'72 K5 - Greg's @MightAsWellK5 Build

[Greg72]

6 links installed, 4 to go.....!!

Once all that was done, I decided to play with the new TRE reamer and get my pitman arm dialed-in..... ( I ran out of Diet Coke ).

The process ended up being pretty simple. I chucked-up the reamer onto my drill press at low speed and clamped the pitman arm to the table. Working slowly, I removed material and kept dropping the TRE down into the tapered hole to check the mounting depth. After a few passes, I got it set nice and deep with a perfect taper all the way through the arm.

Hopefully this weekend I can get those remaining rear links installed!



-G

 

[folkenheath]

awesome update!

 

[jekquistk5]

So much bling!!!

 

[Greg72]

awesome update!

Yeah.... well, I'm glad that I am working systematically through this process and not getting in a rush to get this truck out of the garage too quickly.

Last night, I pulled the individual links out one-at-a-time, to swap the heims over to the new aluminum links. In many cases I had tack welded the jam nut from the heim to the end of the temporary link material to hold it there. In a lot of cases, those were nice hot, heavy tack welds.... but in at least one case it was a small, single tack holding the nut in position. I can only imagine how easily that would have failed and blown-apart once I removed the front caster wheels and put the full weight of the truck onto it!!!

Anyway.... it pays to be cautious and safe. I know everyone is getting sick of waiting for me to get this truck on all fours, but when I see potentially dangerous stuff like I did last night, it validates my decision to work methodically and slowly and to double-check everything as I go.


I ended up finding that 3M protective paper on Amazon last night, so I ordered up a 250' roll of that.... the rear links need to get installed, and then it's important that I get back to the PHB/Idler mount bracket so that I can get that finish-welded and bolted in place. It would be pretty dangerous to have the PHB mount fail out in the driveway.... and it would make it a serious hassle to try to push a broken truck (with an axle spitting out the side) back into the garage before the next rainstorm!!!


Ultimately, I've got at least one more set of cycling tests to do as well now that the final (and larger diameter) links are in place. Just need to confirm that I still have clearance everywhere and that I can still get to full bump/droop as I did before.

THEN.......FINALLY...... I can start putting some nitrogen into those ORIs and pressurize them to hold the front end up, and unbolt those ugly caster wheels for good!!!!





-G

 

[blazinzuk]

Might be a good idea to pick up a couple of welding blankets Greg. I have used that 3m should stuff before. Its not thick. Works great on smooth stuff not so awesome for doing irregular objects or things without a smooth surface

 

[Greg72]

Might be a good idea to pick up a couple of welding blankets Greg. I have used that 3m should stuff before. Its not thick. Works great on smooth stuff not so awesome for doing irregular objects or things without a smooth surface

Jeez Eric.....

Coulda told me that about $100 ago......




-G

 

[blazinzuk]

Jeez Eric.....

Coulda told me that about $100 ago......




-G

Sorry lol. I remember thinking I should post on this and thought I did. I guess not. Since your not using them a ton cheap welding blankets will work awesome

Btw when I used this stuff on a set of ORIs I just put foam around em so I would quit poking holes in the paper every time I touched them.

 

[FrostBite]

Another option for protecting stuff from weld splatter is tinfoil. If you will be really close, multiple layers will be required, but it's cheap and easily obtainable. And the best part is, if you run out late at night, you can always steal some more from the kitchen.

 

[y5mgisi]

I dont think anyone is sick of your methodical nature Greg. I think we are if anything, only jealous that some of us done posses that same quality!

 

[mtnman]

I dont think anyone is sick of your methodical nature Greg. I think we are if anything, only jealous that some of us don't posses that same quality!

This

 

[82355]

not as much as vise grips....

Vice grips are ten times the tool a damn adjustable wrench has ever dreamed of being!

As for the methodical approach, yep, jealous. I have no where near that kind of patience.

