheel, I still need to figure out how to hold the washer, rubber bushing and thrust bushing in place since it will be on the bottom. It would be easier to just put it in upright but then I think it will put more wear on the power steering unit, with the hard bushing up top I think the bushing will absorb most of the force from the wheel. I am just now working on this, it may not work at all but at this point it is the best idea I have.

After that it is just tie rods and steering stops, I need to take my foot tub down and see if it is worth while to put the steering stops on the outside rather then the inside.

Does anyone know a reason why the steering stops are put on the inside?

Very nice work!!

looking good

Thank you gentleman.

Nick, you are going to have to come ride it when it is finally done.

I would love too.

Looks absolutely fantastic. The amount of work you have into this is numbing I'm sure. Looking forward to the finished product!

Thank you very much Sir, and right back at you. The welds and workmanship you do are just plain beautiful, not to mention the knowledge you obviously put in to your work. Oh ya, man you are fast to.

Thank you again and take care.

PS some time down the road if it is OK I would like to contact you about making some arms for me.

PM sent....

Hello everyone, it has been quite a while since I have been able to spend any time on my pilot but I am so close now I can taste it.

Here are some pictures of my progress, this is my new upper shaft and upper shaft support.

More pictures of the completed upper shaft support.

I am working on the tie rods now, I had to much travel for the tie rod ends with the arms fully down. I tried to space the tie rod ends to compensate but I did not like extending them.

Here are a couple of pictures of what I am working on now, what I decided to do is to bend the outer tie rod end mount at the pivot, it is working like magic I just have to fine tune it ( put it in a vice and bend it with a big hammer ) to get the outer tie rods centered in the travel range. The tie rod ends will have plenty of articulation for the travel it is just getting them centered.

After the tie rods it is just steering stops which I am going to put outside of the tub I think and a couple of small items and I am ready to assemble.

Thanks for the update. You certainly deserve to have this completed, you've been through too much.
Looking good.
Regards G.O.

Much appreciated Sir, I am ready to ride. Yesterday!!!

We took my wife's pilot out last weekend and man do I miss riding, I have to be easy with hers but we had a great time.