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Looks great so far. Awesome build. I second the fact I wish I knew how to set up axles. Had to have the rear end in my 2009 rebuilt. That $2,000 bill was a tough one to swallow. I rarely take my stuff to the shop. I can change engines, transmissions, axles. But don’t know how to set them up.
Not sure how others manage, but here's my method to removing rivets that hold the brackets in place. Cut a cross in the head with a 1/16" cutoff wheel, chisel the head off with the air hammer, drive the rivet out with a punch and big hammer.
The rivets on the coil buckets are MUCH easier than the ones down on the radius arm brackets. That is the method I have used on a few hundred, but I'm switching to a torch in the future...45 degree rivet cut off tip.
So as we close in of finishing the axles and suspension, I find myself thinking about the drivetrain and the list of questions I've yet to resolve:
I'll be installing a new 4R100 - I'm leaning toward A1 Transmissions in GA
I'll be installing a NV271 with manual shifter and linkage from an F350
but . . .
I’m not sure if the 7.3L 2WD tranny crossmember is the same as the 7.3L 4WD crossmember. (hope so)
I’m not sure the driveshafts from the V10, 4WD are the correct length for the 7.3L 4WD. (I fear they are not)
I’m not sure the tranny coolant lines are the same length. (I would guess yes)
I’m not sure if the shift cable and wiring harness/connectors are the same. (cable-probably; Connectors-maybe not)
Really, the big question is: Is the mating surface between the engine and tranny in the same location for the 7.3L, 2WD and the V10, 4WD? If the answer is YES then most of the above will be fine. My fear is the V10 sits back a bit further meaning crossmember and driveshaft differences.
So as we close in of finishing the axles and suspension, I find myself thinking about the drivetrain and the list of questions I've yet to resolve:
I'll be installing a new 4R100 - I'm leaning toward A1 Transmissions in GA
I'll be installing a NV271 with manual shifter and linkage from an F350
but . . .
I’m not sure if the 7.3L 2WD tranny crossmember is the same as the 7.3L 4WD crossmember. (hope so)
I’m not sure the driveshafts from the V10, 4WD are the correct length for the 7.3L 4WD. (I fear they are not)
I’m not sure the tranny coolant lines are the same length. (I would guess yes)
I’m not sure if the shift cable and wiring harness/connectors are the same. (cable-probably; Connectors-maybe not)
Really, the big question is: Is the mating surface between the engine and tranny in the same location for the 7.3L, 2WD and the V10, 4WD? If the answer is YES then most of the above will be fine. My fear is the V10 sits back a bit further meaning crossmember and driveshaft differences.
Thoughts from the collective?
CR
I have 7.3 4x4 and 6.8 2x4 frames. The crossmember is the same and in the same location on both frames (I even measured from splice to crossmember location). Since it is Engine, transmission, transfer case and the crossmember is in the same location I would think engine to transmission mating surface is in the same spot. Just a guess anyway. Not sure on the other questions.
A bit of progress made. Front axle finally hanging from the springs! Tires mounted on the new wheels! As you can see - it has been wet here. I got the swaybar installed with new poly bushings and endlinks before the rain started up again.
