Topic: Fiverivers Runner, from DD to now

[bleakhorizon]

I never really put a thread up on this forum showing my truck and what ive done to it... since ive had some time as of late... I guess i will "show" her off lol

got the 84 after we decided to have another kid.... needed a "family' rig...

so kept it basic at first, fixed the body damage and lifted just a little







Im by definition NOT a body man....  so i was proud i could get the panels in there and make it look decent lol

[bleakhorizon [OP]]

along with the lift, had to modifiy my steering.... here is  a modified steering arm and drag link.... worked well even for how redneck it seemed..

j arm ball welded to stock arm... 


flipped and welded draglink


Had no problems running this way.


also did IFS hub conversion, with Landcruiser rotors and v6 calipers.


and not really u bolt flip kit but my version
 

[bleakhorizon [OP]]

and there is sat...

at this time it had 4.56 gears and open IFS rear and locked front





threw some 33's on er and took some poser shots....




drove it like this for quite a while..... could barely wheel it however because you could not steer it with that damn push pull steering...

couple little details for it while it was a "street" vehicle.... stereo gauges and the switches for the power windows

rear cargo area covers, later wraped in vinyl

[bleakhorizon [OP]]

after it was decided that it was not going to be the praimary transportation for our children... i started to get a little more serious..

Flipped the weber around for better uphill progression 
used throttle cable from Fuel injected truck and made my own bracket... that was about the extent of the modification to flip it



RUF

from

to


still using my push pull i took a spare drag link and shortened it, sleeved it and welded it just like the other one i had done.

also decided to make a square shaft.....




ended up being a disaster as it was loud and heavy.. used wrong material.... oh well live and learn, modified old front driveline to now RUF specs

decent amount of flex, but have since mixed up the pack and it rides and flexed much better

[bleakhorizon [OP]]

and then.....  i spun two rod bearings trying to show off in a mudpit that a bigger truck couldnt get through...( i made it FYI lol)



so out came my engine...  rebuilt a spare i had in the garage, I put in new stock size pistons, ported the head, installed head studs, and a crawler camshaft, and an adjustable cam gear.. she rips and snorts now...

while i had the engine tore down i ripped the front axle out for an overhaul, she had been leaking at the seals and making a hell of a noise which i came to find out was  two teeth missing from the pinion...  new yukon 5.29 gears and my old lockright went back in rear got a WELDED 5.29 4cylinder third..  along with some home made trussing and a off the shelf diff guard.. and a homebrew 5th stud mod





also decided it was time for crossover steering.... so off came the old box in came the IFS unit...
home built passenger side steering knuckle and all...




new 14" shocks and ford F250 mounts



and installed my winch and cut 33" boggers




rear cage section....



and made my own twin stick shifter (because locker in the front sucks to turn with)


then some testing




it passed

but what was luking in the garage was the next step

[bleakhorizon [OP]]

i acquired some fairly well used 39.5 iroks for dirt cheap..... then proceded to spend more money on 16" wheels to make em fit then the tires cost..

I had to wait nearly 3 months for the wheels to be custom made to my specs, 16x10 2" backspacing.  (i have no spring to tire interference)
while the waiting was happening the truck went under the knife again.... first a couple small things... tailgate from a ranger




simple hinges as this modification is just cosmetic and to keep my junk in the back

then things got a bit more serious, i received a dual case adapter.... (i know i know, but it was less than cheap from a third hand source and was not even used)
so i proceeded to adapt a forward shift case to top shift, modify my twin stick to shift it, and make my own cross member...







floor blueprints.   lol everytime












....... yet again had to modify my drivelines, this time i took the cv out of the front.... and obviously had to shorten my rear, the two drivelines are now within inches of being the same length

[bleakhorizon [OP]]

Fast forward almost a year since, have done very little, only been out 3 times since doubler... let me tell you 33's and dual cases makes it slow... it was time for bigger tires








with roughly 4" of lift i was pushing it for clearance with the bigger meats.... took a couple trips around with the sawzall and they fit MUCH better

jump yet again couple months.  fixed my steering/frame clearance problem


also tubbed the firewall because the tires just loved rubbing up against it.

[bleakhorizon [OP]]

which has brought us to this today....

im assuming that my (as until now) stock slip front driveline was being held in by just a fraction of an inch at full droop, as since ive done the firewall tub it has fallen out three times in the same trip...... this will not do.. and as with the story of this truck, i dive into the scrap bin and come up with a solution.... three drivelines, a bunch of cut off wheels and yet to be welded fully together..

i have my own long spline front driveline, yet to be tested, hopefully will hold together... i hate putting that spare shaft on while on the trail..

[bleakhorizon [OP]]

well got the driveline in yesterday and got some testing in.... definitely will not be falling out again..

also, spent a good chunk of time working on a new pitman arm..  mine when at full stuff on the drivers side had a nut that would either contact the spring or get stuck beside it... so i made a "low profile" pitman

old.. big nut on the bottom that was hitting.. style


new, floating pin double sheer, not completely finished pitman arm..