Builds Stevo's 6BT60 Build Thread (1 Viewer)

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Tomorrow I hope to get the spring packs pulled off of the dodge and hopefully get the suspension mounts tacked in so I can begin mockup of the motor location.

 

[snowboardonsnow]

Is that including the amount the axle will travel forward under compression?

Btw you could just get a long slip from a mini truck and it wouldn't cost you much them.

I think those ford springs would work well soa specially in the rear. If I run then in my next project I will sr though.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Is that including the amount the axle will travel forward under compression?

Btw you could just get a long slip from a mini truck and it wouldn't cost you much them.

I think those ford springs would work well soa specially in the rear. If I run then in my next project I will sr though.

I have a feeling a long slip for a mini-truck won't hold up to the torque from the Cummins. I want to run 3/4 ton driveshfts minimum.

I also would rather keep my current setup in the rear, I might pull a leaf to soften it up though.
Keep the ideas and suggestions coming though, Its always good to get others input on things.

I plan on mounting the 28" towards the fixed end while putting the 24" toward the shackle. I will mount the rear hanger to locate the axle in the right place for steering then will mount the front to get the desired shackle angle.

 

[snowboardonsnow]

Oh yea haha forgot about the big boy going in there!

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Over the weekend I had a few hours to work on the truck, it wasn't as productive as I would have liked but progress is progress.

I installed the new high steer arms.



They look good, I just need to drill and ream the holes out for the steering system. Since my high steer tie rods and ends are new I plan on reusing them.

I also got a killer deal on a set of bearings for the D60. $70 for all these guys right here.



It would have cost me a lot more to get them from a store, fortunately there is guy selling off some inventory or something on craigslist by me.

Also while working under the truck I wanted to have some additional safety measures. This is what I came up with.



I figure if it can support the Cummins + Clark Transmission it should be able to hold up the front end.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I wanted to clean out the engine bay a bit too, it was filthy and obviously had not been cleaned in a long time.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Clean enough........







It isn't as clean as it could be but I figure I am just going to get it filthy again anyway. At least I won't get super greasy putting the Cummins in.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

The last thing I needed to pull from the dodge was the rear leaf springs. I finally got around to them today and after a little bit of this.



And some of this....



I finally ended up with this.



Tomorrow I'll pull the packs apart and swap in the secondaries from the chevy pack. I'll also install some of those inserts at the ends of the leaf packs to reduce friction.

 

[disassociative]

A front-end loader? Man, you have got a sweet setup!

 

[alaska60]

I miss the farm areas of jersey. Like I said. We need to make a run this summer.
Looking like great progress my friend.
Cheers,

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

A front-end loader? Man, you have got a sweet setup!

The setup rocks. The family is super cool and my friend Keith is doing me a big favor by letting me work on the truck there.

I miss the farm areas of jersey. Like I said. We need to make a run this summer.
Looking like great progress my friend.
Cheers,

Yeah there is something about the area, it has a few more developments in it than when you left, but it still is really nice.


I also took apart the rear springs from the dodge, and I think this is going to be my final leaf pack.



I will obviously keep the other leaves in case I need to tune it a bit. As of right now it is the main from the dodge pack, the secondary from the chevy pack, the next three are the in order from the dodge pack, and the thick one at the end is the second to last spring from the original dodge pack. I need to cut the chevy spring a bit to get it to fit right and I need to drill holes for the leaf anti friction pads. I also want to make some spacers for the center of the packs to reduce friction.

 

[boots4]

I don't know how high your steering arms will place the tierod above the spring packs but there is the potential to run into clearance issues with really thick spring packs and your tierod. I'm at about the max thickness in my setup right now but your knuckles and arms should be taller than my stuff so this may end up being a moot point. Just giving you a heads up since you talked about spacers in between the leaves and that all adds up.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I don't know how high your steering arms will place the tierod above the spring packs but there is the potential to run into clearance issues with really thick spring packs and your tierod. I'm at about the max thickness in my setup right now but your knuckles and arms should be taller than my stuff so this may end up being a moot point. Just giving you a heads up since you talked about spacers in between the leaves and that all adds up.

Hey thanks for the heads up. For spacers I was just thinking of making some about 1/8th inch thick HDPP spacers, but you are right that adds up to .625 if I use 5 of them.

I hope that the high steer arms on dana 60's bump the tie rods up high enough.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

So yesterday I came home to find a package on my porch and inside it was this.





I found a guy selling this locker on pirate for $300 shipped so I jumped on it.
All I have to say is this thing is pretty beefy for a lunchbox locker. The crosspin is roughly an inch in diameter.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Today after work I drilled all of the holes on the tips of my leaf packs to accept the isolator pads I bought. I also pounded out the old bushing sleeves, what a pain. The old ones were rusted in place and took about a half hour each to remove. Also when I was pressing in the new bushings with a vise I managed to break that too.


New bushings going in.



Once I installed the new bushings, I hit the springs with some primer and then a couple coats of paint.





Once the bushings come in the mail I will get these reassembled and installed under the truck. And as soon as the D60 gets located I can get that motor in.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I assembled one leaf pack this morning. I recieved my leaf spring isolators in the mail yesterday but unfortunately I only got half of my order.

So with one pack assembled I came to realize that the overloads were stiffening up the pack too much. I removed them and am pretty happy with the pack. It is stiffer than the old pack for the cruiser but I need them to support the extra weight of the diesel and the axle wrap associated with the additional torque.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Front leaf packs are finally finished. Hopefully this friday I'll be able to get the axle located and maybe get the motor mocked up in the bay.

 

[xoverland]

This project is looking awesome!!! I am looking at doing a 6bt into my fj80, so I will be watching intently!!

Ryan

 

[disassociative]

Front leaf packs are finally finished. Hopefully this friday I'll be able to get the axle located and maybe get the motor mocked up in the bay.

First class work!

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

This project is looking awesome!!! I am looking at doing a 6bt into my fj80, so I will be watching intently!!

Ryan

Thanks. I saw that you started a thread about that, you have a lot to work out but in the end you will have an amazing vehicle.

First class work!

Thanks as well. I really like working on this project and am by no means an expert but I like to think that I do a pretty good job.