Duffil's 84 Xtra Cab is still bringing the suck

[Yota4life]

Nice sewing  8)

[Duffil]

I knew I was gonna see some for that.  I don't care. How many of you guys made the shifter boots in your truck??  lol

[Duffil]

  Finally got the SR5 cut up.  This is what I looked like for TWO DAYS!! Put the old wheels and tires on it as well.

[Duffil]

Just got ahold of some 4-4.5 inch springs.  Gotta order up some brake lines, and I shouldn't be able to turn right.

[Duffil]

OK, started the engine swap tonight.  Then things went south.  My 13000 mile engine has somehow become filled with water while it was stored in a buddies' shop.  Half the oil pan was filled with water/oil.  There's rust in the #4 cyl.  There's dirt and metal pieces inside #3.  (Yes, I had intake and exhaust ports covered with tape while it sat).  And it has to roll tomorrow night.  At this point, I have no choice but to run it.

[Duffil]

    The rockers look a little dry, but considering it's been sitting a couple months, I think it'll be fine.  The oil pickup tube was also covered in that crap, but it's not inside the oil pump,t-chain or rockers so I don't think it was running with that water in it.  Looks like I'm gonna hafta my storage guy.

[Duffil]

I got that thing in last night and fired off by about 11:00.  This thing actually runs now!! Exhaust guy ran the tubing wrong, and now my exhaust rattles against my rear spring though.

There's no condensation under the 710 cap, so it oughta be good to go!

[MiniSimp]

Sweet! Cutting it close!

[Duffil]

yeah, really!! Things kept going horribly wrong. Only two 17-hour days later....

[Duffil]

I be showin' all them foo's who I be down wit, yo!

[Duffil]

26" of stainless

[Duffil]

Finally got around to lifting this pile. Springs were a little bigger than I thought they would be. Pics to follow.

[Duffil]

I still have to rebush the springs and shackles, and get a drop draglink , hopefully on Weds.  Only reason I put it together like it is, I gotta have something to drive.   

Shackle angle is terrible, hopefully it'll settle out.  Gotta get the front driveshaft hooked up as well.

[Duffil]

Cruised down to Fresno last night, stopped at Marlin and 4 Wheel Parts today.

Thanks to Tim and Steve at Marlin!

[MiniSimp]

Go flex it out a few times on both sides, the springs will settle.

[Duffil]

Go flex it out a few times on both sides, the springs will settle.

Ya, I just gotta find something to flex on that's local.  This thing has developed wicked Death Wobble around 45-50.

[Duffil]

OK, new list of what needs to get fixed:

Install drop drag link
Install front shocks
Spring/shackle bushings
Make/install LSPV rise bracket
Front DShaft
Flip rear u-bolts


hmmm...not as long as I thought.

[boggerunner]

sounds like alot of work, when u gonna swap in fuel injection?

[Duffil]

sounds like alot of work, when u gonna swap in fuel injection?

Not so much, really.  I probably won't go to fool injection until I build another engine for this thing. I have thought about it; I am collecting RE parts until then.  Or I might just 3RZ this pig. Only time will tell.

[boggerunner]

ive got a 90 v6 motor tranny and tcase takin up space in my small garage, and they would look good in that thing

[Duffil]

v6? thanks but no thanks.

[Duffil]

OK, new list of what needs to get fixed:

Install drop drag link
Install front shocks
Spring/shackle bushings
Make/install LSPV rise bracket
Front DShaft
Flip rear u-bolts

The front shocks I had won't work, and with the work I've done, I've got this:

Shock hoops
Buy/install front shocks
Buy/install rear shocks
Modify/Weld on rear shock mounts
Spring/shackle bushings
Front U-bolt flip
Cut rear U-bolts down
Modify/install bumpstops
Service front axle
New tires

[olivedrab85]

It's getting there coming along nicely.

[Duffil]

It's getting there coming along nicely.

Thanks.

Change of plans.  I spent about 10 minutes in the shock book at work and found these:
# 94198 shocks


stock rears from 97-04 4wd F150s.
Compressed Length:15.625"
Extended length:27.250"
Travel Length:11.625"
Trim a little off the lower mount, and it'll fit right into my stock mounts, and it's about perfect for my 22" ride height. Not exactly 12" Bilsteins, but they'll work for now!

They'll be here in the morning!

[Duffil]

Got the shocks on.  No more death wobble!!

[MiniSimp]

La Grange?
How did it work?

[Duffil]

La Grange?
How did it work?

yeah...only place within driving distance that has one decent obstacle.  I dunno.  the front seemed to flex OK(more than I thought it would), but the rears really didn't.  Check out the shackle angles in the shots.

[MiniSimp]

Shove about 200lbs back by the tailgate

[Hyena]

jump it a couple times, guranteed to soften up the springs, not sure what it would do to the rest of the truck.    the truck is lookin good.  that the basic setup i had on my truck when i first lifted it, except i had stock rear springs, 4 inch blocks and 2 inch shackles.

[olivedrab85]

Thats how I broke in my front springs give it a couple good bounces just dont get to crazy. Shackle angle looks a little steep but should get better when springs flatten out.