1974 Crew: Cummins, Manual, Tons...Poor Financial Decisions

[Burns]

2wd front half grafted on? Sounds like f150 4wd

Iirc all crew cabs were narrow frame, so the bed bolts and rear cab mounts are closer together like early truck and high boys

Noted that all cre cabs are narrow. I remember that coming up when I was trying to figure out motor mounts.

And I don't remember why the previous owner put a 4wd F150 front frame section on it, but part of me wants to say for ride quality, but maybe she got tweaked in an accident. Truly dont remember!

 

[Burns]

Next up was finalizing the radius arm mount locations and prepping axles for new bearings, bushings and paint!

I had the internal leads (polarity?) reversed on my welder...which caused some "fun"

Bent up a trac-bar and tie rod setup!

Its funny looking back at how clean my tool bags were before this project. Now they look like a racoon could pop out of them at any time!

Not my GMC......things trash anyways. Had my friend come over and glue on the trac-bar mount, coilover mounts, and I attached my bargain bin diff cover after fixing some of the holes!

Dogs always amped and ready to supervise. She always makes me get my hands dirty though. Real bossy lady.

Hanging her from the trusty engine hoist and laying some primer on her!

Next came the gloss black. Made sure to brush on the rustoleum thicker than tar...that way I can rail the axle off of things and itll still look shiny ....and yes..thats a Brat.

 

[Burns]

Next came drilling out the knuckles for the heim joint bolts, along with replacing balljoints and ujoints while Im in there (and brakes, and unit bearings). My goal was to do everything right while I have the truck apart. I dont want to half ass something now, and come back in three months to do it all again. And to be fair...every part on these axles was beat to crap.

Boy did it take some hammering to get these things off. Probably doesnt help that these axles have been dealing with salty Maine roads for the last 15 years

Remember kids...rules are guidelines...they dont technically stop you from living your life the way you want

Live dangerously:

Cleaned versus not cleaned knuckles.....did I mention how much these things weigh?!?! Holy cow.

New toy. It came out of a woodshop up in Millinocket. Needs a new belt, and could probably use a new motor....but for $60....I have zero complaints.

Sketchy.......

But we did it! One knuckle done, one to go!

Painted. New balljoints. New.....everything. Its only money.

Getting ready to plop her in!

Wheels fitted, shes ready to go under. The axles were beat when I got them and since the truck was 5 lug, I didnt have wheels. Id drooled about methods for a couple years, and when they released the low offset ones (maybe 2019?), I bought a set. This was the first time that I could roll the axles around the garage, as Id never had wheels for them before.

 

[Burns]

Next came welding the towers on and getting the axle in place and bolted on.

Insert some painting. On this go around I used "Steel-It", as I has some sneaking suspicions that we would need to weld some more steel to this pig in the future.

Ive been lucky to this point. I only technically have one bay of this garage, and its what you see here. The lift and other side arent for my use 75% of the time. Also ignore the seats. Those will come in a future post :P

Sliding her in place! The hi-lift is there for "Just in Case".

Keep on sliding.....

Boom. Bolted in with coilovers on! I worked with Accutune to ballpark me valving and spring rating. As future me types this...the springs weren't perfect and neither is valving...springs got changed as this thing was heavier than we expected, and post a few thousand miles on dirt roads....in some situations she rides a tad rough (doesnt like water bars).

Im not a suspension pro and am definitely still learning, but I feel she may be a little soft!

"The best something will look is the first day you own it"

I drilled out the stock pitman arm for use with the single shear attachment of the steering arm. In the future Id like to bend a small plate and make this double shear (box sides in). Present day, this is still single shear, and has performed fine...I just don't like the moment arm on the pitman arm given the length of that bolt/where the heim sits.