Builds Moonshine - A Build Thread (5 Viewers)

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I'm loving the look with the added width, I can't wait to get my body swap done so I can test out my new tires.

Moonshine is gonna look mean with those rockers on. Keep everyone posted on how they perform.

 

[brokenparts]

Bingo!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Glad you guys like it as much as I do! Took her for a drive and she's got no vibes, so I'm stoked. gothodgie, ill make sure to post up measurements as soon as I put them on.

 

[Landcruisin'60]

This reminded me that I should check the torque on my spacers. I'm waiting to hear how you like the Pitbulls. I'm in the market for 37s, I just cant decide which ones I want. A local shop has good deals on Pitbulls.

 

[gothodgie]

Glad you guys like it as much as I do! Took her for a drive and she's got no vibes, so I'm stoked. gothodgie, ill make sure to post up measurements as soon as I put them on.

thanks...

 

[TLC Norway]

Good, like the stance!
I've never used antisieze on my spacers, should i?
never had any problems, exept for that one time all the studs came loose, all but one! damaged my right rear spacer. i guess somehow that was my fault, either for mis-torqeing them, or worn studs.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Good, like the stance!
I've never used antisieze on my spacers, should i?
never had any problems, exept for that one time all the studs came loose, all but one! damaged my right rear spacer. i guess somehow that was my fault, either for mis-torqeing them, or worn studs.

The instructions said to put some anti-seize on the mating surface to prevent the spacer from corroding onto the hub. I don't think it's necessary, but I had the anti-seize at hand so it went on.

 

[TLC Norway]

Ah, makes sense with steel and aluminum... Are you on 8 or 10 in withs on your rims?

Sent from my GT-I9000 using IH8MUD app.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Ah, makes sense with steel and aluminum... Are you on 8 or 10 in withs on your rims?

Sent from my GT-I9000 using IH8MUD app.

Wheels are 15x10's with 3.5" backspacing. The guy I bought them from told me they were 2.5" BS, but it turns out he was feeding me BS. He also told me they weren't bent

 

[GLTHFJ60]

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[brokenparts]

Excellent

 

[Landcruisin'60]

Get em mounted yet?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Get em mounted yet?

Nope. I'm torn at this point honestly. When I go wheeling with the pits on, I am sure to break another stock birf, so I may as well wait till I upgrade to longfields before mounting them. In addition, I'm pretty confident that I bent my housing while bouncing it a year ago on Memorial day so I'm not sure the longs would even fit. On top of THAT, Moonshine is still my DD so I'm not sure I'm willing to drive the pits on the street that much.

So, right now, I'm thinking save up some dough for a diamond front housing with longs, then get another set of wheels and run the pits on those as a wheeling only set. Then again, I really need to redo my suspension setup because I want more flex and to do that I need a good welder, so not sure which I should do first.

In the long term, I want a diamond front housing with longs and a 3 link front with 63" chevy rears. The rear wheel wells will be extended back so I can lengthen the wheelbase by 3-6" ( not sure yet ) and the rust will all be cut out and patched up.

Where to start


Anyway, if y'all want measurements of the tires by themselves, let me know and I'll get them for you. They're 15ft away as I type this

 

[Cruiserdrew]

In the long term,

Where to start

How about a 62 housing? It's a bit more resistant to bending, available everywhere and will fit perfectly. That plus some 6 shooters and Longfields and good to go for a long time.

No way I'd do a fancy housing over say a Dana60 front. Just money down the drain.

 

[brokenparts]

I like the plan but I'd go dana over the diamond. More strength for less money in the long run. Plus you can always upgrade the Dana 60 if you ever feel the need to. Either that or pick up a cheap housing and add the longs.

 

[Kurtis]

I'd probably do the dana with your future plans. Might as well just get it done with. The dana and the welder will cost you less than a diamond and longs... I'd just run the tires switching all the time at that size is a pain in the ass and they'll probably rot before you wear them out if you did. If those are your plans I would just break down and drop the cash on some good tools first. My personal must haves past the basics are a good jack, good engine stand, good engine lift, compressor with air tools, welder, tube bender/notcher,and plasma cutter in that order. It makes this stuff so much easier. I've got everything but the plasma cutter and its killing me. I used to have a friend that built plasma cnc machines and another with a plasma cutter but the first moved and the second doesn't have it anymore. After grinding spring perches for what seemed like eternity its now the next thing I buy.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

How about a 62 housing? It's a bit more resistant to bending, available everywhere and will fit perfectly. That plus some 6 shooters and Longfields and good to go for a long time.

