rngprerunners Project Log: Stock to Not
#151
05-18-2007
Originally Posted by zabeard
Ive been told that cross member does not do anything anyway. not structural.
I'll send you an email here shortly, I think I still have the drawing on this computer (work)
#153
05-18-2007
Originally Posted by rngprerunner
Yea I figured it wasn't when one side of it unbolted... lol... still can't figure that one out. Driver side unbolted, had to cut off the passenger side, and the top is riveted on... freakin' Ford strikes again!
I'll send you an email here shortly, I think I still have the drawing on this computer (work)
I'll send you an email here shortly, I think I still have the drawing on this computer (work)
Yeah i think mine is that way too, Maurice Says on the earlier models that had that 2 piece driveshaft they mounted that carrier bearing on it. That is is tho.
#154
05-18-2007
Originally Posted by rngprerunner
You mean back-half it? Or are you talking about a one-piece front clip?
Originally Posted by rngprerunner
I didn't backhalf it because it would have taken too much time. ... Why rebuild the frame if it is already there?
Originally Posted by gumby
set your own kick up height to eliminate the need for that notch, and gained a ton of torsional rigidity compared to open c-channel.
Originally Posted by rngprerunner
There is just something about still having a frame that I like. I know to many people that have backhalfed their trucks and wished they hadn't for whatever reason, be it that it took too long, didn't turn out right, ect.
So that is why.
So that is why.
#155
05-21-2007
Well in case there is still anybody following along I have just posted Days 14 15 & 16 of my Link Build.
You can see it HERE
here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com/6209754...ild/index.html
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com
Or, for this one time you can read it here.
For those of you that have not been clicking on the link to the blog, here is a taste of what you are missing out on...
"Sixteen days to turn a perfectly good truck into a pile of scrap and then back into a working truck again seems like a pretty good task when you think of it that way doesn't it."
"My truck is drivable again! Granted it would be laying frame like a mini-truck, it would probably grenade the u-joint pretty quick as it's the wrong one, it would burn up the rear end since there is no oil in it, and probably wouldn't get real far with out the fuel system, but still it's drivable!"
Day 14, 15 & 16
You know, in all my months of planning this project I never dreamed that it would take this long to complete. To be fair though I never actually dreamed that it would be coming out this nice either, I mean after all I am just some guy on a tight budget in his backyard working on it on nights and weekends, I am by no means a professional fabricator nor do I claim to be.
It was business as usual Friday night. On Thursday night I had gotten the lower link mounts on the axle all lined up and tack welded into place. With this done I was able to remove the axle housing from under the truck and finish welding on the lower link mounts. Going back to my statement above of never dreaming it would take this long; welding the lower link mounts was all I got done on Friday night. It took over 2 hours just to weld these parts on. Turns out there is a lot more weld surface area than meats the eyes on these bad boys. With the mounts still warm and a heavy coat of gloss black enamel on them I called it a night.
The plan for Saturday was to wake up extra early so I could get a full day in before having to call it quits to be part of a wedding exercise for a friend of mine. Yea, that almost didn't happen. I was woken up by my good friend Brian who had shown up at 8:30, four hours before I was expecting him. But this was a good thing and with a second set of skillful hands we were able to dive right in. We began by pulling all of the links and bracketry off of the frame again so that I could weld the plating to the frame. While I was welding the plates Brian set off on assembling the rear axle. The rear axle which is a Ford 9" out of a Ranchero received a Strange Nodular 3rd member with 4.56 Sierra Gears from West Coast Differentials (www.differentials.com) and a 35 spline Detroit Locker (www.detroitlocker.com). To get the power to the wheels we loaded it up with 35 spline axle shafts from Currie Enterprises (www.currieenterprises.com). And to help stop the truck a set of 11" disk brakes from a 2001 Ford Explorer were bolted to the housing.
