my very own 3/4 ton conversion thread

[makovai]

I've been chattin with alot of you about my conversion but since i have a few pics thought I'd start my own so i can talk about all the mistakes I've made so far.

I traded for this 1974 3/4 ton p/u running gear with 35" BFG's for my superblackhawk.

Found out there were more expenses than i thought so i sold the 36x14.5 swamper i had on my rig.

Restored the D44 so it was nice and pretty, but still needed wheels and tires.

I then traded a warn winch for these 39x18 mickeys.

Now she's ready to go under the rig, with a cross steer conversion.

Kinda have some of it under now but there's going to be a flare issue

 

[raymos]

looks bad! keep up the good work and make sure to post more pics.

 

[xpndbl3]

looks sweet man....good work so far

 

[GotBoykins]

Looks good! What steering box did you use for the crossover? Are you using the 1st gen style ps pump?

 

[makovai]

Looks good! What steering box did you use for the crossover? Are you using the 1st gen style ps pump?

My pictures are kinda weird. I'm showing the front tires on the rig, but it doesn't have the new D44 in that pic. I just put the 8 lug spindles on to see if i had enough clearance. The D44 is still in my garage. So therefore i have not hooked the steering up yet.

So far it looks like I'm gonna use a PS box from a 1974 2wd suburban. (The gear puller, pickle forks, and big sockets are in my truck now) The the pitman arm will come from a Ford p/u. I haven't quite figured out the year yet because the ones i saw at the wrecking yard just look to whimpy for my taste. my 1 hour for lunch isn't quite giving me enough time to get this figured out. I should be able to get all my parts this weekend.

 

[muddybuddy]

that axle looks very perdy! what did you paint it with?

 

[eclipse]

lookin good

 

[makovai]

that axle looks very perdy! what did you paint it with?

As much as i hate to admit it. I just rattle-canned it. I bought a quart of rustolium paint that i was gonna stick in my gun and shoot it, but i get tired of all the cleanup, so i just rattle-canned it. I'll shoot the rear with the gun though.

 

[Engineered Vintage]

You're almost so cool! Your light covers in your avatar picture look pink from here - coincidence?

 

[lamberthkp]

looks great

 

[BizeeB65]

The the pitman arm will come from a Ford p/u. I haven't quite figured out the year yet because the ones i saw at the wrecking yard just look to whimpy for my taste. my 1 hour for lunch isn't quite giving me enough time to get this figured out. I should be able to get all my parts this weekend.

Use a van pitman arm - 78 or 79 year. Has tons of meat on the end for reaming to fit one ton TRE or DLE. Otherwise, nice looking truck, my man!

 

[Avery4jc]

Have you ever run those Mickey's? I love my Baja Claws, and the fact that they are 16" wide, your 18" wide tires are going to be great!
Do you get onto the sand much or were they just available?

-Avery

 

[muddybuddy]

18" wide and d44....watch out.

that axle looks much better than being just rattle canned. with my axles, i didnt even prep them, i just sprayed the duplicolor bedliner on them and ive been happy with them. wish i had taken the time to prep them correctly.maybe later.

 

[DannyandHeather]

wow! Great job, looks awesome!

 

[79k20350]

18" wide and d44....watch out.

that axle looks much better than being just rattle canned. with my axles, i didnt even prep them, i just sprayed the duplicolor bedliner on them and ive been happy with them. wish i had taken the time to prep them correctly.maybe later.

Prep is the key. there is no reason in the world that a spray can cant do a very, very, good job. especially on something like an axle where there are no wide open areas to cover.

 

[makovai]

Prep is the key. there is no reason in the world that a spray can cant do a very, very, good job. especially on something like an axle where there are no wide open areas to cover.

Mine are primered and sanded and even clear coated, But unfortunaley rattlecan only looks good for a few months, then it fades. I hope the clear coat holds the shine.

 

[Avery4jc]

Mine are primered and sanded and even clear coated, But unfortunaley rattlecan only looks good for a few months, then it fades. I hope the clear coat holds the shine.

It all depends on what type of paint you get...I picked up some paint at Auto Zone to spray my axles/truss/fender wells/etc. and it is still just as shiny as when I put it on about 5 months ago.

-Avery

 

[makovai]

finally, somthing to update this thread. The front is pretty much done. I need to bleed the brakes and put the grill back on. The cross steer is complete, except i am thinking really hard about the borgeson universal steering now. It turns out the new 2 wheel drive box uses a smaller rag joint connection, so i may just replace the whole bar.

 

[muddybuddy]

looks purdy!

 

[gmc4cw]

nice thread. that is a nice truck. are you going to be doing any serious wheeling with that setup. if so, get some HD shafts and u-joints. the stock shafts won't hold up to much shock load with those tires.