So here is some more. It moved under its own power today. A nice little cruise reveled some very soft front springs and a ride heigth that has to be worked out. Plans include long chebby leafs and a shackle flip in the rear. I have to make some hangers. Since everything is fabricated on this thing, I felt it only right to fab up some decent looking hangers.
Shots are in the front yard. I shall drive it to the shop to cycle the suspension and figure out some shock lengths and bump stop locations. Lots of math, I should have stayed in school.
Steering:
Random shot of front end:
Rear Disc brakes:
Rear quarter:
Front quarter:
The whole enchilada:
Im not even sure if the new wheels are in or not, but I kind of dig the bone stock wheels. I may end up running some stock 70's era hub caps.
I think if I have them polished and redo the factory correct "Ford" details, it may look kind of retro.
Again the whole idea behind this was to keep a simple and effective vehicle, that is all business.
The forklift will excersize the suspension tomorrow. That should be interesting. I can already tell that the backspacing on the wheels is too much and the tires are gonna try to hit the body.
I made my own Add-a-leafs (similar to the ORU zero preload units):
So that I could kick the front axle forward a bit. I am having issues with the ride heigth and have to move the axle forward anyway, so this gets me closer to where I need to be.
I plan on lifting the truck a few more inches, but will only do this after I cycle the suspension. This gives me a better idea of how much additional lift I will require to maximize articulation. I like to keep the COG as low as possible, so I intend to keep this reasonably low. Perhaps only another inch or two will be required, but only time will tell.
What wheels did you have ordered? I don't really like the look of the ones on it. I mean obviously its your truck and your choice.
But its looking GREAT! And i'm happy to see those new pictures.
So when are you taking it to the shop? Oh and...
Where is your rear bumper??
I have two sets of wheels on order. One is a simple wheel with 3 3/8" backspacing. Yeah try to find that in a hurry, lol. The other is the same dimension in a beadlock. Might see a more agressive tire on those, and might even run them on the street.
These wheels were a set to mount the tires on so that I could cycle the suspension. I had to get this thing on the ground, and I wait for nothing. I dont let small things get in the way of progress. Waiting for a wheel would have taken an extra couple of days, and since I really only have a few days in the entire build, the option of waiting is out of the question.
I have built rigs in the rain before.
Kind of strange I guess, but I get into building stuff.
About the only thing that ever holds me up is when something goes wrong.
Example, I have a D60 Front that I am building for a buddy that leaks, and I cant get it to stop. Its only a small amount but it leaks. Me thinks there is still more of a problem than meets the eye, and I have had it apart more times than any man should, but it has to be right. Ive taken a shower already tonight and I may gou out and timker some more. Thats just how I do it.
I will cycle suspension tomorrow. I have yet to make another set of spring plates, and a new set of Zero Rate Add-A-leafs. Those little things are cool, and I have an idea about incorperating some additional leaf support and try to eliminate some front axle wrap at the same time. Just a little experiment really.
The rear bumper is laying on the floor of the shop. I have to cut some more rings for some diff covers that I build, and I guess I have to run a program for the 10.25 cover now. I'll probably never make another one again, but this truck will look nice with one, so it will get one of my custom covers.
Rear bumper will be a rock style plate bumper. Lots of angles, and some recovery points.
Ive got some idears in my noodle, I just have not realized them yet. This particular body style is easy as pie tp make bumpers for, so this should not take but a day or so once I get the right concept in my head.
Often it takes me longer to think of a design than it takes to make it.
Making the stuff is easy. Getting it to look clean and not butchered is something else.
I try to keep things looking like a production piece. One day I'll get to the level of the desert guys. They are sick fabricators. I learn every time I watch them, or see some new stuff, they come out with.
I may also introduce some "desert look" to this rig. Not sure yet.
I agree that the desert guys have some pretty amazing fabrication. Its pretty cool to see what they come up with. ChaseTruck, like you, is someone that I feel is much wiser than most. I'm curious to see what design you have floating in your noodle haha.
As for getting it to look clean, well thats just a matter of time.
Speaking of time, you sound like you wanted to finish this build fast. Is there any specific reason your pushing through it? I know you are just kind of like that, you start something you want to finish.. but is there something else?
I don't care about looks nearly as much as dependability. I mean, yeah you get both. But I tend to just work on being dependable and maybe make it look good a long while after that. I'm just one damn lazy man.
__________________ 1988 Ford F-350 460ci EFI
37" Super Swampers - Warn Winch F-350 Planning Thread
i know steve has a set of bronco eddie bauer rims that would look real nice...
