Project Fordzuki

[dogboy]

I'll let ya know when I get my body lift and get it on and maybe we can hit up Evans or Tahuya! I got a set of 33" Pro Comp Mud Terrians at the swap meet last weekend and just need the lift to slap'em on there!

 

[Loanranger]

Cool man, I'm definately going to be up at evans alot this summer, and your ranger should do pretty decent up there with 33s, my ranger got around pretty good on 31s, so you shouldn't have a problem.
Let me know when you get the body lift, if you need a hand installing it.

 

[dogboy]

Cool man, I'm definately going to be up at evans alot this summer, and your ranger should do pretty decent up there with 33s, my ranger got around pretty good on 31s, so you shouldn't have a problem.
Let me know when you get the body lift, if you need a hand installing it.

Thanks, for the offer, but I think I can get it. If for some reason I can't do it once I get the lift, I might ask you for some info and or help though. Have you done a body lift on a ranger before?

 

[Loanranger]

Nope, never done a body lift on a ranger, but I'm sure it can't be too hard, i was more talking labor help, and if you don't get one with bumper brackets, I got all the tools to fab some up

 

[compleckz]

i love this rig!

 

[dogboy]

Nope, never done a body lift on a ranger, but I'm sure it can't be too hard, i was more talking labor help, and if you don't get one with bumper brackets, I got all the tools to fab some up

Ok, cool. I might hit ya up on that, but I'm not sure. My dad will probably be able to help me do that.

 

[Loanranger]

Well, first test with the new radiator setup went awesome, it stayed cool the whole time I was wheeling today, got in 3+ hours of continuous wheeling, and never once got above 180 degrees.

Had a pretty good day too, didn't break anything, and didn't flop it, but I did manage to put a dent in the front housing, about an inch away from the ring gear, so when I got it home, I decided to pull the thirdmember to check everything out, pound the dent out, and while I had it out, I took it apart and welded up the sidegears like I had already done on the rear diff. I got it all back together tonight, and have to pick up some rvt so I can stuff the third back in. I've also decided to make some armor for the housing, but haven't decided whether to use a pipe cap, or make something up out of flat stock. Anyways, here's a picture of the dent, and some pics of the process of welding up the side gears.
The dent

Side gears pulled out

welded up

Wrapping in welding blanket to slow cooling

ground and ready to install

How they mesh with the spiders and make it locked.

This gives it a little play, so its a little easier on the axles.

 

[Dishtowel]

Glad your rad is treating you well.

This gives it a little play, so its a little easier on the axles.

Thats one way to look at it.
I see it differently, I see that there is now hardhardhard gear teeth now being permitted to hammer and chip away at relatively softer weld metal, thus introducing metal shrapnel/garbage to the environment where your ring+pinion live and work. I doubt this will be a issue for you because this diff will only see limited miles, not like a highway vehicle.
Not trying to dis' what you did, just not what I would have done.
Cheers.

 

[Loanranger]

The sami diff is a totally different animal than most diffs, the carrier is completely enclosed, so this is actually the only way to do it, and with the axles in, there is no way for any shavings to even see the ring and pinion. This is the way every sami owner I have known has done it, and haven't seen a single failure yet.

 

[Dishtowel]

Huh, well, thats new. Coolcool. I will have to inspect one of those sami diffs whenever I get my hands on one!
The first time I heard of this 'weld some of the teeth' method it was some ignorant guy doing it on his daily driver, and well, it just made me laugh. I let him know that might lead to grief, but good riddance to ignorant types.

 

[Loanranger]

Here's a few pics of the carrier, you have to pull that top cap to even get a glimpse of the spider and side gears. And I believe the first mistake of the guy you're talking about would be the two things "welded" and "DD" in the same sentence. Why you would even want to try that would be beyond me. Worst case is I bust a few teeth on the spiders and maybe snap a shaft.

 

[Loanranger]

Added a couple bumpstops between the rear springs and frame.

These are just to stop metal to metal contact, and keep the rear tires from barely rubbing the tub.

 

[Dishtowel]

Those look very tidy. good work.
And thanks for showing me that zuki third.

 

[Dave]

Who makes tapered reamers that match the taper of ball joints? Thanks.

Dave

Thanks guys, tonight I got home and UPS finally brought my ream, so I reamed out the pitman arm and assembled the steering.

 

[Loanranger]

Who makes tapered reamers that match the taper of ball joints? Thanks.

Dave

I got mine from Snap-on.