TWT -- The Wrenching Thread (2 Viewers)

[Rice]

Well, dag-nabit ... I started the day with boring intentions that would not have been worthy of TWT. In an attempt to isolate a driveline vibration, pull the front shaft on the 80, lock the center diff, and go for a ride. Front shaft comes out, center diff won't lock. WTF? It was fine just 2 weeks ago at URE. In denial I push the button another dozen times. No locky.

About that time @jfz80 arrives because the goal of the afternoon was to work on HIS rig. So we start testing everything between the fuse and the center diff actuator. Switch = good, the relays in the center diff module are good, sensor is good .... last guy in line is the actuator = no good. What a PITA to get to. Well, after a morn of chaos the stars begin to come back into alignment. Jason has a spare tranny and TC and we ride off to rob it of an actuator. A couple hours later the replacement is in and things are locky locky like they should be. Big thanks to Jason both for the helping hand and for coming through with the part. Sorry we got zero done on your 80!

Pic 1 .... not a requirement to drop the tranny/TC to get to the actuator but it is bolted to the top of the TC against the tunnel so significantly cuts down on words you're not supposed the use around a 6 year old. I used a couple long bolts to hold things in place. Balanced on the skid plate is the new unit plugged into the harness for testing.

Pic 2 .... the old dude actually came out of the TC and then started working. An indication I can pull out the range limiting contacts and give them a good cleaning so Jason can get back a working unit.

So perhaps now I can go for a drive and try to find a driveline vibration.

 

[Rice]

No, really. Thought we were done with TWT for a while. But, see, then Jason showed up and handed me the keys to the 45. The idea being I would take it for a spin and we would come up with a diagnosis for the carb and find out why there was a stumble when you put your foot in it. Well, I pulled out and put my foot in it and discovered the steering was experiencing a certain measure of "turn whichever way you want, I don't give a F*&k". Made it back to the house and said ... "no fixy carb until we fixy the GD steering!"

Soooo. We set out to fix the steering. The primary offender was the steering shaft having too much play (Definition of too much play ... 1/8 turn of steering wheel before the steering box even knows you're there).

So .... let's weld that puppy up. Secondary ... the pillow block was mounted on a piece of flat steel and had too much flex. Let's weld some angle iron to it and give it a backbone.

Ready for a little burn ....

Final product .....

I Only had one welding helmet, so while Jason was laying a bead I watched through my beer.

Big thanks to @GLTHFJ60. Wow that was tasty. Hard to focus, but tasty.

The look on the face may have something to do with the steering wheel having some effect on which direction the 45 was pointed in.

 

[jfz80]

Hey hey hey now. I thought there was to be no picture proof of that Fram filter on there


Thanks again for letting me play with all the cool tools and reminding me I want 9' doors if I build a garage.

 

[Rice]

Hey hey hey now. I thought there was to be no picture proof of that Fram filter on there


Thanks again for letting me play with all the cool tools and reminding me I want 9' doors if I build a garage.

Sorry, man. Didn't mean to call you out on your Fram. I was serious about yanking that POS off of there and putting on a real filter as soon as we finished the steering job and just forgot.

 

[RedHeadedStepChild]

This arrived last week

So I took this off last night

Had to resort to a bit of this

and then eventually just had start cut the bumper brackets.
Of course I was doing this late, and of course I needed the car this morning.
I had TWO Norton cutoff wheels that that failed and spun the center out. This left me with a surface grinding wheel, and a portable reciprocating saw with 3 discharged batteries and 4 WOOD blades.
Lots of sparks and lots of curses later I finally got to here

Now that I have clear access to the inside of the frame I'll be going after the inside with some round wire brushes. I'll then Pressure wash and degrease the inside (lots of gunk from oil undercoatings) and throw some Eastwood Internal Frame Coating in there.

When its all finally done, I'll have the spare relocated and I'll have some nice heavy recovery points, so the next time I beach myself like a sick whale @krzyabncanuck won't have to wrap a chain around my frame.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

IH8RUST.

 

[RedHeadedStepChild]

IH8RUST.

Yeah, every job on this truck is a battle the 1st time. I keep telling myself, eventually I'll have done all of them at least once and the next round will be easier.

