Project: Moose Knuckle; Part III

[Chance]

Finally! Yes! A picture!

What did you do about steering gear? Didn't you run a power steering gear out of a ford van or something like that? I got the toy ifs gear for mine... I just need all the adapters and pry a few cardans for the steering shaft... The steering gear is the only thing worrying me about my sas right now...

Well, steering linkage too since I'm doing leaves, but I figured for a tempory set-up before cross-over and high steer I'd do something like this:

The drag link consists of a 5/8"x3/4" shank heim with regular spacers on the tie rod end. the pitman arm has a 3/4"x3/4" shank heim with high misalignment spacers that bring it down to a 5/8" bolt holding it on.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

I had thought about that. That's gonna put a shit ton of stress on those welds. Creates another weak link. Just think of the sexy drag link angle if it were ran to the knuckle. May be a bit of bump steer in that set up, but I'd really aviod pushing a tire against a rock and trying to turn up it.

And yeah, I used a PS box out of an eighty something van. It doesn't mount flat to the chassis like the toy box or the ford boxes that are run on the outside of the frame.

I built a cavern out of c channel and square to cup the box. Not the best set up but I was limited on time and money.


I had always considered a true Z link.

Chevy ran drilled and tapped D44 DRIVER knuckles. PASSENGER nuckles are hard to find, and finding a machine shop to drill and tap it around here is a pain in the ass.

I considered running an idler arm on the passenger side frame rail.
A link running from my gear box to the idler arm.
A drag link running from the idler arm to the flat top knuckle w/ high steer arm
A tie rod running knuckle to knuckle under the pack.

It'd distribute stress on a few more places, not just on the gear box, I don't have a trac bar to bind, it'd be cheap, and it's kind of like the swingset steering for TTBs

It might be worth a shot

 

[30283RANGER]

Since there was alot of talk about the hp d44. Do u think a built hp d44 could handle a 400 hp v8 and 40in ground hawgs. This would be a mud only vehicle when i say built i mean 35 spline shafts and everything.

 

[Bray D]

Do 35 spline shafts exist for a D44? I'm pretty sure they don't, I may be wrong though. Even if they do I'd probably dump the money into a 60 if you're running that kind of power with that size tire.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Since there was alot of talk about the hp d44. Do u think a built hp d44 could handle a 400 hp v8 and 40in ground hawgs. This would be a mud only vehicle when i say built i mean 35 spline shafts and everything.

I wouldn't suggest it.

Remember, when mudding you're going to be keeping velocity to keep moving.

A 40" tire is a lot of rotating mass. It's a heavy damn tire. If you're just spinning them over the mud and all the sudden you catch some traction you're going to be snapping shafts like twings.

You could build the hell out of the D44 (I've never heard of a 35spline D44, D60s and 9"s yeah but I've never heard of a 35spl D44)
Molly shafts, aftermarket U joints, aftermarket knuckles and everything. But it's still a D44.

I'd go D60.


If it were a street queen, you could get away with it, but your balljoints and wheel bearings are gonna be week links.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

So I'm still debating what exactly to do with the motor.

I could do a mild 351 build, cam, intake, gasket matching, port polish, maybe bore it over

I could do a 393 stroker.

I could do a 408 stroker.

I could do a 427 stroker.

I could save and go all out, but I actually want to wheel this season, so a mild build would get me to the trails quicker, and that's what it's all about.

I've got another year and a few months to deal with emissions so I'm going to set her up for a carb and save for propane, and then sell off the carb parts.

Still waiting on my cradle. Damn JCwhitney.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

And to keep Chance happy:

This was from the top of mt. mecullin near georgetown. Colorado rules.

 

[oatmealman]

Do 35 spline shafts exist for a D44? I'm pretty sure they don't, I may be wrong though. Even if they do I'd probably dump the money into a 60 if you're running that kind of power with that size tire.

Do a 44/60 hybrid if you wanna be unique.

 

[NMB2]

I had thought about that. That's gonna put a shit ton of stress on those welds. Creates another weak link. Just think of the sexy drag link angle if it were ran to the knuckle. May be a bit of bump steer in that set up, but I'd really aviod pushing a tire against a rock and trying to turn up it.

And yeah, I used a PS box out of an eighty something van. It doesn't mount flat to the chassis like the toy box or the ford boxes that are run on the outside of the frame.

I built a cavern out of c channel and square to cup the box. Not the best set up but I was limited on time and money.


I had always considered a true Z link.

Chevy ran drilled and tapped D44 DRIVER knuckles. PASSENGER nuckles are hard to find, and finding a machine shop to drill and tap it around here is a pain in the ass.

I considered running an idler arm on the passenger side frame rail.
A link running from my gear box to the idler arm.
A drag link running from the idler arm to the flat top knuckle w/ high steer arm
A tie rod running knuckle to knuckle under the pack.

It'd distribute stress on a few more places, not just on the gear box, I don't have a trac bar to bind, it'd be cheap, and it's kind of like the swingset steering for TTBs

It might be worth a shot

you overthink everything dont you?

Buy hi-steer knuckles, they are pretty cheap on the internet. The idler arm and all that stuff seems like alot of trouble, alot more stress on the frame, ect.

Also the comment about that steering pictured I dont understand what you're saying about stress on the welds and not steering into rocks? You could never break that with powersteering with good welds.

Want proof?

 

[LittleBigFoot]

OK fine.

I just see a lot of stress at those angles. I'm no physicist nor can I even spell the word right. I just wouldn't do it. But if it works it works, right?

I considered that for my truck but I'm running a bit more lift then the rig picutred up top, and just saw a lot of odd angles in my future.

 

[NMB2]

well, it handles my PSC full hydro setup on 40's.

Just sayin

 

[LittleBigFoot]

And I don't have 500 bucks to shell out for some knuckles.

If I can't find it at the junk yard I don't use it.

The only thing actually bought from an actual off road supply store is my high steer arm from S.O.R.D. (Great arm but it's already covered in surface rust. I didn't know I was supposed to paint it...?)

Being just shy of 20, saving for college, paying rent at two places, insuring two vehicles, and smoking a pack a day, I just can't warrent buying new shit.

Wheeling and wrenching are fun an all, but building a kick ass rig isn't gonna land me a six figure income and a roof over my head. If It could, I'd totally buy some knuckles.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Oh, and I didn't run my steering like showed above because out of the PS boxes I had to choose from, one was on the outside of the frame, too damn tall (from a 79 bronco) and the pitman arm hit the leaf pack.

The other option for me was the van box on the inside of the frame and that caused the drag link to be incredibly short and at a asshorrible angle.

 

[NMB2]

join the army, we'll give you a gun and you'll even get paid for it!

before you do, just let me know so i can drop my packet in and get the recruiting bonus!

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Naw man. I respect the people in the armed forces, it's just not for me.

My family has a history of joining the armed forces, and a history of regretting it.

I'm thinkin I should start sellin more drugs. And get me some bitch's fo' pimpin.
Then pick me's up a gat, some colt 45s for courage, and knock over some gas stations. Naw wha I mean, Dawg? Representin. Word. Thug life!