The Black Hole

[CDW6212R]

For the rack upgrade, is there any chance the old Saginaw steering boxes can fit along the frame rail? I ask because I can't imagine that any other rack being much better than the stock rack.

 

[techieman33]

would one of the offroad package ranger racks be any stronger?

 

[IZwack]

A Saginaw would mean he'd have to use an idler arm setup to eliminate bump steer - like the S-10 Blazer configuration.

If money is no prob, a Howe "Truggy" rack would be bling:
http://www.howeperformance.com/accessories-racks.htm

As executed in this BMS build:

Steering shaft with hydraulic control valve:

 

[John_Rock]

I used to have thoughts of doing a hydro assist mounted in front of the rack... Just idle thoughts... :

 

[CDW6212R]

That's cool, so there are high end choices. One of those may be able to work, but they could be too expensive etc also. Keep digging, maybe someone else has done some homework and made something work.

 

[gmanpaint]

Wow. Very bling, but very expensive set up IZ. Too rich for my blood. I like Eric's line of thought. I will keep researching this, somewhere, someone has done it effectively and efficiently.

 

[gmanpaint]

Replaced the poly bearings out for the new steel bearings today. The polys were trashed after one day of wheeling. I think the washers had a lot to do with it though. I think they were bottoming out on the shock, causing the weight transfer to be messed up. I removed all the washers.

Anyways here is a shot of the bad poly & the new steel bearing.

 

[crazyflights]

Done yet??

 

[gmanpaint]

Done yet??

Still waiting on the rest of the parts for the manual trans swap.

3" shifter extension
Manual ECM (2nd one)
Manual engine harness
Manual trans harness (2nd one)

Still have to get the 35" tires swapped, & trim as needed.

Hoping my sliders are not to long for the bigger tires. If they are too long, I will have to build a new set or do some fab work to them, as these have the nerf tubes that go from end to end.

If I had to do them over again, I would have made them around 6" shorter in length, and the nerf tubes 10" shorter.

 

[gmanpaint]

Developed a rear pinion seal leak somehow with the rig not moving for over a month...WTF?

I left the rear drive shaft connected to the rear diff and had the front end of it resting on the ground during the trans swap. I have no idea if this angle & stress (if any) has caused this to happen or not.

The gears are just a tad over a year old now. Everything was changed with new from a master install kit. From what I am reading, something caused it to leak. It is not from age, that's for sure. It has only a few thousand miles on it since being installed. I really hope it is not something bad and the rear has to be gutted and a new crush sleeve installed

For now, I am going to cross my fingers and pray it was from the angle/weight of the drive shaft hanging and stressed it. I will slap a new seal in there and see if it holds or not. If it leaks again, there is something else much scarier going on in there....yikes!

Trans swap is going good, 98% finished. A little wiring left to do is all.

 

[MrQ]

Too bad about the pinion seal. I wish I knew more about rear diffs to be of some help...

Good deal , however, on getting the new tranny in. Hope it works out.

 

[Turdle]

Yeah, I just did that to my front pinion seal. It should be fine.

 

[Sbyrne97]

Izwack what are does machined death rotors from hell? sorry for hijacking the thread but, ive never seen anything like that...

gmanpaint when are you going to sas this thing, seems like you have a lot of trouble just trying to hold it together. Im sure someone on the board might help you with it...just my 2 cents

once again sorry for hijacking

 

[gmanpaint]

Who knows when or if ever it will be SAS. I have learned from the past, never say never, as it seems to find a way to bite me in the ass later on.

I feel as if I have wrenched non-stop for 2 yrs straight on this rig. When they say "It never ends"................. I fully understand that...lol

 

[IZwack]

Izwack what are does machined death rotors from hell? sorry for hijacking the thread but, ive never seen anything like that...

Sorry, please explain.

 

[Paraphoe]

I feel as if I have wrenched non-stop for 2 yrs straight on this rig. When they say "It never ends"................. I fully understand that...lol

I get so much **** from people for working on mine all the time. It's always "Dude, what are you doing on that thing NOW? Give it a rest and come out with us." My roommate HAS to be borderline suicidal at this point with all the parts laying in my living room on a near constant basis.

By the way, I LOVE your rig. Awesome lookin truck, keep up the great wok man.

 

[gmanpaint]

Thanks Jason!

I know the feeling. I have a neighbor that asks me "Whats wrong with it now"? Every time I do something to it.

When the day comes for it to go to the big lot in the sky, I will probably have a wrench in my hand and it will be attached to a bolt, dragging me along with it.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

gm,

Went thru most of the 31 pages--great build!! Love the paint work on the frame. Nice Nice work on everything!!

Compared to your rig, I havent done anything to my Ex but do work on it quite often as well. Neighbors ask same thing or ask what are you doing to it now.

 

[gmanpaint]

Thanks GRN!

It is def a labor of love/hate with it. I thought kids tested patience, but this rig has pushed me to the edge many a time. In the end, it is always worth it.

 

[gmanpaint]

Giggity