The Black Hole

[ghosttrain2]

finally going SAS Greg? I hope your build goes smoothly!!

 

[Twiztid]

SAS parts update.

Tire choice has been decided. Staying with 35's on a D44 will be safe.
Still looking for 5x5.5 wheels.
Long arms will be on the way soon.
Custom mounts & cross member will be as well.
Still need to decide on type/size of shocks. (wont know until after swap)
Towers & coil mounts still needed.
Brake lines, calipers, etc still needed.
Front gears needed.
F/W 8.8 will be purchased soon.

Getting closer!

got most of the stuff here to help you decide 2 sets of wheels out on the sas ranger and rancho shocks

 

[turboexplorer]

http://www.blackrockwheels.com/products16-11/BlackRockType8Series997

These are what I have. Been great so far.

 

[gmanpaint]

I'm going aluminum wheels for less weight. I ran steelies a couple years ago, and they were a bit much with the puny 4.0L. Really noticed the diff when I switched to aluminum wheels, kinda partial to it now.

I know about alum cracking, and steel just bending too

Thanks tho guys.

 

[gmanpaint]

finally going SAS Greg? I hope your build goes smoothly!!

Yeppers! Thank you kind sir!

OK, little snafu on the long arms. Person I was dealing with to get them, sold them to someone else unexpectedly.

Going to just make a set using what I have. Just have to order the big Johnny Joints, and threaded bungs for them. Then get them built somewhere. :scratch:

This rig is going wheeling this weekend, in the cold muddy woods for one last IFS Coil over Fling!

Woot! Gonna be nasty, just plain nasty!

 

[Naasau]

That sounds amazing.

Post pics!

 

[gmanpaint]

Sorry Naasau, no pics of it on the trails, only an after shot of it covered in Mud on the cell phone.

So...

Since I am shopping for a new set of Alum wheels & tires for this rig, I am contemplating the size of the Wheels to use.

15's are nice for all that sidewall, but thinking about going to a 17 so I can use the chevy calipers without having to shave them to fit. Not to mention that it is fairly easier to get bigger tires in a 17 then a 15 down the road. I am going with the Pitbull Rocker LT-E radials.

http://www.pitbulltires.com/rocker_radials.php

They are made close to me, and I can pick them up directly from the factory for a discount.

Still looking for a decent set of wheels for this. I want something that looks sharp (but affordable), but nothing crazy.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

17's were not remotely affordable when I was looking for 33's (affordable is a relative term though). If they were I would have went with 17's for sure. Wheel price isnt too much diff, it was the price of the tires. Dont know much about Pitbull, they sure look like some tough tires. Not sure what you are going for exactly, but I am seeing a ton of KMC XD Monster wheels. Maybe overdone like Rockstars but they look sharp.

 

[Naasau]

As I am sure you are aware, I went with 16's x 8". They split the middle nicely, and allow for the use of metric sizes... which are becoming more prevalent.

I can tell you that the 0mm backspacing is wrong, if you go that route. It needs to be out about another inch or so.

 

[obie]

I think these Eagle Alloy Series 100 wheels would look good for you. Or even half the ones on this page. And American made too.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Gregg, can you post some picture's of your Dana 44? I read through the link you posted in my thread, thanks again for that. i'm kinda hoping the axle I might be buying for mine is leafsprung just for ease and cost for install as well as stability on road. plus my Trac is a bit heavier then a Explorer. Thanks man. Keep up the good work.

 

[YoungMounty]

If you get a 77 or older you will be able to easily cut off the welded on wedges. You can also easily tell the difference between cast and welded. Just stay away from 78-79 and you are fine!

 

[gmanpaint]

Gregg, can you post some picture's of your Dana 44? I read through the link you posted in my thread, thanks again for that. i'm kinda hoping the axle I might be buying for mine is leafsprung just for ease and cost for install as well as stability on road. plus my Trac is a bit heavier then a Explorer. Thanks man. Keep up the good work.

I'm away for work, and cant get to the axle for pics. I have some posted in this thread already, but not sure if they are good enough for what you need to help or not.

Click here
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2833562&postcount=1148

 

[gmanpaint]

Gotta have one of these grab bars installed!!

Will think of something to not have the stud & nut protruding that way tho...Might leave a knot on someones forehead!

 

[MidnightRebel07]

I the steering kit you bought from Sky a direct bolt in setup or do you need to modify it at all, I ask because I'm collecting all the parts for my SAS and will probably hold off on the high steer setup until later.

 

[gmanpaint]

I the steering kit you bought from Sky a direct bolt in setup or do you need to modify it at all, I ask because I'm collecting all the parts for my SAS and will probably hold off on the high steer setup until later.

I have the "Y" link with 1 ton GM TRE's from Ruffstuff for the SAS. It is adjustable, can be used for high link or stock position. The high angle TRE for the pitman arm is awesome!

Check it out...

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/YLINK.html

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Sorry typed in wrong vendor where you got it. That's the one I was talking about. Ok, I wasn't sure if it was for full width and needed cut down or not. So I can bolt it right on the knuckles and pitman arm and go, with alignment of course. Sorry, it's been 15 years since I had a solid axle truck ('79 IH Scout II lifted 6"'s and 35's) miss that truck but the curse of the "Rusty Jones" garantee combined with the northeast road salt desolved the body.

 

[gmanpaint]

You will need to ream out the holes on the Ford Knuckles to fit the 1 ton TRE studs. The DOM can be cut to length as well if needed. I have heard nothing but good things about this set up.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

I'm still running the stock Waggy knuckles for now, do I still need to ream out the knuckles? My buddy might have older Chevy flat top knuckles for me, he's gotta look in his garage, would I need to ream those even though I'd be using 1 ton Chevy tre's? I know I feel like a newb asking these questions but its been awhile since I worked with solid axles.

 

[Xeek]

just buy dom, bungs and the nuts from ruffstuff use stock tres and thread them into the dom tubing? dont know if thats the same diameter thread on the tres tho

and if you know what superduty tres look like, they fit in there, if you wanted to raise the dom bar some. again, only if you can thread it into the dom.