This forum needs some excitement!! DB_1's Ranger SAS rebuild

[DB_1]

Progress...Got the hoops finished and one of them is welded on to the frame.
I also cut off one of my link tabs on the pass side since I'll be using larger bushings.
After I button up the shock hoops I'll move to the axle and get the rest of the brackets welded on then I need to come up with a track bar bracket at the frame end. I'm still figuring out how I want to build my link brackets at the frame as well.

I tried to take pics of the hoops but my camera keeps shutting off when I take a pic. I see If I can figure out what's wrong with it or borrow someone elses.
I won't have any updates until late next week because I'm going out of town but I hope everyone has a good Christmas

 

[RockRanger]

Try putting new batteries in the camera. That is what mine does when the battery gets low. For the frame end check these out from poly performance http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/product.php?productid=373&cat=158&page=1

They make them for right and left sides. If/when I link the front I will probably get these or something else. For $25 each side it will sure save alot of time in making your own.

 

[DB_1]

My batteries have a full charge (rechargables) but it was happening when I was using the flash too so i'll try again when there's more light out w/o the flash.
Yeah, I saw those brackets too and I think I may go that route. I'd have to buy some tubing to make my own spacers for the rod ends though since none of the spacers I have will fill up the gap. I wish they came out with those brackets sooner, I already bought 4 flat bottom link brackets from BTF Oh well, I really didnt want weld 4 different pieces of metal together to make one bracket anyways.

 

[DB_1]

Quick update before I head off to Truckhaven this weekend...Shock hoops have been finished since last weekend I finally got some pics to post. I started making the track bar mount out of 1/4" plate. I just need to box it in and i'm also going to make a brace out of 1" tubing connecting it to the engine crossmember.
I was under the truck yesterday pondering my options to connect the links to the frame and it looks like I have no choice but to make a whole new tranny crossmember for the link tabs to connect to or make a crossmember that connects to the new link brackets I bought from PolyPerformance. Thing is with those brackets there's not a lot of room to work with on them because they have a pretty slim profile.
Anyways, here's a few pics...have a great New Yrs.

One of the completed hoops:

One of the hoops welded to the frame:

Start of the track bar mount:

 

[410Fortune]

where did you get those headders?

Nice work so far MANG, a new X member wont be a huge deal and can really tie this all together nicely. I have seen some trick X members over the years, check out the grape Ape for a simple but stout build.

 

[DB_1]

Those are JBA ceramic's and I got them from Performance Truck Parts (I think that's the name). Had em on for about 3 yrs. now and seem to be holding up except the bolts where the Y-pipe meet the headers (flange) never seem to stay tight but I guess thats to be expected with headers. Even with my skinny fingers I can't seem to get to some of the bolts and get the leverage needed to wrench them down.
If you look closely, you'll notice my vacuum resevoir has a nice hole in it from the headers. I forgot I shoved it out of the way when I was welding the shock hoops on and when I did my weekly start up on my truck it melted the vacuum ball. I already got a new one from the dealer but to date that makes 2 vacuum balls i've gone through now

I started making the shock hoop cross bar and should have it done tomorrow if it doesn't rain on me. I would've been close to finishing it today but I need to buy a hole saw to notch the tubing i'm working with. The crossbar will be removable with urethane bushings on the ends and I have some nifty weld on tabs that will secure the shock resi's.
Pics tomorrow

 

[410Fortune]

I had trouble sealing up my JBA to Y pipe's as well.
The Borla headers are far superior for this.
Lead rings MIGHT seal up those ball flanges, I never got a chance to try.
I used grade 5 bolts and nuts with the JBA's not threaded into the header.
It was a 2 person job to tighten then up.

Man your work so far looks top notch! Nice welding

 

[tdavis]

Is it done yet?

 

[DB_1]

Is it done yet?

Is yours? Nah, I'm a slow poke when it comes to this fabbin' stuff.

My to do list:

Finish track bar mount

Make new tranny X-member to mount link brackets to

Make new double link bracket...I mocked up the one I already made with the rock bushings installed and don't think it will cut the mustard.

Make the links themselves

Finally got the engine crossbrace finished, it was a little tricky getting the angles right and having it clear everything. Here's a few pics:

 

[FROADER]

Nicely done Dave. Make sure you get that thing done for TH, you've got 4 weeks!

 

[JS91X]

updates...?

 

[DB_1]

Nicely done Dave. Make sure you get that thing done for TH, you've got 4 weeks!

I know, I'm trying. I can only get so much done after work.

Nothing real exciting to report today, just did some finish welding. Probably work on boxing in the track bar mount tomorrow.

 

[FROADER]

Any more progress?

 

[DB_1]

Still not much to report...I was having a creative block up until last Sun. on how I wanted to make a new tranny X-member. I've come up with something that should do the trick so now it's come down to lack of time to work on my idea.
The past few days i've been making brackets that i'll need to put it together but I should make better progress this weekend.

 

[RockRanger]

Will this be ready for the run in feburary?

 

[DB_1]

I'm sure gonna try to have it done for the big run...my idea for a tranny X-member just wasn't gonna work but i've come up with yet another idea.

What I had planned originally was to have a piece of 1.5" tube with tube adapters on each end just like a link would have and the bolts that hold the rod ends on the brackets would go into the tube adapters. Sounds cool huh? Well my frame is tweaked just enough on the drivers side that the bolt doesn't line up with the tube adapter.

So today I came up with the idea to weld 1.75" tubing about 2" long or so to each link bracket which will surround the bolt hole but still allow me to get a deep socket in there to access the nut to tighten it. Then I'll have link tabs welded onto those pieces of tubing making a flange of sorts that a crossmember will bolt to. The holes will be drilled out slightly larger than the bolts themselves so I can line everything up. Link tabs are on order so i'll concentrate on the track bar mount until they arrive.

 

[FROADER]

So today I came up with the idea to weld 1.75" tubing about 2" long or so to each link bracket which will surround the bolt hole but still allow me to get a deep socket in there to access the nut to tighten it. Then I'll have link tabs welded onto those pieces of tubing making a flange of sorts that a crossmember will bolt to. The holes will be drilled out slightly larger than the bolts themselves so I can line everything up. Link tabs are on order so i'll concentrate on the track bar mount until they arrive.

So what version is this now...4.2 or 4.3? Good luck!

 

[FROADER]

So today I came up with the idea to weld 1.75" tubing about 2" long or so to each link bracket which will surround the bolt hole but still allow me to get a deep socket in there to access the nut to tighten it. Then I'll have link tabs welded onto those pieces of tubing making a flange of sorts that a crossmember will bolt to. The holes will be drilled out slightly larger than the bolts themselves so I can line everything up. Link tabs are on order so i'll concentrate on the track bar mount until they arrive.

So what version is this now...4.2 or 4.3? Good luck!

 

[DB_1]

More like 3.0 but who's counting at this point

I mounted the link brackets to the frame yesterday and that went smoother than any part of the build so far.

I got all the tubing cut today for the X-member and mocked everything up, all I need now is the tabs to make it one with the link brackets. Tomorrow I'll be working on a bracket to connect the X-member to the tranny.

Pics this weekend

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

subscribing..looking good