No way I'd do a fancy housing over say a Dana60 front. Just money down the drain.

My front end is a 62 housing already. Bent at the knuckles.

I like the plan but I'd go dana over the diamond. More strength for less money in the long run. Plus you can always upgrade the Dana 60 if you ever feel the need to. Either that or pick up a cheap housing and add the longs.

You and drew are probably right. I could pick up a D60 and 14B and install them for less than a Diamond front end would cost. I should probably just start looking at building a set of 'tons.

I'd probably do the dana with your future plans. Might as well just get it done with. The dana and the welder will cost you less than a diamond and longs... I'd just run the tires switching all the time at that size is a pain in the ass and they'll probably rot before you wear them out if you did. If those are your plans I would just break down and drop the cash on some good tools first. My personal must haves past the basics are a good jack, good engine stand, good engine lift, compressor with air tools, welder, tube bender/notcher,and plasma cutter in that order. It makes this stuff so much easier. I've got everything but the plasma cutter and its killing me. I used to have a friend that built plasma cnc machines and another with a plasma cutter but the first moved and the second doesn't have it anymore. After grinding spring perches for what seemed like eternity its now the next thing I buy.

I think this is the point that I'm at right now. I need to get myself into a good welder before I go making any more drastic suspension / axle changes.

 

[Kurtis]

I was kinda in the same boat a couple years ago. I'm actually just finishing school this year but I figured over a life time having the right tools early will pay off. I had to squeeze the piggy bank and put in some extra hours but I figured If I'm dropping 1k per class to get a degree I might as well drop 2-3k on some good tools. I learn as much building stuff for myself as I do in class. I'm a business and Chinese major but do construction while I go to school and Do most of my own work on the toys. I figure when I'm done I'll have my degrees, a contractors license for fallback and have learned a lot about mechanics and fabricating. If nothing else the tools make my money go a lot further on the 60 and sand rail. I do all the rebuilds bottom and top on my dirt bikes as well. I just didn't want to be 30-40 before I could have a little fun. The only option was learning how to do it myself since I couldn't come close to affording having all the stuff done. I just wish my lot was big enough for a shop.

So is your plan to get the suspension and drive train how you like it and then swap a fresh body when its done? Seems like a pretty good idea given you have a good frame to work with now. Those chevy 63s look awful tempting. A 3 link front and 4 rear would be a lot of fun though. I did the 350 tbi/ 4l60e and like it a lot. If I did any other swap though it would be a 6.5td. the 6.5 gets 4 banger diesel mileage with v8 drivability+ some extra low torque. A couple mods and its very reliable as well. this really does become an addiction...

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I was kinda in the same boat a couple years ago. I'm actually just finishing school this year but I figured over a life time having the right tools early will pay off. I had to squeeze the piggy bank and put in some extra hours but I figured If I'm dropping 1k per class to get a degree I might as well drop 2-3k on some good tools. I learn as much building stuff for myself as I do in class. I'm a business and Chinese major but do construction while I go to school and Do most of my own work on the toys. I figure when I'm done I'll have my degrees, a contractors license for fallback and have learned a lot about mechanics and fabricating. If nothing else the tools make my money go a lot further on the 60 and sand rail. I do all the rebuilds bottom and top on my dirt bikes as well. I just didn't want to be 30-40 before I could have a little fun. The only option was learning how to do it myself since I couldn't come close to affording having all the stuff done. I just wish my lot was big enough for a shop.

So is your plan to get the suspension and drive train how you like it and then swap a fresh body when its done? Seems like a pretty good idea given you have a good frame to work with now. Those chevy 63s look awful tempting. A 3 link front and 4 rear would be a lot of fun though. I did the 350 tbi/ 4l60e and like it a lot. If I did any other swap though it would be a 6.5td. the 6.5 gets 4 banger diesel mileage with v8 drivability+ some extra low torque. A couple mods and its very reliable as well. this really does become an addiction...

That's the general idea with the plan. I want to put longer springs up front and 63's in the rear. The rear axle is getting moved back and the wheel arches lengthened to accommodate that. The rear axle is about as built as it can get, so that's gonna stay the way it is. After pondering it for a few days, I think I'm gonna find another 62 housing and build it up with knuckle ball gussets and everything else, then outfit it with an e-locker, longs and IFS hubs.

In addition, the body is going to receive some serious patch work. It's gonna be fun Just gotta decide on the order that's all gonna happen in.

 

[pjfairchild]

What's the record for longest ROTW thread? You've got to be close by now. Come back for a visit to Mo. and you can pick up your old axle housing if you need it. I don't seem to go thru spare parts quite as fast as you.