Sweet! Cant wait for updates.
80 Cruiser Build
- Thread starter utopoo
- Start date
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canadian bum
SILVER Star
Luckily I have a heater for the Garage and am getting paid. Otherwise this wouldn't be getting done. I am going to be pulling an all nighter on it tonight to try and get it done. Have to get the tcase back together and then regear the diffs. As well as do the rear lift. Then its off to get three linked.
- Thread starter
- #43
Alright, time for some updates!
Here's a close up of the part time kit installed. Put t-case back together then locked up the diffs and pulled the thirds.
This is trying to drain the front diff. I don't even know how this ran. It's almost like it was filled with grease...
Then installed new 5.29 gears from Big Country Customs. My experience with these guys has been a bit rocky. First they sent wrong axle seals. Then while doing gears found out they sent the wrong pinion shims for front and rear. Also sent wrong carrier bearing shims for rear and wrong bearings, It's like everything was wrong! Thought it was straitened out after a week on the phone, but then when I got the new "right" shims, they still were wrong, they had just sent a bag with 3 different types of shims none of which were the size I specified... I defiantly do not recommended ordering from them. Anyways, finally did get it all back together with the help from a local machine shop and Altitude Adjustments.
Old gears.
New gears.
You can see the original shim and then the ones I was sent...
Here's a close up of the part time kit installed. Put t-case back together then locked up the diffs and pulled the thirds.
This is trying to drain the front diff. I don't even know how this ran. It's almost like it was filled with grease...
Then installed new 5.29 gears from Big Country Customs. My experience with these guys has been a bit rocky. First they sent wrong axle seals. Then while doing gears found out they sent the wrong pinion shims for front and rear. Also sent wrong carrier bearing shims for rear and wrong bearings, It's like everything was wrong! Thought it was straitened out after a week on the phone, but then when I got the new "right" shims, they still were wrong, they had just sent a bag with 3 different types of shims none of which were the size I specified... I defiantly do not recommended ordering from them. Anyways, finally did get it all back together with the help from a local machine shop and Altitude Adjustments.
Old gears.
New gears.
You can see the original shim and then the ones I was sent...
- Thread starter
- #44
Kinda got a little hasty at the end and forgot about taking pictures. The shim thing really set us back about 2 weeks on what was supposed to be a 3-4 day job...
Here's a comparison on the tires I have been running for the past year and what I'm stepping up too.
This is with the Slee 4" heavies installed and 37's mounted.
And here is how it sits now with everything back together and hubs installed. 33's on the front and 37's in the back! I drove it like this about 20 km to the fab shop, should have the front end finished and coilovers in by this weekend!
Here's a comparison on the tires I have been running for the past year and what I'm stepping up too.
This is with the Slee 4" heavies installed and 37's mounted.
And here is how it sits now with everything back together and hubs installed. 33's on the front and 37's in the back! I drove it like this about 20 km to the fab shop, should have the front end finished and coilovers in by this weekend!
stinkbug haha, another reason why im going to go 37s
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
hotrod style !
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Pulled the front diff out to find just plain nasty old gear oil. It was more like grease. The rear diff was fine. So don't know why the front gear oil was like this. Was a pain to clean but got everything cleaned out.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Then we pulled out the rear third and there was much less cleaning to do since the rear oil drained out fine.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Set up the front third first went really smooth. I made some set up bearings with the original pinion bearings by pressing the bearings off and then using a die grinder and a flapper wheel to grind out the inner race of the bearing till it slid over the pinion easily. I got good pattern on the first go so removed the pinion and set up bearing and installed the new bearing and set up the bearing preload to spec.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Had trouble with the rear diff. Not only is it a pain compared to the front because it uses shims to set the preload and backlash instead of adjuster nuts but having the wrong shims was a really big headache. I spent a lot of time getting everything just right with this one. The pattern could be better I'm a little towards the toe of the gear but its acceptable. Lack of shims was the biggest issue and they aren't common as we tried different shops to get us shims that were even close. Not the same just usable. But it is together now.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Installed the rear part of the suspension. New slee 4 inch heavy coils, adjustable upper links, and adjustable panhard. The stock rear suspension was so sagged that it turned out being close to 8 and a half inches of lift.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Comparison of 37 to a 33 and the way the truck sits with the 37's under it. The springs should eventually settle in and the truck will sit a little lower. It's just a good thing he didn't decide to go with the 6 inch springs.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Then I moved onto getting the front axle back together. Installed the third, Marlin Crawler seals, Longfields, and AVM locking hubs.
Installed the Marlin inner axle seals and then slipped in the chromoly Longfield inner shaft and birfield. Laid out all the gaskets and seals as per install for a more visual presentation.
Installed the Marlin inner axle seals and then slipped in the chromoly Longfield inner shaft and birfield. Laid out all the gaskets and seals as per install for a more visual presentation.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Next installed the spindle and hub and rotor assembly with freshly packed wheel bearings.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
Then I installed the AVM locking hub. start with the main body where the drive flange used to mount. Then install the spacer and the snap ring. And finish it off with the switch/cover.
canadian bum
SILVER Star
The Cruisin Offroad skid plate is nice. Easily bolted up and used factory holes to mount. Going to get Corey to talk to the guy about maybe a future transmission skid if possible. Only thing I would add to this skid is some steel rings around the three front bolts to keep the heads from getting ripped off in the rocks. I will weld some in place and take some pictures in the future. Cruisin Off Road
Cruisin'
Out in the shop, building something cool!
That's a good idea. Hadn't thought of it before, but I'll look at incorporating that into the design.
I've always gone away from the idea of using countersunk bolts since at least if a regular bolt head gets mangled you can get it off with vise-grips, but for this vulnerable spot a simple guard would keep them intact.
Thanks for the input!
Awesome build. Can't wait to see how the front suspension is going to be set up.
keep up the good work
