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The Wanderer

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I sure hope so, with the amount of weight it's going to carry - soft would net me the same altitude I had with the stock springs. This thing is going to be my RV, complete with queen size bed, sink, stove, refrigerator, solar panels, propane tank, multiple batteries, winch, platform/roof rack, awning.... I really wasn't kidding about the Wanderers thing. Plus, it'll carry my English Mastiff, a motorcycle and pull a trailer with my FJ40 on it (which kind of informs on that cummins or duramax swap that is planned for later in this build)....

that said, these are ez-ride springs, not the $300/kit that causes back injuries...
 
superbuickguy said:
I sure hope so, with the amount of weight it's going to carry - soft would net me the same altitude I had with the stock springs. This thing is going to be my RV, complete with queen size bed, sink, stove, refrigerator, solar panels, propane tank, multiple batteries, winch, platform/roof rack, awning.... I really wasn't kidding about the Wanderers thing. Plus, it'll carry my English Mastiff, a motorcycle and pull a trailer with my FJ40 on it (which kind of informs on that cummins or duramax swap that is planned for later in this build)....

that said, these are ez-ride springs, not the $300/kit that causes back injuries...
Click to expand...

Sounds good Carl! :waytogo::thumb:
 
so as I mentioned.... it was a day. The first part was successful. Drive 160 miles to pick up one tire.


piece of cake, on to the next task... oh wait, why do I smell sewer?
The water table as been rising and at this point the drain field is now trying to become my shop.... so I went out and dug a drainage ditch, by hand, in poo. Never, ever use a pick with your mouth open....

finished up the rear...


onto what should be the easy part... the front.
the rotors were shot but 35 bucks and new is ready to install


which requires taking the hub off.... honestly, this is a first time it rusted enough that aluminum turned to rust.... but I'm sure the races are pristine

hmmm, unless someone has developed a new, coating process for bearings the answer to the above hope would be "oh hell no"


that's interesting, the pads aren't wearing evenly....


so new bearings and calipers will come tomorrow.... and I'm still spending money on a 10 bolt... I honestly don't know which was worse, poo channels or throwing money at a 10 bolt front diff....
 
and today's title is "how to milk a job." I'm doing a brake job and a 4" lift install - maybe 12 hours total.... I think I'm at hour 20 (more likely hour 24) and I'm still not done

so we pick up today's saga at the "bought more new parts"
on the left we see the old race, on the right the new... darker is not better... I'm glad I caught all this now


I love my beat table outside... races out


clean everything up


Under Buick's watchful eye


greased


Oh mother... hub on the left is okay, the right... what happened to the copper bushing? Time to buy new hubs.... and yet another delay


brake lines are in, brakes are bled


really?!!!

clearanced

stickers installed


and I still have to finish the shocks on the other side.... then put the tires and wheels back on.... then maybe test drive it (well, I suppose I should put a seat back in to do this).... then continue my wiring fixes. At least now it's 4" further from the earth, much better.... maybe in a couple weeks I can get with the overland modifications - though if there's nothing I've learned better and through bitter experience; it really doesn't pay to have the best equipped rig if it ain't reliable.
 
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Not sure if it's been mentioned or not, but these trucks seem to ride better w/ only singles up front - in most cases. Shock tech has gotten better over the years.
 
JoshHefnerX said:
Not sure if it's been mentioned or not, but these trucks seem to ride better w/ only singles up front - in most cases. Shock tech has gotten better over the years.
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I agree with you - however, it's not just one-size-fits-all. Weight over the axle makes a bunch of difference in how a shock performs. Where one shock works great for a SBC, put two air conditioners, a winch, 40 gallon water tank, cabinets, a stove, roof rack, solar panels, extra batteries and large tires* on the vehicle that already has a diesel with a turbo - asking one shock to do it all is asking a lot of it (most especially cheap shocks like the Monroes that are on there now). That said, it's easy enough to figure out whether or not you're burning down shocks - they start clunking when stop damping... though I've heard tell that if you chrome them and put stickers on them it is just like adding 2 more shocks (okay, maybe I'm kidding about that last line - I haven't actually tried that, but the internet (Pirate) is full of great tidbits like that)

*not a complete list
 
....and I'm still struggling with my initial thought about why I don't just put a 24v DC motor on the current air-conditioning air compressor so that it can run off batteries, a gas generator, solar panels, or whatever.... while I'm sure what many are saying is right - I've got this terrible affliction of needing to see it for myself (the "is the stove hot" touch bug)...
 
JoshHefnerX said:
Rofl, you're really taking the 'whale' thing to heart!
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I'm building a motor home that fits how I camp - but I am quite guilty of this....

Picture. Driving to some remote place with a bunch of friends in their 4x4s. Pull out the awning, take out the stove, pull out the portable picnic bench, build an inferno camp fire - then eat, snooze, wheel, dirt bike, hike, then repeat. No one stays inside, TVs are just added weight - and the temperature/rain/snow really just doesn't matter. Food, shelter, and chairs.... as I'm getting old, a comfy bed is nice too.

And my wife, who knows nothing of the Wanderers told me that she was calling this the grey whale... seriously.
 
That beat table is awesome. I need something like that. I'm still trying to find a source for sections of rail road ties.
 
those were used to lay out a frame under a Fiat Spider (and you'll say "they don't have frames" and I'll say "it does now") but they were donated from the press brake you see in the back of several of those pictures. It used to stamp door frames (like warehouse door frames) - I didn't need something quite so wide so they got repurposed and wheels.
 
This is a glow plug controller

unless it's supposed to blow copper bits through the interior of the controller - it is being replaced. I bought the 'better' DX1005 - I've no idea if it's better or not, the broken one is a replacement - AC delco, so I guess I'll see

This is what is now controller glow plugs


and I forgot to get a switch today..... ah well, some days I get lots done, others... not so much
 
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