Ricks Bronco: 1and 1/2

[rookieshooter]

I just couldn't stand it no more, I at least had to place those 4 links as close as possible on the 8.8 axle just to get a glimpse of how it will look on the 70.

No computer assistance here, jut a few lines in the sand by FireZapper at last years Truck Nationals to an almost complete D70 Dbl Tri link. And the best thing, I'll be pleased no matter how it works. But I think the secret will be the amount of adjustments I can get.
The lower links will be more horizontal then what you see, cause I could not raise them up any further due to lower link bracket on axle tube..

[rookieshooter]

I always order more DOM tubing then what I need. There's always some use for it. In this case I'm going to make a new tranny mount one day incorporating two pieces of that tubing about 3" long and some poly bushings at each end. The mount will increase the anti rotational torquing of the tranny when the Atlas is in low, especially with the new upcoming gear change.



Need to drill out the Dana 44 3/4 hub to take the same larger studs that are in the back. Not so much to run the same size lug but to keep the K20 rotor centric on the hub. The stud on the left is the one that was in the hub. I think it's 1/2" where the larger one is 9/16. The hub needs to be enlarged just enough so the larger stud stops at the knurled part. The part above the knurled is larger then the other stud and will closely match the new rotor.
The rotor will sit between the knurled part and the head of the stud.
There were a lot of things that needed to be changed to make the 70 4 link happen. And it ain't happened yet lol.

[rookieshooter]

Here's looking through the K20 rotor into the front dana 3/4 ton 8 lug hub.
Found the perfect tool to enlarge the hole a few thousands to accept the larger D70 9/16" studs. I'll need to order some more studs from Autozone which is a Dorman 610-301 part #.



Here's the same hole enlarged. Just enough so the knurled part of the stud has to be pressed/slammed into the hole.



See what I mean. The area above the knurled part is what's in the rotor if in fact it was placed on that hub. Plus this stud is a little larger in that area also for a better fit in the larger K20 rotor. Where as the stock 3/4 ton D44 is smaller in diameter and makes for a sloppy fit.



And here's the secret tool. This high speed cutting bit has been used on this build on so many items that I can not keep track of. I've read where some have taken the stud to machine shop to turn down. I'm not kidding when I say it took less then a minute to do. It's such a small amount that you can not tell by the naked eye that anything was removed.
You just hold the cutting bit on the sides and make some quick circular turns while checking fit a couple of times

Once I dropped in the stud the next thing was to use that bolt and smack the crap out of it.



There you go, a beefed up 3/4 ton 8 lug hub from 1/2" to 9/16" stud.
One thing I've found out about these dana 44s is just cause it says dana 44 don't mean that any dana in any other make truck will work as far as hubs and spindles go.

And if you do happen to go overbore and the knurled part just drops in, no biggie, once the lug nut is on it's fine.

[rookieshooter]

Here is the diameter of the 1/2 ton inside bearing hub.



And here it is compared to the 3/4 ton hub. About 3/8" larger in diameter.
The outer bearing is the same on both hubs. Disregard the reading on the digital caliper, it changed when i moved it. The smaller journal is 1.62 and the larger 2.00"



Here is the length of the 1/2 ton spindle. I think the 3/4 ton is over 6" long?
So I'll be doing some parts chasing after the Truck National next week as in spindle and longer outer shafts if they are in fact longer.

[rookieshooter]

Just did some research and it seems that there is no difference in stub shaft lengths if I'm reading Mr N's article right. For a 1979 Ford 1/2 or 3/4 ton.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=449462

[bats]

Originally Posted by rookieshooter

Thanks, I see your home from playing Davy Crockett for a few days.



Yes indeed big things are happening. My one new 8 lug wheel came in today so I was really wondering about the 15" rim on those big chevy brakes.
First thing was to spray the caliper with primer and note where the contact points were. First time I slid the wheel on it hit at the very top casting flange.
You can see where it removed the gray primer.





Next was to grind down and re-paint.



This process was repeated about 10 to 15 times. I went slower on the first caliper, but the second one will go very fast as compared to this one since I now know approxiamtly how much to remove.
It's really not that much just a few mm.



Darn that was fun ha ha. Here it is with no contact. Spun the wheel a few times.



Then to finish up with a flapper wheel just for grins.


