daily doubler build

[Bray D]

Yeah starting tomorrow mid morning. Gotta run to Peoria to get the tube then I'm off to the shop in Havana. I don't have class on Friday and my Thursday lab got cancelled. Lucky me haha

 

[Bray D]

Well I picked up my order from Hagerty. It was $107. Looked at my invoice and the price for the tube was only 80 bucks! There was a 20 dollar cutoff charge, plus tax. So dang near right at 10 bucks a foot for 2"x.250 wt. If you still need material John, I guarentee Hagerty has it. And after picking this up I bet its a reasonable price. Just depends if you want to pay the cutoff charge (or if its needed).

I emailed Zietlow last night to see if he'd be available this morning. I was hoping I could pick up the tube, run to Bradley and go over a couple things with him, then head to the shop. He emailed me this morning and said he'll be available at 11. Soooo I'm at Bradley now, waiting till 11. Should be at the shop by 12:30-1pm so I'll get some progress in today. Pics to come.

 

[Bray D]

Ahh yes, finally putting some of these shiney new parts to good use. Tonights progress:

before pic for reference

pulled shafts/brake parts and replaced oil seals

While I had it part I figured I'd replace the pinion seal, so out comes everything

replaced seal, threw it together with a new crush sleeve, backlash was in spec so I checked the pattern just for shits

I'm not 100% happy with it. I had someone else do it, and its obvious that the pinion is too shallow (even more noticable on the coast side). Oh well, no problems thus far, I'm sure it'll be fine.

new dutchman 1541 alloy shafts :smokin:

buttonned it up and slung some paint

and after

Yeah I know, there's no rotors on it. My old ones were siezed pretty good, so I just took a sledge to em. They came off. I'll pick up new rotors tomorrow, redrill em for 5 on 5.5 bc and slap em on there. I left the e-brake/backing plate crap off so I don't have to deal with that shit again. I don't have an e-brake cable anyways.

I'm pretty pleased with how it sits on the 35's. I don't think I'll have to trim much to keep the ride height I have now. My frame height should be right at the legal limit also (24").

 

[metalmacguyver]

Sweet. I have been waiting for you to start building again.

 

[Bray D]

Thanks Tim. I'm looking forward to the fabbing as well. Should be a fun week.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Yeah the pinion does look shallow, I'm still nervous about my new gears I set up, if yours have been fine, I'm sure mine will be fine now.

 

[metalmacguyver]

I really want to see how you build your traction bar because that is the very next thing on my list. With my 126" wheel base it will be serving double duty as a drive shaft protector.

 

[Bray D]

I'm a perfectionist to an extent, and was kinda pissed to see that pattern. I've setup 3 gearsets in my life (2 8.8's and my D44) and all 3 had much better patterns than this. I guess that goes to show if you want it done right - do it yourself.

BUT I was inexperienced at the time and was in no shape (mechanically or intellectually) to tackle a gear install, so I paid a shop way too much to get it done. It's lasted this long so fawk it.

 

[Bray D]

I really want to see how you build your traction bar because that is the very next thing on my list. With my 126" wheel base it will be serving double duty as a drive shaft protector.

I've been rethinking the traction bar design as well. You can see my frame side bracket in one of those pics. Since I clocked my doubler, I think I can get a supporting crossmember flat across my frame at the rear of the case. If I can, I may switch to a shackle style traction bar and have the shackle come off that rear supporting crossmember.

I had originally planned to use a slip and twist type. Using a shackle would be more reliable (less prone to seizing like a slip and twist), thus being better for DD conditions. I had planned to use a boot to cover the slip joint of the slip and twist bar to keep it out of the elements. Shackle type would just be less maintenance.

We'll see what happens, I may or may not get to that during this break. Either way, the weather will be getting nicer so I'll be building more.

 

[bradz71]

Bray that truck looks 100% better with those 35's. Can't wait and see what it can do on the trail.

 

[Bray D]

Thanks Brad, I like it too. Can't wait for the shakedown run.

Well I'm done for today, had to quit early to go to a birthday party. I've got pics, and will upload em tonight. The front's a little lighter after today haha.

 

[Bray D]

The party was pretty fun, I'm still a bit tipsy

Pics as promised:

Bought new rotors and drilled to 5 on 5.5 pattern

The damn template I had was off a bit, so I had to finesse the holes with a dremel. No big deal, they fit fine

Then I got the front end torn down. Took less time than I had anticipated

And the progress shall continue...

 

[bradz71]

Then I got the front end torn down. Took less time than I had anticipated

Its funny how that works, after how many years of building and only minutes to remove.

 

[Bray D]

No kiddin, kind of depressing haha.

I've made some more progress. Shit keeps coming up so I can only work on it a few hours a day. Tomorrow is St. Patty's day so of course there's shit to do, then my g/f has surgery Wednesday. I'm still hoping to get it done this week though. Well here's what I got.

Built the crossmember that the radius arms will tie into, took me FOREVER to make sure it was square. I guess the frame rails aren't parallel at that spot

Then I started building the radius arms

Man what I'd do for a bandsaw. Sucks cutting 1/4" shit with a cutoff wheel. I'm hoping to get the radius arms done and the axle mocked in tomorrow.

 

[JohnnyU]

Looks good so far Bray. Adam called me about a possible play day at Levi's on Saturday, but if you're planning on working on it and need an extra hand, let me know. I'd be glad to come down and help.