Project R15X

[90ranajo]

D44 trying to get comfy in its new home. And yes it really is that tight looking:

I've seem to have lost a pedal and gained a couple of levers!?:

 

[Tbars4]

...At this rate you'll make Truckhaven...:biggthump

 

[RockRanger]

...At this rate you'll make Truckhaven...:biggthump

For thanksgiving maybe. The picture do not really show just how tight everything is. The upper link will clear the drive shaft by half an inch. The axle mount for the upper link will clear the engine cross member by about a half inch as well on full compression. There is about a 2" square area we have that allows the room for the panhard bar to pass under the engine. It will also need at least one maybe two bends in it so it clears everything. Just so it clears there is going to be a pretty tall mount on the axle side. The frame side mount will only hang maybe 2" off the bottom of the frame. It also looks to get the steering to work that the heim will go on the top of side of the pitman arm. Other wise we would have to make the axle panhard bar mount 3" taller which puts it into the passenger motor mount.

Fun Stuff.

 

[DB_1]

Looks like your centering the axle in the stock location, my tires rub ever so slightly on the firewall at full stuff. I'll be moving my axle forward about an inch to alleviate that problem plus it fits on the pocket of the engine X-member much nicer.

 

[RockRanger]

Much farther forward and the steering will start binding. the tierod and draglink will start hitting. We might get an inch more maybe but no way more then that.

 

[colindo94]

I also had that problem. I moved the axle about an inch too far forward and it made it a bit difficult to get the panhard mount and pitman arm/drag link to all clear without binding.

Im very excited for the outcome of this build. Keep up the good work!

 

[lifeguard379]

thats nothing a longer pitman arm can't fix.

 

[colindo94]

yes sir!!

 

[colindo94]

also, I hear skyjackers pitman arm sticks out toward the front bumper a bit more then superlifts and other companies. So that could help with clearing the drag link.

 

[DB_1]

Looks like he has a Skyjacker on there already. I've compared the Superlift arm to the Skyjacker arm and they both have the same amount of drop but the Skyjacker arm is 1" longer.

What about using a flat pitman? I don't see the need for a drop pitman with hi-steer.
Maybe move the steering box forward, you can go a good inch before you hit the lower radiator hose.

Of course it's easy for us armchair fabbers to throw out solutions without being there:

 

[RockRanger]

Unless someone put a dropped pitman arm on a stock truck that is a stock pitman arm. Bob was working on it when I left for the airport. Hopefully he will get alot done on it today.

 

[90ranajo]

Unless someone put a dropped pitman arm on a stock truck that is a stock pitman arm.

Its definitely a stock pitman arm. The bottom has "PWR STG" cast into it and the top has the Ford logo and a part number cast into it.

Just for fun I wanted to see how a 37" tire would fit the stock fender well:

 

[DB_1]

From that pic it looks a lot like the Skyjacker arm...so would a flat arm help any or will that stock one work?

Looks like a little fender trimming is in your future

 

[Maniak]

From that pic it looks a lot like the Skyjacker arm...so would a flat arm help any or will that stock one work?

Looks like a little fender trimming is in your future

If you just need "flat", but stock length, check the mid 80's ford vans. They are pretty flat. Someone on here needed one and I sold one to them (I had 2 parts vans at the house at one time).

~Mark

 

[RockRanger]

Sense Bob is using heims instead of TRE's we can just drill the stock one out and put the heim on the top and all things a bueno. I have a good fealing that when we get the front end done on this truck it is going to work slick. The upper and lower links will be within an inch or so of each other in length to allow for little change in caster during suspension travel. While the panard bar will have to be angling a bit down at ride height it will be even higher then mine which will make the truck very stable during side hill activities. Only three real issues I see that we might have trouble with: 1. the chevy rear springs probably wont give enough lift in the rear. 2. Because of swithing to a dana 60 rear and loosing the sensor in the 8.8 might cause engine issues. 3. Who ever ends up redoing the exhaust is really going to hate us. There will not be much room at all up front for the cross pipe.

 

[90ranajo]

Actually the exhaust cross over pipe is the easy part. The nightmare is trying to fit both of the factory cats between the frame rail and the wider tranny. The rear VSS (which I don't remember seeing) is just used for the ABS as the VSS that the ECM needs is located in the tail shaft of the t-case.

 

[Dannyboy]

It's a pickup, I hear all the guys are running stacks now in those things.

 

[RockRanger]

How about just getting to the manifolds.

 

[90ranajo]

It's a pickup, I hear all the guys are running stacks now in those things.

Only if you know where I can get a good running (and cheap!) Cummins 4BT, Isuzu 4BD1T/2T or International VT275.

 

[90ranajo]

Remind me to give the UPS guy a tip for Christmas this year. Came home from work to find this pile of boxes on at door step. Mind you I live on the 2nd floor of an apartment complex and the street is about 60 yards away. And this delivery was just under 200 pounds.