71FJ40 Chevota

[RAYJON]

Grinder and paint makes me the welder I ain’t......

looks good just a thought I would put a heat shield under that battery, batteries hate heat and extreme cold.. just something simple on the header.. fender well headers look cool but give off a lot of heat..

 

[71FJnick]

Good points RayJon.

Also speaking of paint, got a few coats on and then started reassembly.
I’m not happy with the power steering lines so I’m ordering some -6AN

 

[Downey]

I’d be happy to sell you a 6an p.s. hose kit, lemme know

 

[71FJnick]

@Downey pm sent.

 

[71FJnick]

Ordered a full bolt kit from MetricOverland, while I’m not doing a restoration I do really like having a stash of the right sized bolts, washers and nuts for most of the fasteners

 

[71FJnick]

Got the new power steering lines in.
I couldn’t quite get the 37deg die clamped for the tube nut on the return line so I used a small socket and ball joint separator.

 

[71FJnick]

Started the paint process
Nothing fancy just rattle can flat khaki

 

[71FJnick]

Got the fenders and bezel back on, the rest is just light assembly work...

 

[71FJnick]

Set the toe and let her go!
Alignment, torque steering, and put the tires back on.

 

[71FJnick]

Started on the rear end work. Pulled the leaf springs and started stripping them with a wire wheel.

Thinking about removing the smallest leaf.
I flipped the rear springs and so am flipping the MIL wrap. Re drilled the springs, went well with a carbide masonry bit and the drill press. I couldn’t get it when drilling by hand, needed the drill press.

 

[pbgbottle]

Started on the rear end work. Pulled the leaf springs and started stripping them with a wire wheel.

Thinking about removing the smallest leaf.
I flipped the rear springs and so am flipping the MIL wrap. Re drilled the springs, went well with a carbide masonry bit and the drill press. I couldn’t get it when drilling by hand, needed the drill press.

View attachment 2567761

Drill press a must for me too. I got away with a good drill bit and the press didn’t bother with the masonry bit. Cool

 

[71FJnick]

Working on setting up the rear ring and pinion. Any feedback on this pattern?
I’m tempted to run it

 

[jim land]

Look good

 

[71FJnick]

Thanks jim land
I’m always a bit cautious when the pattern looks ok on the first setup.

 

[71FJnick]

Rear diff reinstalled, and new cover finally on
I got this cover from ruff stuff a few years ago and finally got it installed. Happy I snagged it when I did as I think they are NLA

 

[71FJnick]

Bolted on @Poser rear disk brake kit, probably the easiest project so far.
Brackets torqued at 45ft-lbs, calipers at 35

I swapped the left and right caliper so I could place them forward and keep the bleeders up. I looked at placing them rearward to keep the brake line behind the axle, but then the line would be below the axle. I’ll try them this way as the brake line will be above and fwd of the low point on the axle.

 

[71FJnick]

Upper rear shock mount is done, used a crossmember from low range Offroad and made some tabs so it’s removable.

 

[spotcruiser]

Rear diff cover looks upside-down. How do you gauge proper oil level with the plug that high?

 

[71FJnick]

The rear is rotated up so the fill plug needed to be higher. I intend to fill it with the factory volume of fluid (2.6qts I think) and see where it is with a rod or wire.
The rear SF may be more fluid so it can reach the wheel bearings so I’ll have to double check the capacity.
anyway that was the plan

 

[71FJnick]

Had to go to SOR for the rebuild kit for the factory ebrake. Still need to sort out a handle, probably a lokar floor mounted handbrake on the trans tunnel