New member... Hello there VI. Bit of an intro....

[slowandsteady BJ]

Well the dual front shocks are a marked improvement. The extra rebound damping really helps on the wash-board. I haven't weighed my wheel/tire setup but it's getting "up there".
The compression damping helps stop bottoming out with my tired springs. I'll be adding a winch and bumper soon so some new(er) leafs will be in order. I don't want to lift the front anymore but I'll cross that bridge later.

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

OBA.... finally.

This has been a long time comming. Ive worked on it all week, here and there when time permits as well as the many trips to the parts store for this and that.

After having ARB's in the axles for over a year they now, actually do something.

I bought a pair of VIAIR compressors (450's 100% duty cycle) at the Lordco trade show in 2010. They fit in a 60 quater panel nicely and came with remote intake filters and check valves.

VIAIR reccomends 4ga wire to supply the compressors if not mounted near the battery. So I ripped the 8ga I had installed months ago while the interior was all out and replaced it with 4ga.

Then I build a mounting plate out of stainless 16ga. and dynamated it to help with vibration.

Also dynamated the QP.

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

To keep the compressors a bit cooler I installed a 12v computer fan on the back side of the interior panel and wired it to come on with the compressors. It actually moves a lot of air. One can feel the hot air escaping through the D pillar interior vents.

An old speaker cover works well to keep the fan protected.

One can pop out the cap dor the rear washer bag and get even more air flow. Not that the compressors really get that hot but it cant hurt to have the extra air flow.

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

I got an air line manidold from Princess auto a while ago and used it to distribute the air. 1 line in, three out, one plugged for later use. This block sends air to either side of the truck for air tools and tire inflation and up to the next manifold where the 1/4 inch air lines are.

The first manifold is for standard 3/8 air line with 1/4npt ports plus 2 - 1/2" ports, one for supply and the other I bushed down to a 1/4" drain.

The 2nd manifold I made myself from aluminum. Its tapped with 1/8npt ports that I used compressoin fittings on to supply the switches for air bags, lockers and a gauge.

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

I decided to use simple barb fittings and hose clamps for the 3/8 air line fittings. I did this for ease of repair on the trail. If they prove to be unreliable Ill get proper crimp fittings to replace them.

The air lines are run inside the frame rails with conduit where needed.

I used female connectors at the tank as they have a built in check valve so if a compressor packs it in I can just disconnect the one and use the other. The lower down female is for plugging air lines into. I got to find some sort of "boot" for these.

All the 1/4 inch lines go up through the body and into the center console for the mechanical switches. No electrics here!

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

And finally..... the gauge and switches. I believe the locker switches are from a Western Star, got them at P-and-R.

The compressors come on at 100psi and shut off at a hair under 150psi.

The manifolds and bumper didnt explode when I first aired it up (nice)

I had three leakes here and there to fix but its all tight now. It held 150psi all night and hadn't dropped this morning.

This is so cool im smiling just writing this. Lets go wheelin!


Cam

 

[Rigpig]

Looking good buddy!!!

 

[Toshi38]

Nice work cam!

 

[seapotato]

took ya long enough...

just think how quickly you'll get that blowup doll inflated now!



( awesome work dude)

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

Thanks lads!

Im heading into the bush later today. Like a kid on his bike off to the candy store! Now i can really get myself into trouble.

The next big project is front springs, winch and a bumper. Stay tuned.

Cam

 

[Toshi38]

go between the 2 rocks this time... andrew can pull you out... its probably warm by now anyway

 

[asutherland]

Thanks lads!

Im heading into the bush later today. Like a kid on his bike off to the candy store! Now i can really get myself into trouble.

The next big project is front springs, winch and a bumper. Stay tuned.

Cam

Phewf, what a run! We made it out alive too. Past the guy with the shotgun.

We made it from the scratchy area (blueberry flats) all the way up and over to the area we went last time... basically connecting the 2 areas together with a successful connecting road. We waypointed it too. I'll post our track up in the members only section later.

Cam's air setup is very sweet and worked well. He drove up the rock playground like a freakin' tractor. Though I still beat him on re-airing the tires afterward!

 

[Toshi38]

good to hear... where's the pictures

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

So more progress.....

A good buddy of mine let me into his Aluminum fab shop Friday night and here's what happened....

First off...I spent a good part of Friday helping Steve (Toshi) set-up his rear disk brake brackets. We got plowed on Lucky in the direct sunlight while his retarded landlord instructed us how to run brake lines the wrong way. Once that was over the real fun began.

A good friend of mine offered to help me build a roof rack for my 60. He and I know each other via the same way I met Kirk (Crusty). Adam and I both went to welding school together for a couple of different years while grinding our way through the various welding ticket certifications.

He is a busy busy lad and he managed to make some time for me in his hectic schedual. We got started at 7:00pm and didnt stop till 3:00am. (grunt) Please keep in mind this wasnt because we worked that hard rather that we BS'd, caught up, took our time and really enjoyed the work. Cruiser style. Laid back, slow and steady all the way. Adam covered the tube TIG welding as he can clearly "weld circles around me" when it comes to Aluminum. I contributed by nearly cutting my finger off at one point but this didn't phase Adam one bit. After the loud "bang", and the sound of aluminum pipe skidding across the shop floor..... Adam said "hey...........You OK? "Yep" I said. "K" he replied in his typical nonchelant deminar and the grinding/fabricating continued.

He had a super duper mandral bender with lights and digital numbers all over that allowed us to bend sched. 40 1.5" aluminum pipe with an inner radius of 3". Now thats tight. A typical bender might achieve 6" at best.

When the clock struck 3:00 I said I could finish the rest at home and Adam sighed a sigh of relief. We both headed home. I managed to stay awake throughout the entire drive home (just) and finished it all up later on.

Thanks Broskie, I owe you one.... or three!

Pics....

 

[Toshi38]

Nice work guys! ... It was fun pretending to help before I went out drinking...

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

I kept the rack as low as possible and added some "limb riser" mounts for future use. The edge of the tube should protect the gutters well and keep trees clear of the body.

I'm not sure if I should leave the rack "raw" aluminim or paint/powdercoat it black.....(opinions??) I'm thinking black at this point.....

I also got to entertain a favourite past time of mine. Ah yes.... the infamous "Dumpster Dive"!

Now clearly, I am not above such things. I have previously mentioned both "dump scrounging" and "dumpster diving". I mean metal, especially non-ferrous metal never really wears out and one mans scrap is another man's building material! So here is a pic of me "caught in the act!"

Oh yeah and a few more Rack pics....

 

[seapotato]

nice rack...

I'm not sure if I should leave the rack "raw" aluminim or paint/powdercoat it black.....(opinions??) I'm thinking black at this point.....

....

I'd vote raw...

powder coat just falls off after a while ( soon as it gets one little scratch...) and will leave you with piebald raw/black


that said, lookin good man. Pretty sure your's is the best built 60 I've ever seen...

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

nice rack...






I'd vote raw...

powder coat just falls off after a while ( soon as it gets one little scratch...) and will leave you with piebald raw/black


that said, lookin good man. Pretty sure your's is the best built 60 I've ever seen...

Thanks Ryan, that's high praise indeed!

I think once I get the shine off the aluminum (one winter should do it) I'll like it more. I too am not a fan of powder coating so it will be paint or nothing.

Thanks again.
( will you be making it to Steve's BD?)

 

[lineman_fj40]

Nice give it a sanding then clear coat for the brushed look

 

[wombat]

I vote NO to powder coating