Pretty sweet looking build so far... I must say...

First and foremost, that truck looks awesome. :-drink I have a soft spot for bumpsides. I have owned 3 of them and really regret selling the 70 F250 4x4 I had. Very low mile original truck. It was a State Plow Truck and had just over 70K on it, but had been wearing the plow it's whole life.

Off topic question about your grinder you love so much. I see that that style is their "Basic Series", but they list quite a few different ones as well as the some of the more expensive models with other features. Now, I don't mind spending money on quality tools, but at the same time, there is no need to pay for fancy options if they are really not needed.
Which P/N do you have.
I was looking at the Metabo WP8-115 for $130 or the Metabo W 820-115 for $66.

Thank you Aaron. I'm pulling the front axle off right now! :-jammin

Thanks for the complement!
Here's the grinder info....
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...224_141541.jpg
Here is the link to the current (newer) model.
Metabo Service Portal

Cheapest place I can find it online. You may be able to get a better deal at your local welding supplies shop.
Metabo 6.00160.42 6-inch Electronic Angle Grinder

It has two safety features I like, soft start - so it won't jump in your hands when you switch it on, and restart protection - in case you loose power and the slide switch is in the "on" positon it won't restart. I like the slide switch on top instead of a dead mans paddle switch on the bottom, it's less likely to get hit and powered on accidentally. The newer version has a torque limiting clutch. It's a little more expensive, but the safety features are worth it.

Aaron and AK, have a Merry Christmas!

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...eChristmas.jpg

All I can say is AWESOME! I had a 70 4x4 390 man trans bump and miss the hell out of it, it had no power steering and gave this 18at the time (man im old!) kid a hell of a time steering that tank, knowing now how easy it is to convert em to power steering I miss it even more! nice job. I understand lowering it, it probably didn't have the best road manners.

Thank you for all the info Tomahawk.

You have a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year as well my friend. :-drink

Awesome job Gavin! Enjoy the time in the shop this week. You deserve it. Merry Christmas!

Thanks Scooter! It did want to wander all over the road, the 35s and softer springs should make it a nice driver.

No problem, enjoy your Metabo!


Thanks buddy, I will do that!


Merry Christmas all!

I always try to keep the guards on my angle grinders now, I nearly lost my left index finger just above the knuckle when a cutting wheel flew apart on me last year, stupid me, no gloves on.

Nice looking rig BTW. :-jammin

Thanks Shane, sorry I missed your post. Heavy leather gloves are a must when running a grinder.

Update.

First I would like to say thanks to Gerry (GIGGER) and Paul (Hdslider) for helping me with the ring and pinion setup, you guys are the best!
The truck sat for a long period of time when PO1 had it and the ring gear became badly pitted on part that wasn't submerged in lube oil.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...321_215127.jpg

The bearing surface for one of the spiders was also badly pitted so I had to get a new carrier.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/..._/DSC_4253.jpg

New carrier, all cleaned up!
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...710_191252.jpg

PO2 did a lousy job of welding and getting the shock mounts on straight, so I fixed that.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4252.jpg

I got the axle housing primed and painted.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...703_195742.jpg

Got the axle on the workbench, ready to dump in some gears.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4272.jpg

I machined an aluminum disk to press on the carrier bearings, it got used a lot. I needed something to push the bearings past the end of the hub and not press on the cage, it worked great for at least a dozen times.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4273.jpg

The old carrier worked great for pressing on the inner pinion bearing.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4279.jpg

The carrier bearings getting pressed on, the old bearings were in good shape so I used them while doing the setup.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4276.jpg

First try at a contact patch.....not so good.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...714_134726.jpg

Taking off the bearings, change shims, press the bearings on.....repeat
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4530.jpg

Getting closer...
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...714_133742.jpg

....and a good contact patch.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...804_182421.jpg

I added a drain plug to the diff cover because I want to look at the ring gear teeth and change the fluid and not regoo the cover....yes, I am lazy.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/..._/DSC_4329.jpg
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/..._/DSC_4328.jpg
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/..._/DSC_4333.jpg
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/..._/DSC_4332.jpg

I got the drum brakes rebuilt......that is so much easier to do on a workbench. New drums, the old shoes had no wear, new bearings and seals for the hubs. Everything painted ready to put back together.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/..._/DSC_4543.jpg

New brake lines.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4753.jpg

I had to get longer studs for my wheels.....
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/..._/DSC_4550.jpg

.....so I got these spendy one's from ARP. Thanks Andre (SavageNFS) for helping me get them cheaper. They are PN 100-7707.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4729.jpg

The new studs and 2" nuts work much gooder!
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_4878.jpg

Next up....new rear leaf springs.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/..._/DSC_4538.jpg

When are you going to make some actual progress?














LOL...sorry buddy! Looks like a pro job!

Great progress Gavin, nice clean work place, looks great so far....
Thx for the kind words

Glad to see some updates on this. Looking good.

Very nice work Gavin :)

Wow... x2 on the color... x2 on the awesome...

Looks like its in excellent hands... subscribed.

Love my dent but always intrigued by the bumps... could be the nickname :D

That's one hell of a job you did on that rear end!

Wish I had myself a shop press and a lathe... Those two things are almost mandatory for doing DIY work.

Looks great tho, keep those pics coming!