ARCHIVE Forge Specialties: What are we working on?

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...new U-joints and Ford's insanely huge D60 wheel seal.

No one likes an open differential.

Ah...that's better.

...with BEEF.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

...moving onto the rear axle. The ARB case spreader comes in handy.

We prefer our ring gears to be medium rare before placing them onto the new carrier/locker. This toaster oven is incredibly well-seasoned with gear oil.

...checking backlash.

After everything is properly shimmed, the final install occurs.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

Now it's time to ride the wiring thrill-coaster. Since this rig is a basic work truck, it has plenty of dash blanks that offer real estate for switches. This is the wiring for the front and rear locker switches.

Like many modern vehicles, this rig offers minimal space to go through the firewall for in-cab wiring, so we fabbed up a pass-through harness to come up through the corner of the cab. We added a couple of extra wires to make it easier to run additional accessories in the future.

After removing the trim and flooring, we drilled and installed a bulkhead in the passenger rear corner of the cab.

The trim is reinstalled and the stock appearance is retained.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

The only additional underhood electrical is the power and fuses for the compressor.

...the finished switch install. The compressor runs off of one of the factory upfitter switches.

Since the compressor is frame-mounted, we wanted to make sure that it continues to breath easy, regardless of dirt and moisture.

...fabbing up a mounting bracket for the two compressor air filters.

 

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This assembly will get mounted in one of the bed stake pockets.

 

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...running air lines to the frame-mounted solenoids and air manifold.

...and finally plumbing from the compressor back to the air manifold and the bumper-mounted air chuck.

 

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No one likes rust.

The transmission cooler lines on this FJ62 were one spec of road salt away from puking ATF all over the place.

Replacement lines are discontinued from Toyota, so we fabbed up some replacements.

 

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This rig suffered from a common 60 series affliction, Saggy Battery Syndrome.

There wasn't much left of the original battery tray.

We picked up a new OEM tray from @beno from Land Cruiser Parts and Consulting.

...as well as a new battery tray support bracket from @orangefj45 from Valley Hybrids.

 

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POP goes the 10bolt. GM pickups aren't our bread and butter, but we overhauled this rear diff for a buddy. Moving it from the parking space into the lift bay was full of all sorts of cool BANGS and JOLTS.

 

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We're doing some general service on a '71 40. Can you believe the intake/exhaust manifold gasket is leaking? Maybe if the previous installer had smeared 2 or 3 more beads of rtv it would have worked...

...cleaning up the mess.

 

[lrowe_csp]

I already knew you and Vince have mad skillz from the work you have done for me, but I really had no idea how much fun you are really having back there in the shop! Nice work... I am disappointed this thread isn't 30 pages long.