With the axle complete and the plates welded it was almost time to start assembling it for the final time. But before we could do this there was one more gusset that I wanted to add. Brian cut me up a piece of 1 3/4" DOM tubing to fit to the front of the upper link mounts. This gusset welds to the link mount and the frame in an effort to help keep the mount from trying to rip out of the frame. Now we could begin assembly. We bolted everything together with brand new grade 8 bolts washers and 'top-lock' lock nuts all smothered in red Loctite. The upper links went in simply but before the lowers could go in we needed to weld a strap across the bushing to help it resist ripping off the arm and drill and tap it for a grease zirk because the last thing I need is another squeaky component. A couple hours later we had it all bolted up for the final time (hopefully) and cycling. We called it a night at 9 o'clock, 12 hours after we had started, and in time for me to make my other commitment.
Sunday didn't see any work on the truck as I had to work. Before you say how much that sucks that I had to work on a Sunday, don't, I was at the CORR Race shooting it for this website. When I got home I took a couple hours and cleaned. I cleaned the work area, cleaned off the truck, cleaned up the tools, cleaned up the work bench, organized some parts (and found some missing ones) and basicly just got things ready for the work ahead of me this week as I build the bedcage, shock mounts, tire mounts, wire, and plumb the truck in an effort to at least finish this part on time.
Jason Gonderman
Online Editor
Photo Captions:
1. We applied a small amount of assembly lube to the axle spines before installing them
2. Here you see the backing plate with new parking brake shoes on it ready for assembly
3. Shot from the rear of the truck
4. Side shot of the truck
5. Here you see the driver side lower link mount and frame plating
6. Here is a view of the front of the axle
7. Here is the passenger upper link mount
8. And here is the driver upper link mount
As always, your comments are welcome!
You can see it HERE
here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com/6209754...ild/index.html
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com
Or, for this one time you can read it here.
For those of you that have not been clicking on the link to the blog, here is a taste of what you are missing out on...
"Sixteen days to turn a perfectly good truck into a pile of scrap and then back into a working truck again seems like a pretty good task when you think of it that way doesn't it."
"My truck is drivable again! Granted it would be laying frame like a mini-truck, it would probably grenade the u-joint pretty quick as it's the wrong one, it would burn up the rear end since there is no oil in it, and probably wouldn't get real far with out the fuel system, but still it's drivable!"
Day 14, 15 & 16
You know, in all my months of planning this project I never dreamed that it would take this long to complete. To be fair though I never actually dreamed that it would be coming out this nice either, I mean after all I am just some guy on a tight budget in his backyard working on it on nights and weekends, I am by no means a professional fabricator nor do I claim to be.
It was business as usual Friday night. On Thursday night I had gotten the lower link mounts on the axle all lined up and tack welded into place. With this done I was able to remove the axle housing from under the truck and finish welding on the lower link mounts. Going back to my statement above of never dreaming it would take this long; welding the lower link mounts was all I got done on Friday night. It took over 2 hours just to weld these parts on. Turns out there is a lot more weld surface area than meats the eyes on these bad boys. With the mounts still warm and a heavy coat of gloss black enamel on them I called it a night.
The plan for Saturday was to wake up extra early so I could get a full day in before having to call it quits to be part of a wedding exercise for a friend of mine. Yea, that almost didn't happen. I was woken up by my good friend Brian who had shown up at 8:30, four hours before I was expecting him. But this was a good thing and with a second set of skillful hands we were able to dive right in. We began by pulling all of the links and bracketry off of the frame again so that I could weld the plating to the frame. While I was welding the plates Brian set off on assembling the rear axle. The rear axle which is a Ford 9" out of a Ranchero received a Strange Nodular 3rd member with 4.56 Sierra Gears from West Coast Differentials (www.differentials.com) and a 35 spline Detroit Locker (www.detroitlocker.com). To get the power to the wheels we loaded it up with 35 spline axle shafts from Currie Enterprises (www.currieenterprises.com). And to help stop the truck a set of 11" disk brakes from a 2001 Ford Explorer were bolted to the housing.
