dangerranger1983 build

[dangerranger83]

Every little bit of info. is helping me out.

Got the long arm brackets welded to the angle iron, ran out of welding gas half way through the job so had to get more.

If the computer hadn't fried, I would have made a 3d model of it on autodesk and stress tested it to find any weak points that could be improved.

 

[escort_gts]

I have abused mine and all my welds have held so far.

I have 6 grade8 bolts holding my link brakets to the frame. 4 on the side and 2 on the bottom.

 

[dangerranger83]

That's how Im going to mount mine to the frame. Got everything but the tire location measurements done, but more or less the coil springs will help put me centered then use the long arms to fine tune things.

Now the van battery is taking a puke so now I have to take the one from the ranger and put it in there while its parked so that I can drive it to and from work.

Also need to get a manual choke still. Runs like a charm with it beong Durasparked but takes longer then normal to get it off high idle and when finally warmed up, the choke only opens up half way, killing my fuel mileage but idles at 850ish rpm like it should.

 

[dangerranger83]

Today I got as far as jacking the front of the truck up and getting the tires off before the rain rolled in. Rest of the week looks good weather wise.

Got a good look at my tires to and the insides are worn down twice as much as the rest of the tire.

 

[escort_gts]

Well it seems that now is a good time to do the swap. My d28 needed everthing new, that is one reason I pitched it.

 

[dangerranger83]

I'll get a video and somehow get it loaded up so you can see just how bad of condition my d28 is. All the u-joints are shot, bushings are gone. Other then that, everything else is good.

Hope to have pics of most of the front out of it (wish I had a cutting torch).

 

[escort_gts]

Yes torch is much easier just as long as you clean all the oil and grime off the frame first.

My D28 needed all 4 ball joints replaced, driver side tierod, axle pivot bushings, radius arm bushings, and a new diff carrier. It got shattered getting out of a snow filled ditch.
The only thing that was good, surprisingly, was the axle shafts

 

[dangerranger83]

Got the front all ripped out, just need to get the brackets taken off. Only took me 3 hours by myself.

 

[escort_gts]

Not to bad, I did all the work myself. Only help I had was to remove the bed.

 

[dangerranger83]

Got the D30 under the truck with the coils on it and long arms mounted to the axle. Going to find a good spot on the frame tomorrow to mount the brackets and use the longarms adjustmemts to fine tune the location.

Any pointers I should know?

Only had one of the coils fall on my head twice....

 

[dangerranger83]

Could have the truck sitting on all four tires tomorrow but won't be able to drive her for hopefully another week, hop the good weather holds out on me. Tomorrow is my day off so I hope to get that done and post pics of her. I'm so excited!!!!!

 

[escort_gts]

You decide on track bar bracket yet?

 

[Flash Gordan]

Looking good so far. I seriously want to do the D30 swap on my truck. But I drive it too much as my DD. If I could swap the D30 in, in a weekend, I would be good to go.

 

[dangerranger83]

If I had known exactly everything I needed such as hardware, etc and didn't have to run to places, etc and you worked almost non stop with a few breaks, it could be done in a weekend. It would go faster with help. But I'm not saying it would be off road ready fully tuned in that time but driveable.

I have to say that this swap is going very smoothly, not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I'm just concerned about my coils, hope they aren't to soft and can handle the trucks weight. That was the only gamble I have taken along with using a stock trackbar that will more or less be replaced by an adjustable one.

I'm literaly two bolts away from being able to have her on all fours, though just to have it back on jacks but to also see how everything reacts and whatnot. I still have to put gear lube in the diff., and yes I'm using a clear diff cover, have plans for that later (also a new metal one is $30).

 

[4x4b2]