Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

I planned on primering my sandblasted parts and exposed areas on my frame this weekend but discovered my forgotten 'difficult' U joint was still on my very greasy drive shaft and some of my parts still had rust in some deep pitting even after sand blasting. A cut-off wheel, simple green, 3M scratch pad and a small amount of rust converter took care of that but I missed the weekend opportunity. After I wire wheel the drive shafts and my traction bars I hope to be able to primer one night this week.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Mike - I found the teflon pads you were referring to when my leaves came back from the sandblaster. They were there before I just did not notice them.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Man, I know your pain trying to get the frame all cleaned up and ready to paint or primer. It is a pita. No one really realizes how much work it takes until they start doing one for them selves. Keep up the nice work.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Satin black with gloss bumpers will look very good.
You might surf around, it was a fairly common paint scheme with choppers that were a little above the others in finish about 3-4 years ago.

I thought about painting my bike frame satin and the tank and fenders gloss, but the House of Kolors Rolls Royce black was almost sexual.........

Nice thing about satin, you do not have to have perfect body work.
Bad thing about satin, all parts must be shot at the same time at the same orientation, almost like candy.

So the doors, if not on the truck, should be hung about the same height so they will be sprayed at the same angle as the bed sides, etc.
It will show spray pattern somewhat.

Also, you can not buff it out!
You screw up and you sand it down and start over, if you want it right, and you have not cut any corners yet..........

Will look really good with that detailed gloss frame, very nice combination.
You almost have to go wih stainless bolts and Raptor now.

Might think about painted rims to match the frame..........

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

The comments from you guys validate to me I am doing this thing right even though it is taking 3 times as long to get it done. Took me a couple of hours to wire wheel my traction bars last night. I am not looking forward to the two drive shafts needing the same. My dad is visiting next week - maybe I can wait and talk him into doing it for me. . .

The satin suede black is a sweet idea but I'm either going to have to learn how to paint really well or talk my buddy Nick into helping. All of the problems with painting low gloss is scaring him away from the job. Can't say I blame him. I asked him about doing a candy and he said hell no to that too. I still have time but what ever route I go I'm sticking with the high gloss black rims.

KMC XD Diesel or BMF Novakanes . . .now that is a tough call.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

You can shoot it, just know that it is not some Maico job.

Practice on the tailgate first, then the bed floor, then the bed interior, then the hood, then the cab top, then the interior, and then you should be ready.
Be prepared, get all your stuff lined out then go to town.

Some guys shoot it B/C and put a flattening adder in the clear coat.
I have also seen it done with a single stage of acrylic enamel in semi gloss or egg shell.

If you do a B/C then you can sand the clear away if you get trash or runs and shoot again.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

We just sprayed some clear over my lesonal to give it a deeper look. It turned out pretty sweet!

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

After 3 hours on the wire wheel getting my traction bars and drive shafts ready to go, everything has been stripped and is ready for a rub of wax and grease remover, then primer. :bann: My stomach looks like a pin cushion with all of the holes from the knotted wire wheel metal barbs which were impaled into my gut. I guess I need a leather apron or something. Right on diesel - but pits!

pain in the stomach:lol:

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Good idea conroe. If I do this it is going to take some serious practice. If I do the satin I am going to go the black base or primer with a satin clear route. I've read about a lot of different techniques but this seems like it would be best for me.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

This past Friday was a busy day. My 12 bolt rear was ready from powder coating so I drove over at lunch and picked it up. Besides some pitting from the casting on the pumpkin it looked great. Time to begin the rebuild.

Also realized Friday my steering arm is stock so I need to replace it with a 4" arm. There was a kit on my truck when I bought it so I thought it had an increased turn radius arm but it did not. That is what I get for thinking. :dohh: My 4" Superlift raised steering arm is on its way from Summit Racing but now I need to figure out how to get my old steering arm off the knuckle. I tried the William Wallace method to no avail. Next step - PB blaster.

After some more 3M scratch pad, and wax and grease remover work, I was able to primer my frame Saturday and Sunday. I used Nick's HVLP gun and everything went well considering it was my first time painting.

6-1-10 update - Prepped the primer with a scratch pad tonight and devised a plan with Nick to hoist the frame from Nick's garage rafters next Mon night so we can shoot 3 base and clear coats all over.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

We - I mean Nick - got the frame painted last night. But I busted my tail mixing paint and cleaning up. :lol: Two coats of single stage Kirker Carbon Fiber Metallic and two coats of Nason clear. It looks great and is a very, very close match to my Prismatic Powder Subway Black/clear coated front and rear ends. The heavy fine metallic absolutely pops when the sun hits it. Perfect color for a lifted truck.

