My 80 RC project

[Sten]

After I've been driving with my "new" opened fenders and still have rubbing when turn out of the roads did I decide that I'm going to lengthen the bumpstops so the tires can't hit the fender as the  Skyjacker springs have incredible flex. I just can't understand how it's possible that they can flex like that, haven't seen like anything like that before they just flex more and more all the time and doing an incredible job to hold the tires on the ground. I did buy a set of Energy Suspension bumpstops the other day to put on instead those tiny rubber ones that I have right now and move them closer to the leafpack as I haven't lowered em since the lift I put on..
I do play in my mind of moving the frontaxle forward 1/2 to 1 inch and have taking some measurement too, just to discover that it's no big deal to move it if I don't do more than that. And then I have to move the rear pivot point forward and up too and can put on longer shackles in the same time like the ultimate RC buildup. I still have some steering issues after the lift and should do the crossover setup to get rid of the bump steer I have right now. It's not so bad but it's there and it didn't felt so bad with radial tires as with diagonals. It did get worse with those SS TSL diagonals as they are horrible on icy snowroads. Now as the ground is just frozen mud so the wheels do jump right and left all the time searching for tracks. It's a bit better with higher tirepressure but then they don't feel right as they tend to jump. First I thought that something was loose in my steering and I was all over it to find the problem spot but nothing, all seems to be right on track. I have been testing em now when I have had my winter vacation and have been in my forrest and doing some firewood. Nice to just drive over the ditch and right to the place where I cut those trees  . We did get the winter back now too as we got 4 inches of snow yesterday and 4 more this night so we are heading to Christmas  . These are some thoughts I've been thinking about when sitting out there in the forrest with a cup of coffee in my hand. Have to see how much I'm I'm going to complete of my thoughts. /Sten

[Sten]

Hi guys! Had a  few issues with the GM charging system as the RC got a voltage above 15 volt, and that is going to boil the battery in the long run and I was searching for a easy solution for it.  I observed when I putted the "feeler" wire or what you call it to the battery did the voltage drop to about 14,5 volt as i should be, but if I let it be there it drain the battery so it should be connected from the ignition as the original positive wire. So there I was thinking about the options I had to deal with and decided to go the relay route and mated a relay from the original ignition positive wire to the primary side and coupled the secondary contacts between the battery and the alternator. Still have the test hook up wiring in place but are going to rewire it to get a professional look and better reliability of the wiring and soon I should soon start to sort out the old wiring of the old RC. The bulk head connector is a real mess with a melted plastic connector but that is a later project.     

[Sten]

It's time for a little update since last time I wrote something down. A few weeks back I found a front Dana 60 axle that have been sitting for about five years in the back of a shop until the owner did the decision that he doesn't have time for his project and wanted some floor space to free up. It's from a Chebby K30 truck open differential with 4.56 in the gears to match up with the 14 bolt I already have. This example had new kingpins and new lipseals installed, a hole is drilled for the ARB locker but I doesn't thing I going to use one so I propably thread the hole  for a stopbolt in it. He also had bought the high-steer arm for it so I do think it's a nice catch. I doesn't have seen it in real but for some pictures and it does look decent for an axle laying that long, but it have at least been inside and stored out of the reach of water. The owner is putting the last pieces back on before he is going to build a wooden cratebox to the axle for cheaper shipping. Nice guy when he try to get it shipped cheap to my place  . Now I just wait until I get it home    . /Sten

[hilton8r]

When do you expect it to arrive? Congratulations on the find?

I spent all of Sunday clearing my garage to make room to store my '67 Pontiac Firebird coupe. My Dana 60 with 4:10 gears was buried underneath a bunch of junk. I had forgotten that I borrowed Bill's axle nut socket, and need to return it to him asap. I got stuck removing one of the retainer clips. Why is it that one side is always easy and the other side is always hard?

The fuel injectors on my Duramax went bad again, so I've only driven it a few times since last September or so. I registered it non-op since I couldn't smog it. The DMV rejected my on-line payment, so I have an appointment tomorrow morning to hopefully straighten everything out.

John

[Sten]

I think it should arrive in a few weeks if just the seller have time to spare to get everything prepared. Got the two remaining eight bolt wheels home now so now I have one setup of 10x15 inch wheels, and I know that I have some clearance problems with 15 inch wheels and D60 front but 16 or 17 inch eight bolt wheels are very rare if not impossible to get here in Finland, and get too pricey to import so that's why. Many have grinded down the calipers to manage the enough clearance between the wheel and caliper. But I think I take a new route and move the caliper inward enough and machine down the disc. I don't know yet but this is some thoughts I have. Have to look closer into it when I get the front home. /Sten

[hilton8r]

What backspacing are your rims?

