What are you working on? (2 Viewers)

[RWBeringer4x4]

T minus 10 days to fall crawl...

Brake lines made, new tabs welded on (check)

OME springs are in on the rear. Actually bolting them down got delayed due to wet paint. Hoping I might get to it and the shocks tonight.

And this happened. Still very uncomfortable with how cutting quarter panels makes me feel - even if they’re totally mangled already...

At least my cuts don’t look like they were done with a sawzall.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Well the truck was briefly back on 4 wheels.

The back springs are in, so now it’s time for the front.

Naturally, the truck won’t accept upgrades without fighting me tooth and nail.

Cut off the U-bolts because the bottom plates and nuts had become one after being dragged over the rocks.

One spring pin retainer bolt on each side is stripped. There’s no nut retaining this just threaded right into the 3/16ish steel. These will need to get ground off, drilled out, welded shut, and re-drilled. Not impossible but not something I needed when I have a deadline.

I thought I’d gotten lucky and wouldn’t need to re-route the brake lines up front to accommodate the U-bolt flip. It was close, but it looked like I could just bend the brake tab slightly. Unfortunately when I went to do that I got a reminder that my father in law and I had been having issues with his welder that day...

At least it failed now...frankly I’m shocked it was attached at all.

So, more setbacks...still chipping away but it’s slow going. I can’t run power tools after 8pm because my daughter’s room is over the garage.

 

[shmukster]

Well the truck was briefly back on 4 wheels.

View attachment 2467467

The back springs are in, so now it’s time for the front.

View attachment 2467471

Naturally, the truck won’t accept upgrades without fighting me tooth and nail.

Cut off the U-bolts because the bottom plates and nuts had become one after being dragged over the rocks.
View attachment 2467468

One spring pin retainer bolt on each side is stripped. There’s no nut retaining this just threaded right into the 3/16ish steel. These will need to get ground off, drilled out, welded shut, and re-drilled. Not impossible but not something I needed when I have a deadline. View attachment 2467469

I thought I’d gotten lucky and wouldn’t need to re-route the brake lines up front to accommodate the U-bolt flip. It was close, but it looked like I could just bend the brake tab slightly. Unfortunately when I went to do that I got a reminder that my father in law and I had been having issues with his welder that day...

At least it failed now...frankly I’m shocked it was attached at all.
View attachment 2467470

So, more setbacks...still chipping away but it’s slow going. I can’t run power tools after 8pm because my daughter’s room is over the garage.

Hang in there Rick!!!!! I found that when installing new leaf springs that getting the nuts off the old U-bolts was always difficult.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Hang in there Rick!!!!! I found that when installing new leaf springs that getting the nuts off the old U-bolts was always difficult.

Just limping toward the finish line. Two steps forward, one back. This truck rarely makes things easy so none of this in unexpected at this point!

 

[plfj40]

Well the truck was briefly back on 4 wheels.

View attachment 2467467

The back springs are in, so now it’s time for the front.

View attachment 2467471

Naturally, the truck won’t accept upgrades without fighting me tooth and nail.

Cut off the U-bolts because the bottom plates and nuts had become one after being dragged over the rocks.
View attachment 2467468

One spring pin retainer bolt on each side is stripped. There’s no nut retaining this just threaded right into the 3/16ish steel. These will need to get ground off, drilled out, welded shut, and re-drilled. Not impossible but not something I needed when I have a deadline. View attachment 2467469

I thought I’d gotten lucky and wouldn’t need to re-route the brake lines up front to accommodate the U-bolt flip. It was close, but it looked like I could just bend the brake tab slightly. Unfortunately when I went to do that I got a reminder that my father in law and I had been having issues with his welder that day...

At least it failed now...frankly I’m shocked it was attached at all.
View attachment 2467470

So, more setbacks...still chipping away but it’s slow going. I can’t run power tools after 8pm because my daughter’s room is over the garage.

Are u using Home Depot bucket as a jack stand?

 

[plfj40]

Mocked up new wheel wells while waiting for new floor metal.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Are u using Home Depot bucket as a jack stand?

Hellz yeah those things are sturdy! Is that an issue???

