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Never thought I'd get to Page 16..... but here we are!

:D




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Here's where those new plates fit into the overall portal assembly...

DSC04384.jpg


:usaflag:

This picture looks pretty interesting, not something you see very often, OK, maybe less than that, since there is only one set?

Nice progress Greg, excellent work. The rig looks great too with the new sheetmetal.

And I can't believe you have carpet under it! You and your son could just lay under there and both stare up at the rig like you are in a giant crib with toys rotating above your heads.
 
That is crazy, you probably nead to be more anal about keeping your work space cleaner!

Awesome! Good to see you get some time to work on it .:thumb:
 
Out of sheer curiousity, what's that rotor-caliper-portal-adapter-hub thing weigh??

AJ,

It weighs a sh1t-ton....! Seriously, those assemblies are getting so heavy as I add parts that you really can't just "lift" them onto the workbench anymore. Now it's more of a crouch/bend knees/grunt/struggle/shove into place. My guess is somewhere around 125lbs+ these days. :yikes:

By the way NASA just completed it's last space shuttle mission....guess they got tired of the competition! :haha:


Another interesting tidbit for the 1st Gen guys:

The wheel/tire combination needed to be moved back 2-3/8" from my previous measurements to look "visually centered" on the wheel opening. Originally, I had centered the axle based on measurements taken from the factory wheel tub behind the bedside wheel opening. As it turns out, that wheel tub isn't the true visual center of the wheel well and the tire ended up looking really "jammed" toward the front edge of the fender.

Now you know.... :deal:


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All right, now that I woke up thinking about this, I got a couple of questions.

The first you answered with the last paragraph and the longer links.:waytogo:

Second: So, how are you going to weld the adapter to the axle. Outside, like an outer "C', inside the adapter to the axle, drill holes in the sides of the adapter and plug weld it also, like the factory? I was just thinking with all of the drive train components and those portals, that is a lot of torque back there. :thinking: :dunno:

Third: How much is the "Oracle" notebook going for when this is all complete?:whistle:

Fourth: Will it cost a lot more to get it autographed? :tongue1:


:popcorn::D
 
Mike,

#2: The final welding of those plates can be accomplished from both the inside and outside of the plate with a full perimeter weld. Additionally there will be full-width trusses running across the axle which will also end up welded to those plates as well, and I suspect an additional gusset on the underside to give some additional support to that rather large unsupported length to prevent any possible bending.

#3: Once the build is complete, I'll have to consider the value of all the information that it contains... :thinking: For now, it remains locked in a safe inside the house and a second facsimile copy (filled with different, and incorrect data) is left out the garage as a decoy.

#4: Yes, unless the bidding and sale price goes astronomically high. At that point, I'll do a signed and personalized message. :D



:usaflag:
 
a second facsimile copy (filled with different, and incorrect data) is left out the garage as a decoy.


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Ahhh, very sneaky :haha:Maybe I'll be able to afford a paperback second edition if the bidding goes too high. :smirk:


Didn't think about the truss. :waytogo: As you know, my welding experience is a lot of tack, drink beer while cooling, tack, drink beer while cooling, tack, drink beer while cooling. Just was curious about the strength.

Thanks,
 
I spoke to a few different people and vendors about centering the pumpkin vs. shifting it 0.94" to account for the offset pinion of the Ford 9". Everyone I spoke with said that there was no valid reason to bother, and driveline vibrations would not be an issue. I like the "symmetrical" look for the rear pumpkin anyway. :thumb: :usaflag:

I'm curious who said the offset was only .94" as all the info I found was that the Ford 9" pinion is 2" offset from centerline?
 
.94" (15/16") is the offset measured from the 3rd member housing bolt holes (left side bolt holes to right side bolt holes). Measurements like 2" or 2-1/2" are usually from guys measuring a stock Ford 9" housing from end to end (complete axle length) and subtracting one side from the other.

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Looks like you are doing some great work Greg! Keep up with that kid, they grow up way too fast, and it isn't like the Blazer is going to rust sitting in that nice shop. :grin: Some things are just more important than others.
 
flat out cool stuff Greg....happy to see you back in the garage if only for a little at a time....
 
Thanks Zim!

I'm starting to stress-out over the next step..... Axle trussing.

I know what I want to do, but everything I'm reading about welding on the axle tubes says that it's going to warp and move around a lot, even with heavy-duty fixturing and a chromoly alignment bar.

It's got me concerned, and I'm not sure how I'm going to resolve it. I may have to do all the mock-up work and then ship all the parts to a specialty shop for final welding and alignment. :thinking:


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talk with Rene'
Maybe use a temporary truss on the opposite side also to draw the housing in that direction too?
Alternate welds from top to bottom?
Just a thought.
 

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