y5mgisi
1 ton status
I think the sway bar will makeuit a much better and predictable ride on the trail.
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
1986 K30 6.2 Diesel Truggy Build - "The Mule"
- Thread starter myhichevy4x4
- Start date
Well today is officially the 2 year anniversary of the Mule "build." As you can see I did not finish within by 2 year goal. I am going to hope to finish before the 3 year mark but no promises. . .
Progress has been slow. Mainly because I had a nasty cold that turned into pneumonia so I have not been able to work on the truck.
I did throw around some ideas for the spare tire mount and I have decided on what I will call an "Ultra 4" style mount.
I must say that tire is huge when you put it up there but it fits there ok and I can still see around the sides of the tire.
I picked up this PRP tire strap and I have been kicking around some ideas on how I will mount it.
Next steps will be finishing all the tabs, gussets, and panels. Hopefully I can get some garage time during Christmas and have it ready for primer/paint in the spring when the weather gets nice.
Got an early Christmas present from brown Santa today.
Artec full hydro mount for the front axle. My awesome grandparents and aunt got this for me for Christmas.
Quick fit check and all seems pretty good. I was not sure how it would work out with the leaf springs but looks like some clearancing for the u bolts and it will fit fine. It gets rotated up from where it is sitting in the picture but it is hitting the steering stabilizer right now (which obviously will get removed). Quality of it is awesome all 1/4" plate construction.
I am hoping to order the full hydro kit in the next week. There were also a lot of other truck parts on my Christmas list so we will see . . .
I have been able to get a little bit of truck time and got templates made for all of the side filler plates.
I hope to cut the metal and weld the tabs in this weekend.
Merry Christmas to all my fellow CK5ers
Artec full hydro mount for the front axle. My awesome grandparents and aunt got this for me for Christmas.
Quick fit check and all seems pretty good. I was not sure how it would work out with the leaf springs but looks like some clearancing for the u bolts and it will fit fine. It gets rotated up from where it is sitting in the picture but it is hitting the steering stabilizer right now (which obviously will get removed). Quality of it is awesome all 1/4" plate construction.
I am hoping to order the full hydro kit in the next week. There were also a lot of other truck parts on my Christmas list so we will see . . .
I have been able to get a little bit of truck time and got templates made for all of the side filler plates.
I hope to cut the metal and weld the tabs in this weekend.
Merry Christmas to all my fellow CK5ers
Nice !!!
If your grandparents want another grandson to buy parts for .....I'm available
Merry Christmas to you as well............
now get to work.....spring is coming and I want to see this thing at RC
If your grandparents want another grandson to buy parts for .....I'm available
Merry Christmas to you as well............
now get to work.....spring is coming and I want to see this thing at RC
now get to work.....spring is coming and I want to see this thing at RC
Josh, I am working on it. Not going to commit to making the Memorial day ride just yet but I am definitely getting closer.
I did make some more progress and get some more parts. For Christmas in addition to the truss I got some stuff and then cashed in some Amazon gift cards and got everything I need for the serpentine swap with the exception of the belt. New harmonic balancer (balancer on the truck is starting to spit out the rubber common on the 6.2s), harmonic balancer serp pulley, fan clutch, water pump, thermostat, gaskets, hoses, block heater, and belt tensioner. I have all the other brackets and stuff ready to go on. I figured might as well do it all at once since everything on this truck is original and from 1986. I will do the swap at the same time as the steering so I can put the PSC pump in for the full hydro while I am in there.
I am sad to say the turbo is on the back burner right now. While I have almost all the parts I am going to concentrate on getting the truck on the trail first and then I can add the turbo at a later date.
Spare tire mount is almost done just need to finish burning everything in.
The spikes were a nice touch I thought. Those tubes are really there to just keep the tire from slipping down while the 3 strap tire tie down holds it there. I very happy how it turned out but it is a pain to get up there definitely need two people.
Also finalized how I am going to tie the upper and lower bars of the front exo.
I originally wanted to use 1.5 or 1.25 tubing but after trying it even offset notched it actually was rubbing on the body line. So I went down to 1 inch tubing which fits great when offset notched. I finalized on 4 tubes in pairs. The blue tape is 1 inch like the tubing and spaced 1 inch between them. I think it is just enough without being too much. Now I just have to wait for more 1 inch tubing. Hoping to get the side panels cut out at my neighbors with his plasma cutter tomorrow and then I can get to mounting some tabs.
How's the visibility out of the back window? I like the "Ultra4" style tire setup!
The visibility out the back window is surprisingly good considering there is a massive 42" tire hanging out back there. Sitting in the drivers seat I can see around both sides of the tire and see both rear corners of the bed. It really just obstructs the view directly behind the truck. Plus with this mount it would be easy to pull the tire for weight savings or better rear vision.
Also it figures I ran out of shielding gas last night and my local welding store is closed until Monday.
Full Hydro Steering ordered. Wallet much lighter. Big thanks to Stephen at ORD for getting a custom package put together to match my needs. Stay tuned . . .
