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'79 K20 Minor Mods. 203 is out.

Overview Gallery Discussion
Mark1968 said:
I don't think I ever said it had 16k miles on it unless that's a typo. The speedo was unhooked when I got it and the odometer said 60something, which is probably 160.
Click to expand...

Guess I looked at that picute wrong. :haha: Stupid little phone screen.

At the tire place they asked me how many miles were on my truck and I told them that the odo read 90,000. They were like "wow that's great for a 30 year old truck." I didn't have the heart to tell them it was actually 290,000.
 
So about 5 months ago I broke a u-joint in the axle going to work. It has sat about like this since.


 
I had some difficulty with rusted stuff.







It got a new u-joint on the passenger side as well as ball joints, bearings,a tie rod and axle seals.
 
I also installed a new steering box as well as the xj shaft that I've had for almost a year. The xj shaft was as just as simple as others have said.











 






Looks like 3 of the bolt holes are slightly egged out. Gonna have to get a steering brace or repair patch.




All together and running.





It wanders a bit going down the road. Holding the wheel straight it wants to pull to one side or the other. I'm thinking I might have the toe set wrong, steering box might be loose or as someone suggested elsewhere that I need to put a pinch bolt on the xj shaft. I've not put too much thought into it.

I'm also shopping for tires. Thinking of going with 315/75/16 to replace the 285/75/16.
 
Pulled the xj shaft back out to weld bolt to it to try and stiffen it up.
Not sure if that is plastic or nylon inside, but it really stinks when it burns.





Cleaned it up.





One of my holes is off center and I hate it.





 
Finished. Best looking most professional welds you have ever seen.




Took it for a ride and I couldn't tell a difference. Truck still wanders.
 
Adjusted the new tie rod to the same length as the old one.
I should probably set it the right way.
 
You were smart to fix up the XJ shaft. I ran one for a while, then it started slipping where the top square part meets the bottom round part. I couldn't steer unless the truck was running. Without the power steering helping out, the steering wheel would just turn without moving the tires. It was scary. I'm just glad it happened while I was having fuel issues and couldn't get the engine to stay running instead of going down the highway.

And mine didn't make the truck handle any better either. I don't really know why everyone on this site likes the XJ shaft so much. I got rid of mine and went back to the old rag joint shaft. Maybe if I had crossover steering with hydro assist and all that, it would have made a difference.
 
I really can't feel a difference either, but I've only driven it maybe a mile.
Still have not tried to set the toe, it's rained every day this week.
 
Oddly, years ago, I rebuilt my entire front end and was severly disappointed when it didnt drive any better. I then put the xj shaft on and noticed a significant improvement! So i think its just a case by case thing i guess. I will say that i do like the two u-joints as opposed to the rag and "cup" joints.
 
I put a rebuilt steering box on about the same time as the XJ shaft. That could be the culprit. I never could get all the slack out of it. In fact, the one I traded in was tighter than the one I got. :dunno:

These old trucks are something else man. I tell you what.
 
I also think you would benifit from a raised steering arm or a dropped pitman arm too. Your drag link looks to be at a pretty severe angle in one of your picks. Having it closer to parallel with the ground will let it steer better for sure.

Unless it wasn't hooked up and was just hanging down. In that case, no wonder it was at an angle then.
 
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