Builds '81 Trekker ReDistruction

[jamarquardt22]

I didn't insist. I felt it was the most logical place and felt the placement in front of the axle was strange. Like the way the lower mounts were angled down and to the front. I still feel that you could put 6 shocks on the rear axle. no real propose other then you could.

 

[Pacer]

Got the steering box in for the final time.
Reconnected the tierods and diled in the steering stops.

Started mocking up the Ford shock towers.
I am really impressed how beautifully these fit for this situation.
I am worried the tires may get into the shocks on full stuff, but remains to be seen.

 

[BROKEROB1]

Looks awesome!!!!!

 

[joabmc]

This rig is going to be pretty amazing. Wish I had just a fraction of the skills to be able to tackle something this.

 

[jamarquardt22]

You don't need any skills as long as you have deep pockets.

 

[joabmc]

You don't need any skills as long as you have deep pockets.

I have neither!

 

[Pacer]

This rig is going to be pretty amazing. Wish I had just a fraction of the skills to be able to tackle something this.

Thanks Jody, I've had some help along the way.

 

[fireball]

Those are the same shock towers I used on my old bronco!

 

[Pacer]

I promise, no more pics of the front axle after this

All buttoned-up in front, nut and bolt checked, torqued, cotter pins.
Still gotta trim u-bolts or Gary may get after me again.

Gotta add gear oil and lock down the tierod nuts still.

Shock mounts are heavy tacked for now, will burn them in after I flex it a bit and make sure there are no glaring issues.

12" travel for the front and 14" in the rear.

 

[BROKEROB1]

That’s got to be a great feeling, Aaron... awesome work!!!!

I promise, no more pics of the front axle after this

All buttoned-up in front, nut and bolt checked, torqued, cotter pins.
Still gotta trim u-bolts or Gary may get after me again.


View attachment 2256918

Gotta add gear oil and lock down the tierod nuts still.


View attachment 2256920
View attachment 2256919
Shock mounts are heavy tacked for now, will burn them in after I flex it a bit and make sure there are no glaring issues.

12" travel for the front and 14" in the rear.
View attachment 2256916

View attachment 2256917

 

[VA.CRUISER]

Check those shock bolts again those nuts aren’t tight

 

[Pacer]

That’s got to be a great feeling, Aaron... awesome work!!!!

Thanks Rob, gettin' close to another lap around the neighborhood.
I've been working on the rear leaf packs and getting ready to final install the rear axle next.

Yesterday I tossed together a parts store, 2½" exhaust system.
Some flex pipe and tube I had around, clamped to the header JAMarquardt22 gave me. I ran that to a Summit Racing FloMaster clone, out the back.

Brake lines tomorrow. Reinstall gas tank....

 

[Pacer]

Check those shock bolts again those nuts aren’t tight

 

[jamarquardt22]

It's going to be loud!

 

[shmukster]

Looking good!!!!!

 

[Pacer]

Played with rear shock mount location for a day or so.....
Very nice to have options up top.

Managed to stuff the 14"s in there. They have plenty of up and down travel when leaning in, mounted to the inner holes.

Mock-up only.

Ride hight

Full droop.

 

[Pacer]

The brake line running along the frame was pretty crusty. Figure, since the tank is out and while I'm under here....

 

[Pacer]

Stuffed this back in it's home.

Blead the brakes.

Ride hight on 32s.

Taking my time and cleaning up loose ends before another shake down run.

Can't wheel it yet, but close to a test-drive.

 

[Pacer]

Covid:

It's been a wild three months since my last post here.
Figuring out our three school age kiddos future. Developing an at home school schedule. Learning to live and support a family during a pandemic, good thing there's an instruction manual for all this.

So far my immediate and peripheral family have been very fortunate and no one has become seriously ill yet!

Through all this, there are updates for the Trekker....
Test-drive with proportioning valve was a success. I have it cranked all the way to minimum rear and it can still lock the rear wheels, but I have no load back there yet. The brakes are excellent

The wheels this Trekker came with have been on my 62 with 1" spacers and 35" tires. When I first took them off the stock axles, there were washers behind them to clear the front tie rods.
I am happy to report, the wheels clear all the big brakes and hi steer components WITHOUT spacers (or washers) on the new axles
And they are wide enough to protect the rear lockouts better than previous wheel/tire combos this truck has tried on.

 

[surfishjoe]

Those wheels are sweet- are they an aftermarket wheel from the 80s?