Above 1200 Sq/FT Smart *** Garage, aka: It's finally going to happen

[Dugan]

that looks like a lot of brake hose hanging around. You can't run hard line to help keep those hoses from being in the way?

"Installed the new calipers on my mud truck and had new hoses made for the back to remove the hard lines on the axle that get crushed every season because of my tow hooks"

 

[BUGTHUG]

I thought I read that, it didn't make sense the first time. I would still think the hard lines are easier to route out of the way, it looks like the hose would be ez to catch a hook on? what do I know?

 

[NakeDiesel]

The stock setup which I was running has a rubber line coming from the frame down to the axle with some flex for suspension travel down to a t connector. That T connector has 2 hard lines going to each end of the diff. and turns into rubber hoses to the calipers.

I used two of these to tie the back of my truck down:

When covered in mud 6" deep, I can't see the brake lines when tying the truck back down so the lines get crushed over the course of the season and the back brakes become useless.

So I had a short pigtail made at the frame to split to the left and right. I have a 70" hose going to the passenger side along the underside of the bed, down to the axle with slack in it for suspension travel and on to the caliper. A much shorter hose goes to the drivers side in a similar fashion. Now there aren't any brake lines on the axle where I put the hooks to tie the truck down and won't be loosing my braking power to do boosted launches off the brake.

Yesterday, I cleaned up on the truck, fixed a leak in a brake connection, finished mounting the radiator and rear fenders, swept out the mud in the bed and cab of the truck and hooked the battery back up. Tires are on and just need to check their air and put it on the trailer to haul it to the car show. I also made a helmet hook to hang it up and not be rolling around on the floor.

 

[BUGTHUG]

you could bolt a couple of hooks to the frame to attach the tie down hooks to? that way they are out of the way, and you don't have to worry about snagin them with all the mud and damage the brake lines?

 

[NakeDiesel]

Yeah, but that would add more weight to the race truck. I've worked very hard to remove every ounce from the truck that I can.

 

[Dugan]

Yeah, but that would add more weight to the race truck. I've worked very hard to remove every ounce from the truck that I can.

No beer or hotwings before the race?

Do you eat taco bell the night before to drop weight?

 

[NakeDiesel]

Lol, no but I do need to watch my weight, with the angle of the seat at damn near straight up, it was getting difficult to get my 5 point harness buckled towards the end of last season.

Took the truck to a car show at my son's votech today, didn't win anything but lots of people drooled over it.

Got the truck home and put it back on jack stands and pulled the wheels back off so I can start getting the gears changed this week. Also got the front drive shaft pulled out of my daughters truck so I can get it rebuilt this week and installed the right locker in the front that they resent to me. So her gearing changes are done now.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Tonight I tore down the front Dana 60, getting it ready for the new gears. Test fit the pipe sections for the u joint shields, man there isn't much room with that 6" diameter pipe. Trying to decide if I'm going to use it or get some 8 or 9" diameter pipe to use. Going to do some more measuring tomorrow before I fully decide. I liked to never get the axle out of the passenger side, it was full of dirt/mud since the seal is a foot or more inside of the tube.

I also found the oil a bit milky, so a bit of water is getting in somewhere on one of the seals. Good thing I planned on replacing them while I was at it.

Here's the truck at the car show yesterday:

torn down front diff

dirt caked axle stub

 

[NakeDiesel]

Got 3 boxes of parts in for the truck today, so while I was waiting on another inner pinion bearing to get in at the local parts store so I can make a test bearing out of it, I decided to get the flexplate shield and trans shield installed. Got the flexplate shield installed after cutting the ears off the trans. Then started on the trans shield and ran into a fitment issue. Evidently, the tci shield doesn't play with the b&m deep aluminum pan. So I'm going to have to make some wider lower tie braces to make it work.

 

[richboro]

Do you have the vents on the diffs and transmission raised?

 

[sean Buick 76]

Removing the trans ears will help get it in and out eh...

