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Hydro assist/daily driver?

B

BadSince73

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Location
Reno, Nevada
Got a mean looking but highly stock 73, hell bent on a good resto and beef up job. Going to do all the good stuff, all in good time though but it begins! :weld::grind: ....:whistle:

Going to start with something productive but simple like tearing out the interior, corroded seats, crusty floor mats, etc. After some new low key upholstery a rust proof floor and new mats ill exit the k5 for a while to deal with more significant upgrades.

Running a strong 350-turbo 350-NP205 right now. Only about 12,000k on the block. Ill snag up a 14boltFF and D60 when the economy has its back turned. Lock em up with some ARBs before install. Probably going to keep my 4:10s for highways but i will add some 37 12.50s. Maybe Pitbulls anybody try em yet??. Some warn hubs and other small stuff. Disc stopping power all around. As for suspension and stearing...well what combination is really the right one? :doah:...Right now ive got plans for some 4" shackles from Kert at DIY.(Hopefully i can afford to get to know him well) and a couple sets of 4" 52s from a shop here in Reno. All of this goes along with frame supports from ORD and maybe some custom braces ill fab up. A little crossover linkage under my ponies with a PSC 2wd box with ports for hydro. If my pockets arent inside out at this point ill be bolting my tie rod ends to a couple Dedenbear knuckles. My only major concern with the master plan so far is how well the PSC assist is going to guide me down the roads. Never done hydro assist before.:dunno: I dont mind railing a prius with the bumpers/battering rams ill have on but we have a lot of big rigs in town.

Other than that a lot of little things to tie up like with any project. Maybe extend the roll bar farther back behind the rear bench, new dash accessories, etc. The body is nice and straight but has made friends with rust in all the common areas. I will interfere with the love hate relationship they share at a later date. I always appreciate any input from the well seasoned wheelers here so thanks.

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Nothing wrong with hydro assist on a DD BUT make sure to get the 1.5" ram so that it isn't too slow. The 1.5" bore diameter is just right for speed with the steering box for street use but you do give up some power. The 1.75" ram is too slow for a DD rig.
 
Thats exactly my question had i been more specific. Its seemed to me after talking with some local guys that the ram size made a huge difference. Thanks for the extra input.
 
I ran hydro assist for a long time while mine was a DD, really no complaints. With a good pump and a system designed to match what you're trying to do, it will be awesome all around. I felt my hydro assist was just as good as crossover alone on the street.

I've been through many stock pumps, they don't hold up to hydro assist use. I tried modifying pumps etc and ended up burning up pumps quickly or blowing the seals out of the whole system. I eventually compromised with a stock pump, it did ok. Street use may let stock pumps live, off road stuff will kill them.
 
Glad to hear more good news for my DD plans thanks. I was planning on running a good cooler for the pump though, think that might improve its life lines a little, because it will be doing a lot of wheeling in the Nevada mountains as well this is far from any mall crawler?..
 
I would like to add assist to my DD, that's how much I like it (makes no sense to do it on an IFS truck though). I run 40s and the ram is enough power 99% of the time anyways...I'd probably start worrying about the stock 60 knuckles if I had more power to abuse anyways :D

I'm in Reno too, hit me up some time. I have a 3/8" NPT tap BTW. Even got the Ford pitman arms for crossover...*shameless plug* (in the for sale forum). :)
 
4X4HIGH said:
Nothing wrong with hydro assist on a DD BUT make sure to get the 1.5" ram so that it isn't too slow. The 1.5" bore diameter is just right for speed with the steering box for street use but you do give up some power. The 1.75" ram is too slow for a DD rig.
Click to expand...

With the stock pump, yeah maybe
 
4X4HIGH said:
Nothing wrong with hydro assist on a DD BUT make sure to get the 1.5" ram so that it isn't too slow. The 1.5" bore diameter is just right for speed with the steering box for street use but you do give up some power. The 1.75" ram is too slow for a DD rig.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, I don't DD mine, but I went with 1.75 over 2 just to keep it streetable baecause I do like to use it to run around on the weekends. I wouldn't complain about steering speed with 39.5x15 TSLs.
 
owenst7 said:
:DIm in Reno too, hit me up some time. I have a 3/8" NPT tap BTW. Even got the Ford pitman arms for crossover...*shameless plug* (in the for sale forum). :)
Click to expand...

