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Rebuilding An Old High School Friend!

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fly Navy, Feb 11, 2015.

  1. Mar 16, 2018
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,450
    Those frame plates are awesome... now I feel bad about mine :susp:.
    I like the steps they look really nice, but I second the motion to make them removable.
     
  2. Mar 16, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Thanks for the offer! For the time being I think I am going to go ahead and run this carrier and then maybe upgrade to a narrow D30 sometime in the future. But I will absolutely keep you in mind as I tear into the rear because I may need to find some 19 spline axles so I can run the locker I want. We'll see.
     
  3. Mar 16, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    After much discussion with my brother, the neighbor and consideration of the comments here, I am going to leave the steps as is for now. Not initially planning on steps of any kind, I didn't really leave enough room between the body for clamps, and I am getting anxious to get this done. My wife also has MS (and wasn't blessed with an excess of coordination in the first place) so any kind of swinging step just wasn't going to be practical. If they get tore off or become an issue in the future I will cut them off and figure something else out. Also, as my brother so gleefully pointed out, I'm not getting any younger and the easier it is to get in and out the more we will drive it... and he just may have a point. So in the end, practicality wins out.:beer:
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2018
  4. Mar 26, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Okay the weather finally cooperated a little bit and I was able to drag the frame outside to prep it for painting. I scrubbed it down with a good degreaser/cleaner and then treated it with POR15 metal prep. Then I brushed on a couple of coats of Chassis Saver and hit the parts I'm not going to bed liner with some rattle can black.

    [​IMG]

    So this is how it is setting now as I start to install parts for good:D. The side bars and rear bumper will get some Monstaliner rolled on just like the front bumper but it's a little too cold for that at the moment so I thought I'd pull the suspension parts off the shelf to start dusting them off and laying them out. Which leads me to a question.

    The dowel on the front springs is not centered between the spring eyes. There is about 1/2" inch difference. The dowel on the original springs appear to be centered. Does anyone know if the long side goes forward toward the shackle or aft toward the rear mount? Or does it really matter, so long as they are both the same?:shrug:
     
    Danefraz, Muzikp and ojgrsoi like this.
  5. Mar 26, 2018
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    7,540
    That looks really good.
     
  6. Mar 26, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
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    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    I don't think it would make a difference either way, but, I reckon install the springs so the shorter distance is at the front.
    Extra 1/2 inch of wheel base that way.

    I also think your steps will be fine, even if they do get torn up and you have to remove them they are underneath, so the removing process wont be noticeable.

    Keeping the bride happy is important.
    Seeing that the rear tapers back up to the slider bar but the front is a more squared off bend I do have a thought.

    If you did want to consider beefing them up you could add a brace pipe from near the lower front corner of the step up to the slider bar just inboard from the slider bend.
    That would give it a little more sideways strength and assist with them sliding up over obstacles instead of possibly getting bashed head on.
     
  7. Mar 27, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    After sleeping on it, that is the conclusion I am starting to come to as well. We'll see if I get anything done today. It is cold, wet and rainy again and it looks like the wife brought home a nasty head cold, courtesy of her 3rd graders, that I have latched onto.
     
  8. Apr 19, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Sorry for the lack of updates but things have been going slow, spending a lot of time cleaning parts, and on nice days I've been trying to knock out some projects outside (clearing brush and fixing fence) before the weather turns hot and humid. But the springs are hung, the crossmember, rear drawbar and pintle hitch are all installed. Nothing really picture worthy.

    Currently waiting on a speedy sleeve for the front axle so I can finish assembling the differential.
     
    Buildflycrash and ITLKSEZ like this.
  9. May 21, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Time for a long overdue update. Cleaning and painting parts before assembly eats up a LOT more time than you think it would. Can't wait for the kids to get out of school so I can set one of them up at the parts washer and the other at the blasting cabinet and really start going to town!!

    At any rate, the front end is under the frame, brakes and steering leakage installed and the steering stabilizer mocked in place. Not nearly as much as you think I would have gotten done after all this time but there has been considerable amount of time waiting for paint to dry.:oops:

    [​IMG]

    I upgraded the knuckles with stud's/button head bolts... of course that took some time machining but they turned out nice. Trying to stick to my theme of more time than money, I also spent a couple of days machining my own 4 degree axle shims out of some 1/2 inch stock I had laying around (Just ignore that $30 fly cutter behind the curtain that I bought to facilitate the project :D). I figured it would be a good introductory machining project and they successfully set my caster at about 5.6 degrees so I'm going to call that a win.

    [​IMG]

    I also made some new spring plates for the front. Mine were kind of messed up and since I had moved the shocks to behind the axle I needed to reposition the lower shock mount anyway. So this is how it sits right now. Tie rod & drag link installed, shocks in place and brakes installed. And as you can see the front diff is already leaking!!:banghead: Hoping that seals itself up with a little time.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    With luck I will get the hubs installed tomorrow and maybe go crazy and put the wheels on. I have been thinking about drilling the front drums before I install them... haven't quite made up my mind yet. But if I go down that path it may be a few days before I get the wheels on.

