[Bryan062087]

Wow, good work.

[Dirtgypsy]

looking good man!! it will be running in no time. 36 13.50 tire is going to be perfect.

wheres your rear axle?

clint

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Bryan062087

Wow, good work.

Thanks man! Not bad for a college student, eh?

Originally Posted by Dirtgypsy

looking good man!! it will be running in no time. 36 13.50 tire is going to be perfect.

wheres your rear axle?

clint

My FF rear axle housing is at the welder having the run out bearing race welded. Then it needs to be taken over to the machine shop to have the welded race turned down to spec. The welding step is done, but the machine shop is "busy" so it might be another week or 2. I'm going to see if there are any strings for me to pull to get that accelerated.

By the way, one of your previous posts keeps going through my head:

Originally Posted by Dirtgypsy

Take your time on the SOA and do it right.

That's what I'm trying to do, so thanks for the advice.

I do have one question for you Clint. What are the measurements for your rear driveshaft? I'd like to get my shaft out to a shop to have done hopefully by the time my rear axle is done.

[pjfairchild]

gonna be walking on COW FEET pretty soon!
Remember, I had 1 rear shock that was completely toast and no idea how long the PO drove it like that. That is probably the cause of tire problems. Stabilizer is going in the mail tomorrow.
Paul

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by pjfairchild

gonna be walking on COW FEET pretty soon!
Remember, I had 1 rear shock that was completely toast and no idea how long the PO drove it like that. That is probably the cause of tire problems. Stabilizer is going in the mail tomorrow.
Paul

Haha, cow feet indeed. I grabbed the castle nut yesterday and I'll send it off tonight.

[Dirtgypsy]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

Thanks man! Not bad for a college student, eh?



My FF rear axle housing is at the welder having the run out bearing race welded. Then it needs to be taken over to the machine shop to have the welded race turned down to spec. The welding step is done, but the machine shop is "busy" so it might be another week or 2. I'm going to see if there are any strings for me to pull to get that accelerated.

By the way, one of your previous posts keeps going through my head:
That's what I'm trying to do, so thanks for the advice.

I do have one question for you Clint. What are the measurements for your rear driveshaft? I'd like to get my shaft out to a shop to have done hopefully by the time my rear axle is done.

Your welcome on the advice. Just to let you know that I just got back from a 500 mile road trip and the truck pulls a tent trailer loaded with gear, bikes, etc for a family of 4 just fine. Even at 70 mph on the freeway!!

As for the rear driveline I just took my stock one in and told them to build the new one to the same specs. It has worked out just fine and even at full drop I have no splines showing and maybe 1/2 of movement total on the slip yolk.

Clint

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Dirtgypsy

Your welcome on the advice. Just to let you know that I just got back from a 500 mile road trip and the truck pulls a tent trailer loaded with gear, bikes, etc for a family of 4 just fine. Even at 70 mph on the freeway!!

As for the rear driveline I just took my stock one in and told them to build the new one to the same specs. It has worked out just fine and even at full drop I have no splines showing and maybe 1/2 of movement total on the slip yolk.

Clint

DAMN I should have thought about that. Thanks again!

[GLTHFJ60]

Tonight's update, front axle installed. It's gonna be high. Maybe I'll end up taking out the front AAL, but I am gonna wait till the rear is installed.

[Nemesis Gnat]

man it looks badass already...

[goodol84]

Any new updates on this beast??? I actually just want to see more pictures! And Ford Escorts Suck BTW

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Nemesis Gnat

man it looks badass already...

Thanks man! It's simply a collection of ideas stolen from more intelligent and creative people than myself.

Originally Posted by goodol84

Any new updates on this beast??? I actually just want to see more pictures! And Ford Escorts Suck BTW

No updates yet. I dropped my FF axle housing at the machine shop to have the welded race ground down to spec and dropped my DC driveshaft off at a different shop to have lengthened for the rear. As soon as I get those two components back this will be on the road.

I ordered a set of bumpers for Moonshine a'la SROR. I'm getting his tube bumpers for the front and rear. Front is gonna have a bit of a higher stinger similar to freds40's custom front and the rear is going to be a copy of what brokenparts had on v1 of his rig ( pre-'tons ).

What else do I have to do

Shock towers
Shocks
Clearance tranny crossmember
Mount and balance tires
Buy spare tire + rim

As soon as this thing can roll, I'm pushing it out of the garage and cutting off the rockers like boots4 did. I can't stand staring at them any longer. We'll see how long it takes with the plasma torch.

[brokenparts]

lookin good man... keep it up!

[boots4]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

As soon as this thing can roll, I'm pushing it out of the garage and cutting off the rockers like boots4 did. I can't stand staring at them any longer. We'll see how long it takes with the plasma torch.

After cutting some parts out last night with brokenpart's dialed in plasma I'd say 5 mins a side. Those things are great!

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by brokenparts

lookin good man... keep it up!

Thanks man! Your rig has been my inspiration for a long time...

Originally Posted by boots4

After cutting some parts out last night with brokenpart's dialed in plasma I'd say 5 mins a side. Those things are great!

Glad to hear it! I have a question about the rocker chop though, did you cut it off right below the door or did you cut it off after it angled out below the door? I was thinking of cutting it off at the higher seam, the one you have to open the door to get to 1" below where the door weatherstrip contacts the frame.