Next steps before beginning reassembly:

1. Powder coat the remaining suspension parts (Most will be Subway black with a few red)
2. Rebuild my 12 bolt and Dana 44

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

that steering arm is the hardest item to get off.... BFH is about the only way... I ended up drilling small holes into the washers in order for them to loosen up...

frame looks good.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Frame looks really good.
I wish I had done a graphite color for my 2x4.
Good contrast.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Nice progress.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Nice job on the frame! Have you tried using a chisel to spread those pesky cone locks? Try to get those to turn a little and work them back and forth if you can.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

The rest of frame/chassis parts are at Unique Coatings. Everything but my steering knuckles and U bolt brackets will get Prismatic Speedway Black. The others will be red.

Started rebuilding my rear end when I discovered Strange Engineering sent me the car kit not the truck kit. :no: Went with Strange because they advertised only using Timken bearings. I was surprised when I received National bearings which I was told is a company Timken bought. At least it is a US company. . .:metal: Waiting on the correct set now.

I wasn't ready to start my Dana 44 yet because I don't have set-up bearings yet. My Motive Gear rebuilt kit came with Timken bearings so I need to find two more new Timken carrier bearings (#25590) to help me set-up my backlash without damaging my bearings pressing them on and taking them off multiple times. Looking for a new set now so I can complete this before my correct 12 bolt kit arrives.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

cool. looking forward to seeing it all come back together (as I'm sure you are :chevy: )

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Ya man. We just had a baby girl a month ago, and I'm helping coach my 8 yr old son's All-Star baseball team right now so time is a little scarse these days. But it is real close to some serious progress. . .

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Congrats on having your daughter!

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Thanks Diesel - she is a sweet girl. I find it tough to step away and go work on the truck. Having said that, I have been chopping wood - slowly but surely.

My 12 bolt truck kit arrived from Strange Engineering so I put my posi differential together. Thought I was SOL when I went to put my ring gear on the carrier and it didn't fit. After double checking to ensure I did not have a 4 series carrier, and making sure I had the right part from Summit Racing, I checked my old ring gear and discovered it had the same inside diameter. After popping the carrier in the freezer for about 20 minutes the ring gear popped right on. Now I need my yolk back from the powder coater so I can set my back lash and pinion depth.

On the Dana 44 I didn't want to deal with removing the press fit carrier bearings so I could set my back lash multiple times. I was surprised to find my new Timken set-up bearings at Amazon.com. Can you believe that? Amazon has them but the local big name bearing warehouse does not. The sign of the times I guess . . .still seems crazy to me. They arrived last week so I ground the inside diameter down enough to where I have a press fit. Now I need to set the back lash and pinion depth.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Bought my rear drum-to-disc conversion kit from 'tomsclassics' on ebay. The guy was great. I wanted a 6 lug kit with drilled/slotted rotors and e-brake, but since he did not have my rotors he created a kit for me minus the rotors. $299 was a good deal and the parts look to be of very good quality. For about $450 I'll have everything I need with the drilled/slotted rotors. He told me he uses 88-91 chevy K1500 front rotors for his regular rear conversion kit.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

nice

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Just picked up my 90 miscellaneous parts from 'Unique Coatings' today. Everything had two coats (base and clear) and looked fantastic! The red parts were a little brighter than I hoped ('fire engine red' instead of 'rio red') but the powder flowed out well and had nice depth and high gloss.

My son's All-star baseball went late tonight and we have a double-header tomorrow night, but I should be able to do some work this weekend. Can't wait!!

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

It's sounding like it's coming along nicely!

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Your not missing anything and are correct.In this setup the spring will not be able to articulate.The traction bar will keep it from doing so.
Here's a much better design.Notice it has 2 mounting points are the axle.And a shackle at the frame.This keeps the axle from rotating and lets the springs move.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Finished building my 12 bolt (set to a backlash of 0.010" as shown on my Richmond pinion gear and 0.039" pinion shim) and I am also about 1/2 way complete on my Dana 44. :metal: I might shift to cleaning my rear axles and assembling my leaf springs together this weekend so I can start getting this thing back together.

The 'old' 3.08 and 'new' 4.56 ratio pinions side-by-side really highlight the significant gear change made to better support the 383 stroker.

I had to use the stove (bearing) and freezer (pinion) on more than one occasion to get the pinion bearings to fit over the pinion shaft.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

nice progress.....leggo my eggo....

