Anyone got an itch to turn a wrench?

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mtweller

mtweller

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Cary, NC
Hey all, in trying to complete my 40 project(s) for the 10/24 ride, I will be spending my coming weekends and nights (basically all my free time) working in the garage. If anyone wants to help, I would be ecstatic. Especaially anyone w/ cut and turn experience. I have the SM465 plate done and she should be buttoned up and going in tomorrow. Following that, I will start on the shackle reversal, SOA, and C&T. Not to mention I still have to trim the rear fenders, and get my hardtop and doors on (requirement for the :princess: to join in the trip :)).

If you have some free time, give me a call or just stop by. Don't want to put my addy or number up for all to see, so if you don't have it PM or email me!

Thanks,

Ramon
:beer:
 
I'll give you a shout. I have some free time on my hands when not looking for a job. :-)
 
Sawwweeeet fellers! I appreciate it.
 
Wish I could, but I'm in Asheville this weekend and in Denver the next. I might have some pointers for the knuckles though. I have followed quite a few threads on knuckle turns and it seems that getting the measurement on where to cut is the hardest part. I actually cut and shortened my PTO driveshafts in this same manner. It went basically like this:
Take a measurement from the end of the axle to the center of the weld bead between the knuckle housing and the tube. Write it down.
Take an angle gauge and measure the perch angle relative to the knuckle angle. Write it down.
Grind the weld as smooth as you can all the way around the housing.
Take a sharpie and mark a line all the way around where you are going to cut (center of old weld).
Take a grinder with a 1/8" thick cutting wheel and start working it all the way around very carefully.
Try to get a cut that's straight and about 3/16" deep.
Take a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer with the plastic end and whap the knuckle housing all the way around a few times. What you want to see is a small crack develop in the bottom of the cut.
If it doesn't, cut a little bit more out and repeat.
Some people will cut all the way in deep, but I prefer to take just enough to get the parts to move.
If you see the crack, put the housing in a vice if you have one, then put a wooden broom handle or similar though the knuckle housing and twist to where you think you want it to be. If you cut just enough material out, it will be a snug fit and require some effort to twist.
Take a measurement and verify.
When you have it where you want it, weld it up in little sections. Don't weld the whole thing at one time. The 1/8" cut will give you a nice hole to puddle metal into.
Repeat with the other side, but this time just match the knuckle angle to the other side.

Like I said, I haven't done knuckles, but I read up on them, and I used this same proceedure on four driveshafts with good results.
 
Thanks for the writeup Barry. That is right in line with what I have been reading. The hard part is determining much to turn. I'm just going to dive in!

Martin, I'll take you up on that! You should be able to get a home cooked meal out of the deal :)

R
 
Hey Raymond, this weekend is shot for me with these rescue pups, sorry dude. I can come by next Fri - Sat - Sun.
 
Thanks for letting me know Joe. I totaly understand. Great thing you are doing. I will surely need help again next weekend and I had a couple of setbacks this AM anyway (gotta' head back over to the machine shop :( )

Ramon
 
Yeah, that amount of rotation depends on the pinion angle you want to be left with. You can always tack in two spots and and throw in under the springs. Set the weight on it and then figure out where you would like it to be. You still have some adjustment when you go to weld the perches, and those can be tacked as well. In fact, I wish you had more time and weren't rushing, because that's the part that I can see being an install, uninstall, install, unistall process. At least you don't have to fiddle with steering linkage and driveshafts during that, so it's not too time consuming.
 
Hey everyone, quick update. With MUCH APPRECIATED help from Greg over the weekend and this week, the project is coming along. 465/tcase are in, but need to be buttoned up. I am fabbing a skid plate/crossmember/track bar mount this week. Rear springs are off and FJ55 springs are in place and ready to be set in place. I have to get some help cutting my skid plate steel and drilling out the universal shackle plates (for the 55 rear springs) tonight.

The thing that REALLY concerns me is that my mini-knuckles guy has gone MIA. He was supposed to ship Monday and I haven't heard back from multiple emails. That may be the limiting factor so if you know a source, PLEASE, let me know.

In a nut shell, should be ready to start the c/t on Saturday - who's in????

Ramon
 
My parents are coming up Friday and Saturday, but if you need some help on Sunday, just let me know...
 
Hey Brian, that'd be great. I'm not turning down ANY offers for help at this point! Crunch time. Plus, you can go ahead and get the springs if you want. One of the center pins was broken on one of the rears - not sure on the fronts yet. 4wheel parts has them for about $10 a pair. I was wondering if I could get a pair of stock shackles from you as well? You'll be getting the anti-inversions that are on the lift springs now, so you won't need the stockers. I need a pair for my front SR.

Thanks,
Ramon
 
You can have those that we took off my white one. Not sure if they're stock or not, but you definately don't want the ones off the green one! I'll let you know about this weekend, it might be Saturday after all, I'll shoot you an email or give you a call....
 
I need to chat with the boss, but I think I can swing helping on Saturday. Been busy this week getting ready for family visit (here now), but this weekend should be do-able. Depending on how late you are working Friday night, I might be able to lend a hand then too. I will give you a call tonight.
 
Cool. I will be in the garage starting tonight through the weekend to all hours of the morning and night. I'm bound and determined to get this thing done and roll west next weekend! Clint, I got a new cell number in June, not sure if you have correct one or not... it starts w/ 268. Ping me if you need it.

Ramon

PS - I think I'm gonna put a boston butt in the oven tonight to have some Q for Sat afternoon.
 
Ramon,

Parents aren't coming until Sunday, so I'm trying to get up your way afternoonish on Sat.. I'll need to finish taking those shackles off so I'll give you a call...
 
mtweller said:
Cool. I will be in the garage starting tonight through the weekend to all hours of the morning and night. I'm bound and determined to get this thing done and roll west next weekend! Clint, I got a new cell number in June, not sure if you have correct one or not... it starts w/ 268. Ping me if you need it.

Ramon

PS - I think I'm gonna put a boston butt in the oven tonight to have some Q for Sat afternoon.
Click to expand...

Ramon, I don't think I have your new cell either. I can come on over today and lend a hand. It's 0630 now - have you started yet today?;)
 
Alright - here are a few pics I took from Saturday. Ramon thanks for the Q. Good seeing everyone again and meeting some I had not met before.

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