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Sweet!
Well the full hydro steering showed up today.
This is a variation of the PSC FHK400XR full hydro kit. It has the larger 2.75" ram and the larger -12 feed and -8 pressure hoses. It is specifically designed for trucks running 42-44" tires. My kit shown is also setup for hydroboost which means a few more fittings and an extra return in the reservoir. I also opted for a Derale finned log cooler. Stephen at ORD put together this kit custom for me and included all the metric o-ring adapters and hoses to interface with the hydroboost. I plan on giving Kurt at DIY4X a call tomorrow to order his orbitrol mount. This will allow me to mount the orbital in place of the steering box and use the stock steering shaft. Now if it would just warm up and I could get some garage time . . .
This is a variation of the PSC FHK400XR full hydro kit. It has the larger 2.75" ram and the larger -12 feed and -8 pressure hoses. It is specifically designed for trucks running 42-44" tires. My kit shown is also setup for hydroboost which means a few more fittings and an extra return in the reservoir. I also opted for a Derale finned log cooler. Stephen at ORD put together this kit custom for me and included all the metric o-ring adapters and hoses to interface with the hydroboost. I plan on giving Kurt at DIY4X a call tomorrow to order his orbitrol mount. This will allow me to mount the orbital in place of the steering box and use the stock steering shaft. Now if it would just warm up and I could get some garage time . . .
Lovin it man
Very nice work.
Very nice work.
bling bling
Found some time this weekend to work on the side panels.
Fitting these side panels proved to be time consuming. The panels are 12 gauge steel. Kert's center mount tabs made these panels easy to mount on the tube center. His tabs are beef and way overkill for these side panels but they are awesome because they self center the panel on the tube.
Fitting these side panels proved to be time consuming. The panels are 12 gauge steel. Kert's center mount tabs made these panels easy to mount on the tube center. His tabs are beef and way overkill for these side panels but they are awesome because they self center the panel on the tube.
Looking good man! That departure angle is going to be insane....
Well guys I hate to do this but this build is going to be on hold for a few months because . . . . . we bought a new house.
We have been looking for a few months and meeting with builders about possibly building new but in the end we bought a house that we are very happy with. We just got the contract accepted and are working on all the inspections with closing in 6 weeks.
We own our house now but it is only like 1200 square feet and with two growing little ones it was just getting too small. While the house is important the garage is important too because my current garage is 30'x40' and has a lift.
So on to the new garage pics:
The garage is a 50'x80'x14' tall pole building with a 12'x12' slider centered in the front and back. The smaller building you see to the left is the old owners office that is 16'x30' fully finished inside with a full bathroom and a loft.
I am not a huge fan of the sliding doors but I will make do. The lift, air compressor, work benches, and all the shelving stays. I call it a garage but it is more like a warehouse. It is huge!!
We even got them to throw in the forklift and John Deere Zero turn with the deal. The Zero turn is a 29 horse liquid cooled 72" cut and it only has 250 hours on it. Car not included.
Inside Office
Office Loft
Just below the garage is this:
A nice bonus.
So anyway truck is on hold for a few months until we get packed up and moved. Then we have to deal with selling our old house. So updates will be scarce for a while. While I have most of the parts to finish, time will be spent moving and getting the new house ready to move in and the old house ready for sale.
We have been looking for a few months and meeting with builders about possibly building new but in the end we bought a house that we are very happy with. We just got the contract accepted and are working on all the inspections with closing in 6 weeks.
We own our house now but it is only like 1200 square feet and with two growing little ones it was just getting too small. While the house is important the garage is important too because my current garage is 30'x40' and has a lift.
So on to the new garage pics:
The garage is a 50'x80'x14' tall pole building with a 12'x12' slider centered in the front and back. The smaller building you see to the left is the old owners office that is 16'x30' fully finished inside with a full bathroom and a loft.
I am not a huge fan of the sliding doors but I will make do. The lift, air compressor, work benches, and all the shelving stays. I call it a garage but it is more like a warehouse. It is huge!!
We even got them to throw in the forklift and John Deere Zero turn with the deal. The Zero turn is a 29 horse liquid cooled 72" cut and it only has 250 hours on it. Car not included.
Inside Office
Office Loft
Just below the garage is this:
A nice bonus.
So anyway truck is on hold for a few months until we get packed up and moved. Then we have to deal with selling our old house. So updates will be scarce for a while. While I have most of the parts to finish, time will be spent moving and getting the new house ready to move in and the old house ready for sale.
Dayum Geena.
That's a bad ass place. That's awesome man
That's a bad ass place. That's awesome man
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Nothing kills progress like moving! I just moved to a new house last weekend. And now that the move is done, ALL time and money is going to upgrades on the new house... Oh well. Like it was for me, im sure it will be worth it to you!
Holy garage 
Good for you man thats awesome!!! Hopefully we'll still see you in May with Nick!
Wow that place is awesome!!!
Any pics of the house itself? Id just live in the bitchin office thing
Any pics of the house itself? Id just live in the bitchin office thing
