NOLA- A Build Story...that goes Diesel (4 Viewers)

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Got some new shoes for Nola. Wanted to find the lightest and tallest wheel tire combo with a 3 peak rating for 17 inch wheels. Wheels only weigh 26 lbs. Didn't want balloon tires but not pizza cutters either. Sidewall is supposedly pretty good on these ATW4s which eill be mch better than the current GY Duratracs. Handling should be improved too.

Got one more mod to do before I put these on.

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Should drop my revs when I'm on the highway too
Can you share wheel and tire specs? Looks great!
 
Can you share wheel and tire specs? Looks great!
Wheels
Tires
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New Tires weigh 68 lbs which is pretty good for a 35 inch 3 ply tire.

New Wheels come in at 26 lbs. My old wheels are 25 and current tires are 65 lbs.
 
Have you been happy with the PDI short shifter?
Absolutely....the throw is now maybe 3 inches. Much more notchy and direct, far less of a truck transmission feel.

I put a video from PDI showing their short shifter back in post 65. It's not that expensive too. Good bang for the buck in my opinion.
 
Did my first oil change here at 274,814. Surprised that I've driven it as much as I have and it's still taken this long to go 6k. Used Valvoline Premium Blue 15w-40, it was on sale at NAPA too for $16 a gallon so I picked up several cases.

Tested for blow by using the loose oil cap method and nary a breeze. Provent catch can only had a little over a ounce of oil but since this is the first oil change after the engine swap I'm sure the saturation of the filter has a couple ounces.

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Doing an inspection around the rest of the truck, I found some light colored oil dripping from the transfer case. It's looking like the paper gasket might be leaking. I'm going to clean it off and see if I can locate it. I'll use a flashlight and look for some some at night. That might help to locate it.

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Bushing time! New
Summer is a time in the northwest to paint parts. With humidity down to a much more reasonable 25%, painting in a day or two with primer is a real treat. That means I can pull off parts, rebuild, and have them back on the truck within a few days. My goal for the rest of the summer is to get everything on the undercarriage done leaving me with all interior mods (Seat brackets, window runs, stereo upgrade, roof sound deadening, winch, lights etc) for the winter.

For the undercarriage, I am starting with the bushings. Ordered up all the necessary parts from cruiserparts (great shop to work with, fantastic support before and after purchases) and got the stereotypical Harbor Freight 20 ton press. I also got Trail Tailors bushing press kit, I highly recommend it, made everything go a lot faster.


Bushing kits.webp


First up are the upper control arm bushings. Man they were shot! I could move the sleeve back and forth with my finger! No form of stabilization at all. Pulled the arms, pressed out the bushings and primed and painted using the ubiquitous John Deere Primer and Blitz Black paint (really nice product btw).

Upper Control Arm Bushing Blown.webp

Rear Upper Control Arm Bushing.webp


The bolts were worn, and while I am sure they were fine I went ahead and followed the FSM and replaced them. At the same time, I took the new bolts and tried a new anti corrosion technique for me; black oxide. I’ve wanted to do something about the recent rust that has started showing up on my truck. I’ve got some good $$ and a lot of time and some good memories in this rig and it would be a shame for it to start having rust issues in 5 or 10 years.

Rear Upper Control Arm and Fastners.webp


The black oxide worked pretty well but you had to be very thorough in your assembly line like treatment. ANY left over soap or oil would distort the finish.

Black Oxide process.webp


After doing a couple sets a few of the bolts immediately got surface rust/flashing. Tried a specific finishing oil for black oxide parts and while it helped, it missed on a few parts. So I decided to up the anti-corrosion properties and had a shop cerakote all my fasteners. They blasted them and cerakoted in a satin black that matches very well. I also did the fasteners for some interior panels, brake parts, rear tie downs, and other bolts. All it all it was the best $300 s I spent for just time alone let alone the durability properties. I ended up doing over 60 parts and fasteners done because it was cheaper to do them in batches.

Cerakote bolt and washer.webp


Clean Upper Control Arm.webp


Primed Upper Control Arm.webp


Painted Upper Control Arm.webp


New Upper Control Arm Bushing.webp


After the upper control arms were done, I moved on to the lower control arms. Those were a little bit easier but I had to jack up the truck higher and use straps to pull the rear axle forward a bit. This video helped me quite a bit: Timmy the Toolman Lower Control Arm Bushing replacement

Now that the upper and lower control arms are done I am moving on to the rear panhard bushings, followed by the Dissent Rear Bumper install and new Whiteline Rear Sway Bar along with Land Cruiser Phil Brackets. Once I've finished everything on the rear, I'll move on to Front Lower Control Arm Bushings, Front Panhard Bar Bushings, and Tie Rod Ends. Thanks for following along.
 
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