Shran
Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
⭐Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Truck of Month
Solid Axle Swap
Here are a lot more of the same familiar images but with the addition of almost a full 10lb spool of welding wire.
My buddy came over again on Saturday and we got the passenger side shock hoop tacked in. I had cut out some lower tabs so we tacked those in as well and were able to put both shocks in (minus springs) and cycle the suspension fully with the shocks in place. Aside from some minor weirdness with tab angles and hoop locations, everything seems to be very happy. I have just a hair of clearance with the battery box and brake master cylinder. Will for sure need to run a cone air filter.
I spent most of Sunday welding. I am probably 80% done and I don't need to build anything else except some flat pieces to box the frame around the lower mounts, tube caps, and a cross over tube that will go over the engine and stiffen the shock hoops. Hoping to have all of that done by the end of next weekend.
After that I need to remove the axle, finish welding a couple spots that I can't get to, wire wheel off all the dingle berries, and then start reinforcing the engine crossmember that is a lot smaller than it used to be. After that I can put the axle back in and work on front brakes.
So the big question is... do I paint everything? Or just wire wheel it all and let it rust? Decisions decisions...
My buddy came over again on Saturday and we got the passenger side shock hoop tacked in. I had cut out some lower tabs so we tacked those in as well and were able to put both shocks in (minus springs) and cycle the suspension fully with the shocks in place. Aside from some minor weirdness with tab angles and hoop locations, everything seems to be very happy. I have just a hair of clearance with the battery box and brake master cylinder. Will for sure need to run a cone air filter.
I spent most of Sunday welding. I am probably 80% done and I don't need to build anything else except some flat pieces to box the frame around the lower mounts, tube caps, and a cross over tube that will go over the engine and stiffen the shock hoops. Hoping to have all of that done by the end of next weekend.
After that I need to remove the axle, finish welding a couple spots that I can't get to, wire wheel off all the dingle berries, and then start reinforcing the engine crossmember that is a lot smaller than it used to be. After that I can put the axle back in and work on front brakes.
So the big question is... do I paint everything? Or just wire wheel it all and let it rust? Decisions decisions...