Sometimes we need to tell ourselves little lies I guess.

 

[GarnerFJ40]

So, due to this past weekend, and the grinding sound coming from the pinion, it's time for an upgrade. Going to do both axle rebuilds, new ring and pinions, bearings, seals, e-locker acuator cleaning/rebuild, and exterior cleaning/painting; the whole deal. Hopefully the shafts are OK. But, the question is go to go with 4.88's or 5.29's? And Nitro or Yukons? I'm running essentially 34's but wouldn't mind going up to 315's... Thoughts?

 

[Rice]

So, due to this past weekend, and the grinding sound coming from the pinion, it's time for an upgrade. Going to do both axle rebuilds, new ring and pinions, bearings, seals, e-locker acuator cleaning/rebuild, and exterior cleaning/painting; the whole deal. Hopefully the shafts are OK. But, the question is go to go with 4.88's or 5.29's? And Nitro or Yukons? I'm running essentially 34's but wouldn't mind going up to 315's... Thoughts?

I'm sure you've already done the numbers ....

If on 315's doing 65 MPH that's 2380 RPM vs 2190 RPM.

If you are sure you wish to stick with 35 and not go to 37 the 4.88 seem like a perfect fit.

The talk of 5.29 being weaker than 4.88 will open a can of worms not worthy of discussion. If both are set up correctly then both will be strong.

 

[jfz80]

4.88 would be my vote and not sure on brand recommendation. Chase at ECGS likes nitro.

Also 315 is only 34.6 when new.

Even with 37s I think I'd only want 4.88. Oh and tcase gears. Gotta get Heather to break that one next time out

 

[NCFJ]

You can run 35s on the stock 4:11 with no problem, of course you'll need the Vortec/4L65E to make it work right

 

[dbenke]

I've got 35's on my 62 with stock 411's.
it's a little slow getting up to speed.
if I ever do re-gear, it would be to 456's.
I like the 17+ mpg I got on the highway on the way back from GSMTR (using gps for mileage, not my odometer) at 65 mph.
It will also do 80 all day long at around 2800 rpm.
Tire vibration slowed me down, though. Time to rotate and balance.

 

[GarnerFJ40]

Thanks guys! Yeah, 4.88's have always been in the works Rice, but just thought I'd toss around the idea. I'll have to measure my Destination MT 285/75's because I think they're petty much the same size when new. All in due time Mr. Free!

 

[Rice]

Thanks guys! Yeah, 4.88's have always been in the works Rice, but just thought I'd toss around the idea. I'll have to measure my Destination MT 285/75's because I think they're petty much the same size when new. All in due time Mr. Free!

Let us know what your experience is like with whomever sets up your gears. I will not be far behind although only because my front needs a rebuild, not for a regear.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Thanks guys! Yeah, 4.88's have always been in the works Rice, but just thought I'd toss around the idea. I'll have to measure my Destination MT 285/75's because I think they're petty much the same size when new. All in due time Mr. Free!

Try to support one of our supporting vendors! Darin can rebuild diffs, and if not him, then EGCS is real close to my house in Brier Creek. Pull the diffs, put each one in a 5 gallon bucket (fits perfect) and bring them to the rebuild shop.

 

[OGBeno]

Go 5.29's and don't look back.

Ever.

 

[lt1fire]

replaced the Cat on the Mazda.... easiest job i've ever done on that car

https://scontent-atl1-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=240b46d6461aa9c2070f06558c4c80d8&oe=5622C70B

 

[Rice]

A DC for Jason's 45 and removed a "bend" out of the rear shaft for his 80.
2 balance jobs for me and a Center-Ball rebuild.

Thanks to @concretejungle for the loan of your front shaft. Will be returned shortly.

 

[concretejungle]

No problem! Glad it helped. Oliver's drive shaft is a great place for sure.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

No problem! Glad it helped. Oliver's drive shaft is a great place for sure.

I thought I recognized those alignment stickers. I love oliver's shafts!

That said, Triangle Driveshaft is in Durham and significantly closer for people in RTP. They did a bang-up job on a set of shafts for me recently.