The Saga of Truck Norris

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Yes. Yes you are.

There's no getting rid of me.

I'm like if your thread has herpes. I stay away for a bit, then pop in at the worst possible time.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Well then, if you don't mind, please be completely useless.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Well then, if you don't mind, please be completely useless.

No worries, I am.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Finally got a picture, it's kinda crappy since I was by myself but it's easiest to look at my '90... Anyway I'm talking about taking note of where the tape meets the rim in the middle of the curl at the end, in this case about 52 1/8" at the same vertical height on the rim in front and behind. There's much less give and more consistency on the rim than the tire...

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Finally got a picture, it's kinda crappy since I was by myself but it's easiest to look at my '90... Anyway I'm talking about taking note of where the tape meets the rim in the middle of the curl at the end, in this case about 52 1/8" at the same vertical height on the rim in front and behind. There's much less give and more consistency on the rim than the tire...

View attachment 144369

Oh! Got it! Ok, thank you!

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Truck Norris has new tires. Mostly white lettering.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I dove headfirst into learning alignments. After seeing what @scotts90ranger did, I went out and tried it. I need a better tape measure. After getting frustrated with the damn thing constantly flopping over and the tape measure not wanting to stay rigid, I set up an appointment with my doctor. He asked me why I brought a tape measure.

Because the truck was pulling hard left, I straightened the left wheel. That made the truck run straight. Stopping is also straight. The steering feels a little darty now, though, and the steering wheel is now slightly turned to the left. So, the driver's side wheel has the steering turned slightly, but the truck runs straight. That's annoying. It'll work for this weekend, but that makes me wonder if I should've toed out on the passenger side as well as toed in on the driver's side...

Wait. The darting is from toe out. The steering turned left but running straight makes me think more toe in on the passenger side is necessary, and maybe a bit less toe in on the driver's side is called for. I'm taking wrenches with me and adjusting as I go. I'll get better tools soon.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Christmas time a few years ago I bought a couple two packs of Milwaukee tape measures that have a long stickout which is super nice...

To fix the steering wheel being offset just turn one tie rod one direction and the other the opposite direction the same amount, that won't change the toe just move the steering wheel.

the darting thing is usually either too much toe in or caster being low if I remember right.

 

[Curious Hound]

Alignment issues are rarely corrected by only adjusting one thing. When you move one adjustment, it affects everything else. I'm not as familiar with the newer trucks. But on the old TIB / TTB trucks, adjusting camber affects caster and toe. I pull a string from the rear wheel forward to see if my front wheel is straight on each side and get both front wheels as straight as possible. Then, give it about 1/8" toe in. That bit of toe in helps keep the slack out of everything. Caster is what helps the steering return to straight and prevent wandering after you round a corner. But, regardless, if you adjust something, go back and recheck everything else and keep dialing it in closer and closer until all the measurements check out good.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Alignment issues are rarely corrected by only adjusting one thing.

I'm certain you're correct. It's not fixed, just better. Driveable. I may go off the deep end and build my own laser alignment rig.

Also, Truck Norris cleans up vury noice.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Figured I'd attempt to see what the Azure Gray paint job would look like on the Ranger. I don't think AI got it right..

It's interesting, though.

 

[SenorNoob]

Why is the fender shiny but also looks like it has peeling clear coat? LOL

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Why is the fender shiny but also looks like it has peeling clear coat? LOL

Because AI can't do tri-coat paint jobs!

My wife is taking the truck to a better tire/alignment shop tomorrow morning. I'm really wanting to move forward with actual customization, but I have this step to finish, then some mild engine work. After that, my wife's Abarth is getting some promised care, and then I can go all in on the truck. I've started a YouTube channel that I hope to use to share my mods and customization, not just on the truck but on a lot of different things.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Because AI can't do tri-coat paint jobs!

My wife is taking the truck to a better tire/alignment shop tomorrow morning. I'm really wanting to move forward with actual customization, but I have this step to finish, then some mild engine work. After that, my wife's Abarth is getting some promised care, and then I can go all in on the truck. I've started a YouTube channel that I hope to use to share my mods and customization, not just on the truck but on a lot of different things.

Subscribed. I’m running behind on getting content on my channel, one video a week when you’re doing it all on your own may be a bit ambitious.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Subscribed. I’m running behind on getting content on my channel, one video a week when you’re doing it all on your own may be a bit ambitious.

That's good advice, thank you. My release schedule will likely be sporadic at first. I need to learn some video editing, and I'm jumping off the Microslop Windblows train. I believe Mint is in my near future...