Bending tubes for my transmission and brake lines is probably one of the more fun experiences I have had with my truck (right after this 60). Your set up is far more sophisticated than mine though.
CK5
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One Piece at a Time: My 1985 Diesel Suburban
- Thread starter AgDieseler
- Start date
It can be oddly therapeutic; sort of meditative. And, as long as the system works as you intend and is reliable, the rest is just style.
David
I get as far as burning it all in and slapping some paint on it before the wife comes out with beers and says, “we’re going out.”
Shiner time.
David
Shiner time.
David
You have a good enabler
Expert level.
Full day of suburban stuff today. Not much time left to get it all done.
David
Tick tock... No pressure dude. You got it!
I’ve wanted to do this for years. Bypass is in, with my own bundle of snakes.
Main bracket - and since @NorCal69 is shopping for black paint, this is SEM Trim Black. It’s my fave.
Amsoil’s universal bypass head unit
The splitter and bypass junction. This needed to be compact, so I built the assembly on the bench and mounted it low on the inner fender.
Bundle of snakes
10qt fill... I’m a big boy now.
Bundle of snakes, part deux
I did a test fire. No leaks, and normal startup up pressure. I’ll cleanup and drive it tomorrow, and put a snug on any fittings that need it.
Next: correcting the steering ram geometry
David
Main bracket - and since @NorCal69 is shopping for black paint, this is SEM Trim Black. It’s my fave.
Amsoil’s universal bypass head unit
The splitter and bypass junction. This needed to be compact, so I built the assembly on the bench and mounted it low on the inner fender.
Bundle of snakes
10qt fill... I’m a big boy now.
Bundle of snakes, part deux
I did a test fire. No leaks, and normal startup up pressure. I’ll cleanup and drive it tomorrow, and put a snug on any fittings that need it.
Next: correcting the steering ram geometry
David
Man that is super clean. Nicely done! 
It’s amazing how much space is available when the batteries are out of the way. So much room for activities.
It’s amazing how much space is available when the batteries are out of the way. So much room for activities.
As always, clean work. You are an artist with a tube bender. So cool.
Loads of access and space. I’m glad they’re out of the way.
Thanks dude. I wanted to tackle the hardest project, first. That leaves the rest of the time for the more easily understood tasks.
If I can get those done, I may add one more fab project to the list.
David
...and before these go in the recycle bin, here’s the tuition pile for the five bends above.
Trial, error, repeat.
David
Trial, error, repeat.
David
Thanks for the reference point for us all! Good to keep it real. We see all your perfect work, glad to see you are also human!
Keep up the great work!
While not perfect. I use some tig wire to give me a general idea of how lines are going to run. Can make visualization a little easier.
Not everyday is a hero day - just tidying up the bypass project, got a new coolant filter on, winch rope upgrade, and set the stage for the steering updates.
I beat these lugs with an impact for 15 years. Time to go.
First chrome things I’ve installed since forever. The truck is basically a bro-dozer, now.
No more steel cable.
Warn nightline stuff - should be a good piece of gear.
David
I beat these lugs with an impact for 15 years. Time to go.
First chrome things I’ve installed since forever. The truck is basically a bro-dozer, now.
No more steel cable.
Warn nightline stuff - should be a good piece of gear.
Absolutely. We’re all just boys grown tall.
Smart. Note taken.
David
I've only done this a couple of times. You have made all the perfect bends, you remove the work piece from the flaring tool, and damn I forgot to put on the nut!
Same here, but I’ve done it enough that I have a one item checklist on the flare tool - “did you forget the nut and collet?”
David
These are some great upgrades!
ORD Magnum gen2 shift armature is in. No damage to the original, and next up is a new linkage with more room for adjustment.
I was able to lower the drivetrain enough to do this changeover without dropping the whole case, so that was a time saver.
David
I was able to lower the drivetrain enough to do this changeover without dropping the whole case, so that was a time saver.
David