 

[NakeDiesel]

Yep, all of the vent hoses are moved up high on the truck. The truck had 350k miles on it before I turned it into a race truck, so I imagine the seals were just a little worn. Could also be the pinion seal that was leaking as well.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Well, it felt like I was doing the 2 step this weekend, 2 steps forward and 1 step back, but overall made some progress on my truck. Had a hell of a time getting my Dana 60 regeared, but it's back together with new gears, seals and bearings. Guess I will find out how good I did on it when it's time to race. The GM 8.5's were much easier to regear.

While putting the 60 back together I found that the wheel bearing on the passenger side is bad, so I need to order those parts.

I did manage to get the front u joint shield built and on for the 60. So that can be marked off my list. I also figured out the second drive shaft loop for the front shaft, just need to pick up some strap to build it this week.

On the transmission shield, I ended up making one custom fit under brace for it and finally got the bolts all installed after some grinding on some back fins for the b and m pan to get the regular back brace to fit. That's when I found out that my shifter lever on the transmission now hits on the shield. FML now I need to get that figured out as I can't shift past 1st gear the way it is now. Will either need to bend the bracket out some to clear or grind down some of the trans shield to get clearance or a little of both.

I did get to pick my new trailer Friday. It's a starlite 35' + 5' with 2 10k axles on it. Damn it's long, but it should fit both trucks on it.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Nice trailer!

 

[NakeDiesel]

Thanks, that's the first new flatbed trailer I've ever owned, always bought old used ones in the past, but for what I was looking for, I could buy new for almost the same prices as several year old trailers. I can now haul my tractor, twice to 3 times the amount of hay, and fit a dually on it without breaking the lights off (done that several times on my lowboy) and fit both race trucks and probably the 4 wheeler too.

Made some calls and searches on the internet, PPP doesn't make an offset lever for their shifter, but I found that SCS does, so I ordered one from summit today and hopefully it will work out.

It's cold out in the shop even with the two little oil radiators and my little 1500 watt heater with a fan in it that all I did tonight was rig up my transbrake switch on the steering wheel and to start putting my new switch panel together and figuring out what electrical connectors I needed to pick up in the morning.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Our little trace amount of snow turned into 6+ inches with a nice coating of sleet on top. Started the tractor up Fri afternoon in the driving snow and put hay out for the cows and snapped a picture of a couple of our new calves.

Worked on the wiring of the mud truck the last 2 days, found my relay board in the cab was burn up after last season and was having problems with switches failing at the end of the year. Found bad relays in the bed wiring for the fans and pumps. Got it all rewired with a new switch panel and wires. Found my bosch water pump for the intercooler is bad and won't run, so it's time to order a new one. Got the new trans brake switch put on the steering wheel as well.

Today I finished buttoning up the wiring on the truck and fixed a problem with one of the switches not working and put the new integrated hub assembly and the brake rotor together and got it installed on the truck. Also put the front wheels on the truck.

Tomorrow I plan on getting the new extreme trackbar from Dodge Off Road installed and move my front axle as far forward as I can with this new trackbar.

 

[Dugan]

Ill be looking to get myself a newer flatbed goose soon. Looking into a b&W hide away hitch also.

For those axle tube, get the outer axle seals that you can use to pump grease in too. They are f'n awesome

 

[jbmatth]

There is your problem, all that magic smoke you let out.

It may not have been the culprit, but I would use bare terminals and heat shrink on those connections. With all the water and mud your likely to get around that stuff it would at least help keep some of it out. Or you could start using weather pack connectors.
JB

 

[Dugan]

food containers, the plastic tub ones, are good for putting electrical wires in and siliconing around the entrances. then if you want to mess with them just take off the lid!

 

[NakeDiesel]

That relay circuit was inside the cab of my truck on a high area and doesn't get wet inside there. I have the cab pretty well sealed. I've completely rewired and removed the need for that relay block in the cab. All the external wires with connections are wrapped in rubber tape first and then covered with regular tape or a loom.

