Bilstein 101... (1 Viewer)

[woody]

Yeppers...welded rear diff....no complaints thus far with it, have run welded for 3 years now. Spiders/Sides only.

Unfortunately, my "mid"-summer has all been non-wheelin stuff, so I haven't had a chance to test them yet. "May" pull off a trip in late August down to Attica IN, but not sure...if not, Sept in Attica for sure and Oct in Oklahoma with the TX crew.

 

[akcruzers]

Woody, since no one makes a spool for a LC axle i have been toying with a welded diff. I was told that the best way was to use a stick machine and really burn it in there. How do you clean the slag out to keep from eating gears? I really like the idea of a cheap spool type diff. Precicly where do you weld and not weld.

TIA,
Greg

 

[hammerhead]

Here is an intro from the tech links.

http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/woody/welded.html

 

[woody]

I used a MIG for my welded diff....you'd use a stick IF you needed to weld the side gears to the case, but I don't recommend that.

the last 4 photos show my current welded one...I think that's the way to go, unfortunately, it takes about a week to do, since ya don't wanna put ALL that heat in there in one night...

 

[woody]

Bilstein pics from this morning...first, the rear mounting...

 

[woody]

oops....first one was a straight down shot of the front towers....but ya get the idea...

These three are the front tower setups...MetalTech (helocat on the forum) bent these up and will be adding something like this to his product line. 1-1/2" DOM, .120 wall, full 180 bend. I then made the frame side mounts myself, used a 1/2" grade 8 clear thru the frame, and sleeved the frame for strength. These will also be getting tied together over the engine for additional rollover protection.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

I was being lazy and almost asked if you sleeved the frame, then I got unlazy and read your post.

LOOKING GOOD................

 

[wngrog]

The Turd polishing is in full swing in the Woody household these days!

Cruiser looks SWEET!

 

[woody]

The Turd polishing is in full swing in the Woody household these days!

Cruiser looks SWEET!

just wait'll the winter projects start....

can you say "sawzall" boys and girls?

BTW: pumped for Oct in OK!!!

 

[wngrog]

just wait'll the winter projects start....

can you say "sawzall" boys and girls?

BTW: pumped for Oct in OK!!!

Don't get too crazy, that is the appeal of your rig, super capable and it still looks like a full bodied FJ-40....

You might paint the ugly fawker though :laughing:

 

[woody]

Don't get too crazy, that is the appeal of your rig, super capable and it still looks like a full bodied FJ-40....

You might paint the ugly fawker though :laughing:

hehehe...paint is on the list.....ditching the blue camo....

If I had any sheetmetal left to straighten up, I would...unfortunately, 6 years of abuse on that tub has taken a nasty toll....

 

[Chef]

Woody, your somewhat questionable fab skills, supplemented by Mark's have actually turned out a nice product
I especially like the auxillary (sp?) Shiner tank mounted by the rear shock hoop.