Some progress.
Built some old man sides out of cedar to keep me from scratching up the bed rails.lol
Also pulled the 5x5.5 Alcoas and sold them...so I mounted some crappy old tires on some crappy old rims to get me by until I start the 8 lug swap. I would just put it up on stands, but the body guy needs it mobile so he can get it out of the garage and give it a little more love.
Played a game of musical wheels this weekend too....Took a set of 8 lug steel wheels.tires to my buddy to trade him for his old Alcoas since the truck is headed to the derby this spring...then I traded my 5 lug Alcoas and some old Bronco steelies for a set of mint refinished 8x6.5 Alcoas. I am passing on the fair the condition Alcoas to a buddy (sloth69mustang) along with my old stock 5 lug wheels in exchange for some 8x6.5 steel wheels to use as rollers...he also has a pair of 31s for the new trail turd (see below)....in the middle of all of that swapping and trading I picked up a set of 2014 Super Duty wheels for another member (griz700rocket)
10 fullsize wheels/tires crammed in there..
2014 SD wheels
These things came out beautiful
Even picked up new stickers to seal the deal.
The parts pile for sloth..
Picked up this turd nugget too...95 Mazda B2300 4x4. 2.3, M5OD, 1354M and Warn hubs. Runs like a top, but has some title issues so.....it will be a trails only rig until I part it out. It needs an oil change and front wheel joints. Plan to weld the rear, throw some 31s on stock steelies and wheel it. I want to keep the t-case, wire harness, and wheels..the rest will be up for grabs after memorial weekend most likely.
After some research and some trial and error...I finally converted the 8 lug 8.8 to 9/16 studs.
I originally intended to use 94ish Dodge studs (far right) but the knurls engaged in the drum and the shoulder remained loose in the axle...so I flipped through 1000 Dorman part numbers and descriptions and found the middle stud, It works perfect, but I had to buy them in 10 packs....at 40 bucks a pack. I had to drill the flange/drum to 39/64s...which I figures would end with me cussing and breaking the new bit...but amazingly I was able to drill all 8 holes with my cordless on a single battery..
Plan is too machine the centers of the new Alcoas out to 5.15" and use push through caps. Once the wheels are done and the body man finishes dicking around...The axles are coming out.
Gave the 150 its first bath. Borrowed my brothers foam cannon...not impressed with the garden hose version... I will buy the pressure washer style since I have seen good feedback for it.