I thought this colrado k5 write up on this subject was really good:
http://coloradok5.com/d60calipergrind.shtml

[Sten]

Should be -44 mm ET. What is that as backspace, propably 3,75 inch. Looks like one way to get the job done. Tnx for the link John!
Did fill my RC up this evening, just 170 € (Euro) (about 220 USD) Gas ain't the cheapest liquid on the planet .
/Sten

What backspacing are your rims?

I thought this colrado k5 write up on this subject was really good:
http://coloradok5.com/d60calipergrind.shtml

[hilton8r]

How many gallons does it take to fill your tank? Holy crap. I won't be complaining about how much it costs to fill up my dually anymore! My dually is roughly 31 gallons I believe.

[Sten]

How many gallons does it take to fill your tank? Holy crap. I won't be complaining about how much it costs to fill up my dually anymore! My dually is roughly 31 gallons I believe.

The tank should be the bigger of the two as there is the boulder on top of it. I'm not sure but about 35 gallons should it be. But it couldn't be empty as I filled up "just" about 20 gallons, The coast of a gallon is only   8,71 USD (converted to USD) over here so I think it's quite expensive compared to the prize over there. The people over here do think that I'm a little "weird" as I only own US cars, and not even think about the gas consumption at all  . My first car was a little car with a tiny little engine but it was a hungry one (15mpg). And I promised that I never ever own a piece of crap like that again. /Sten

[Sten]

It's been a long waiting for the D60 front to arrive. Got it home by a delivery company some while ago. It have the same 4.56 gears as my 14 bolt rearend and have got new kingpins brakepads and new sealings. it also had a high steer arm on the right side so it's prepared for a custom crossover steering. It was in under a Chevy K30 truck but the left leaf spring pad is missing so have to weld on one the right spot for my RC. So there it just lay in the wooden crate waiting  but I'm going to search for all the parts I need for my axles before I start to exchange them as the 14 bolt rear have to get a locker too. One guy here in Finland did sell a locker and didn't know what axle it could fit, the only thing he was sure about was its a 30 splines and belong to an big American axle and was guessing for a D60. He had a photo of it and I am 99 percent sure it's a Detroit locker for my 14 bolt and I bought it for a bargain. It is fun to see what it is when I get it home but I'm sure I can do something with it anyway or sell out  . That is my future plans.

[hilton8r]

Good luck! I hope that locker is a Detroit, and you can use it!

[Sten]

I did need a little more luck than I had with that locker . I was a Detroit locker BUT was a 19 splines for 1,75 inch driveshafts so it didn't fit my need so I do have to order a new one for my 14 bolt and get a set of disc brakes to save some weight at the same time. Have to collect some parts before I start to rip everything in pieces. But I'm gonna leave the D60 front open for the moment, sure a airlocker would be awesome but expensive so I'll wait and see. Have any of you guys tried the Detroit locker in the front and how does it work but I don't think that is a good locker in front with a 205 TC as the tires does scrub already without locker in front when in 4wd.


Here is a pic of my D60 front in the plywood box. It's a nice heavy piece of axle I have there, just have to get more parts so I can everything in place when start to do the exchange.

[hilton8r]

I bought a Detroit a couple years ago for the ZJ 8.8. It will most likely be installed before my Moab trip in October since it will be awhile before I upgrade from my stock D30 / 4:10 gears / 33" tires to a D44 front / 4:56 gears / 35" tires...

I don't have a Detroit in the front of anything.

And it looks like you've got yourself a decent casket as soon that Dana 60 is swapped!

[Sten]

Hi. So you putting in a Detroit too, it's a great locker without any airhoses to rip off offroad as with an ARB. But I think the ARB is the way to go for the front end. The easiness to shift between locked are the best with it. You go as deep as 4.56 with 33s. I was thinking about 38 with my 4.56 axles I have but have to trim my fenders even more because the 36 TSLs still hit my front fenders even if I trimmed them a while ago. Those Skyjacker leaves have incredible flex.

Hahaha...that plywood box is built by small scrap pieces and not even the ends is done of a single bit. So it's ending up as firewood in my house later. 
/Sten

I bought a Detroit a couple years ago for the ZJ 8.8. It will most likely be installed before my Moab trip in October since it will be awhile before I upgrade from my stock D30 / 4:10 gears / 33" tires to a D44 front / 4:56 gears / 35" tires...

I don't have a Detroit in the front of anything.

And it looks like you've got yourself a decent casket as soon that Dana 60 is swapped!

[hilton8r]

I can't get to my Jeep until the 15th. I got a great deal on a Mean Green high output alternator for my ZJ. I should have a few updates to add to my thread shortly. I'm crossing my fingers that my tires hold up for awhile. It's entirely possible that my BFG's have more years on them than miles!

I'm going to trim the fenders on my ZJ too. I bought a louvered 5.9L hood awhile back, and got an email from somebody wanting to buy my original hood. I need that money to help cover the recent moola drain I'm experiencing.

