1985 Chevy M1009 (CK5 build thread part 2)

[cheavyk10]

Engine Cross Member:
I also jumped on ORD's 4th of July sale, and picked up the big block engine cross member.

It has a couple of advantages: obviously strength, clearance for cross-over steering with my low lift (hint for the future), and as a bonus, easier lift pump access, which as everyone knows, sucks with the factory x-member in place.
I run one of these on my K10, and have been happy with it.

 

[cheavyk10]

ORD Engine Crossmember installed:
This took me awhile, but really wasn't too bad.


The one issue that came up is the sway bar and disco on the drivers side will make contact at bump. But, when I do crossover, the sway bar has to go anyway. The reason I run the swaybar is to help level the front of the M1009 side to side, as the soft Skyjacker springs sit lower on the passenger side, due to the dual battery setup.

 

[cheavyk10]

Rear Pinion Seal:
After checking the vent line, which was clear, I went for replacing the rear pinion seal. Everything came apart quite easy. I used the Army TM for a guide, scribed the pinion, nut, and yoke, counted the threads, and checked the torque required to spin the pinion in inch pounds with a beam torque wrench.
Well, the problem was obvious when I pulled the yoke off:


Yuk. These pic's are after I had already sprayed it down with brake celan.
I didn't take any more pics, but reassembly was also easy, I juiced the splines with some blue loctite, and set the pinion nut just a hair tighter, to achieve the 1-5 additional inch pounds from the original reading, just as the TM describes.

 

[cheavyk10]

Happy August!!
It's going to be a good month

@kennyw with the pic at BB25