What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Phil's '88 Big Blue Build Thread

Overview Gallery Discussion
Phil513 said:
Makes sense. Martin seems to think with a little practice, its not that big a deal. Maybe its worth a $453 experiment.
Click to expand...

Aside from the annoyance, I don't see what downsides you're going to run into.

Out here it's dicier, my primary reason for building this truck is for snow driving duties (towing folks out of ditches). 'Twill be interesting with da Detroit. I may end up with a Truetrac yet. :rolleyes:
 
Phil513 said:
Makes sense. Martin seems to think with a little practice, its not that big a deal. Maybe its worth a $453 experiment.
Click to expand...
They are easy to sell as they are very high demand. You can recoup part of your cost if you dont like it.

Also consider, I planned six months ahead of buying mine how to finance it (sold a drag motor). I also had a Detroit in the back of a K5 for 13 years. All played into how I thought and engaged this build.
 
campfire said:
Yeah, remove cover & bearing caps, loosen adjuster, remove carrier. Take carrier to bench, remove bolts holding ring gear on, carrier comes apart. Remove spider gears, insert Detroit, reassemble carrier & ring gear. Then, AFTER reassembling the carrier, remove the bolt holding the Detroit together (order is important here :haha:). Reinstall carrier & bearing caps, and use adjusters to set backlash to proper spec. Pretty simple, and the gasket is the only thing that you might need to replace.

This is all moot, however, if you're also replacing the gears. You'll hafta set up the pinion end of things, too.
Click to expand...

Setting up gears is intimidating, but something I want to learn. I'll need to regear my front obviously, and I'll want to do it myself
 
Phil513 said:
Setting up gears is intimidating, but something I want to learn. I'll need to regear my front obviously, and I'll want to do it myself
Click to expand...

Start with the back. It's already off the truck, and the 10.5" axle is super easy to take apart. Are you doing full brake & bearing replacements? Or just gear swapping on the old hardware?
 
campfire said:
Start with the back. It's already off the truck, and the 10.5" axle is super easy to take apart. Are you doing full brake & bearing replacements? Or just gear swapping on the old hardware?
Click to expand...

Just gear swapping, and adding a detroit,presumably. I'm keeping the drums, its not a big deal to me right now.
 
bent72 said:
Keep it simple
Click to expand...

Yeah. Right now the motivation problem is cutting off the spring pads and shock mounts. It's just too bloody hot right now to be working on my companies parking lot.
 
Phil513 said:
Just gear swapping, and adding a detroit,presumably. I'm keeping the drums, its not a big deal to me right now.
Click to expand...

One more thing that I forgot to add. Pull the axle shafts first. Not only did I forget to write that part, I actually forgot to do it, too. It's really hard to remove the carrier when the axle is holding it into place. :doah:

:rotfl:
 
Note a couple of things with the Detroit. Do not take the wing nut off the threaded rod before installing a Detroit.

Unless you wanna find out how stiff the spring is.

Btw it's pretty stiff.

I'm used to an automatic locker in the rear axle so it doesn't bother me.

Oh also if you don't remove the side gears shims your Detroit will never unlock.

I did that once
 
You are way overthinking this.

Buy the Detroit.

I actually think a truck is more predictable in the snow with a locker. Does it kick out? Yes, if you make it do so. But, you will easily learn how to make it do it, or not.

Open axles suck.

Martin
 
There are some roads and road conditions that I have been in where having a rear locker has really sucked.

I really shouldn't have been driving in any of those.

If the road slopes to either side and its really icy that isn't much fun but it's manageable.

In ice I prefer an open diff. On anything other than straight ice I haven't really ever been bothered by my Detroit.
 
Well I will add that my son drove that old blue K5 around for most of this week. I didn't hear him complain about the Detroit. Granted, we are talking about an 18 year old and maybe 100 miles.

I don't think that you will have many problems in your area with a Detroit. I will also say that I drove a truck with 2 Detroits in fresh powder on hard pack snow. What a pain in the button! The open differential guys didn't have to play with the throttle to get down the road like I did.
If you aren't going to be in snow, go for it.
 
This thread needs a better title. Something that captures the awesomeness of the build. Something like "Phil's machine of awesome blueness." :thumb:
 
Lol. It probably should be in "The Driveway" whatever the title is. I was a n00b at the time.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning to spend 4 days up near Ely, Nevada, off roading in the mountains. Where it is substantially cooler. I'm going with the local heep outfit that has been in my pics.

The club is providing barbeques for Thurs, Fri, and Sat nights. The rest of the time we'll be wheeling. Looking forward to it!
 
There, changed the title, and yes, if a mod could move it that would be peachy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom