PlumCrazy's Build

[MAranger]

What size bolt do the ruffstuff 3/4's use with the misalignments installed?

 

[Kyle M.]

5/8's

 

[PlumCrazy]

They use 5/8's with the misalignments and 1" ID tubing. I am not running the misalignments on the tirerod, just the draglink. I may end up running a 7/8's draglink, that way it will be 3/4 with misalignments. Then I will use the 3/4's I bought for the Tracbar.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I finally picked up a Dana balljoint tool and got the preload set. i tried doing it with the ole hammer and punch trick, but I couldnt get the bushing down far enough.

I think I have decided how to setup my draglink. I am going machine the top of the knuckle smooth and drill and tap it to attach a highsteer arm.

I have some 3/4 x 2 cold rolled bar to make the arm out of.

My knuckles are off of a Regularcab 78 F150, and they do not appear to be like most knuckles that are used for highsteer, but they to appear have enough area to attach the arm.

And a teaser pic of some 1.5" OD .250" wall slipped on the rod end.

I guess I forgot to throw pictures of my oil cooler up. I just added a sandwich plate in and used the open ports in my radiator intended for a tranny cooler.

 

[Boggin]

you have a straight axle now?

 

[PlumCrazy]

you have a straight axle now?

I do have one in my possession, but its not under the truck yet. I cant wait.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Well. I did a little more research, and it looks like the highsteer is a no go. I pulled the knuckle off today, and by the time it is machined smooth, there will be roughly a 1/2" of material for the the stud to go into. Im not comfortable with the knuckle being that thin, I think it could end in disaster if the wheel is against something and the I try to turn. The stud would probably just twist the upper portion of the knuckle. I also got to thinking that, 3/4" bar may not be strong enough for the arm.

Im still not sure how to go about a attaching the draglink to the knuckle now. Since the the draglink will use a 5/8 bolt with misalignments installed, and the tierod is 3/4 and the knuckle is 3/4.

I think I will keep looking for some sort of passenger side flat top knuckle that will except the Ford 5 bolt spindle and caliper mount.

 

[Robert_1967]

Is there any way you could tie the upper mount into the bottom mount so it couldn't twist the top off?? like running a grade 8 bolt and a spacer in between the two rods???


or if there is enough room on the left side next to the tire and weld a 1/4 to 1/2 plate to the top and bottom mount ???

Robert

 

[Robert_1967]

here is a very very crude drawing of what I'm typing about

you could ether weld it to the top, spacer and bottom, or bolt it if there is enough room

 

[PlumCrazy]

I think I may just try set it up like Josh40601's rig. Just weld in a gusset and support to brace the top of the bolt and run a 5/8 bolt that way it is double shear, or I may look into machining the knuckle and bolting the highsteer arm on and use it to brace the top of the bolt rather than weld on the knuckle.

 

[Kyle M.]

I am using 3/4" bolts, took all the misalignment spacers out except at the pitman arm. I will have double shear at the pitman arm, and I have doubler shear at the tie rod end of the drag link, then single shear right now at the knuckle, but 3/4" bolts. I will get pictures if you are interested.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I am using 3/4" bolts, took all the misalignment spacers out except at the pitman arm. I will have double shear at the pitman arm, and I have doubler shear at the tie rod end of the drag link, then single shear right now at the knuckle, but 3/4" bolts. I will get pictures if you are interested.

I would appreciate it if you put up a few pics. I dont know why I am making this so much more confusing than it needs to be.lol

 

[Kyle M.]

I get you some pictures tonight, I should have my pitman arm finished also.

 

[Kyle M.]

Pictures

You get the idea, but it is all 3/4" heims, with 3/4" bolts. The pitman arm is still cooling at work so it isn't on, but it will be a 5/8" bolt in double shear. The tube is 1.5" dia 1/4 wall DOM. I will thrash on it this weekend and let you know how it goes, but so far it feels great.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Pictures

You get the idea, but it is all 3/4" heims, with 3/4" bolts. The pitman arm is still cooling at work so it isn't on, but it will be a 5/8" bolt in double shear. The tube is 1.5" dia 1/4 wall DOM. I will thrash on it this weekend and let you know how it goes, but so far it feels great.

This is exactly how I planned on doing it in the begining, but I didnt try it because I didnt know if having the draglink attached to the tierod was goin to cause adjustability issues or not. Since the tabs on the tierod have to be pointing up you have to make a full 360 degrees when you are trying to set the toe, but I suppose once it is set you never have to change it again, or you could just adjust it on one end.

I think I may go this route. I really like the pitman arm setup, it will add a lot of support for the top of the bolt especially since it is only 5/8.

Thanks. I will probably steel your setup.lol Atleast until I decide to upgrade to supercab knuckles and run highsteer with 3/4 ton brakes.