96 cruise vessel build

[KYOTA]

Dayumm nignog!!      nice pile of parts

[Ramrod]

its 3.5"  .375 wall so yes definitly beefy.  today I put on some beef cake knuckle ball gussets with the shock mounts built in so im ready to jump this thing

[Ramrod]

so my dad is selling his ford ranger that he has just been keeping for towing the boat but he didnt think the new owner diserved to get the nice shiny diamond plate tool box so guess who's truck its going in!! im stoked because ive wanted one for a long time but never felt like ponying up the money for one

[YODAWILL]

Sounds like you have a new beer cooler.

[alwayzbroken]

Does Brian warranty the custom length inner shafts for breakage? Are they pretty much identical to the Longfield inners?

[Ramrod]

im sure he does.  Ive never seen a longfield 30 spline inner but it is definitly bigger and nicer than the longfield 27 spliners I have

[alwayzbroken]

im sure he does.  Ive never seen a longfield 30 spline inner but it is definitly bigger and nicer than the longfield 27 spliners I have

So Bobby sells Brian the material for the shafts and Brian just cuts it and splines it in house? I don't understand how a shaft that is made by Diamond can still be a longfield

[88Rokyoat]

So Bobby sells Brian the material for the shafts and Brian just cuts it and splines it in house? I don't understand how a shaft that is made by Diamond can still be a longfield

the shafts I bought from Brian for my FF rear are moser shafts. Front range just Sublets to moser, thats probably what his are too.

[Ramrod]

Im just saying I have a completely separate set of longfield 27 spline inner axles that dont look as nice as the inners I got from brian.  I dont know who makes them but they do look nice, why dont you call them and find out

[alwayzbroken]

Im just saying I have a completely separate set of longfield 27 spline inner axles that dont look as nice as the inners I got from brian.  I dont know who makes them but they do look nice, why dont you call them and find out

I don't care enough to call. I thought you had 30 spline birfs and was curious how front range was making shafts for those. That is not the case apparantly. If you are tired of answering questions about your axle im sorry.

[Ramrod]

I dont see how you dont get this-- Yes I have 30 spline longfield birfields that are brand new and yes I had Brian ellinger from Front range offroad/ diamond axle build me new axle shafts that are custom length to fit the housing he built me.  Is that so hard to imagine?


Ok back on subject!
I have the axle completely back together and finished with the brakes,brake lines, steering everything on it.  its even aligned and I repacked all the bearings before I assmebled it.  I also have the front hanger completly ground down and cleaned up, shackles redrilled for 4.75" length, and all my parts lined up and ready for the project.  I am planning on cutting into the truck thursday afternoon after I get off work and hitting it hard friday, saturday and sunday and should be able to get the sas and cases all done in that time hopefully

[Ramrod]

heres some pics to keep you intertained till then:
motive gear taco 8.4" 4.88 r&p vs genuine gear 8" 5.29 r&p-
hanger-
new toolbox-



springs-


booty-

raptor booty-

[Duffil]

glad to see you went with some better gears.  Hopefully less problems now.

[Hyena]

Booty is nice!

[Ramrod]

Booty is nice!

yes it is

[kiyul4130]

hahaha didnt expect that. just random booty pic. cant wait to see the front end laying next to the axle getting ready to have its new home.

[Ramrod]

so if anyone wants to come and help get this thing done im gonna be working on it hard starting thursday afternoon till sunday night. I want to: Sas, steering, assist, duals and hopefully get them lifted up and flat, chevys in the rear, driving again.  and i'd really like it if someone knows how to mount tires because everyone around here is trying to charge me $80 without balance and im not about to pay that .  let me know

[Ramrod]

I also need to weld and regear the rear third

[Rockcrawlintoy]

so if anyone wants to come and help get this thing done im gonna be working on it hard starting thursday afternoon till sunday night. I want to: Sas, steering, assist, duals and hopefully get them lifted up and flat, chevys in the rear, driving again.  and i'd really like it if someone knows how to mount tires because everyone around here is trying to charge me $80 without balance and im not about to pay that .  let me know

i wish i was closer. i can mount them in less then 30 minutes. if you buy a set of tire irons u can do it they are like 6 bucks each from northern tool. and all u need is some air soft BBs to balance. i have a photo walk through on how to mount a tire.


