Flatbed,35’s and Mainly Parked For Repairs

If that was directed at my situation, it is possible that occurred after the fact from the frame or body twisting/deforming. When I welded all of the mounts I had the body fully disconnected from the frame and resting on wood jammed between the body and frame, so at least when it was welded they were all even.

 

No sir I was just guessing at what happened

 

I had a hell of a time trying to measure the gaps and guess the collapsed bushing height. See how she holds up.

 

After damaging and loosing a mud flap on my last trail run I made some new ones that have a bit more coverage and hopefully won’t get caught up on stuff.



Really happy to have the front flaps as it should keep the filler clean

also should keep dirt out of this vent too which I still have to clean out.

 

Some pics from the last trail 2 trail runs

 

Some videos thanks to @Tridet167

 

Last few trail runs were hard on the front skid. Had a decent size dent in the front.


Beat it till it owed me money


then just welded some scrap angle I had laying around. Won’t do much but may help a bit.


also the bottom of my skids are painted an aluminum colour. Helps to see if there is any oil leaks or anything collecting on the bottom. Thanks @Norilsk for the tip.

also, have a brand new oem steering rack on the bench to hopefully go in the next few weeks.

 

With all the hammering your neighbour's must love you..lol.

 

I try to be considerate and either get it done really fast or break it up randomly over a couple weeks haha. So far they have been awesome and I try my best not to test that.

even washing the truck I try and build a “damn” at the curb to collect the mud to keep it from flowing down the street. So far so good.

 

Have any extra angled steel and some time?
this would be nice to bring some new life to my RCI plates

 

I would have to check. Think the only stuff I have is 1” or bigger angle iron. Believe that stuff was 1/2” angle.

 

Was hoping to run concessions this past weekend. 15 minutes on the trail and the steering rack stopped working. Got to the point where anything other then a 1/4 turn left or right was needed to be muscled. Interestingly fluid didn’t drop so I’m thinking I bound up the steering by skipping a tooth or something.

220k kms on the stock rack. 33’s at 90k and 35’s at 180k. It didn’t owe me anything.

Fluid that came out. Thinking mainly mud which didn’t help the rack im sure.



clock spring ain’t breaking today I hope.



and rack out in about an hour. I did cut the one bolt instead of removing the alternator. Will buy some new ones and thread them from the top. May drill a hole and put a cotter pin.

 

Curious to see how long the replacement will last. Nothing ever lasts as long as the original....

 

I did go with a stock rack so we will see. Figured if I can get 3-5!years out of it with 35’s I’ll be happy. Hopefully I’ll have the axles done at that point.

 

Yea I get.it.
Last couple of days maxed out caster and truck drove very well. But I could literally feel the added effort to steer the truck. and today put it back to where it was. I'll.deal with a little loose goosy steering as long as that rack will.last a little longer.
236k on the truck now so just buying time.

 

Trucks back on the road for now. I ended up putting a new pump on as well.


Only pic I got. Cleaned the reservoir really well and bled the system a few times over a couple days (let any air get to the top of the system).

also got something else….


Essentially picked up this 14 bolt for the shave kit that was bolted on it. Was cheaper then just buying a shave kit alone.
Cool thing is that now I have a center section that has already been machined for if I get crazy and decide to make a 14 bolt front or a steering rear axle lol.

thanks @Norilsk for picking it up for me. And finding the deal.

 

Burned these up for another future project….figured less of a chance of loosing pieces if everything was together

 

Been just messing around in the garage.

I got this 14 bolt a while ago for $80 at the scrap yard. It has factory discs and I believe it is 68” wms to wms.


I finally got it in the bench and stripped it down after it sitting in the garage for a year or so.


The spindles on it look okay, but I’m not sure about this surface. Pretty sure this is for the disc brake bracket so it shouldn’t affect the hub seal but I’m not sure.


The plan as of right now assuming this axle doesn’t need to be retubed is to shave it, gears and lockers (have to check either to run 5.13’s or 5.29’s with 37’s-40’s), and then I just need leaf springs perches as I have shock mounts already. I believe I’ll be sticking with factory brakes if I can (has a parking brake assembly which is nice).

that’s it for now….slowly dragging this out as I figure out what I am doing.

 

In case your looking for an alternative to a shave kit
https://www.barnes4wd.com/GM-14-Bolt-High-Clearance-Shave-Cover_p_169.html

 

he spent the dollars on the TMR shave kit already, i-Forced him giggle*