Builds Merl the Pearl Build (1 Viewer)

[Ecliff5]

Tossed a 1” spacer in the front today. 37s needed a bit more breathing room before I start cutting. Sitting pretty level now. Need to order up some longer brake lines and bump stop extensions.

 

[Ecliff5]

Night shadow pearl doing its thing.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got some Slee brake lines that need to go in, added some Slee 2” rear bump spacers and got a cover to keep her warm and covered this winter.

 

[Ecliff5]

Finally replaced the starter after a few no crank no starts, had the starter in the truck was just avoiding working in the cold. Threw in a new fusible link while I was at it. She starts up strong now. Then it was finally time to bite the bullet and send my diffs out for a rebuild that have been sitting on the shelf for a year. 37s and stock gears are not ideal. I decided to send my diffs to Marlin Crawler for a full rebuild. New 4.88 gears, bearings, seals, solid pinion spacers and to service my ARB lockers with all new seals, air lines and fittings.

 

[Broski]

. I decided to send my diffs to Marlin Crawler for a full rebuild. New 4.88 gears, bearings, seals, solid pinion spacers and to service my ARB lockers with all new seals, air lines and fittings.
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Wow, what did it cost to send those across the country ?

 

[Ecliff5]

Wow, what did it cost to send those across the country ?

Too much, lol. I got a few quotes from places on the east coast but prices were starting at the final said and done price with MC. Even with shipping it will end up costing less than some of the east coast shops.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the front diff back from Marlin Crawler yesterday. Still waiting on the rear diff. Ordered up a rear axle rebuild kit w/ koyo wheel bearings from CruiserTeq and some more new seals for the front. Replaced all the seals for the locker solenoids, need to clean up the old ARB compressor that was covered in diff oil.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the ARB compressor for the lockers installed and wired up along with all of the dash switches. Jumping a wire from switch 1 to switch 2 allows you select either locker at anytime. Don’t need to lock the rear in order to lock the front. The compressor seems tired, and one of the solenoids doesn’t seem as strong as the other but everything seems to work. Just waiting on the rear diff from marlin crawler.

 

[Ecliff5]

Merl got treated to a radiator and a power steering refresh this weekend. She was rocking the original factory radiator which was brown and a ticking time bomb. The fan clutch nuts gave me the hardest time, they were so tight they spun the engine, and when holding the engine in place they spun the pulley. I stripped two of them and had to use a needle nose vice grip and pry bars to hold the pulley in place and break loose the stuck nuts. In typical fashion, when a nut breaks loose, your hand goes flying into the nearest sharp object and then lots of blood and swearing happens. Got bandaged up and got everything else removed, cleaned up and then I got everything ready for install the next day.

 

[Ecliff5]

For the power steering, I went with a 12" or 13" Derale cooler, new pump, new reservoir, new high pressure hose and low pressure hoses and ATF fluid. I removed the factory paper clip cooler and reused one of the clamps to support the new low pressure lines coming through the frame rail. Once all the power steering lines and what not was installed I put the radiator in and filled up all the fluids. Still have some air in the power steering that needs to work its way out, maybe a slight drip from the lower rad hose which is lame but so far so good.

 

[OGBeno]

Nice. Though I highly disapprove of the non_OEM high pressure line....

Did you not learn anything with me?

Job offer rescinded.

 

[Ecliff5]

Lol shoot I knew I blew it! Please forgive me master! I need the extra gas money to come see you in a month

 

[mudgudgeon]

Nice. Though I highly disapprove of the non_OEM high pressure line....

Did you not learn anything with me?

Job offer rescinded.

Didn't the masking tape bandage redeem a few points?

 

[Ecliff5]

Removed the stock exhaust and installed the new/old exhaust that is routed over the frame and much louder lol.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the old diff out and the new front diff installed today. Yukon 4.88 with arb locker. Been waiting on the rear diff still from marlin, should be here this week so that will go in next weekend. Also installed the slee extended brake lines up front and the new old but pretty much still new oem calipers and oem rubber brake lines.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the spare 37 mounted up. To store the giant heavy 37 under my sleeping platform I had to cut 2" out of my drawer where I keep all my kitchen kit and stove. The stove no longer fits but the 37 is now tucked behind my drawer where the 35 used to live. I put my tow strap in the wheel with an end sticking out that I use as a handle to pull the spare out if needed. I ultimately would like to get a bell-fab interior tire carrier and re do the platform so it is lower for more head room.

 

[Ecliff5]

Rear diff from marlin came in the mail today. Got home from work and got straight to wrenching. From in the box to in the 80 in 4 hours. Still need to run the airlines, rear extended brake line and bleed the brakes. Hoping to start the break in procedure for the gears this weekend.

 

[Ecliff5]

Yesterday after work I got the rear extended brake line in, brakes bleed and the diffs filled with oil. This morning I started running the airlines for the lockers. Turns out one air line is exactly the length I needed for the rear locker to run it away from the exhaust. Now I can’t plum the front locker. I needed to get started on the gear break in procedure. And I needed a front air line. So here I am sitting in a random parking lot 44 miles into the break in procedure, on my way to ok4wd in NJ to go get some scrap air line they had for free. They closed at 1pm so they hid it outside for me so I could take my time with breaking in the gears. Two birds, one stoner. I mean stone.

 

[Ecliff5]

80 miles into the breakin procedure and all is good so far. Made it to ok4wd to grab the air line they hid outside for me for free. While I let the diffs cool down I’m walking around their lot checking out the rigs.

 

[Ecliff5]

250 something miles into new gears. All sounds and feels good. Tested the lockers, the rear works. The front doesn’t. Not stoked. Had a bad feeling about the routing of the copper air line, still need to do some trouble shooting. Hopefully it’s a solenoid issue.
Today after work I found an exhaust shop that was able to bend me up a tailpipe and weld up all the other leaks. Sounds pretty good now, very pleased with the work.