No, I’m all seriousness the Depot bucket is holding up the power steering box since I have to remove it to get the shackles out. I also have to grind down the shackle and shorten the nut/bolt on that side. Tight squeeze is an understatement.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Chopped the spun spring pin bolts, welded the holes shut, drilled and tapped.

Brake tab welded back on (better this time) and new line flared to circumvent the U-bolt flip.

This should have taken like an hour and a half. Instead I spent an hour and a half trying to drill one hole. 3 out of 4 of the spring pin holes went right where I wanted them to ok the first shot. On the 4th, for reasons I can’t figure out - no matter how well I centered the pilot, by the time I got done drilling it was off center enough I couldn’t get the holes on the spring pin to align. The hole didn’t look “egged” and as far as I could tell the bit didn’t wander, but the hole kept coming out like 3mm from where I intended it to...

 

[brian]

Down in georgia for the weekend doing some burner work on a bun oven, chasing that golden violin.

 

[Cass007]

On the ground and out of the garage for the first time since May. No leaks or issues at this point, heat is working and oil pressure looks good with the new sub-harness for the oil pressure sending unit installed. Parking brake still seems to be dragging a bit ... not sure WTF is going on there, but likely going to the dealership for a fix at this point. I'm tired of messing with it.

Found time to take care of Bambi as well. Freezer is looking good, but maybe one more if time permits.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Two nights to go-time!

Front axle is mostly back together. Tail light guards are in. This required me to pull the entire swing out bumper to get the holes drilled...

Yes, one Anti-inversion shackle and one bar shackle up front. The triangular section of the Anti inversion shackle didn’t play nice with my (much too low) power steering mount, so I re-used the old bar shackle, which conveniently was already clearanced for the power steering box and the same length as the anti inversion shackles.

Basically at this point I need to get some fender welting cut for the fender flares and bolt them on, bleed the brakes, and get the tires back on and I should be driving again.

I also need to un-bury it from literally every tool in my garage.

Now it’s just a matter of getting my tent repaired, finding some food and actually packing for Fall Crawl - so I may be pulling an all nighter yet. The goal is to have wheels down and driving by Thursday so I can run it around town to get supplies for Fall Crawl - that’s about all the shakedown run I’m going to get prior to heading to Gore.

 

[fireball]

What else do you need?! An extra case of beer or bottle of booze for anyone at camp who may end up helping you out with any repairs?!

Good on your for making it happen!

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

What else do you need?! An extra case of beer or bottle of booze for anyone at camp who may end up helping you out with any repairs?!

Good on your for making it happen!

Once I get to Gore and a circle of trained cruiser mechanics I’ll breathe a sign of relief - it’s the 160 miles of predominantly interstate driving to get there that will have me sweating!

 

[VA.CRUISER]

I’m in Winchester for any of you PA guys coming that need anything directions,help,questions,whatever PM me if you want my #

I will be going up Friday morning and driving back to Winchester each night.

Burl

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

11:30pm with two nights to go, Clustertruck is on 4 wheels, brakes bled, fender flares on. Didn’t take pictures but assuming I got all the air out of the brake lines, all systems should be go.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

I’m not sure a lift and flares moves this to Clustertruck 3.0, but I’ll give dub it version 2.3.

Didn’t get a skid plate build so I’m still wheeling with my vitals exposed but at least now they’re 2” higher up. It looks a little like my truck skipped leg day, but not as bad as I thought it would.

 

[brian]

dual exhaust on a straight 6?

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

dual exhaust on a straight 6?

MOAR FLOW

 

[jamarquardt22]

dual exhaust on a straight 6?

Whats wrong with it?

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Shout out and a big THANK YOU to all the Keystone guys at Fall Crawl who winched me out when I got double teamed by a rock and a tree, and for the pit team who jump started my truck with no battery after mine melted to the exhaust manifold, and particularly @jamarquardt22 for cutting his afternoon short to make sure I got back to camp without stalling, and @shmukster for lending me his car so I could get a new battery back in the action, and @Crusha for the ratchet straps and getting me set up so this wouldn’t happen again.

Got lucky this weekend, learned some valuable lessons, and am really glad you guys have my back!

Up next from me in the “what are you working on” thread - a better battery tray.

Sincerely,

Battery Boy.