With the axle complete and the plates welded it was almost time to start assembling it for the final time. But before we could do this there was one more gusset that I wanted to add. Brian cut me up a piece of 1 3/4" DOM tubing to fit to the front of the upper link mounts. This gusset welds to the link mount and the frame in an effort to help keep the mount from trying to rip out of the frame. Now we could begin assembly. We bolted everything together with brand new grade 8 bolts washers and 'top-lock' lock nuts all smothered in red Loctite. The upper links went in simply but before the lowers could go in we needed to weld a strap across the bushing to help it resist ripping off the arm and drill and tap it for a grease zirk because the last thing I need is another squeaky component. A couple hours later we had it all bolted up for the final time (hopefully) and cycling. We called it a night at 9 o'clock, 12 hours after we had started, and in time for me to make my other commitment.
Sunday didn't see any work on the truck as I had to work. Before you say how much that sucks that I had to work on a Sunday, don't, I was at the CORR Race shooting it for this website. When I got home I took a couple hours and cleaned. I cleaned the work area, cleaned off the truck, cleaned up the tools, cleaned up the work bench, organized some parts (and found some missing ones) and basicly just got things ready for the work ahead of me this week as I build the bedcage, shock mounts, tire mounts, wire, and plumb the truck in an effort to at least finish this part on time.
Jason Gonderman
Online Editor
Photo Captions:
1. We applied a small amount of assembly lube to the axle spines before installing them
2. Here you see the backing plate with new parking brake shoes on it ready for assembly
3. Shot from the rear of the truck
4. Side shot of the truck
5. Here you see the driver side lower link mount and frame plating
6. Here is a view of the front of the axle
7. Here is the passenger upper link mount
8. And here is the driver upper link mount
As always, your comments are welcome!
#158
05-21-2007
#159
05-21-2007
#160
05-21-2007
Originally Posted by Marcaronio
It looks awesome! I think you must be like me.... but I think I work faster when things are clean and I can find all of my tools.
Thanks for the compliments!
#165
05-22-2007
Day 17 Updates are posted!
You can see them HERE
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com/6208393...ild/index.html
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com
Comments are always welcome!
You can see them HERE
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com/6208393...ild/index.html
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com
Comments are always welcome!
#168
05-22-2007
#170
05-22-2007
Originally Posted by rngprerunner
I wish!
Yea I'm definatly going to get some exercise. I have a 6 foot cheater bar (handle) for it, so its not to hard to bend mild steel, but the DOM is going to put up a fight for sure.
Yea I'm definatly going to get some exercise. I have a 6 foot cheater bar (handle) for it, so its not to hard to bend mild steel, but the DOM is going to put up a fight for sure.
1.5" DOM?
Man no matter what that is going to put a hurting on yeah.
Maybe look into a hand pump? My buddy has one that he rigged up and it worked pretty well.
#171
05-22-2007
#172
05-23-2007
Day 18 is complete! Come and see what I got finished here!
Click HERE
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com/6209853...ild/index.html
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com
Click HERE
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com/6209853...ild/index.html
or here
http://blogs.off-roadweb.com
#174
05-23-2007
Originally Posted by zabeard
man i have no freaking clue how you bent that tube..
i want to see a vid. lol
where did you get that bender anyway?
i want to see a vid. lol
where did you get that bender anyway?
I'll try and remember to set up a video camera.
I bought this bender used from a guy locally here. But you can buy them from Medford Tools (www.medfordtools.com). Medford is either the exclusive distributor or the main distributor for JD Squared, I'm not totally sure on that one, but everybody that I know and have talked to said to buy it from them. When I bought my 1 3/4" die from them it was drop shipped from JD2 in Florida.. so who knows. All I know is they are one of the best places to get them... lol
#175
05-23-2007
