The Saga of Truck Norris

[Li'l Work Truck]

Small progress update - the LCA's went back out into the world, with the same label on two separate packages. Only one of my LCA's got credited back. So, I'll have to add that cost to the truck build. So much of what I'm working on requires dismantling the front end, so all work is on hold until I can get the right parts in. I'm kicking myself for not ordering the right stuff.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Well, there's a small light at the end of the tunnel. It's a train. RUN!

Just kidding! Correct LCA's and another set of camber bolts are en route. That means I get to finish the steering and suspension, and add to that the other engine mount and the transmission mount, which is proudly stamped MADE IN CHINA. Crap. Well, I suppose this'll be great practice for when I have to do it all over again in a year.

That being said, I think I'm going to hold on to the old control arms for the sole purpose of making them ready for the inevitable move towards Energy Suspension street bushings when these parts fail.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Happy Sunday, everybody.

 

[SenorNoob]

Awfully late in the day to still have parts in the bag isn't it? You planning to put it back together next weekend? LOL

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Awfully late in the day to still have parts in the bag isn't it? You planning to put it back together next weekend? LOL

That's one for the other side! I plan on working on it tomorrow too, since I work for the State and we get [insert politically correct name for Confederate Memorial Day] off. At this point, the D/S engine mount is in, LCA is hanging in wait for the new spring, UCA mounts are cleaned and waiting, UCLA is mostly average, and the YMCA is closed.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Cleaning up last night from working on the driver's side, I walked back from the dumpster and thought this looked cool, so I got a shot of it.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I learned several things about myself on this long weekend of mine. The biggest of which is that I am 43. The next biggest is that I actually loathe camber bolts.

Tighter, tighter, superloose! *smashes hand, and calls upon the Ancestors while mothers cover their children's ears*

I also had 3 older men tell me that they couldn't believe that I was able to do a complete suspension refresh in a parking lot, after their curiosity got the better of them so they came around to see what was going on.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Well, after getting my ass handed to me by simply rolling around on the asphalt for 2 days working on the truck last weekend, I am hopeful that one day I will have some semblance of a shop or garage with even a portable lift. Until then, more WWA (Wrestling With Asphalt). Today I picked up some wheel bearings, seals, and some red sticky since the left side was shot, but because everything else was also soft, you couldn't really tell. You can now. That is this weekend's task. Everything cost me about $106. I remember when bearings were under $4 apiece. 🫩 Oh well, I need them, so here goes. Actually, if any of my 12-point hub sockets will fit, then I'm good. If not... I dunno. Advance didn't have one, and the tools I'm seeing online don't look anything like they'd fit what I have. It looks like I have 4WD hardware on a 2WD truck.

I know that the nut seats at 26 ft. lbs., backed off 180°, then reseats at 15-20 in. lbs.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Did some YouTubing. The unusual nut is not what I thought it was. It's just a castle adapter. The guy did it in about 30 minutes. I bet it'll take me about twice that in the first go-round. It's an excuse to go to HF. That bearing install set looks just fine.