Martin

 

[chulisohombre]

All I ever need to take Apart humvees in the army was a vice grip and a adjustable wrench. Add in a crosstip and flat Tip screwdriver and that's pretty much all you needed. Lol. On my own vehicles I use the correct tools but in a pinch you do what you gotta do. As Much crap got messed Up in the field most nuts Didn't Have corners already. Greg looks awesome With the real links in there. To do things right you have to take the time to know everything is done correct and safe. Don't Want to take your first Jump and Have the axle fall out. Great work and blingy links look great.

 

[blazinzuk]

Everyone sees awesome bling links. All I see is clearance. Miles of it. Then I go into a fit of jealous rage

Those are awesome Greg

 

[Greg72]

Everyone sees awesome bling links. All I see is clearance. Miles of it. Then I go into a fit of jealous rage

Those are awesome Greg

Eric, I see it too.....!!!

It's really hard to convey in photos, especially within the confined space of the garage I work in... I can't get far enough back with the camera to really show the impact of what is going on underneath the truck in terms of clearance.

Sometimes I just lay down under it, and look up at how much space I've created and it really validates all of the struggle and hard work that have gone into both the front and rear link designs. The whole "flat belly / flat lower links" thing definitely is cool to stare at.

I'm hoping that once I get a chance to park it outside and step WAAAAAY back for some better photos it will be obvious to everyone (not just you) that this modestly lifted truck has some INSANE underbelly/axle clearance going on!!!

Unfortunately, it's a rainy weekend forecast but that will keep me focused on the PHB/Idler arm work.... my punch list is getting awfully small now.



-G

 

[Greg72]

2014.07.28 - UPDATE! - ADDING BLING & SHAVING POUNDS...

The process of installing the new aluminum links is now complete. It takes a surprising amount of time to swap each link out for its new aluminum counterpart. Some of it is the result of cleaning up the heims, and getting the debris out of the threads.... But quite a bit of it is just the process of applying the anti-seize to the threads (steel heims vs aluminum links could lead to galling and trouble later on) and carefully threading, and unthreading a couple of times until the heims were fully seated. The threads in the links are really sharp and tight, so it took a little time to work them in with the heims. I like that there is NO sloppiness once they are threaded. I still need to get a new wrench supply to tighten up all the jam nuts.

For fun, I snuck the bathroom scale out of the house and weighed the rear lower links as I swapped them out.

Original steel link.... 44" x 2" x .500" wall

New Aluminum link....44 x 2.25" solid bar

Pretty amazing! 12 pounds of weight savings per lower link....so probably more than 100 Lbs of savings overall by swapping out the steel links front & rear. Keeping in mind that half of the weight is considered "unsprung weight" so it will make the suspension a bit more responsive too!

Here's a shot of the rears once they were all installed.

And again from underneath the rear axle facing forward.....

And once more from under the drivers door facing backward...

.......check THAT one off my punch list!


Last night I did some more templating for the hanger brackets for the idler. Hardest part was getting it into correct position without flopping all around so that I could pull the dimensions for the plates.

Speaking of punch lists....... There are only TWO items remaining before I will roll the truck out of the garage.

1. Complete the idler/PHB bracket
2. Weld in reinforcement bracketry for front upper strut mounts.


It's getting awfully close! A few more hours and a sunny day is all that is required.


-G

 

[folkenheath]

Those are sweet links, weight savings is good!

 

[Highpsi]

Eric, I see it too.....!!!

Sometimes I just lay down under it, and look up at how much space I've created and it really validates all of the struggle and hard work that have gone into both the front and rear link designs. The whole "flat belly / flat lower links" thing definitely is cool to stare at.


-G

I can't say as I blame you! Man, that thing looks like a work of art under there! Really is incredible at the gobs of clearance it seems to have in even those few recent photos you say don't show it very well. Keep em coming!

 

[Jester1]

Time for the 5 gallon bucket, couple of pop can clearnce pic again.

 

[chulisohombre]

Links look awesome.

 

[76zimmer]

I'm digging the new links Greg, the underbody shots of the installed pieces is spectacular; of course don't rule out a good ole fashioned pipe wrench for adjusting them...and of course use it on the polished round bar, not the machined flats...I'm sure it will get more grip that way.