Build ‘68 M715, AKA "Smokey" (Can I post this Jeep on MUD?)

[Mike Shull]

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Have you towed with your REDARC trailer brake controller yet? If so, how do you like it?

 

[Rock40]

Have you towed with your REDARC trailer brake controller yet? If so, how do you like it?

I haven’t, just got it out of the box yesterday. I’ve heard good things tho and I know @WesternCruiser did his research on it. I probably need one in my 40 now that I’ve got electric brakes on the M416

 

[Mike Shull]

I haven’t, just got it out of the box yesterday. I’ve heard good things tho and I know @WesternCruiser did his research on it. I probably need one in my 40 now that I’ve got electric brakes on the M416

Let me know your thoughts once you have had a chance to test it. I am on my second Reese trailer brake controller in the Cruiser and I’m not a fan of it being underneath the dashboard, plus this one is causing the brake lights to be on permanently so I had to disconnect it temporarily. Hopefully the problem will go away when I connect my chassis ground, but I might consider this REDARC controller if I do need to replace my unit.

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

I have one of the Redarc controllers in my Rav4. It works really great, especially for the money. It's what I'll be running from now one.

One bonus is they have a small selection of factory style blanks to mount the knob, that's one thing that originally sold me

 

[Rock40]

Still prepping D60 stuff. Here’s a good comparison pic. We are using the 1410 yoke on the left, a D60 1310 yoke is on the right. Laughable difference

Adjusted the front frame horns a bit. Cut the upper and lower plates down and I set them between the horizontal rails. Tucks up better and looks more streamlined

Needed to patch these big gaps in the front of the rocker.

Pulled out a chunk of surplus rocker panel, capped the ends…

And now it’s here. Will get welded directly to the outer fender. Now I’ve got to do the other side

 

[Rock40]

Look who’s back…

D60 is ready for assembly!

Powder guys did pretty darn good. Only one goof up on the trunnion bearings. I left old races in it for good measure and told them to mask it. Apparently they forgot

So it was a BEAR getting the races out over the powder coat. They’re out now tho

 

[Rock40]

Ran a tap into every threaded boss, DA’d the sealing surface for the cover and wire wheeled all the bearing seats. Ready to go

New differential seals are in. Actually a pretty big pain because the install tool unfortunately worked like Had to get creative with some round stock

Pinion preload. 2nd try got the preload to about 24 in/lbs by adding 2 thousandths to the original shim pack height. Going to leave it here for now since it’ll probably be about 28 in/lbs preload once the pinion seal is installed and that’s right in the mid range of acceptable

 

[ferg]

Pieces of PVC pipe work well for seal drivers.

 

[Rock40]

Well….. this was the first Dana type axle I’ve ever tried to set up. It was an experience to say the least

Heated the ring gear in the oven for about 10 minutes at 300° and slipped it over the carrier. Used the press to hold it in place while torquing the ring bolts to 130 ft/lbs

Making full use of the ARB case spreader and the dial indicator

Drive side contact pattern

Coast side pattern

All done

There should be some sort of caveat to “all done”

Looked at my notes and setup required 29 different assembly/disassembly attempts to get it where it is. Between pinion preload, pinion depth, carrier preload and backlash.

Obviously the pattern is down in the toe but from what I can tell it’s acceptable. Backlash spec range is 2-9 thousandths and this is sitting at 3.5-4 thousandths all around the gear

 

[Rock40]

That is a LOT of D60 parts

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Arguably the minimum number of d60 parts, lol. Keep it up.

 

[Rock40]

Yes, there are a few “extras” here. Pulled the RCV’s out and noted they were sent January/2017. Good grief

 

[Mike Shull]

This is going to be stout! What brand of steering arms are you using?

 

[Rock40]

This is going to be stout! What brand of steering arms are you using?

Extremely stout we think. @WesternCruiser, what are the arms? I’ve no clue

 

[WesternCruiser]

This is going to be stout! What brand of steering arms are you using?

Hi Mike. Those arms are from Sky’s Off-road Design. They have them for Toyotas, too.

 

[Mike Shull]

Hi Mike. Those arms are from Sky’s Off-road Design. They have them for Toyotas, too.

Thanks. They look clean. I purchased a 1-ton master cylinder adapter from them and it is also very well made.

 

[boots4]

Slight tangent. I spy a Cummins in the background of these pics. What's the plan there?

 

[Rock40]

Slight tangent. I spy a Cummins in the background of these pics. What's the plan there?

Ha! You certainly did, good eye

I don’t actually HAVE a plan for it currently. It’s a ‘94 12 valve that was mated to an NV4500. Was in the donor truck I used when I did the NV4500 conversion in my ‘01 Dodge. Was considering using the P pump and components to swap out the VP44 pump in the ‘01 but haven’t gotten around to it. Runs perfect tho

 

[Ditcherman]

Ha! You certainly did, good eye

I don’t actually HAVE a plan for it currently. It’s a ‘94 12 valve that was mated to an NV4500. Was in the donor truck I used when I did the NV4500 conversion in my ‘01 Dodge. Was considering using the P pump and components to swap out the VP44 pump in the ‘01 but haven’t gotten around to it. Runs perfect tho

Identical to what I’m putting in my stretched 40!

 

[Rock40]

Identical to what I’m putting in my stretched 40!

Awesome! They are fantastic engines, just SO stinkin’ heavy