Your driveshaft guy makes house calls?!
CK5
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The BluJay
- Thread starter AugustDiesel
- Start date
Turns out he does. Sort of a side hussle. He’s a fellow square body suburban enthusiast too.
Parts collection continues. It’s about time to get to work and get all this installed. Storage is spilling into the house which will make the wife oh so happy haha.
The 285s are certainly bigger than whatever is on the truck now. Obviously not as big as the 37s, lol.
Andy
The 285s are certainly bigger than whatever is on the truck now. Obviously not as big as the 37s, lol.
Andy
285/70/17 or 285/75/16?
Either way, they measure 33"
285/75R16. Yep. 33. With roughly 2” of lift. Should give it a nice work truck look.
I had mine on with no lift.
Tires are mounted.
I learned the hard way how to read the etchings on a wheel and see how wide it is. These Ferd wheels ended up being 16x6, not 16x7 like I thought, so they were no good for the 285s. Quick call to Summit got me these Ion wheels in a 16x8. Had I known in the beginning how this would all shake out, I would have gotten a set of polished 17” Method Beadgrips to match the red truck and tires to fit. But I gambled and lost. Oh well. These still look good on the truck and will serve their purpose just fine. I’ll upgrade to the beadgrips in 50,000 miles.
Another comparison to the 235s …
And then to the 37s …
Andy
I learned the hard way how to read the etchings on a wheel and see how wide it is. These Ferd wheels ended up being 16x6, not 16x7 like I thought, so they were no good for the 285s. Quick call to Summit got me these Ion wheels in a 16x8. Had I known in the beginning how this would all shake out, I would have gotten a set of polished 17” Method Beadgrips to match the red truck and tires to fit. But I gambled and lost. Oh well. These still look good on the truck and will serve their purpose just fine. I’ll upgrade to the beadgrips in 50,000 miles.
Another comparison to the 235s …
And then to the 37s …
Andy
Got the 208 in last night. Fortunately it did not need a rebuild, just got resealed. I resealed the two halves and the tail shaft housing, replaced the input seal, both rear and front output seals, and the tail shaft bushing.
Now that all the ORD bits are here, I can get those painted and start tearing out the front 2wd stuff. Also need to get that carrier bearing crossmember out of the way.
Andy
Now that all the ORD bits are here, I can get those painted and start tearing out the front 2wd stuff. Also need to get that carrier bearing crossmember out of the way.
Andy
Productive lunch break. Got the ORD crossmember and spring hangers prepped primed and painted.
These will hang here for the next few days and be ready to install on Friday.
Andy
These will hang here for the next few days and be ready to install on Friday.
Andy
You could hang them close together and have windchimes. Wades favorite!
I’ll admit, this is probably the best parts-painting set-up I’ve ever had.
Of all the shenanigans I’ve partaken, this was not the worst. Just slow and methodical. Spent a few days thinking through my process and today o implemented. Nuthin but a bunch a bolts.
One of these is not like the others.
Andy
One of these is not like the others.
Andy
I just did that to my 74 a few days ago.
Not my first either, those 2wd front suspensions are all bolts, but big ones.
My impact did short work of it, probably 30 minutes total to break it up in small pieces
Well, I didn’t get as far as I had hoped, but this is a pretty good stopping point. It took me all day to get this engine crossmember in. But it is in and this is more and more starting to look like a 4x4 chassis.
Ended up reusing my ORD motor mounts because turns out the 2wd clamshells are different than 4wd. These will do for now.
It amazes me that so much goes into this 2wd front end. It’s so freaking huge. I’m glad it’s gone. The 4wd front end is much simpler and cleaner.
I have a busy weekend ahead, so I probably won’t get back to this until Monday.
Until then.
Andy
Ended up reusing my ORD motor mounts because turns out the 2wd clamshells are different than 4wd. These will do for now.
It amazes me that so much goes into this 2wd front end. It’s so freaking huge. I’m glad it’s gone. The 4wd front end is much simpler and cleaner.
I have a busy weekend ahead, so I probably won’t get back to this until Monday.
Until then.
Andy
This is coming out great! Fantastic progress.
David
David
Much appreciated. It’s challenging work but I am looking forward to the finished product, which is close at hand.
The front spring hangers are installed. The hardware kit was shy 4 sets but my wife is picking those up for me this afternoon. Next up will be the shackle hangers. Fair chance those could be installed tonight or tomorrow morning.
Andy
Front Upper Shackle Hangers are in. 46.5” center to center per ORD instructions. Axle goes in tomorrow morning.
I’ll get bendy with those brake lines soon.
Andy
I’ll get bendy with those brake lines soon.
Andy
Guess I’m a gangster now
I bet those shackle angles will straighten out a pinch once I get the rearend lifted up.
Andy
I bet those shackle angles will straighten out a pinch once I get the rearend lifted up.
Andy
Decided I was not good at gangster-ing so ripped the rear tires off and set the back end at the height I’m hoping it’ll land at. Time to get those brackets off the 14bolt.
Set a tire in the rear wheel well to get a feel for how it’ll look.
Don’t like how these Rough Country springs are arching but maybe they’ll flatten out once the rearend is done. Might have to add a leaf to them to stiffen them up a bit. Think I’m gonna move the front axle forward 1” too.
Set a tire in the rear wheel well to get a feel for how it’ll look.
Don’t like how these Rough Country springs are arching but maybe they’ll flatten out once the rearend is done. Might have to add a leaf to them to stiffen them up a bit. Think I’m gonna move the front axle forward 1” too.
Late night stripping the 14 bolt and getting it ready for install. Seems like life is busier than it ever has been and no time to spare over the next couple days to get this 14 installed so gotta sacrifice sleep time. I want to have the 14 in place with wheels on it so the truck is safely on the ground when kids are passing my house Thursday night. Safety first. 14 goes in the truck tomorrow night.
Andy
Andy
