06 Frame Repairs

[Ranger Kip]

I need some advice for the rockers, anyone ever do those aluminum slip on covers with the sheet metal screws for $70?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I need some advice for the rockers, anyone ever do those aluminum slip on covers with the sheet metal screws for $70?
View attachment 144434

Never did aluminum ones. I’ve installed a few steel rocker slip covers for a couple people on various vehicles. I usually weld them in other than rivets in the holes that I used for Cleco pins when I’m fitting them up. Sometimes I’ve had to make adjustments, sometimes not.

 

[Ranger Kip]

Never did aluminum ones. I’ve installed a few steel rocker slip covers for a couple people on various vehicles. I usually weld them in other than rivets in the holes that I used for Cleco pins when I’m fitting them up. Sometimes I’ve had to make adjustments, sometimes not.

I've done the rivet on style steel ones. They don't sell anything other than those aluminum slip ons for rangers. All I see online is people replacing the whole rocker, which is correct, but I'm on a budget/time constraint lol.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I've done the rivet on style steel ones. They don't sell anything other than those aluminum slip ons for rangers. All I see online is people replacing the whole rocker, which is correct, but I'm on a budget/time constraint lol.

Totally get the budget/time constraints. I haven’t gone looking for rocker bits for my Ranger for awhile. My one 00 needs a rocker repaired but I’ll probably just cut out the damage and form a piece of sheet steel to fit because my current budget isn’t really allowing another option and it’s a relatively small spot, plus I have sheet steel on hand.

 

[Ranger Kip]

Totally get the budget/time constraints. I haven’t gone looking for rocker bits for my Ranger for awhile. My one 00 needs a rocker repaired but I’ll probably just cut out the damage and form a piece of sheet steel to fit because my current budget isn’t really allowing another option and it’s a relatively small spot, plus I have sheet steel on hand.

Yeah, my whole rocker on both sides is piece mailed with grit tape, bondo and spray paint. It looks whole. But that's it.

I plan to get it inspected as is, it will pass, but next year it won't.

 

[Ranger Kip]

This is Sokka

Now, back to the episode, we got the shackles and mounts on, one of the eBay shackle mount bolts snapped at 55ft/lbs, so I had a grade 5 to replace it. Everything torqued to roughly 70ft/lbs.

The original shackles would not move under the full weight of my fat ass on a 3' breaker bar. (900ft/lbs?)

The daughter was a huge help.

 

[Ranger Kip]

"Temporary" gas tank strap fix. I have a ratchet strap in place as a backup. I'm gonna order a new one next weekend.

Thanks to my daughters help, we got the gas tank back in and hooked up. Ready for the axle.

 

[Ranger Kip]

Changed the diff fluid, unfortunately the permatex gear old gasket maker says 24 hour full cure time. So I'm gonna let it sit.

I just filled it outside like a bowl of soup and then cleaned/reinstalled the cover with the gasket maker. So sitting like that it should be fine.

Old oil didn't look bad, but it was sealed with regular RTV and leaking slowly.

 

[Ranger Kip]

Used the backhoe with a fork to lift and drop the frame onto the axle, a ratchet strap to keep the input shaft facing forward.

Then torqued the axle u bolts in a criss-cross and step fashion.

We moved the parts truck, the frame broke in half while just lifting it.

Luckily the hitch came off with zero fight, I am super surprised by this, definitely getting new bolts for it though.

Put the back axle on jack stands and took the brake drums off, these came off without any resistance either, kinda creapy.

Crusty, but re-usable, I will be cleaning these and then checking for roundness and cracks before reinstallion. New brake cylinders and springs are being installed, the shoes look fine.

 

[Ranger Kip]

A weight fell off my drum brake, so I have to steal a drum off my old axle.

Official axle workbench.

 

[IRKillroy]

I need some advice for the rockers, anyone ever do those aluminum slip on covers with the sheet metal screws for $70?
View attachment 144434

Are you trying to repair the rockers that are rusted through?

If they are steel, but you are on a budget, I'd cut out the bad stuff and coat the interior with some of your favorite rust inhibitor paint. Then just rivet on some steel and use seam sealer from Eastwood to make sure water doesn't get in there (apply some seam seal on the rivet before you insert it in the hole).

I recommend this if this is a beater and you are not concerned on how it looks. You can also do this on the rear quarter panel if you are really feeling froggy.

I hope this helps you with your decision!

 

[Ranger Kip]

Are you trying to repair the rockers that are rusted through?

If they are steel, but you are on a budget, I'd cut out the bad stuff and coat the interior with some of your favorite rust inhibitor paint. Then just rivet on some steel and use seam sealer from Eastwood to make sure water doesn't get in there (apply some seam seal on the rivet before you insert it in the hole).

I recommend this if this is a beater and you are not concerned on how it looks. You can also do this on the rear quarter panel if you are really feeling froggy.

I hope this helps you with your decision!

This is my plan, but not today, maybe not this season. I have too many projects, and beater truck rockers is LOW on the list lol.

I'm going to use gorilla glue brand duct tape (black, very strong, weather-resistant too) to cover the hole for the time being. My garage doesn't care about that kinda stuff.

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I got the brake lines installed (not seen in photo), brake hardware replaced, and I swapped the brake cylinders over from the old axle. The new ones I got are not the correct ones for this truck unfortunately.

I started bleeding brakes and ran out of fluid, I didn't want to put the black fluid coming out back into it. So tomorrow I'll be finishing up the brakes, installing the shocks, driveshaft and back bumper, and backing it out for a test drive.

I will be telling the garage to replace the emergency brake lines, as I don't have a replacement set, and I really don't want to take the brakes apart again, I had to twice because I thought I reassembled them wrong (I didn't).

The garage todo tasks:
Install new tires
Install used tire on spare rim
Emergency brake line replacement
Recharge the AC
Inspection