One Piece at a Time: My 1985 Diesel Suburban

[mrk5]

This pinch at "broken steps" is what kept me up at night. For our fully body group, it's a weird off camber decline that threatens quarter panels and glass. Personally, I have plenty of both. Here, @r3dd0g strapped up to my rear bumper to compress that corner and keep my body lines straight.

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Actually that one was called Down 'n Dirty. I remember because I didn't know anything about it so when we first rolled up to it I was a bit in shock. Especially when I heard you say "this is the one that's kept me up at night" and it was the first real obstacle.

Personally I thought Axle Hill was the most intimidating obstacle.

 

[ZooMad75]

Amen brother.

The quality of the work you put into the burb is right on par with Jason's. While I never met him personally, I drooled over his build online and when it was in one of the magazines. I think he was one of the first to mount a camera on the frame and record how the suspension reacted, similar to what video you've taken.

There's a reason we call it the brotherhood. That connection you speak of crosses so many lines but in the end we bond over our love for trucks, building them and hanging out together both live and virtually. You deserved the award.

It was a pleasure to hit steel bender with you and Chris. I was pretty sure I was biting off more than I could chew on that trail, but you both assured me we would be fine. Both of you provided excellent spotting and kept the crawlabago from getting munched. Thanks for letting us come along.

 

[Desert_K5]

It was good finally meeting you @AgDieseler Your rig is a work of art, very impressive. Hopefully I can wheel with you again next year.

 

[rderosier]

Actually that one was called Down 'n Dirty. I remember because I didn't know anything about it so when we first rolled up to it I was a bit in shock. Especially when I heard you say "this is the one that's kept me up at night" and it was the first real obstacle.

Personally I thought Axle Hill was the most intimidating obstacle.

Yeah that was scary, the rock smooshed in my passenger door... Now it matches the other panels. Thanks rock.

 

[AgDieseler]

I remember because I didn't know anything about it so when we first rolled up to it I was a bit in shock. Especially when I heard you say "this is the one that's kept me up at night" and it was the first real obstacle.

It's the first time you get a real sense of scale for the obstacles on the trail. Every step is large, and there are more than a few stages to them. I agree that axle hill is the apex of that - two separate strategies employed to get up. Your truck did that one very well.

I was pretty sure I was biting off more than I could chew on that trail

Not even close. You've got the phat block, plenty of crawl, and now you've got the fake front locker trick.

Hopefully I can wheel with you again next year.

Same here. I'll be there!

Thanks rock.

That's what I said (more than once) while doing a quick scan under the truck this weekend.

And this about all I got done over the weekend. Gear is stowed, tools are cleaned and putaway, cylinders are ready for exchange, tires showed up the Monday I got back, scrap is ready to go, the new mini-mill is leveled and ready to make a proper mess, and old oil is all tee'd up for recycling. I put off so many small maintenance tasks while jamming on the truck, but got nearly all of them done the last couple of days. A clean workspace makes for a clear headspace.

And, that's my "thinkin' chair." Greg has his rugs. I have an obnoxiously patterned place to park.



Back to work.

David

 

[mrk5]

Maybe that's what I need to do with my favorite chair the wife keeps threatening to kick out of the house.

 

[AgDieseler]

I forgot what the settings were on the welder.

David

 

[centexk5]

You plastic welded that? Or am I missing a joke.

 

[AgDieseler]

You plastic welded that? Or am I missing a joke.

Joking around.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

It’s tough to make meaningful progress while recovering from eye surgery, but I’m whittling away at the steering ram, converting it from the single shear design to double.

The bolt would back off and even started to waller the threads. That’s going to change.



While I’m trying to avoid making sparks and dust, I’ve somehow rationalized carving on the ram mount as in-bounds. I doubt the doc would agree, but he doesn’t understand how fun it is to play with this mini-mill.

Can’t weld, yet.

David

 

[AugustDiesel]

Glad the surgery went well. I know it’s tough to slow down, but the truck isn’t going anywhere. Let yourself heal and you’ll be building better than ever with the now super-eye.

 

[AgDieseler]

Let yourself heal

Erika agrees with you. I’ll be good.

David

 

[AugustDiesel]

Erika agrees with you. I’ll be good.

David

On the other hand, that’s some supa clean work from the mill, no doubt you’ll cure this problem. The mill may even prove to be a money maker down the road.

 

[AgDieseler]

Done. It lowers the pivot of the heim about 3/8” from the single shear position. Maybe not much, but a fun little project.





David

 

[campfire]

Eye must be feeling better?

Or, if not, you weld pretty well for a blind guy...

 

[AgDieseler]

Eye must be feeling better?

Or, if not, you weld pretty well for a blind guy...

Much better indeed. By the time I went to weld, I was about 80% back to normal, and could see the puddle wetting out clear enough to keep the weld mostly straight. Machining the clamp with double vision was the real trick.

I’m just not good at sitting still, even when I’m temporarily 1/4 blind.

David

 

[campfire]

I’m just not good at sitting still

I understand this problem...

 

[AgDieseler]

1600 miles to San Felipe. Tomorrow, we wheel. It’s me, a handful of jeeps, one new bronco, and a yota.

I’m leading. Kris is navigating. Well get into some fun trouble.



But right now, tacos.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

Day 1:
80 miles in dirt up to Mike’s Sky Ranch, max speed 62, average 35, used all the travel, swaybar worked overtime, tires gained more pressure than I’ve ever had (25 to 32), and we ate more tacos.

What a day. Baja is awesome.

David

 

[ZooMad75]

Day 1:
80 miles in dirt up to Mike’s Sky Ranch, max speed 62, average 35, used all the travel, swaybar worked overtime, tires gained more pressure than I’ve ever had (25 to 32), and we ate more tacos.

What a day. Baja is awesome.

David

Man, such a tease. All that goodness and not even one pic?

Must be a taco coma.