I've got to get to bed. It's 4:30am. I've been working on my computer all day. Take care of your bad self! 

John

[Sten]

Here some updates since last time. Have been busy with all kind of stuff lately but bought some parts for my new axles. Found some Heavy Duty discbrakes for my 14 bolt here to the right price so I had to get a set. Now I just in need of a pair of calipers and some brackets for em, but I am going to do my own stuff there and cut out my own brackets of a piece of steel. I'm going to build a parkbrake on the rear propshaft too with a disc and some home fab stuff for that too. And at the last I ordered a Detroit locker for the 14 bolt from Summit. It was a piece of cake. The package was delivered here to Finland within three days and did the custom declaration and payment on the net, two days later it was delivered home to my door. It couldn't be easier than that.


 
Have been looking on a frontguard too and done some testfittings on the RC. Found that one on the junkyard on a old Dodge van and should be able to use it after some mods to the brackets. I do not really know how it's going to be yet but soon. Did some tests with different lights too, the Lightforce are big compared to those tiny LED lights I had on the other pic.
Should see what I'm gonna do with the bumper, keep it or dump it in favor for something else. Have been working on some new front spring brackets too as I have in mind to move the front axle forward about 3/4 inch for better clearance of the tires.
This is a never ending scenario but it is nice when everything work out at last before the next movement and so on... I'll keep you posted as something clears out in the horizon

/Sten

[Sten]

I've been in my shop a few evenings now and did some modifications to the home made engine stand that I welded a few years back. Was just looking around for something to have under the axle when I was working on it and my eyes just found that stand that was in the corner of the shop. So I welded in a few pieces of steel so it fit the axle. The front vertical tube is just attached in a tube welded on the lower leg so it can be lifted off when not in use. Wiped on some paint for a better look as I have painted all of my shop equipment with the same hammer blue paint as in the picture.



So now I'm in business again without having to get out and buy all kind of shop stuff to get the job done. Have to take out the axle and have it sandblasted (if the weather just allow me to get out as it rain almost every day here now and I just wait that the temp just drops a few degrees below the freezing point...) and painted before I start ripping all apart for the final setup with the Detroit Locker and the disc brakes. I don't have the calipers yet but I see what I gonna find first that fits my needs and my purse  . It's getting closer all the time and hope to get all the parts I need soon so I can get this 14 bolt rear ready and can lift the D60 on the stand for a closer look. More to come...

[Sten]

We was going out on a little trip here one Saturday, or I did try. In the first place I went I broke the front driveshaft U-joint       and when I didn't have any spare parts in the truck the only thing was to limp home slowly. The C-clips popped out and the cups start working them self outward until one fell off and the joint did cut of the strapbolts on the U-joint. Went home and changed to a new one but the cutted bolts was a bear to get out, but I managed to get em and save the threads in the yoke it self. My lucky day  . And I even found a few bolts with the right thread and size in my shop, Not bad at all. Changed some engine oil at the same time and so on...


Then I was going to stare at some rust in front of the left rear tire on the body. I always did know that it had some filler there. I cut it up and found a big chunk of filler in a hole in the sheet metal. In the right picture you see how the sheetmetal looked like as I had it cutted out. Not good looking at all but there was a lot of road grim trapped inside those panels. I have to change out a bit of two inch of the lower inner panel too as it was too corroded as well. Now I get that part done too as it have been bad looking in a few years now. That's the worst rust  I have on the truck as I know, but now is that problem soon gone.
I have the Detroit locker in the 14 bolt axle now too but when I was investigating those bearings did I found a little surface rust so I decided to get all bearings new too. They are all ordered of my local am-parts seller and should get them any day now. I have ripped off the drumbrakes as you see on the pic. Those drums weights a ton, they are huge and heavy so I am going to trash them. That's all for now...and Happy New Year all!  

[hilton8r]

Happy New Year Sten!

Glad you made it home without a tow! It's been wet and cold out here. It's probably colder in your shop, but I'm getting to be a big ol' wimp!

I'm working on my Jeep today. I'm going to EJS this year, and have lots to do.

John

[Sten]

Hi John.
Yes I easily made my way home as it was almost in my backyard  whee I shot the U-joint. No I don't have cold at all in my shop as I keep my floorheating on all the winter long, about 40 degF. And it feels soo hot  .



Here I did some rust on the inner lip and did that curved sheetmetal for the outside in my press that I welded a few years back. I tried to get everything very close to original panel as I didn't want to use filler at all.



Quite close as the fender. And the other one ready welded with grinded welds. Smooth and ready for some rustpreventing paint.



Painted and ready for some action.

I did found a Powertrax automatic locker for my D60 frontend too in the neighbour village. Just had to buy it and it's now waiting for an install too. I got all the new bearings from my Ami-car dealer too so I'm going to put all the bearing in the 14 bolt first before I do anything else.  /Sten