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

The Dana is a lot more work because the pinion shims go under the race inside the housing. PTA to change and is taking a lot of changes to find the correct depth. I'm up to 0.070" and I'm not there yet. :waah:

But I was able to get from front springs back together and discovered I still have a few small forgotten parts which need powdercoating. :dohh:

Slowly, but surely it is getting done.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

hate to see your PC bill... yikes.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Near $1K so far, but it does look fantastic - especially when the sunlight hits it.

Imagine what it would have been had I powder coated the frame as well. . .double yikes.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

It's almost a toss up anymore. PC can be expensive, but if you buy high quality paint, that isn't cheap either. I like PC but I never have anything done done to get it PC'd. :lol:

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

These rebuild kits from Motive Gear are terrible. Although I like the fact the bearings are Timken, I keep running out of shims for the Dana and the 12 bolt kit. I already had to buy an additional kit from Randy's Ring and Pinion and I may have to buy another.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

As usual, I ran into a couple of snags with the 12 bolt and the Dana 44. I had just gotten my contact pattern for the 12 bolt correct and was trying to crush my 'crush collar' to the recommended 20-25 in/lbs and ended up stripping my pinion nut. :cuss: Luckily I was able to remove the nut, but I'm waiting on a replacement to come in the mail. After asking around it seems this happens more often than you would expect. Apparently new crush collars are a bear to crush to the proper load so a lot of guys choose to use old ones and just tighten them more than they were before.

As if a stripped pinion nut wasn't enough to chap my ass I discovered after numerous trial and errors and finally calling Richmond that when you go to a 4.56 ratio on a Dana 44 you have to change to a 4 series carrier. :dohh: Explains why I was at a 0.070" pinion depth, and all my carrier shims on one side and still couldn't get the correct backlash and contact pattern. I found a new 4 series carrier online for $55 and received it yesterday. I got my backlash correct and I'm on my 2nd pinion depth setting and will run the contact pattern tomorrow.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

I thought that they made special 4.56 gears for the 3 series carrier as well... You should have just picked up a set of CUCV axles and been done...

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

I thought so too. Maybe I ordered the wrong part from Summit. . .Hey, you live and learn. That's what makes doing it yourself so fun. It fits like a glove now.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

yah i read about "thick cut" gears that way you can reuse your original carrier.

no matter how much i read about doing your own gears i know somehow itll turn out more than intended so thats why im waiting for either a dana 60 (from a cucv) or a NAPCO front (wish me luck haha)

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

I'm pretty sure I ordered the thick set of gears but somehow I ended up with the 4 series gear. I didn't even bother finding my summit paperwork to see because I had already lightly sanded on the pinion shaft (see pic above with it in freezer) in order to get the pinion bearing to slide over the pinion. It was mine now.

Good news is tonight while the hamburger helper was cooking I got my backlash and contact pattern correct for my Dana 44. Now all I need to do is grease the spider gears, switch from the set-up bearings, set the preload on the pinion and carrier bearings, then put it back together.

My front and rear Summit Racing drilled and slotted rotors came in the mail Saturday. I can't wait to get them installed.

Good luck 70 beast. This was my first time setting up my own differential. Although it was easier than expected I made a couple of silly mistakes so it took much longer than I thought it would take. It is hard to put a value on the experience I've gained but I certainly understand if someone would rather not mess with it. Sometimes time is more valuable.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Nice work Shawn!

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Thanks Heath. Hey, what color is that blue on your 56 Apache? Looks great. I'm still on the fence as far as what color I'm going to go with. I'm thinking a light silver like your son's 67, a lighter blue possibly a classic chevelle blue or a satin black.

Re: Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod
 

Struggled with installing the LMC ball joints on the steering knuckles with the rental install kit I bought from Autozone. I installed one but didn't feel comfortable doing the rest without damaging the recent powder coat so I took them to Ronny at R&B Machine shop. Common sense overcame my desire to do it all myself. Got them back yesterday - $45 well spent.

New parts came yesterday. LMC parts include power steering pump and misc parts, front axle bearings and seals and front and rear driveshaft universal joints to complete my drive shaft, steering, front axle and front end rebuild. I am planning to reuse me old steering gear.Also received my new Moser Engineering alloy replacement axles from Summit Racing. You can see the pitting in my stock axles where it rides on the bearing. The 12 bolt took a while to build but it should be very robust when finished. I'll go over all the mods when officially complete to show how strong it will be now. :sumo:

Today I was torquing down my new grade 8 bolts on my dana 44 so I could set the final pre-load when the threads all fractured. Couldn't believe it. This was the 2nd time recently I had 1" x 3/8" bolts bought from AF automative fasteners in High Point fail. I guess they have a bad production lot. Kind of scary when you think about it. I need to play it safe and buy my bolts from ARP and be done with it.