Yet another weekend when it feels like I did nothing. Saturday I spent the entire morning and afternoon just checking for clearances and cycling the suspension. I had to pound and cut some sheetmetal that wouldn't let the tank sit back enough to clear where the axle is currently set. From where it sits right now, I have about 4.5"-5" stretch and the JJs are fully threaded in the arms. If I want more stretch, I can get another 1-2" easily if I thread them out a little bit but the tank would have to be ditched and a fuel cell installed. If I put any other rear end in this rig it wouldn't fit with this much stretch. Just a caution to those of you modifying the skid - if you fully push back the axle, you have to make sure to make the indent HUGE. Oh and my biggest problem was the axle tubes hitting the tank under full compression.
Cliff notes from rear suspension:
-At 6.5" separation and no lift, upper links WILL hit the tub. I had to move the links down to 5.5" separation.
-axle tubes will hit the tank skid on full compression before the diff cover on the 8.8 and a large cutout
-put your brake lines on TOP of the truss, not the back
-make sure your truss is set to 0" with your pinion angle already set, glad I did this
-make the back of the axle flat and smooth, all of it
Cliff notes from front end:
-factory UCA brackets get in the way
-track bar brackets aren't fun to make
-.250 wall for peace of mind
-dana 30s are much easier to cycle than an 8.8
-shock placement and overall fitment is much easier in the front
-if you want to link or stretch your rig, start with the front
-3" can be attained, only tricky part is the track bar
I'll add to that later I'm sure. Oh and I am going to let the 8.8 and tank skid do a little "self clearance" because the skid is a little tweaked from the last owner. Not sure how long I'll have a regular tank. Probably put in a fuel cell on the next build.
List of items accomplished this weekend:
finished molding the tank, installed pump and lines
tank and skid installed
rear suspension installed and cycled
front suspension installed and cycled
front brake lines installed and finished
track bar sleeved and welded
FOUND my stock pitman arm
installed the antirock
painted the frame brackets (still need a little more final welding)
realized I will not use Ford shock towers; will be bending tube
New shocks will be here tomorrow, new CPS got here yesterday. A trip to the hardware store will get remaining missing items so I can wrap this up.
New to-do list:
weld on rear upper coil buckets
remove old clutch
remove old pilot bushing
install new pilot bushing
align pilot bushing
check bellhousing for runout
check runout on trans
install clutch
install release bearing
install lever arm
install np435
build d300
bench test d300 and twin sticks; troubleshoot
install d300
weld remaining unfinished frame brackets
notch rear frame
bend tube for shocks
make shock tabs; install and mock up shocks
hard mount fuel lines
hard mount brake lines
fill trans and tcase
fill tank with gas
reinstall stock parts and battery
fab battery hold down or box
fab center tunnel cover
cut armor and reinstall
Whew...what a list!
Started to fab the frame side rear coil buckets but ran out of welding wire and the guys at the welding shop sold me the wrong stuff. Damn! These are cut at the angle of the frame so they are parallel to the axle side coil bucket.
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GTX's low rider TJ build