Here it is, one complete narrowed D70, Moser custom length 35 spline axle shafts, K20 rotor and brakes, East Coast 5.13 gears, new style ARB,set up with Dbl Tri links, and coilover brackets. Done all in house except for the machining. But the housing never left the garage.
Going to be busy here for awhile.

Plus I got a lead on some front 8 lug hubs and maybe a front 60. But even if I do get a 60 I'm going wheeling with what I got now.

I just ran into a similar problem of with the rim hitting the caliper. I put first gen rims on an 01 Explorer and the front calipers rub enough to lock up the front wheels. Rather than have than swapping tires and rims again I think I'll see if I can grind off the little bit for clearance.

[rookieshooter]

Need to finish the roll over valve. This is the terminal end. The black hose was a little larger then the barb fitting until it slid over the middle divider ring.



Then hose clamp was tightened down and then barb was slid further into filter.





Then ran up and along side of inner fender.

[rookieshooter]

Should have taken more time in hanging this muffler, just going to get banged around. The jack is going to lift it up and new bracket made.



Done. What it really needs is a complete belly pan under the muffler and transfer case. Might just do that.





I've got a lot of grease fittings that have to be flushed of old grease and in with the new water proof syn grease. Here you can see the old crap coming out and the new lighter colored grease just starting to come out.
And this is the way I pack used bearings by watching untill the new grease is all that's coming out.
I'll be putting a few hundred miles on it this week going back and forth from the Truck Nationals.
Half the fun of the show is just cruising up the Interstate in this rig.



Check the condition of the front KM2s that have never been rotated. Solid axle with no cup wear whats so ever. Like I said several times, you can let go of the wheel doing 65 and no vibration or pulling one way or the other.



Can't say the same for the rear that has welded spiders. But after the D70 install this won't be an issue with the ARB.

[janderson4010]

I want to groove my krawlers so people think they are km2's. Then it aill be like a secret weapon, haha

[rookieshooter]

Originally Posted by janderson4010

I want to groove my krawlers so people think they are km2's. Then it aill be like a secret weapon, haha

The secret is to keep it running grasshopper. In fact that reminds me, I need to turn my idle down before doing any rocks. It's just to hard to stop with the transfer case in low with a high idle.

[janderson4010]

it runs great! blah blah blah to much power blah blah

[rookieshooter]

In fact that reminds me, I need to turn my idle down before doing any rocks. It's just to hard to stop with the transfer case in low with a high idle.

Originally Posted by janderson4010

it runs great! blah blah blah to much power blah blah

There fixed it ha ha.

[rookieshooter]

Well loading up Samson this morning for the ride up to the Truck Nationals.
Want to check out 4Wheel Parts display and see some of the tires they brought up with them, not that I can afford them now. Also all the guys selling axle parts, as in 3/4 ton spindles.

[rookieshooter]

Here's a billboard with info to what radio station to tune to for info on the Truck Show.

[rookieshooter]

The event director put the Extreme 4x4 Trail Class in an excellent spot, right on top of the hill with a nice breeze, this place can be brutal with the heat and humidity in Aug.
Not many people here early on Fri morning...yet.
Some guys that I met over the years came by to see what's been added to the truck. I told them about the D70 and how I still need some 3/4 ton spindles, they said they just gave as set to a friend and he probably won't use them and they'll check on it for me this weekend. That's just one of the things I like about this show, just so much parts and info to be had.
Also found a D60/70 Ridgid diff cover may bring back.

[rookieshooter]

Here is site membe Kevin who I had the great pleasure in meeting. This man is a walking encyclopedia on Drag Racing, even the Glory Days of the late 60s and 70s which is the time frame I raced in.
First trip to the track was in his mother's womb. Family members worked at the tracks up in Jersey.
On a side note, anyone having information on the where abouts of "Jungle Jim" Liberman's first funny car fiberglass body let me or him know. Believe me he has very good reasons to acquire it.


Got a little worried about Samson in this pic, he stayed lifted for over 4 hours, thought I might have to call a Doctor.