I looked at getting those outside seals for my truck and if I'd thought of it before I tore the front end down and rebuilt it, I would have got them, but it's all back together and done now.

Yesterday, I installed my new extreme trackbar from Dodge Off Road, install went pretty easy, other than breaking 3 - 1/2" drill bits drilling the last whole in the cross member. Also adjusted the front axle to be a full inch further forward.

 

[Dugan]

That relay circuit was inside the cab of my truck on a high area and doesn't get wet inside there. I have the cab pretty well sealed. I've completely rewired and removed the need for that relay block in the cab. All the external wires with connections are wrapped in rubber tape first and then covered with regular tape or a loom.

I looked at getting those outside seals for my truck and if I'd thought of it before I tore the front end down and rebuilt it, I would have got them, but it's all back together and done now.

Yesterday, I installed my new extreme trackbar from Dodge Off Road, install went pretty easy, other than breaking 3 - 1/2" drill bits drilling the last whole in the cross member. Also adjusted the front axle to be a full inch further forward.

You know youll be back in that axle in like 5 weeks. hehe

What gears did you go with? Sounds like you spent a few hours on em haha.

Im buying the T&D Machine tool for setting gears next time i get a gear job.

 

[NakeDiesel]

I went with 5.13's. Still have to do the back axle, but I'm pulling it out of the truck to do it since I will be removing the leaf spring pockets to put a reverse shackle kit in and dropping another leaf spring.

 

[Dugan]

I went with 5.13's. Still have to do the back axle, but I'm pulling it out of the truck to do it since I will be removing the leaf spring pockets to put a reverse shackle kit in and dropping another leaf spring.

with all that torque, you think it was good going with taller gear? I would think youd want like 4.10 or 4.30 to use that torque to make wheel spin.

 

[NakeDiesel]

I was running 3.55's and in low range so that's 7.1:1, switching to 5.13's and running in high range. I launched in 2nd gear normally off the line and was in 3rd as fast as I could shift it and hitting the governor about mid pit on a 200' pit. With the new gears, my 1st will be the same as 2nd was gear wise, so I basically gain a gear on the top end. Will launch now in 1st off the trans brake and then 2/3 shift quickly after that. Think I gain 20 to 25 mph wheel speed on the top end if I remember right. Don't have my spreadsheet here at work. I'm a little worried about how the th400 will handle the gear change.

 

[Dugan]

I was running 3.55's and in low range so that's 7.1:1, switching to 5.13's and running in high range. I launched in 2nd gear normally off the line and was in 3rd as fast as I could shift it and hitting the governor about mid pit on a 200' pit. With the new gears, my 1st will be the same as 2nd was gear wise, so I basically gain a gear on the top end. Will launch now in 1st off the trans brake and then 2/3 shift quickly after that. Think I gain 20 to 25 mph wheel speed on the top end if I remember right. Don't have my spreadsheet here at work. I'm a little worried about how the th400 will handle the gear change.

Ah your running high now, that works.

the th400 will be fine if you keep it cool. Im sure its not stock behind that monster anyway. That transbrake is gonna break your neck now.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Yeah, I'm hoping I worked all the bugs out of it last season after having it out of the truck 4 times over the race season. Time will tell. There isn't anything stock left in the trans that I know of, it's all built with hd race components now. Full manual reverse VB.

I have the trans fluid running thru 2 trans coolers in the bed of the truck, both are derale coolers each with their own fans, one tube type and one stacked fin type. Goes thru the big tube type and then into the smaller stacked one.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Last night was teardown on the back of the truck. Blocked the back frame of the truck up and then removed the rear end and undid the back of the leafs for me to put the reverse shackle flip on it.