Drew

[inmyownsummerami]

and i'd really like it if someone knows how to mount tires because everyone around here is trying to charge me $80 without balance and im not about to pay that .  let me know

Mounting tires is pretty easy. I just mounted my 36" Iroks by my self last week. All you need is a 5 gallon bucket (2) Pry bars about 2ft. long each, some soapy water and a high flow blow gun with a rubber tip. Fill the 5 gallon bucket with water and put the lid on. Place the Rim on top of the bucket and soap up the outer rim lip(unless its a reversed rim) and the tire bead that is going on first. Put the tire on top of the rim so that the bead of the tire is under the rim lip as far around as possible, then use one pry bar between the rim and bead to keep the bead from slipping off and use the other to work the rest of the bead onto the rim. Then do the same with the outer bead(dont forget the lube, it makes all the difference).Once both beads are on the rim line the yellow dot on the tire up with the valve stem. Lube up the inner bead and with the tire and rim still on the bucket push the tire down so that the bead goes as far down as you can get it(doesn't need to be all the way). Insert what ever internal balancing media you are using now if any. Take the tire and rim off the bucket and stand it up straight. Using your knee against the rim lightly pull the tire towards you to close the gap between the rim and tire bead. With the valve core removed and still lightly holding the tire stick the blow gun nozzle in the valve stem and open it full-bore. As long as you have kept the beads well lubed with the soapy water the beads of the tires should pop over the safety beads of the rims fairly quickly. I would advise wearing safety glasses and ear plugs when seating the beads, since when they pop on they get you with the soapy water, and just in case the tire has a defect that causes it to blow.
It took me about 10mins each by myself, but with another pair of hands you could probably get each mounted in 5. If you're worried about scratching the rims wrap the tips of the pry bars with DT. The soapy water and high flow blow gun make all the difference in mounting tires at home. I would offer to give you a hand, but I've got my own build-up to start this week-end.
Sorry about being so long winded, I should have taken pics when I was mounting my tires, it would have made it much easier to explain. Good luck with the build this weekend.

[Ramrod]

thanks guys, I have 8000 bbs ready to go however I end up doing it so I guess we'll see

[YODAWILL]

Put up the pic's the swap is done.

[Ramrod]

Ok Ok yep its done as of yesterday afternoon.  we started thursday around 4 and the same on friday and then this weekend and cracked it all out and im totally happy and impressed we finished.  I still have to grind down alot of the frame where old stuff was cut off and add a few gussets here and there but overall its tits and I couldnt be happeir.  The transfercases didnt get put in or the rear diff regeared but its alright.   Here are the pics:
DAY 1!!!--


DAY 2!!!
no pics.... not much progress, got to ride a bit lower and moved axle back 1"

DAY 3!!
Started out slow till I bought 2 large pizzas and 6 24oz rockstars and then we got it on........

[Ramrod]

Day 4 started a little later and got it all wrapped up


Done.......






The crew.....

I'd just really like to thank everyone that helped with this project so far, and kevin for letting me use your shop for the weekend and laying some nice beads, billy for nice welds all over the place and dropping an ifs in the blink of an eye, brenden and charlie for the good all around help and rockstar deliveries.... I owe you all

[Ramrod]

oh yeah 108" wheelbase & 26"+- to frame under door and 15" under diff

[gotrocks]

how did you guys mount the front shackle hanger?

[Ramrod]

we welded a 7x7" piece of 1/4" plate to the frame in the area where we thought it would sit and then welded the shackle hanger to that.  No pics of that till its trimmed up and gusseted.  right now it looks like crap but its really strong

[yotamckimboy4x4]

I LOVE IT!! looks bad man. you gunna build some sort of front tube bumper like the old ramrod had or wat re you guuna do for a bumper?

[Ramrod]

I should be getting lots of tube all around within the next few weeks.  This ones nice and I want to keep it that way so its getting protected before it even needs it

[yotee]

it's too pretty now, you need to go with damen, brad and them back to fordyce to make it look more "team ramrod"



mike