I like the way this crawler tied his 4 links and belly pan together. Definitely will come up with a pan for mine. Saw too many of the Raush Creek guys slamming hard in the middle of their rigs. A few had to get pulled off the rocks. They had a course of large rocks, not as involved as last years, due to the little course they had set up for the spectators to wheel more or less stock rigs. But take into consideration that it's all relative to what you wheel also. I was the first one Friday when it was open to the public to do it, yes it was fun, challenging no. But that was again due to the relativeness of my build compared to the course.

[rookieshooter]

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v8...=Goodone-1.mp4

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v8...t=M4H03284.mp4

Went out on the course today after it rained a little yesterday.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v8...t=M4H03294.mp4

Here is a Dodge that did not so so well. I'm the next rig to try it. Towards the end you can see Samson waiting.



http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v8...t=M4H03295.mp4
Then it was my turn to play. Should have spun all that mud out of the cleats first. Not mentioning that I never aired down the tires the entire 3 days that had 30 psi.
At first I got hung up and tried a couple of different lines. Jennifer my daughter thought I gave up when I backed up lol and turned the camera off too soon. Once I started again Samson went right over with no problem.



But what made my day was when my 18 year old daughter wanted to wheel it around the course. She's anxiously waiting her turn. I sat next to her explaining a few things about how the truck was going to act on those off camber hills in the mud with those lockers. especially the welded rear.



The problem was the seat was not high enough and could not move it far enough forward. Told her to lean out the window and do not gas it too much on the turns but after straightening out then goose it a little to clean the tires.



Now lay off the gas and turn left. The reflection in the mirror shows that she's looking out the side.


Jennifer followed me home back to Martinsburg WV. She also carried back another Extreme 4x4 Trail First Place trophy making it a Grand Slam of 4 consecutive First Place trophies two in the AFN and two in the Truck Nationals. I did not stay for the awards ceremony but opted just to take the trophy and go home.
I talked to one of the main guys from Carlise about the 4x4 guys. He said it's getting bigger and bigger each year with new 4x4 vendors signing on like 4Wheel parts and Skyjacker to mention few.
But I'll take home the memory of my daughter and all those 4x4 guys that I met and so many people that just wanted to say hi and asked so many questions. The number one question that kinda struck my funny was "Did you build this yourself"?

[janderson4010]

good times, looks like you had a blast and met up with some cool people. why is your photobucket name hondatuner4life? you been tuning some hondas without telling anyone? haha.

what is up with that offroad course? I would cruise the tow rig and trailer through that to get to a real trail, must be some liability thing or something, at least they had a few rocks but the only vid you got is of you spinning in them haha. its cool to get your family involved, I had my cousin and kid brother driving my rig, they really had a good time.

[rookieshooter]

Originally Posted by janderson4010

good times, looks like you had a blast and met up with some cool people. why is your photobucket name hondatuner4life? you been tuning some hondas without telling anyone? haha.

what is up with that offroad course? I would cruise the tow rig and trailer through that to get to a real trail, must be some liability thing or something, at least they had a few rocks but the only vid you got is of you spinning in them haha. its cool to get your family involved, I had my cousin and kid brother driving my rig, they really had a good time.

It's one of my son's account, he's a Honda Tech in DC.
The course was easy cause of the liability. I just did it one time, but like I said, my daughter turned the camera off when I backed off for another line. "Thought that was it" she told me lol. Once I backed up and took another line I went right across them. As soon as that vid comes on you can see the truck falling when a rock rolled. The problem was that they were all dumped and they rolled under the truck. I bent up my diff guard but that was all that happened. But the main thing it let a bunch of guys play with their jeeps and such. They had a crawler there with 47" or so all tube chassie but looked ridiculous going over that easy stuff.
As soon as my daughter came home she looked up Roush Creek and said, "hey dad, their having a first All womens class competition up at Roush Creek this fall, I want to go".



Going to slip the 70 under it just to take some measurments and see exactly what else I might need or have to do.

If I can swing the $$ I'll be up at Roush Creek this weekend. If I do go I'll take plenty of pics of real trails. But keep in mind, mines not a crawler like yours but a DD also.

[rookieshooter]

That's one Big a$$ rear.



Just checking fit and any conflicts, as in I really will have to raise the Batt box. But main thing was to measure the last of the links that need to be made up and I needed the axle in place to do it. Those are the top two links.
I just finished cutting the tube and welding the bungs in place after I set the pinion angle 5 deg up.
I'm posting this as the top two links cool down.