The Dana 70 is now sitting on jack stands next to the truck for me to change the gears and bearing. Think while I have it out, I'll build the mounting points for the ujoint shield too.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Tonight, I got the rear brackets for the leafs removed by cutting the 4 rivets on each side. Got the new shackle flip kit put on the truck and removed another leaf spring while I was at it. I will determine which hole to use once I start putting axle back under the truck and see what the height is. I stuck the bolts in the middle hole to start with.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Finally finished rebuilding the dana 70 tonight. That's my 4th rear end to regear this winter. I hate changing gears. The 70, I had to change carriers and weld up a brand new set of spiders in it to get it locked. Tomorrow I will build the ujoint shield mounts on it before I put the rear end back in the truck tomorrow.

 

[Dugan]

Finally finished rebuilding the dana 70 tonight. That's my 4th rear end to regear this winter. I hate changing gears. The 70, I had to change carriers and weld up a brand new set of spiders in it to get it locked. Tomorrow I will build the ujoint shield mounts on it before I put the rear end back in the truck tomorrow.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OU2DXU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Im getting this next customer re-gear... IT will save you atleast 2 -3 hours

 

[NakeDiesel]

I only had 1 diff that I had issues with the pinion depth and that was on the dana 60. The others I just ended up using the same setup as the original gears. I just used a dial indicator to measure shim thickness and that worked out pretty good. The 70, I had to adjust the shims on the shaft a couple of times to get the right rotational drag (pre load) as it didn't use crush sleeves. I did have to pull the driver side bearing off the carrier once to drop one shim off as I had it too tight and not enough backlash that you could barely turn the diff. I'm just glad they are all done now.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Spent the whole day out in the shop with all the doors open. Man it was nice today. It hit 70 degrees after weeks of cold. So I spent the day making my ujoint shield for the dana 70 while my son worked on making the tow points for my daughter's truck. I used some angle and strap to make the mounting points for the ujoint shield. It's pretty solid. For the tow points, we made them just like the back one on my truck using 4" x 1/2" strap to tie across the frame with 1/2" grade 8 bolts with a hold cut in the middle for the back to put the clevis in. The front we have to come we have to come out under the bumper so it was a little more entailed.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Today we got the front pull point and bumper on my daughters truck. Looks pretty good.

On my truck, I got the rear diff back under the truck and after a few false starts with trying different holes on the reverse shackle and with and without the 4" blocks, I have it up where it's going to be, just need to get some shorter u bolts for it tomorrow.

 

[NakeDiesel]

The axle is back in the truck, tightened down, brakes and driveshaft installed. Truck is sitting at ride height now so I can setup the cal traks tomorrow with the right amount of preload. With the shackle flip, I've been able to remove the 4" blocks from the truck, so I'm hoping it hooks better off the line and I get more weight transfer on launch.

 

[NakeDiesel]

1 week to go to the first race and I've been out of commission for over a week with a nasty case of the flu. Ran over 104.2 temp at one point and it's kicked my ***. Still don't have a voice to talk. Racing to get the trucks done before next week. On mine, I need to top off the back diff. Build one last driveshaft loop up front, build a shifter pedestal, and tie down the rear brake lines with zip ties and put the rear wheels back on.

On my daughter's truck, I finished up the exhaust. Rebuilt the distributor with new components, new plugs and wires and put my old floor shifter in it. Had to order a new braket kit for it to fit her th350 as the bolt holes are different. It should be in Tuesday. Just need to wire up her gauges, get the truck started and get the final timing set and the shifter hooked up.

Here exhaust

 

[NakeDiesel]

Finally got both trucks done. Yesterday evening, we brushed on the second coat of flat black paint inside my daughter's bed, checked her timing, and set the rev limiter on the engine. Also added the smartass garage stickers to her truck.

 

[NakeDiesel]

Got both trucks loaded up and ready to race tomorrow. Found a leaking water neck on my daughter's truck and a leaking brake line connection. Fixed them both, neither item was touched working on the truck this winter. Go figure.

They fit nicely on my new trailer

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

NakeDiesel, Looking Good!

 

[Ferrari-lover]

Those are two great looking trucks.

 

[Magneto]

WOOT WOOT! Keep us posted on the race results.