fordh8r's 84 Xtra-bad Daily Driver

[fordh8r]

After a little plasma action! 

[fordh8r]

A little more plasma action and some grinder action too! 

[fordh8r]

1)   First trial fit of the new hanger with an additional inch forward movement of the axle
      (now a total of 3 inches  )


2)   The steering links still have good clearance after the new axle postion.

[fordh8r]

Also replaced the pitman arm and as estimated the stud is close but it does clear the frame enough that it shouldn't be a problem.     I can't believe how it fit so close with no planning involved for this part.  . Just glad it worked out  .  Gotta get back out there today to finish welding it all up and get all the other stuff hooked up and back together. 

[fordh8r]

Sweet 

very nice!!

Well I got the front hanger all burned in today...    One more thing off my list of  to do...

[fordh8r]

Time for more updates...


1)  It was time to do some more clean up work. I cut off the rear spring bumpstops and bumpstop frame contact pads.

[fordh8r]

I also cut off the shock mounts on the spring plates and decided to just get longer shocks.  I did get some urethane bumpstops mounted to the spring plate tubes. 

[fordh8r]

  I did some spring work today also.    I decided to change out the lower leaf and add a longer add-a-leaf to the spring pack. It seems the spring pack had too large of a "gap" in the leaf length progression (between 3rd and 4th leaves) and caused some undesireable and unwanted handling characteristics.  On the road it would feel as if it would "bobble" from side to side after hitting certain bumps and it was a little scary sometimes  . BTW, this was not a DW since the steering wheel didn't shake at all.  It steers fine.  

1)   Before longer AAL  (see leaves 3 and 4)

2)   After longer AAL

I took it for a ride and it was much better.    It still "bobbled" a little but not nearly as bad and was definitely more predictable.  

[fordh8r]

I also was able to work on finishing the floor inside to be able to seal the new shifter plate ring.

1)   first, the problem. 

2)   What I have to work with. 

[fordh8r]

The solution! 


1)   Make a template

2)   transfer and cut material ( I  having a plasma cutter)

3)   Shape the patch panel

4)   fit the panel before welding...

[fordh8r]

1)   punched holes in the edges of the patch to spot weld the panel in place. 

2)   Three pieces to complete the job and some time to burn it in...

[fordh8r]

Now it's flat enough to seal to the plate...

[fordh8r]

sweet... now it will seal..

And it does...



I went down to OSH and found some marine grade weather stripping and it worked perfectly! 


1)   the seal

2)   the finished look!   

[tom w.]

Nice pinion angle 

[THK Matt]

Nice pinion angle 

ouch

[fordh8r]

Nice pinion angle 

.... ...The axle wasn't bolted up to the springs in that pic. 

[MiniSimp]

.... ...The axle wasn't bolted up to the springs in that pic. 

I sure as hell hope not!

[fordh8r]

Time fer some updates. 

1)   Well, I got me some new (to me) wheels.

2)   but I needed these to make 'em fit on the front without hitting the calipers. Went to MCI and picked 'em up in
      person 

[fordh8r]

I saw the red outers on Oldyeller's DevilDog and thought they looked pretty cool (thanks for the inspiration Dave  )

But I thought  I couldn't use red on mine cause it wouldn't look right.    So I found this really good grey color for my outers on my wheels. I took all the bolts out and masked it. Got them all purdyed up before putting the tires on. 

[THK Matt]

So are those real beadlocks? Or street locks? Whta brand are those rims? I like them!

Streetlocks

[fordh8r]

I got to work that night and mounted and balanced them. Got them all bolted up and what a change.  

Wouldn't you know it though? As soon as I got into town near home I got pulled over for no fender flares and too small of mudflaps.    Good thing I was nice, he didn't cite me for it he just   at me.  

1)   so now I have this.  

2)   with all new bolts in the wheels it really looks finished.  

3)   But I now also have this to fix...

[fordh8r]

No bead locks...  Street driven...often!  

[fordh8r]

are they glued on there

welded assembly, very stout! as far as tire bead protection goes!  They were all rock rashed when I got them from my buddy, so I cleaned them up with a flapper disc and buffed them down some more with a scuff pad on a die grinder. The whole reason why I was painting them in the first place.  

[fordh8r]

you have to have flares and mudflaps? and you can't have beadlocks? what state is this??

Cali...

I really like how the truck is turning out, looks good!

Thanks! 

[fordh8r]

Got to do some work today... First I had to do some backtracking and fix the problem with the 2WD/4WD shift rail.  So I removed the rear T/case and inspected for the point of contact.  The problem I was having was the shift rail was contacting the inside of the dual adapter and wouldn't allow a complete shift into 4WD. I wanted to be sure that the incomplete shift wouldn't start causing the T/case to pop out of 4WD.  Been there done that, in another rig, never again!  

1)  (not sure which pic is easier to see) you can see where the shift rail hit the adapter at the far right.  


Edit: (8/11) I've been reassured by Big Mike that this issue has been resolved with the latest adaptors! 

 

[fordh8r]

1)   first I decided to use the smallest and coolest air operated die grinder I've ever used to machine out the spot in the
     adapter

2)   I used a deburring bit first then I used a sanding drum to clean up the spot some.    

[fordh8r]

Then I met the problem at the halfway point and decided to clean up the shaft a little as well.

[fordh8r]

Got the T/case back in and filled up...   She shifts good now, just like she's supposed to...

[fordh8r]

So I tested out the suspension a little to check for clearance and what not. Here's what I found.

1)   In this position I can see my steering clearances are fixed since installing the front drop spring hanger. No pic of
      that, sorry. Stupid camera phone! 

2)   Next I raised the front end until I could see the shock was bottomed out. 

[fordh8r]

1)    With the shock bottomed out my bump stop still had a little ways to go...

2)    I still like the way it looks flexed up...