Current work on Cousin Willard to prep for UA08:

Last year was the super hectic, rush-rush-rush, no sleep, get the truck out for the first time event.  Everything worked OK but there were some rough spots to smooth out that we knew about then and some new rough spots incurred in the year of 'wheeling since the last UA trip.

One item left over from last year is motor tuning: we barely had the EFI system working, in fact on the '07 trip we carried a carb in case our problems returned.  This year we have the experience with the system to actually tune out some running issues and know it's going to work so we're working with Howell to make the 454 run better.
The rest of the drivetrain has been working perfect so we'll check the fluids, tighten the bolts and get on the road.

The suspension has worked great but we're itching to test a higher clearance arm system for the front so we'll do a few changes there but overall the suspension will just get a good lube job and bolt check.

The interior is getting a few mods like changes in cage bracing to accomodate back seat passengers more comfortably, a recliner bracket on the front passenger seat so the co-dog can catch some Zs, a gauge package and radio mount re-do to make it easier to see and reach it all and some work on the t-case shafter handles to make it easier to reach them.  
The biggest work project is the body.  We're not normally ones to go for body beauty but putting the truck on the lid crunched the A-pillar to the point that it wouldn't hold a windshield so the cab corner is in the process of cut out and replace.  Also the 2 side rolls managed to make a mess of the doors and although they would open, they looked bad and wouldn't hold a mirror or glass so we're replacing/fixing the doors too.  Oh yeah, the air cleaner stud poked through the wrinkled up hood so we'll add a new one of those too.
We're down to pretty small details past that, little stuff like cleaner mounting and storage for tools and gear, moving the spare tire to get better visability over the back, etc.  Overall it's a WAY better place to be with the truck compared to a year ago when we were thrashing on making it run and trying to get a working transmission.  We're getting pretty excited for the trip, they're always more fun when you have some sleep going in and don't worry about and work on the truck the whole time.

Stephen Watson
Offroad Design