Builds Moonshine - A Build Thread (3 Viewers)

[GLTHFJ60]

man it looks badass already...

Thanks man! It's simply a collection of ideas stolen from more intelligent and creative people than myself.

Any new updates on this beast??? I actually just want to see more pictures! And Ford Escorts Suck BTW

No updates yet. I dropped my FF axle housing at the machine shop to have the welded race ground down to spec and dropped my DC driveshaft off at a different shop to have lengthened for the rear. As soon as I get those two components back this will be on the road.

I ordered a set of bumpers for Moonshine a'la SROR. I'm getting his tube bumpers for the front and rear. Front is gonna have a bit of a higher stinger similar to freds40's custom front and the rear is going to be a copy of what brokenparts had on v1 of his rig ( pre-'tons ).

What else do I have to do

Shock towers
Shocks
Clearance tranny crossmember
Mount and balance tires
Buy spare tire + rim

As soon as this thing can roll, I'm pushing it out of the garage and cutting off the rockers like boots4 did. I can't stand staring at them any longer. We'll see how long it takes with the plasma torch.

 

[brokenparts]

lookin good man... keep it up!

 

[boots4]

As soon as this thing can roll, I'm pushing it out of the garage and cutting off the rockers like boots4 did. I can't stand staring at them any longer. We'll see how long it takes with the plasma torch.

After cutting some parts out last night with brokenpart's dialed in plasma I'd say 5 mins a side. Those things are great!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

lookin good man... keep it up!

Thanks man! Your rig has been my inspiration for a long time...

After cutting some parts out last night with brokenpart's dialed in plasma I'd say 5 mins a side. Those things are great!

Glad to hear it! I have a question about the rocker chop though, did you cut it off right below the door or did you cut it off after it angled out below the door? I was thinking of cutting it off at the higher seam, the one you have to open the door to get to 1" below where the door weatherstrip contacts the frame.

 

[brokenparts]

I cut about an inch or so below where I wanted the rocker to end up and "rolled" the lip with my body hammer. It gives the rocker a more finished look. I'm pretty sure Boots did the same.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I cut about an inch or so below where I wanted the rocker to end up and "rolled" the lip with my body hammer. It gives the rocker a more finished look. I'm pretty sure Boots did the same.

That's a fantastic idea. I'll do that, thanks for the tip!!

Also, I just ordered the Ford shock towers. They cost me $34.00 for two of them including tax! What a deal. The part number for those wondering is E5TZ-18183-A. It's been posted before, but here it is again.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Finally some more updates. First I want to show my FF axle spindle. Just a re-cap, I bought this axle with a run out outer bearing race on the long side of the axle. To fix, you have to find someone to weld it to build up more metal, and then find someone to machine it down to the same spec as the other side. I had quite a time finding a machine shop with a lathe big enough to throw the axle housing, but I did and just got it back yesterday afternoon Here's the machine'd final product:

 

[GLTHFJ60]

So after racing over to the machine shop to pick it up before they closed, I brought it and everything else I had over to the David's shop to get started right away. I ground down the locations of the perches on the top of the axle, slapped the perches on and threw the axle on the springs. We then centered the axle, put the weight of the truck on it and assembled the brakes with new wheel cylinders. At that point, I realized that the bearings I had for this axle had rusted in the weeks since I took this apart, so Kenny busted out a spare set of wheel bearings from the front of his 80, same numbers!! After cleaning and packing those, we had the hubs on. Now, to set the preload on a FF axle, one must have the special Toyota SST to do so. It's a 3 prong tool ( pictured below ). After fabricating one of those from a 3"x3" plate and some spare bolts, we set the preload and threw the tires on.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

So as you can see, it's obnoxiously tall. The rear springs are new, so they will break in, but I may end up taking another leaf out. Time will tell. Today, we are going to put the front wheels on, front brake line, grease all of the busings, install the spring pin lock bolts and re-torque everything except for the rear axle u-bolts, because those will come back out.

Getting closer! If we can weld up the rear on Thursday, then I'm taking it camping this weekend

As it sits now:

 

[redcorn]

Sweet work man....Big wagons RULE!

 

[IrollwithTojo]

I remember seeing you posting about blacked out rigs, and likeing them over your gray one, IMO might as well just black it out while its sittin

-Carl

 

[feldkurat]

Hi, good work! I have a question about your storage / sleeping system. How do you mount it to the floor? Any new holes in the floor? Or something else?

 

[ksrunner]

Sweetness! Is the rig viewable in the Rochester area?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Sweet work man....Big wagons RULE!

It willrule even more when I can drive it!

I remember seeing you posting about blacked out rigs, and likeing them over your gray one, IMO might as well just black it out while its sittin

-Carl

Believe me, I thought of that. I have the paint, but I want to do the mirrors, side vents, grill, and install the headlight grills and sliding rear windows all at the same time, so it'll wait.

Hi, good work! I have a question about your storage / sleeping system. How do you mount it to the floor? Any new holes in the floor? Or something else?

4 bolts through holes I drilled in the bed. Holds it perfectly. I can take a pic or two if you want.

Sweetness! Is the rig viewable in the Rochester area?

Nope, not yet. I'm in ky till the end of the summer and I'll be back up north early September. We should meet up when I get back up there!!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Okey dokey, last night got a couple of misc things done on the truck. Greased all the bushings, installed new spring pin lock bolts, installed the front SS brake line, threw the rear diff in and put the front tires on. I think it looks pretty badass. The frame height in front of the rear spring hanger is 26.5" and behind the front spring hanger is 26". The rear tires are a little flat, so approx 26" front and 27" rear. NOT BAD!! I think it looks like a million bucks.

Today I'm going to try to pick up the rear driveshaft so we can line up the rear axle and weld the perches on. Then it's ready for the weekend.

 

[feldkurat]

4 bolts through holes I drilled in the bed. Holds it perfectly. I can take a pic or two if you want.

Yes, please I m going to make the frame for sleeping place from aluminium shape. But do t know yet how to fasten it.

 

[EOE_overland]

Those tires do look schweet now that they're on! I expect to see John and Ponch hopping out in their CHiPs uniforms . Definitely old school! So...what happened to the old tires?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Yes, please I m going to make the frame for sleeping place from aluminium shape. But do t know yet how to fasten it.

I'll take some pics when I'm over there next.

Those tires do look schweet now that they're on! I expect to see John and Ponch hopping out in their CHiPs uniforms . Definitely old school! So...what happened to the old tires?

Mall cruiser!! Hahaha, nice buddy. The first time those tires got flexing on my truck, it was on a loading dock. Glad you like them! Were they out of balance?

 

[EOE_overland]

Mall cruiser!! Hahaha, nice buddy. The first time those tires got flexing on my truck, it was on a loading dock. Glad you like them! Were they out of balance?

Tires feel good! I'll get them checked soon, but no vibration. Even at 80mph. Yeah, had to get a poser pick at work. Actually backed into my golfcart before I put my tire up on the barrier. Whoops .

 

[ElliottB]

Wow! That thing is huge. I love it.