The slow progress of Spot the Pig (1 Viewer)

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Finally working at the tailgate, to get it functional so I'm not limited to the rear doors for access to the cargo area. Would be nice to be able to use the cargo area if I go on a commuter run in a couple weeks ;)

The window regulator is a bit of a pain to get out when the motor / gears are inop, but managed to get it out. The plastic gear is split, as typically happens on the 55s, and the motor draws current, but doesn't turn. I swear I have a brass replacement gear that came with Spot when I bought him, but a couple passes over the shelving in the shed hasn't turned it up. Might have to do a more thorough search / organizing spree to find it. Will crack the motor open tomorrow and see if can get it working. If worse comes to worse, the motor / regulator in the Saskatchewan parts pig works... and I have a loose, rusty tailgate (also draws current with no movement) I can open up to see if any good parts can be salvaged.

Got a list of other stuff I'm hoping to get to in the next week to expand Spot's capabilities to suit a multi-day trip.

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Those are a bear for sure. We were lucky and only need to replace the hear as the motor was working. Good to know you have a spare. When I put mine back together I had a hell of a time getting the regulator re indexed so the window would go up and down nicely. A real pain.
 
When I put mine back together I had a hell of a time getting the regulator re indexed so the window would go up and down nicely. A real pain.

I read about that being a pain while looking to find how the hell the regulator and window are separated. Using C-clamps to hold the arms in place against spring tension was suggested, so that's what I'm trying.
 
Motor is a crusty mess inside. Guess I'm liberating the regulator from inside the rotted loose tailgate to see if anything inside it is salvageable.

Tailgate open :). (for the first time in 30+ years??)
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Rusted to poop tailgate offered up a good motor and a good gear. :) After cleaning out the stiff old grease and adding a bit of fresh, they're bolted to the good regulator assembly and test good with jumper leads :bounce: Will try to get the dried greasy-dusty grime off of the swing arms and get the teeth coated in graphite lube to combat future grime buildup.

Still need to restore wiring / dash switch for the tailgate once the regulator is back in.

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Slowly getting back to work on Spot.

"Massaged" the front fenders a bit as both have had their front face pushed back a bit at some time, and the 33s would rub when articulated and turning. Should have room for 35s now, and the profile along the side is better.
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Test fit a stock riveted rim with 1.25" spacers to clear the calipers... not loving how much of the brake/knuckle is exposed, but may be better when wider tires are mounted. Might end up refinishing later welded wheels (pretty rusty now) that will clear the caliper without a spacer, but I do like the patina on these riveted ones.
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Started tearing down the front axle to finally throw these dust-collectors in (pre-Trail Gear buyout of the Longfield name), and do a few other things to the housing while I'm at it. This axle has seen a lot of highway and quite a bit of trail use, and it shows. No birf soup, but the trunnion bearings must be pretty sad the way the knuckles fight to be pointing straight ahead.
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Super stoked it is getting some love again. Love this rig
 
Who knows, maybe summer of 2021 will be the time Spot finally leaves the province again! :lol:
 
Not much of an update, but axle is apart. Started cleaning knuckle bits and have taken angle measurements to base new perches off of (for caster angle). Need to get some parts coming, then pull the housing to trim down and build up, and read up on options for smoothing / polishing balls.

(Throwing a link in so I can find it easily later: Neglected Balls (Rusty & Pitted Knuckles) - UPDATED w/Results - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/neglected-balls-rusty-pitted-knuckles-updated-w-results.1188888/ )

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Have started working on the housing, first up reworking the perches to pull the springs up tighter to the axle and correct caster (with weight on the axle was getting ~4.5* caster with 4.5* wedges, or no caster without). Sitting with the stock perches level, the diff mount ring is at 81.1*, rotate for 2.5* caster, I'm shooting for 83.6*.
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Start with driver's side, slice off base of perch...
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Check angle, not too bad...
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Shave the remnants of the perch down closer to housing... that's pretty good for angle..
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A little massaging and the new perch's base sits in pretty much tight to the tubing. Should pull the springs up around 5/8" plus the thickness of the now removed caster wedge. Two centering holes; to suit current axle position, and moved forward an inch if I decide to try that later. Good enough for tonight, time for some supper, beer and Flying Circus. Tomorrow I'll spiffy the fitment up a touch more, brace out towards the ends of the perch and tack it. After that on to notching the passenger's side into the housing.
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Hints at some armor thoughts..
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Notch welded up. Loaded in a differential and braced the housing to hopefully avoid and warping / bending from the heat.
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After loosely tacking in the perch faces and the knuckle ball gussets I bolted the housing back onto the springs and dropped the weight on it. Looks like I'm ~1.5* out on caster, and confirmed I want to trim the upper gusset back a touch for clearance at the knuckle wiper.

With stock perches, these u-bolts were slightly proud of the u-bolt plate. Now with perches reworked you can see how much the plate has been pulled up. A homebrew u-bolt flip looks like it will gain another 3/8". :)

Did a bit of pondering on how to handle the inverted u-bolts above the axle too, and ditto for new lower shock mounts....

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Fleshed out a bit more... The lower piece will gain some "skid" material roughly the thickness of the u-bolts to protect them from rock rash. The piece of angle is a starting point for a lower shock mount. I'll have to take a look and see if I have any 3/4" rod I can use as a core in the DOM to ensure it can't crush....
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A bit more done on the housing in the last couple nights.. perches and gussets burnt in, starting on armor for diff.
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:popcorn:
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