Been thinking about that "used housings" thing for the regear. I think I'm gonna strike that.

First, it's a cost issue. Why throw away $300 - $500 that can be applied elsewhere? Secondly, I know my spring perches, shock mounts, and etc. all work with my setup and are in good condition. The axle tubes are straight. The truck isn't going to get driven this winter at all, so I don't need it to be ready to go at a moment's notice and can afford for it to be down a week or even two while the regear gets done.

So, I think I'll stick to keeping my housings and just retrofit them. State inspection has to get taken care of in a week or so (tOwBS first though...), then it's time to tear into it.

 

Speaking cost wise, that might be the way to go. Even tho, conveniently, its easier just to swap. But this way will give you time to inspect everything inside & out, fresh fluids, etc...

 

Yeah there is definitely a convenience factor involved - roll one out, roll the other in, bolt it up and call it done. But the one mechanic in this town I trust made a good point about the perches, shock mounts, tubes and stuff. I KNOW what I have under the truck now - as opposed to buying someone else's problems out of a junkyard. And having 2 other trucks in the driveway - no big deal in terms of time away, as long as I get to it sooner than later. Obviously, the paint part of this job (i.e., bed, full truck, whichever direction I take) will need it to be on 4 wheels, and probably 6 weeks worth of time away...and I don't want to chew too far into my fluff time that will make me miss my target first show date.

 

Love that picture of both trucks, Bill!!

 

Yeah it turned out well for a quick snapshot on the phone. Gimme a year and we'll see more change.

 

So I've got this raging debate in my head while I'm on this conference call (it doesn't involve me in great detail at the moment but I have to listen in anyhow...blah).

I have glide-ride springs from BDS that are re-arched to provide essentially a "spring only" lift for the rear of the truck, all painted and ready to go on. But, one of the things I'm noticing when I've driven the truck over the past few months or so is that I'm getting some hop/axle wrap from the increased lift. In turn, I think I have U-joints going (no shame for a 15 yr old truck) which is in part why it went to Indy on a trailer (there was intent at one point to drive the Bull to Indy rather than tow).

Solution #1 is to throw the "spring only" setup on with a set of Flight Fabrications ladder bars as originally thought.

Solution #2 is to go a totally different route. Since I'm already adding ladder bars either way I go, there's the concept of getting the same One-Up Offroad "traction block" (the block + ladder bar setup that the tOwBS is getting when I do the SD spring swap) and getting fresh rear leaves in the "stock + add-a-leaf" set up. I have 5" worth of stacked blocks that would need replaced in the rear, which is a size that can be gotten "off the shelf" from OUO in a single block.

There's quite a difference in cost between the OUO and Flight bars, and a fresh set of springs are involved also. BUT, I gotta admit I really like what I see from the OUO setup despite the cost difference.

Decisions, decisions...

 

Updates!

It's time to start the move toward what I'm calling the "22 No More" tour. 2015's show schedule will be geared in some way, shape, and form to support the 22NeedsAFace organization. Click the link at the bottom of my sig to learn more about it. Worthy cause.

Anyhow - got the first and biggest piece of the prep on the bed of the OBS at the moment - a new bed. Mine has holes in the fenderwells, the bed floor is soft, and the brace at the right rear is starting to rot. So, enter the new freshness:











The bed came off a truck that spent its entire life in Florida and got parted out by a guy who brings parts up to the local area and sells them. Has two or three other OBS beds out there along with the one I grabbed here.

Next up, gotta figure out how to get under it and coat it with something while it's on the OBS and deliver it to the paint guy.

 

Excellent score!

 

Looks very solid Bill.

 

A few bucks more than the one out east, but between not having to haul it all that way, and the overall condition, yeah, a good score.

Yup, it's in good shape - almost new. Just gonna figure out the whole arrangement to get it on the truck sooner than later so we're done with this messing around...

 

Did you get it yet? Do you need any help? If so let me know.

 

It's sitting in the bed of the OBS, which is sitting in the yard. Picked it up last night after work.

Think I'm going to see about getting it Line-X'd inside and underneath (possibly) before it goes for paint, to keep it protected long-term.

 

Sounds good, when you're ready to place it let me know.

 

Well when you figure the time, tolls, & fuel, you probably evened the difference out.

 

The rear panel is jacked up on my bed. Hence the motivation to just use it as scrap, and sell the dually fenders, and buy a flatbed. Those Bradford Built's are pretty nice beds.