__________________
1970 F-350 Crew Cab long bed
06 Focus ZX3 5 Speed (DD)
Thinking the Government stimulus plan is working is like thinking that taking water form the deep end of a pool and dumping it in the shallow end will raise the water level of the pool.
SoCal FTE Member
It took me longer to decide how to build this than it did to actually do it. I had a few front suspension designs that almost made it to fabrication. I actually started on a set of radius arms with compound bends. They looked awesome, but may not have taken the side loads present during a vehicle recovery, and light have failed in the mud.
This simplistic approach was the best compromise. I feel that I can get quite a bit of performance with this set up without breaking the bank, and feel that this is something that everyone can do at home. Yes I used some pretty fancy tools to make most of the stuff, but these parts are available from the aftermarket, and made of decent quality stuff.
Appearance is a must now. I have made the attempt to become slightly more dazzling than before. I mean really, a quality piece is going to be reliable. Most fabricators wont make something that wont last.
A little time and a little extra effort can really create some wow factor.
No real reason to finish fast, other than wanting to take it out. Like a kid at christmas ith a new toy and no batteries. Thats is no good. I feel the same about having a truck in the driveway that does not run. I have to make some progress.
i was talking about my dads, interesting you remember (knew) that, i was thinking you might have changed lug patters but was hard to tell in the pictures. i have an extra set from my truck, they look just like the ones that are on her now....but they are 15.5 inch rims so i bet you wouldnt want them
__________________
1970 F-350 Crew Cab long bed
06 Focus ZX3 5 Speed (DD)
Thinking the Government stimulus plan is working is like thinking that taking water form the deep end of a pool and dumping it in the shallow end will raise the water level of the pool.
SoCal FTE Member
Hey, on your steering, You might build one of these. It's a dual sheer pitman arm. I took the stock one, heated it up and beat it flat. cut it and welded it to a drop pitman arm (make sure you preheat the hell out of it) I was having some problems with some wobble in my heim joint and misalignment spacers and this solved it, and looks good! Expecially with my dual sheer hi steer set from ballistic fab. Oh and if you do this, make sure you weld in a brace to keep it from shrinking on you (the red flat bar on the left)
__________________ If it ain't broken... don't fix it?!?! SCREW THAT!!! Friends don't let friends drive stock
Im actually going to flip that high mis-alignment bushing and combo to the opposite side of the pitman arm. Right now it tries to hit the driver side spring when the wheels are turned to the left at full lock.
I need a bit more clearance. Now this will have an effect on the other side, so I may add to the space under the rod end to help provide additional mis-alignment there as well.
Those are all stock components by the way.
Few shots of today. Drove fine down to the shop. Actually the thing drove far better than I thought. Even the steering wheel was pretty straight. Kind of scary that I got that lucky.
I had to move the front axle forward 1 5/8 inches to better center the front wheel inside of the wheel opening. I thought I had all of this under control, but I did not, so much of the day was spent working out the smaller details.
Only takes two days to get new beefy axles under a truck but can take weeks, or longer working out the small details.
I am impressed and confused at the same time. Whats impressive is how soft these stock SD springs ride and how close the ride is to stock coils, even at this heigth.
Whats confusing is how harsh the same spring rides in an SD truck. I mean we ran around today in a bare bones, stock as the day it was born, 2003 SD super cab 4x4.
This was bay far one of the worst riding vehicles on the road. Then we cruise the Bronco down to the shop and it was amazing. The soft ride could put you to sleep. I would imagine that when I install the chebby rear springs that this truck may ride too soft. Can that be? This pile rides like a caddy with marshmallow tires. Body roll was minimimal and everything felt very secure even without a trac bar.
With a little tuning, and some additional work, it may see the freeway in a couple of days.
Shackle angle with spring fully compressed:
Front had more, but the rear was way into the body, so I had to stop:
Not a bad little stretch here:
Compressed and extended. The pass side has quite a bit left, but the limited travel in the rear kept me from raising the forks any more. See the rear tire was stuffed so far into the wheel well, it had made contact with the fender and was trying to buckle the rear fender. Thats not good on a Bronco. This bends the sheetmetal up real bad, so I had to stop. Im impressed that we could not reach the max of the front.
Doh! Not enough travel on the stock splines. Looks like it is time for a spendy set of shafts from JE Reel. Reel shafts are all that I run. Long spline units are gonna set me back a few pennies though.
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I'm just one damn lazy man.
If it ain't broken... don't fix it?!?! SCREW THAT!!! Friends don't let friends drive stock