[brokenparts]

I cut about an inch or so below where I wanted the rocker to end up and "rolled" the lip with my body hammer. It gives the rocker a more finished look. I'm pretty sure Boots did the same.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by brokenparts

I cut about an inch or so below where I wanted the rocker to end up and "rolled" the lip with my body hammer. It gives the rocker a more finished look. I'm pretty sure Boots did the same.

That's a fantastic idea. I'll do that, thanks for the tip!!

Also, I just ordered the Ford shock towers. They cost me $34.00 for two of them including tax! What a deal. The part number for those wondering is E5TZ-18183-A. It's been posted before, but here it is again.

[GLTHFJ60]

Finally some more updates. First I want to show my FF axle spindle. Just a re-cap, I bought this axle with a run out outer bearing race on the long side of the axle. To fix, you have to find someone to weld it to build up more metal, and then find someone to machine it down to the same spec as the other side. I had quite a time finding a machine shop with a lathe big enough to throw the axle housing, but I did and just got it back yesterday afternoon Here's the machine'd final product:

[GLTHFJ60]

So after racing over to the machine shop to pick it up before they closed, I brought it and everything else I had over to the David's shop to get started right away. I ground down the locations of the perches on the top of the axle, slapped the perches on and threw the axle on the springs. We then centered the axle, put the weight of the truck on it and assembled the brakes with new wheel cylinders. At that point, I realized that the bearings I had for this axle had rusted in the weeks since I took this apart, so Kenny busted out a spare set of wheel bearings from the front of his 80, same numbers!! After cleaning and packing those, we had the hubs on. Now, to set the preload on a FF axle, one must have the special Toyota SST to do so. It's a 3 prong tool ( pictured below ). After fabricating one of those from a 3"x3" plate and some spare bolts, we set the preload and threw the tires on.

[GLTHFJ60]

So as you can see, it's obnoxiously tall. The rear springs are new, so they will break in, but I may end up taking another leaf out. Time will tell. Today, we are going to put the front wheels on, front brake line, grease all of the busings, install the spring pin lock bolts and re-torque everything except for the rear axle u-bolts, because those will come back out.

Getting closer! If we can weld up the rear on Thursday, then I'm taking it camping this weekend :bounce2 :

As it sits now:

[redcorn]

Sweet work man....Big wagons RULE!

[IrollwithTojo]

I remember seeing you posting about blacked out rigs, and likeing them over your gray one, IMO might as well just black it out while its sittin

-Carl

[feldkurat]

Hi, good work! I have a question about your storage / sleeping system. How do you mount it to the floor? Any new holes in the floor? Or something else?

[ksrunner]

Sweetness! Is the rig viewable in the Rochester area?

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by redcorn

Sweet work man....Big wagons RULE!

It willrule even more when I can drive it!

Originally Posted by IrollwithTojo

I remember seeing you posting about blacked out rigs, and likeing them over your gray one, IMO might as well just black it out while its sittin

-Carl

Believe me, I thought of that. I have the paint, but I want to do the mirrors, side vents, grill, and install the headlight grills and sliding rear windows all at the same time, so it'll wait.

Originally Posted by feldkurat

Hi, good work! I have a question about your storage / sleeping system. How do you mount it to the floor? Any new holes in the floor? Or something else?

4 bolts through holes I drilled in the bed. Holds it perfectly. I can take a pic or two if you want.

Originally Posted by ksrunner

Sweetness! Is the rig viewable in the Rochester area?

Nope, not yet. I'm in ky till the end of the summer and I'll be back up north early September. We should meet up when I get back up there!!

[GLTHFJ60]

Okey dokey, last night got a couple of misc things done on the truck. Greased all the bushings, installed new spring pin lock bolts, installed the front SS brake line, threw the rear diff in and put the front tires on. I think it looks pretty badass. The frame height in front of the rear spring hanger is 26.5" and behind the front spring hanger is 26". The rear tires are a little flat, so approx 26" front and 27" rear. NOT BAD!! I think it looks like a million bucks.

Today I'm going to try to pick up the rear driveshaft so we can line up the rear axle and weld the perches on. Then it's ready for the weekend.

[feldkurat]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

4 bolts through holes I drilled in the bed. Holds it perfectly. I can take a pic or two if you want.

Yes, please I m going to make the frame for sleeping place from aluminium shape. But do t know yet how to fasten it.

[EOE_overland]

Those tires do look schweet now that they're on! I expect to see John and Ponch hopping out in their CHiPs uniforms . Definitely old school! So...what happened to the old tires?

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by feldkurat

Yes, please I m going to make the frame for sleeping place from aluminium shape. But do t know yet how to fasten it.

I'll take some pics when I'm over there next.

Originally Posted by EOE_overland

Those tires do look schweet now that they're on! I expect to see John and Ponch hopping out in their CHiPs uniforms . Definitely old school! So...what happened to the old tires?

Mall cruiser!! Hahaha, nice buddy. The first time those tires got flexing on my truck, it was on a loading dock. Glad you like them! Were they out of balance?

[EOE_overland]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

Mall cruiser!! Hahaha, nice buddy. The first time those tires got flexing on my truck, it was on a loading dock. Glad you like them! Were they out of balance?

Tires feel good! I'll get them checked soon, but no vibration. Even at 80mph. Yeah, had to get a poser pick at work. Actually backed into my golfcart before I put my tire up on the barrier. Whoops .

[ElliottB]

Wow! That thing is huge. I love it.