    In other news, I started tearing into the rear end and was happy to find 19 spline axles so I think I'm going to splurge a little and order the Eaton E-locker (#19960-10) for it. An unnecessary expense perhaps but I feel like I NEED it!:sneak: But seriously, I need to get that on order if I'm going to get it and finish inspecting parts so I can get rest of the bearings, shims, seals, etc on order to get rear put back together and installed!
     
  10. May 25, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    I officially have 1/2 of a rolling chassis:D

    [​IMG]
     
    Posimoto, Bowbender, Muzikp and 2 others like this.
  11. May 25, 2018
    browncoat

    browncoat Member

    Maitland Australia
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    Sep 1, 2016
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    410
    Looking very good.:beer:
     
  12. May 25, 2018
    baldjosh

    baldjosh Member

    pacific north west
    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2017
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    451
    x2...looks good
     
  13. May 31, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Just hit a road block:banghead:. After trying to order an Eaton E-locker from several companies, Jegs just told me that they have "been informed by the manufacturer that part #19960-010 has been discontinued. It is necessary to cancel this part from your order.":cry:

    So I am left wondering what to do next? I have a very poor opinion of lunchbox lockers and I am not sure I can justify the $1000 for a full floater kit with 30 splined axles just so I can then buy a $1000 selectable locker. Errrrr!.. I was very excited when I saw I had 19 spline axles because that Eaton E-locker was going to be perfect... that also unfortunately built my expectation of having a locker and I am having trouble giving up on that.

    What to do?.. What to do?:confused:
     
  14. May 31, 2018
    45es

    45es Active Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Naches, WA
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  15. May 31, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    ^ Says "currently unavailable" when I just opened it.
     
  16. May 31, 2018
    45es

    45es Active Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Naches, WA
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    That's interesting. When I opened and posted the link, in two places it said "in stock". What the heck is going on with theit site?

    Edit: Again what's going on with their site. I just used the link again and in two places it says "in stock".

    Edit 2: So I called 4wd.com. While looking at their add, I asked if the part was available and was told no discontinued. No good answer why add was still up.
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2018
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  17. May 31, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    Jun 6, 2014
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    I've been reading about Auburn LSD's... a possible 19 spline option. Not badly priced. They seem to have the best street manners from the reviews I've read. However, there is a very good possibility that this will be my daily driver while I'm working on my truck and I really don't want to put up with any level of squirreliness in light rig with an 81" wheelbase.

    Maybe I'll search around online and see what I can piece together a full floater set-up cheaper than Herm's kit.
     
  18. Jun 2, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Spent a couple of nights searching internet for parts for a full floater set up and turned out it was going to cost $20 more than Herm's kit... and you'd still have to machine the spindles. So Herm's kit seems to be a pretty good deal. Of course if I had an extra front axles laying around and could avoid the cost of hubs and spindles that would save about $300 but I don't....

    Part of me wants to say the heck with it and order Herm's kit but the other part wants to keep things moving forward and is saying just leave it stock... I wonder if this is what like to be schizophrenic??
     
  19. Jun 2, 2018
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
    Messages:
    561
    You are asking a bunch of enablers if you should order parts? We'd love to help you spend some money! :lol:
    I'm eager to see how you do your steering shafts since I'm going to end up with a set up very similar to yours.
     
  20. Jun 14, 2018
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2014
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    361
    Time for a quick update... The question of the rear axle has been resolved and I am putting it back together stock. The tie breaker ended up being the fact that a 30 spline differential requires different carrier bearings other than the brand new set I have sitting on the bench. I did spend several days combing the internet trying to find a "NOS" 19 spline E-locker but no luck. I also contacted Eaton and got a one fragmented sentence response that kind of irked me. There was no "sorry for the inconvenience" or even "we regret to inform you." They just said "that product has been discontinued." It sounds silly, but it kind of makes me not want to buy any of their products in the future. At any rate, I was looking at all the new parts I needed to reassemble the axle, to include the wheel bearings, sitting on my bench and decided it was silly to waste any more time lamenting the fact that the locker I wanted was no longer available.

    So the kids and I cleaned the axles housing yesterday and after about 5 attempts we got the pinion pre-load set. With luck we can get some paint on it this afternoon and get all the internals cleaned & prepped for install.

    Otherwise I did get the front axles 100% buttoned up and the clutch/brake pedals installed and greased up. I ended up not drilling the front drums due to the fact I have finned drums and they just didn't lend themselves to any more than one row of holes. Maybe next time. I did end up chucking up the driver's drum in my little mill and took about 1/16 off of the back because it was just kissing the boot on the tie rod end. I don't know if maybe that one walked a little when I drilled it for the tie rod flip inserts or maybe it's just the way that boot is sitting but there is plenty of clearance now.

    I also ended up installing a set of 1.5" wheel spacers which were just right for allowing full throws of the steering knuckles with these 31" tires.

    So the next update I should have a full rolling chassis.:) No excuses, right?
     
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