PlumCrazy's Build

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I'm with wizkid, I would expect it to produce quite a bit more than that. I'm eager to see what you get though!


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[PlumCrazy]

I am setting the bar low, so I am not disappointed.lol I honestly don't need any more power anyways.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Lol makes sense. She's gonna be one BAB!


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[griz700rocket]

Sounds good. Almost an old detroit ring to it.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Fired up the furnace to combat the single digit temperatures and went to work this past week(end).

Exhaust is finished and installed. Made a flange and "test pipe" to replace the cat, put two bungs in it, one for my wideband and one for the factory downstream. Once its tuned I can remove the downstream and use it for tuning.

Used old shock bushings to make a muffler mount..we will see how this works long term...

3" from the Y-pipe, through a braided flex, into a 3" Thrush welded, and out to the 3" stack.

Fired it up and ran the 30 min cam break in. All seemed to go well, never got past 210* and maintained 45-50 psi oil pressure. Im hoping the valve train quiets down once everything is worn in, but its no worse now than any 4.0.lol

Pulled the front axle out and removed the factory track bar bracket..which took a bit of effort.

Then did some cardboard fab

Made .25" steel tabs and tacked it all together.

gusseted the inner C's as well

Slid the axle back under and mocked up the track bar and cut to within .5" of the drag link..then made a rough cardboard template for the frame side bracket.

Looks like my track bar will be within a degree of the draglink. I may make it a touch steeper to keep the bracket from contacting the tie rod on the driver side at full stuff.

 

[nosferatu49426]

The exhaust looks great, and so does the axle. I like the shock bushings, Seems like a good plan.

 

[wizkid00104]

Looking good [emoji482] What brand of mig do you use?


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[PlumCrazy]

Looking good [emoji482] What brand of mig do you use?


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Depends on the day/place.lol

I use a Lincoln 170 at my house, a Lincoln 175 in the farm shop, or a Miller 200 in the garage at farm.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Didn't get much done last night. I did tack the track bar together and burned out one side of the frame side bracket to mock up. My phone died, so no pictures of all that. Sure do miss my plasma cutter for burning out odd shaped tabs...the old torch isn't as clean/easy...I hate thieves.

I plan to plate the frame behind the bracket so it doesn't tear the rail, so I just tacked it on for now make sure all my lengths are close enough that the rod ends will be able to fine tune it.

I bolted up the beadlocks for the first time since the truck has had the drivetrain in to settle it down to ride height.

These things seem so small after seeing those ballooned 40's on there.lol

Im sure it will sit a lower once everything is settled in as well.

 

[-Nathan-]

Looking good man. Glad to see this thing still being beat.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

One more step closer! That's a good idea to plate it. I ripped one off the frame, broke one bracket in half before I got smart and built one that bolts in 4 spots and is gusseted to the engine crossmember.

Tires look good bud!


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[PlumCrazy]

One more step closer! That's a good idea to plate it. I ripped one off the frame, broke one bracket in half before I got smart and built one that bolts in 4 spots and is gusseted to the engine crossmember.

Tires look good bud!


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My last one was an after thought I threw together so I could drive the truck....then I never redid it.lol It used one bolt from the steering box and one throught the bottom of the frame....but it would always work loose and I ended up booger welded it to the frame in the dark so I could drive home one night.lol

Happy to see it gone...it was also built to use the stock EB track bar...which required a super steep and short drag link as well.

 

[PlumCrazy]

More progress.

Pulled the coil bucket off, plated the frame from the previous frame horn plating back to the bucket..Burned in the mounts, gusseted, and added some support between the tabs.

I had to narrow up the misalignment bushings to get away from the coil spring a bit.

Welded the axle side mount up, welded up the track bar itself, and bolted the TSLs back up.

All that is left is double check the torque on the bolts and joints and connect the brake hoses...then turn this pig around and start the rear axle...Ill still need to figure out the hydro assist brackets and driveshaft..but I don't need that stuff to drive it.

I also mounted up and plumbed in my fuel pressure and hydraulic pressure gauges on the cowl...I still want to build a scoop/pod/guard to protect them.

The Dingo was "tired" so we called it a day.

 

[nosferatu49426]

Not sure if I missed it in an earlier post at all but what are the hydraulic/ air fittings for in the second picture?

 

[PlumCrazy]

Not sure if I missed it in an earlier post at all but what are the hydraulic/ air fittings for in the second picture?

They are for the hydraulic steering ram. I made my setup removable so I can drive the on the street without having slowed steering.