Project: Moose-Knuckle

[LittleBigFoot]

I think Mitch and I aren't going to be able to make it. Sorry guys.


Update:
Brakes went out on me while I was driving home from my girl friend's house the other morning. That was fun.

So a new master cylinder and a drive way covered in brake fluid later, I can stop on a mother fuckin dime. Enough to raise the rear end up enough the drive shaft runs out of shift. Balls.


But we rigged up a parking brake today too. It's gettin there.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

It's been a while since I updated, so here we go:

My master cylinder was kerfuckulated. It kept regurgitating air into the resivor. So a new master later and I can lock up those 35s in the rear in about a foot and a half. Hell yeah.

Mitch and I tore down the front axle and gave it a good going over. There's an issue with the hubs. I'm not too worried yet. Next month I'll slap on a set of Warns.

I painted up the axle, leaf springs, hangers, etc.

I fabbed up a spring hanger set out of some 3" square tube with some hefty ass wall. Shown in the pics below.

Tonight we're gettin ahold of a torch and tomorrow I'm going to start ripping out all the IFS bullshit.

And so I say this now, I'm stretching the front wheel base about 3". What's 5" really make in the long run.

Pictures of progress:

The tubed hangers and shackles

And hangers from an XJ:

 

[odie1969]

Dude next time I'm up in colo I will have to get a hold of you to see this in person.

 

[oatmealman]

Well I talked adam into starting tonight and we got the ifs torn out in an hour or snto the pictures.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

We need more beer.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

We got more beer. Game on!

 

[LittleBigFoot]

With the help of Mr. Torch, and Mitch, we cut out all the IFS BULLSHIT. That cross member was a twat.

The suspension is up, the axle is in place.

Tomorrow we're welding perches and bolting up the axle. I found 24" brake hose for 70 bucks. Gotta order those and a drop pitman arm. I'm using the bronco box from my donor. Keepin thigns nice and simple.

She'll be on her own weight tomorrow, and drive-able by when ever the hell my lines and arm come.

Eye candy:

Once again, we need more beer.

 

[danger88ranger]

Lookin good adam, now get more beer so you can finish this thing!

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Will do Danger88, will do.

We got the axle mocked up and into place today. We got lucky and didn't have to cut the radius arm wedges off to clearence the u-bolts. It was a horrible idea running an axle set up for rad. arms but with leafs. But we're making it work.

My current front spring pack is tooooooo damn soft. We jacked the axle up and the springs went flat before it lifted the truck off the jack stands in the front.

So tomorrow I'm going to pick up a set of 4x4 Wagoneer leafs. They're 2.5" wide, and have a shit ton of leaves in the pack. I'm going to bastardize them into the current pack. If they were meant to hold up a 360 I'm sure they'll stiffin up my pack enough. And they should still allow for a good amount of flex.

We ran into another issue with the tie rod and drag link. **** high steer. I don't have the cash for flat top knuckles etc.

With the stock 79 Bronco set up (my donor for axle and steering) the drag link runs to the tie rod, a few inches from the actull knuckle. We're fabricating a tie rod with the drag link "mounting spot what ever" past the leaves. Clearing the passenger side leaf pack won't be an issue then. I'm shelling out for a 6-9" lift drop pitman arm (for my bronco box) Drag link angle will be pretty good and low.

It sucks hitting snags, and it sucks working in CO right now. We've had rain and snowish stuff the last 4 days

 

[oatmealman]

It sucks hitting snags, and it sucks working in CO right now. We've had rain and snowish stuff the last 4 days

True that,Here's a pick of how it's been for the past 4 days.The crappy part is it's been really fine mist that just penetrates your clothes and makes it already colder than the 35 degree weather.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

So: I've been bored and drinking for a while, and I decided to figure out the difference in cost between an IFS lift kit w/ rims, tires, gearing, and mollys, compaired to what I've got into the entire SAS.

$1,698.99 for a 3" Superlift IFS lift kit
$385 for a set of chrome molly axle shafts for the 8.8"
$180 for 4.56 gears for the 8.8"
$199 for a set of 4.56 gears for the D35
$900 for 4 35x15.5r15 Swamper TSLs
$252 for 4 Pro Cromp Rock Crawler Rims

All the "big" stuff comes out to be $3,614.99 plus shipping and other misc. shit.

Here's what I got into the build as of now:

$0.00 for the HP D44 and 9" with mollys, and geared at 4.30s
$40 for the 63" Chebbies
$40 for the wagoneer spring pack
$80 for Shackles front and rear
$32 for perches front and rear
$80 for shocks front and rear
$70 for extended brake hoses
$0 for a FS Bronco Power Steering Box and ZJ Pitman Arm
$50 for random bolts and nuts
$50 for grinder wheels and wire
$25 for spray paint
$20 for random steel
$20 for XJ spring hangers
$50 for other misc expenses (roughly)
$100 for my TSLs
$60 for rims


That takes me to $717 roughly. I've saved $2,898.

The moral of the story is, "The chicken shit welds let you know it was built not baught!"

 

[metalmacguyver]

My welds dont look like chicken shit and my shit is built not bought.........

 

[LittleBigFoot]

My welds dont look like chicken shit and my shit is built not bought.........

It was purely a joke, my friend. Like you said, good fab takes time.

 

[PaleBlue90]

well its good to see this thing is just about wrapped up. any leads on a tcase?

 

[KELLY88]

True that,Here's a pick of how it's been for the past 4 days.The crappy part is it's been really fine mist that just penetrates your clothes and makes it already colder than the 35 degree weather.

Is it odd that I think gray and cold is better weather than blazing sun with temps above 90? I mean from what you're describing is good weather in my book. I hate blazing hot and sunny days without a cloud in sight.