Just gotta flip over the truck to access.
CK5
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'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond
- Thread starter mrk5
- Start date
Started out with 2wd TBI350 with SM465 to current 4wd with 454, 700r4, NP241
Also makes good for making food in the trail
Damn it
I vote portals! Way more better for the snow.
I've actually been considering that.I'm thinking that you should consider some AR500 plate for a skid under it!
I've done that before. I have lots of 3/4" thick HDPE in the shop.
'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond
I am going to have to support that one also.
ck5.com
With the transfer case clocking, are you running a cross member that uses Ana upside down U relief for the driveshaft clearance?
How I originally clocked the crossmember could go straight across. Now that it's in the factory position, I do have about 1-3/4" drop in the crossmember under the front driveshaft. That drop works to clear the driveshaft and also provide the support for the skid plate.
Very nice, I was considering something the same myself so now I will pull the trigger on it. I’ve made the adaptor to my transfer case out of Steele, I’ve got one end of it welded up. The other is just slip fit for now so that I can clock my transfer case and weld the index of where it is happy.
In general you need to machine weldments after you weld them when it comes to precision aligned parts like transmissions, engines, and transfer cases. Once you weld it, it may not be parallel and aligned anymore between the transmission and Tcase. Do you have a way to remachine the critical surfaces after welding?
With a steel adaptor that thick you can rest assured your transmission case will break before that does.
Right, I left five thou on everything so I can face it again. Definitely the transmission case is the weak point.
I will likely not use this height of a amount for the crossmember. Either, a shorter stand from the tube will do just fine.
I will likely not use this height of a amount for the crossmember. Either, a shorter stand from the tube will do just fine.
Finished up the cradle. We did a snow run Sunday and I'm very happy with the results. I had it up to 55 in 4wd with not a noise from the front shaft.
I still need to fab the skid plate.
All painted with Rustoleum brush on hammered black. The old crossmember was painted with that and it held up great for 7 years.
Poser shot:
I still need to fab the skid plate.
All painted with Rustoleum brush on hammered black. The old crossmember was painted with that and it held up great for 7 years.
Poser shot:
For over a year now if it was below about 50°, the power steering pump was unhappy and cavitating. I thought maybe something was going on with the fluid so I decided to flush and change out the fluid. In the process of doing that, I figured out the cause of the cavitation. The hose between the reservoir and pump was getting sucked closed. I figure it was happening when cold because the less viscous fluid caused the pump to pull a stronger suction. I went to the hardware and found a spring to put in the hose.
In my haste to get the lines back on without losing too much fluid after the fluid flush, I realized I got the blue return line routed around things instead of inside of them.
Don't know if I want to deal with the mess that will result if I try to reposition the line.
Another folly I wanted to share. After I did that nice paint job pictured above on the new transmission crossmember, I managed to mess it up. I thought it would be a good idea to put a blanket on the jack so I wouldn't risk gouging up the new paint. Well the problem is it was an old cheap velour blanket. Since the paint wasn't fully cured a bunch of the blanket stuck to the new paint!
That picture is from a few weeks after it happened and it has actually improved. I was hoping some of the blanket material would come off on its own.
In my haste to get the lines back on without losing too much fluid after the fluid flush, I realized I got the blue return line routed around things instead of inside of them.
Don't know if I want to deal with the mess that will result if I try to reposition the line.Another folly I wanted to share. After I did that nice paint job pictured above on the new transmission crossmember, I managed to mess it up. I thought it would be a good idea to put a blanket on the jack so I wouldn't risk gouging up the new paint. Well the problem is it was an old cheap velour blanket. Since the paint wasn't fully cured a bunch of the blanket stuck to the new paint!
That picture is from a few weeks after it happened and it has actually improved. I was hoping some of the blanket material would come off on its own.
Doh! Nothing hurts worse than taking extra steps "to be smart" only to find out that made it worse.I thought it would be a good idea to put a blanket on the jack so I wouldn't risk gouging up the new paint. Well the problem is it was an old cheap velour blanket. Since the paint wasn't fully cured a bunch of the blanket stuck to the new paint!
The blanket will come off once you set it down on the rocks. It's a self-fixing issue. 
The blanket will come off once you set it down on the rocks. It's a self-fixing issue.
Yeah rocks are pretty aggressive abrasives, maybe 10 grit?
If your in a hurry, use the VGG cinder block sanding pad.
I didn't even realize my steering reservoir has a filter until @doubletrouble mentioned it. Easy to swap it out, just pull out the 5/16" bolt. Part number was a Napa Gold 1418. For what it's worth, I did top off the fluid after. I try to keep the level just high enough to over the bolt head.
I finally got the skid plate mostly installed. I reused the plate from the previous setup. It would be better if it was an inch or more wider, but it's close enough to work. Especially at the price of steel these days.
One side is just clamped in. I need to drill and tap 2 holes to bolt it but I didn't have time.
One side is just clamped in. I need to drill and tap 2 holes to bolt it but I didn't have time.
I found some ujoints that might hold up in your truck.
Big blocks don't like U-joints.
When I had my 355 SBC I broke the 3RCV two trips in a row, finally fixed it, the third upgrade it lasted for 3 more years...
Then I put the big block in and broke it the first trip out.
When I had my 355 SBC I broke the 3RCV two trips in a row, finally fixed it, the third upgrade it lasted for 3 more years...
Then I put the big block in and broke it the first trip out.
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