Sounds good man all good stuff to think about. I should have the 73 on shackles and maybe 35s within a few months. Ill take you up on the wheeling offer, plenty of good trails thawed out by then.
 
As stated above.....No problems as DD.

As for the Dedenbear (Reid) knuckles.....Unless your planning on running high-steer or are going to be playing in the rock hard ,they are not necessary.
One exception is if your running a Ford 60 :eek1:... They are weaker.
 
The only problem I ever had was not being able to fish tail it and drive out of it :haha:
 
What's wrong with doing it on an IFS truck. I was thinking of helping my dad add assist to his '06 CCLB. With just 35s, it is unturnable if you're not rolling. I'd like to do something about that. It is 99% street daily driver
 
K85 Octane said:
What's wrong with doing it on an IFS truck. I was thinking of helping my dad add assist to his '06 CCLB. With just 35s, it is unturnable if you're not rolling. I'd like to do something about that. It is 99% street daily driver
Click to expand...

sounds like his Pump is shot.
 
so, ORD Chris,

Are you guys using AGR pumps or have you found another company or brand.

the reman Cardones (<SP???) are Junk. I seem to have bad ones all the time. or if not bad right off the bat, a very short life

Seems like cardone makes all the pumps for all the part stores
 
63chevyll said:
so, ORD Chris,

Are you guys using AGR pumps or have you found another company or brand.

the reman Cardones (<SP???) are Junk. I seem to have bad ones all the time. or if not bad right off the bat, a very short life

Seems like cardone makes all the pumps for all the part stores
Click to expand...

PSC is what we deal with and they are great.

I still have a rebuilt NAPA pump on mine (don't remember the brand) and it's lifetime warranty has been used many times (roughly once a year).

I will be switching to a full PSC system soon, I don't believe we've replaced any of the PSC pumps on any of the rigs at ORD that have them. They have a great reputation in the 4 wheeling world.
 
K85 Octane said:
What's wrong with doing it on an IFS truck. I was thinking of helping my dad add assist to his '06 CCLB. With just 35s, it is unturnable if you're not rolling. I'd like to do something about that. It is 99% street daily driver
Click to expand...

There isn't a good strong tie rod to mount the ram to. If I did it, I'd probably try to figure out a way to go straight to the knuckle or something. It's not impossible, just totally not worth all the effort to me in comparison to a truck with a real axle.

I'd have to agree with the others on the pump. The pump in my '96 has 186,000 miles on it and when I was running 34x10.50 LTBs on there I never even noticed a difference over the 235/85s I usually run on it.
 
FOR MUD said:
As stated above.....No problems as DD.

As for the Dedenbear (Reid) knuckles.....Unless your planning on running high-steer or are going to be playing in the rock hard ,they are not necessary.
One exception is if your running a Ford 60 :eek1:... They are weaker.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about high steer but im leaning away from it right now. Im already going to be investing more presidents in my steering than id like to. And reids are really the icing on the cake to me. I probably wont stick them on initially but some day id like to pick some up. Especially because im thinking a nice chevy orange for the body down the road.:woot:
 
38377k5 said:
PSC is what we deal with and they are great.

I still have a rebuilt NAPA pump on mine (don't remember the brand) and it's lifetime warranty has been used many times (roughly once a year).

I will be switching to a full PSC system soon, I don't believe we've replaced any of the PSC pumps on any of the rigs at ORD that have them. They have a great reputation in the 4 wheeling world.
Click to expand...

The PSC hydro system from you guys is probably the baddest steering package around.
 
BadSince73 said:
I was thinking about high steer but im leaning away from it right now. Im already going to be investing more presidents in my steering than id like to. And reids are really the icing on the cake to me. I probably wont stick them on initially but some day id like to pick some up. Especially because im thinking a nice chevy orange for the body down the road.:woot:
Click to expand...

I want the keyed Crane knuckles but with springless double-shear arms.
12111269503911143190444.jpeg
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And Chevy Orange rules! :woot:
 
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