Project Life Support.

[koda6966]

Nobody has 1/2" bolts that are 4.5" long!

Guess I'll get some 5" bolts and chop that extra inch off..

Pisses me off, my stock shackles take a 9/16th bolt but the belltechs take a 1/2" bolt. Worries me a bit, I'll just have to keep an eye on the bolt and shackles to make sure the 1/16" difference doesn't effect either negatively.

It's not too hard to shorten bolts though, so I'm not worried.

 

[Boggin]

I'm impressed koda, Can't wait to see her on some real axles!

 

[brinker88]

Nobody has 1/2" bolts that are 4.5" long!

Guess I'll get some 5" bolts and chop that extra inch off..

Pisses me off, my stock shackles take a 9/16th bolt but the belltechs take a 1/2" bolt. Worries me a bit, I'll just have to keep an eye on the bolt and shackles to make sure the 1/16" difference doesn't effect either negatively.

It's not too hard to shorten bolts though, so I'm not worried.

Wouldnt it take less than 30 seconds each hole to drill them out to the proper size?

 

[koda6966]

I'm not going to drill a 3" bushing sleeve.

 

[That Baker Guy]

those mts *blow* i know your using them for testing but they get zero traction, my little brother has them on his ranger, he can burn them off by pulling through a stop sign. but he has a 4l step side... just saying

 

[koda6966]

Opinions?

I love the shape, it reminds me of the soft 8 wheels but it has the extra flare I'm looking for. Soft 8's are plain just get overdone IMO.

 

[koda6966]

For some reason I never posted the photo of my tires mounted up on here.

 

[That Baker Guy]

i like the rims, but you cant go wrong with the cheap cragars.

 

[koda6966]

I'm just iffy about replacing my old AR wheels. I like them, alot.

Since I'm putting in new axles I might not be able to use them, depending on what I bolt in. I'll definitely hang on to the old wheels either way, it's nice having a universal set of 5 lug wheels laying around.

 

[4.0B2]

Opinions?

I love the shape, it reminds me of the soft 8 wheels but it has the extra flare I'm looking for. Soft 8's are plain just get overdone IMO.

i don't like them...
get some soft 8's if you want "mod" type rims

i'd try to find some newer ranger 5 spoke rims.

 

[koda6966]

i don't like them...
get some soft 8's if you want "mod" type rims

i'd try to find some newer ranger 5 spoke rims.

Issue is I might be going 8 lug.

 

[koda6966]

Skipping on those U bolts. Gonna sell off my 8.8 to help fund a 9" swap.

Pricing out the build on that right now. Trying to decide the pros and cons of different options to see if they out-weigh the price. One of the things I'm having the most trouble deciding on is a pinion guard lol. Not so sure if I really need it, could save me $70 skipping it. Would be a real PITA if I end up wishing I had it though..

Right now the axle will run me about $40 for just a bare bones housing with guts and shafts, well used. Supposing the innards are decent gearing I could save money there but if not I will be going to 4.56 gears which will run me around $120. The brake setup will also be quite costly, I'm planning a disk swap. If I can't salvage the shock mounts they're going to run me between 10 and 20 each, spring perches look to be $40 for a pair.

Before brakes that's about $240 unless I missed a figure in there.

OEM drum brakes should add about another 80-100. Plus I don't see the sense in making an axle all nice and purdy without some paint and new studs. All new brake lines and accessories to go with it. There's another 50-70.

Still well under the cost of BUYING a 9" axle pre-built, and I get the satisfaction of knowing I did it myself.

I feel weird putting all this money and effort under a truck that's barely worth scrap value.

 

[koda6966]

Found a buyer for the axle, finally.

Should be picking up an explorer 8.8 sometime next week if everything goes as planned.

 

[dangerranger83]

I feel weird putting all this money and effort under a truck that's barely worth scrap value.

I feel that everytime I do something to my truck but Ill never get rid of her.

 

[koda6966]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. My week between jobs coincided with the time that TRS was down so I got some stuff done, finally.

Core support is out, took some convincing if you can't tell from it's mangled remains.

This mount is rusted to the bolt, need to pound that sucker out still. It got dark out, so I let it be for a while.

This one is going to need to be either repaired or replaced. Anyone know of a place that sells them pre-fab or do I have to make it myself?

Out of respect for my parents I am going to wait on everything past the back half and the facelift. My truck has been on the lawn for months and I noticed to day that the once beautiful lawn is now dirt. I'll be mag-sweeping it and seeding this spring.

Plus, I want it to be garaged for the motor swap.