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Yes, winter is coming. We had our first measurable snow over night. This morning was like a winter wonderland with the gently falling snow sticking to the trees. We got about 3 inches and temps stayed below freezing, so our early season snow is all pretty much still here. It's bound to warm up though. I still need to get my winter tires and rims on. I don't want my "good" summer rims exposed to the salt and abuse of a WI winter.
I've been following your progress Tom--and remain impressed with your determination. I should be inspired to, "Go and do likewise", but so far inertia has been holding me down--and I have a nice cozy heated garage.
Jim
Thanks Jim my momentum will slow once we stay in the below freezing temperatures. I am happy with the progress to date. I will likely get the diff rebuilt through the winter and have the parts ordered for the front disc conversion. I will stay with drum brakes on the rear just waiting to confirm which differential I'll use then get parts. My target is to be driving again next Summer.
i am leaving the option open to use a flathead, time will tell.
Tom
I sourced 2 more 16" rims so I now have 4-16" and 5-15". I have decided on disc conversion on front so have 16" wheels to overcome any caliper interferences should they arise.
I picked rear back plates and 11" drums yesterday from 1986 F150, 2 1/4" shoes. The axle retainers have different bolt spacing but I am going to try changing bolt holes to give me larger rear shoes. Failing that I have parts for 1 3/4 shoes.
I can see why you would want to raise it a bit. What size rims and tires are you running here?
So prior to starting this frame swap I had about 4" drop with the MII front suspension and 3.5" drop with 8.8 sxle over leafs in the rear. On that setup I had 15" 80's Mopar rims with 3.75" backset to clearance the box. I had 195 60R 15 all around.
This time around I will have stock suspension front and rear, with either 15" or 16" stock rims, running 205 75R's to give between 26-29" wheel height, depending on what interferences I encounter. I also have to consider the height of the garage door opening I am very close to hitting with the 16" tire combo unloaded.
I have been disassembling front and rear suspension, both axles and front springs removed. Also reworking steering box, rebuilding kit on order.
Warm, above freezing weather forecast so hope to strip down front springs tomorrow and get them painted. I will work on reassembly of steering, and front suspension on milder days. Hope to get front disc brake conversion and differential parts through the winter.
Picked up a steering box today so steering is sorted out.
Parts ordered for front disc brake conversion.
I hope to dismantle the front leaf springs tomorrow to set the table for front tie rods and brake conversion.
Then comes removal of the dreaded rear spring shackle pins. I am going to try making a removal tool as per Truckdog (Stu). I used my door hinge pin removal tool to extract the retainer pins(worked a lot better for this than for removing hinge pins).
Today was a day for small part painting and front spring teardown. Both sides for the front springs have broken leaves. I phoned a shop nearby that can make a set, $1000.00 . I asked if they could make just the ones that are fractured but they recommended all or nothing. The reasoning is that eventually the other stock ones would fail too.
On a more positive note, I punched out both king pins and received the replacement parts today.
Going to try to make the extraction tool to remove the rear shackle pins tomorrow.
Tom, I replaced all leafs with Posies last winter. I used a map torch to get them removed, heated and kept pressure with homemade pull bolt. First one was a learning curve. Good Luck and keep up work and posts.
I received my conversion kit today from Speedway.The shipment boxes were damaged but I don't see any part damage. Edit: looking at the photo I noticed what appears to be a dent on one of the rotor hubs.
I won't be installing the kit for a couple months. I am ordering new front springs tomorrow.
I received my conversion kit today from Speedway.
The shipment boxes were damaged but I don't see any part damage. Edit: looking at the photo I noticed what appears to be a dent
I contacted Speedway to make them aware of the damaged shipment, with pictures.
By end of day today they shipped me a replacement rotor. You can't ask for more than that. Only wish they offered better shipping to Canada, thats twice within the last 6 months my order has arrived damaged.
I am thinking of ordering a 3rd member from them for my 9 inch diff but am hesitant about how it will show up. Third times the charm?
Today I ordered the front springs to be built.I've requested they leave them diassembled since they don't rust treat them. I'll epoxy them and finish assembly myself.
I picked up my new front springs a couple days ago. Yesterday i finished dismantling the rear springs and painted them all.
Today I will loose assemble them and take the rears in for some repair to the brackets that are riveted to some of the leaves.
They are shiney and look good. One of the rear springs has a fractured leaf so I will delete it on both sides. Time will tell how they will resist rust.
I get my rear springs back Monday; they replaced some fractured leaves and hardware. I can hang front and rear springs as soon as I receive the back ordered shackle hardware.
i straightened the steering rod today. There was a bend 16" from one end that gave it a 11/4" kick up. I used my press and a jig I welded up, to straighten it.
I hope to make some progress on suspension install next week.
Looking good Tom! I recently had new bushings and pins installed on my springs, but it was done at a shop, so I didn't have a chance to clean up the springs at all. Yours look great. I feel bad now about my "missed" opportunity. Wow, +9C. That must be unusual for mid January.
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