CK5
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1986 K30 6.2 Diesel Truggy Build - "The Mule"

Brought the truck home this afternoon. Took a few quick pics but I was half frozen from unloading in the 5 degree weather with -20 degree wind-chill. Since last time we added some more bracing to the chassis, added bump stops, and added tabs for limiting straps. Tom Woods 1350 CV shaft is on order and will be here early next week. It will be nice to have 4 wheel drive again.









The last shot shows the crossmember for the lower links. We braced it to the upper link mounts with a tube and it will tie into the belly skid when I get that finished. It is hard to tell but the link crossmember is no lower than the lowest point on the frame and will work well with the flat belly.

First thing is to re-plumb the rear brakes since the link layout is different. Next project will be a new trans crossmember and belly skid and then pull the 14 bolt for a shave and install of my Barnes 4X4 13 bolt cover (Christmas present) and detroit locker. I will get more pics when it warms up this weekend.
 
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No progress per say but I did pick up some goodies today for the front axle. Ultimate High steer setup from Artec.







Picked this up local to me off a forum for a good deal. All brand new in the boxes never installed. I was planning on buying this exact setup down the road anyway.

Reid Racing knuckles, Artec Ultimate High steer arms, Artec knuckle bolt kit to tie the arms to the Reid knuckle in double shear, ARP stud kits, ARP spindle bolt kits, Bronze upper king pin bushings, and heat treated lower king pins.

It will be awhile before I install all of this but could not pass up the deal.
 
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That thing is awesome great choice of parts and nice job putting it all together. Mike at Appalachian is a great guy he's helped me out also on more than one occasion over the years, nice having someone local like that.:waytogo:
 
That thing is awesome great choice of parts and nice job putting it all together. Mike at Appalachian is a great guy he's helped me out also on more than one occasion over the years, nice having someone local like that.:waytogo:

Thanks. Mike at Appalachian Offroad did an awesome job on the revised 4 link. I am sure he will be helping me out again.

Got some more parts. My Artec fuel cell mount came in. I had planned on using a top plate held down with all thread but this mount was on sale and is much cleaner and more secure.



Talked to Tom Woods it seems my rear driveshaft was delayed because they were waiting on parts. So it shipped and should now be here early next week.
 
Rear driveshaft came in from Tom Woods. 1350 CV with their gold joints standard slip joint and heavy wall tube. The CV is large as shown by the pics.





Not installed yet it is just too dang cold in my shop but I am tempted to put it in and go play in the snow.
 
Just a quick update. Since it was nice today my little helper helped me install the rear driveshaft. Fits well and at ride height it is right in the middle of travel of the slip joint.



Once we got it installed we did a bit of "snow" wheelin. It is nice to have rear wheel drive again.







I also found out how easy it is to spin those big tires in low low on my gravel driveway. Nice to make progress. Getting closer just need some paint, lockers installed, full hydro steering and a way to pay for all that . . .
 
The cold weather and lots of traveling for work has been killing my progress. By killing I mean I have done nothing. Today I did pick up a new dash pad off craigslist. Seller assured me it was crack free. Drove over an hour to get there and oh guess what it is cracked.



Overall it is pretty good with those being the only cracks. It does have a Velcro sticker stuck to it but is peels off pretty easily.



Talked him down to $40 not counting the 30$ in diesel I spend to pick it up. But it is much better than mine. I was thinking about redoing the entire interior in black but I kind of like the gray.
 
Truck looks great! :waytogo:

Are you going to be able to make the march 15th trip to Rausch Creek? It would be cool to see this thing in person:whistle:
 
Truck looks great! :waytogo:
Are you going to be able to make the march 15th trip to Rausch Creek? It would be cool to see this thing in person:whistle:

Thanks! I will be there riding with Nick (newoldscottsdale77) but the truck will not be done. I am saving up for the full hydro steering and front locker. Lots of other little things to complete in the mean time. I am realistically looking at next spring to be complete.
 
Well not much new progress to report. One big improvement I made was installing a set of Kennedy Diesel quick heat glow plugs in the old 6.2. I was struggling to start the truck in the cold before (it lives in my lift bay so if I want to use the lift I have to move it). Now with the quick heats it fires right up. It is weird because the old glow plugs tested good but it starts much better now.

I hope to be back in the garage soon but my work schedule is pretty rough through April. After that I hope to get the tubing and gusseting finished and work on some paint. I am sure once I go out wheeling next weekend I will be more motivated!
 
Dan it was nice meeting you at rausch this past weekend! hope you had fun and i cant wait to see your truck up there one day! hopefully ill have some of my issues solved by then. :doah:
 
Dan it was nice meeting you at rausch this past weekend! hope you had fun and i cant wait to see your truck up there one day! hopefully ill have some of my issues solved by then. :doah:

Sam it was great to meet you and everyone else! You have an awesome rig. I can't wait to get my rig out there. Now I have some more motivation to get working on my junk. Looking forward to going out again soon!
 
Not gonna lie no progress. Out of the past 12 weeks I have been out of town 8 of those for work and will be gone 2 more weeks in the near future.

I did pick up a new trailer to haul the truck on. Bought a brand new PJ Trailer Buggy Hauler. 10,000lb capacity, 18 foot wood deck with a two foot steel beaver tail, rear slide in ramps, rear stabilizer jacks, winch plate, 16" on center cross members, and drive over fenders. It is a full 102" wide. Very happy with the quality of the trailer. I know some people complain of the weld quality of on the PJ trailers but mine look good.







Going to add a toolbox on the front, some more D rings in the front for tiedowns, and a winch.

Speaking of winches . . .



I may have a problem. This is my winch collection. The Big Ramsey 10K in the bumper along with the bumper will be for sale soon once my ORD bumper comes in. The XRC 10 in the cradle will go in the ORD bumper. The Rugged Ridge 8500 lb will get mounted on the trailer. Last my newest addition an XRC 8 Comp series with synthetic rope. This will be the suck down winch on the mule.



If fits nicely there and the synthetic rope will not damage the rear tubing when doing rear extractions.

I wish I could say there will be more progress soon but I know there will not because I have to go back on the road for work.
 
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