Audie, the G506

[arse_sidewards]

The design concept is that it handles as much or more than the original G506 while having a better turning radius, brakes and suspension.

Plopping the body on any running driving DRW F-series chassis made in the last 10yr would accomplish that goal and you would have been done last month.

 

[Grendel]

Plopping the body on any running driving DRW F-series chassis made in the last 10yr would accomplish that goal and you would have been done last month.

Yeah, but would give me a Ford engine...

Plus I get to hang out with my second son.

 

[Grendel]

I am converting this chassis to 10x285.75 wheel patterns.

As usual, someone mentions something 8 months ago that takes me a bit to process and go do research they already did:

F450 / F550 wheel options.

Anyone have a source for SRW wheels - 20x10 8x225mm , 170.1mm Bore ? Found these: https://www.buckstopinc.com/single-wheel-conversions.html https://www.dbldesign.com/severe-dutyconversions https://www.ricksontruckwheels.com/customers/drw-to-srw-conversions/ But it seems they think I have...

irate4x4.com

 

[Grendel]

From this:

To this, but with more offset, so I don't have to cut my caliper brackets.

Will run a MRAP dual wheel set up front and rear. Big floaties in front, dual skinnies rear.

 

[Grendel]

So, fuel tank is in. Have a sending unit that is gas rated, too.

May yank out the actual pump for something that's 58PSI capable.

Right now, it's a Ford V10 sending unit in a Diesel tank.

 

[Grendel]

So, starting to look at steering. Is the factory F550 stuff really that bad?

2005-24 F-450/550 WIDETRACK HD Tie Rod Bar-PMF-FRD-5006

www.pmfsuspension.com

2005-24 Ford F-450/550 WIDETRACK HD Single Piece Draglink-PM

www.pmfsuspension.com

I am going to do a trac-inator on this:

The Trac-inator - Baja Customs

Ford 05-16 F250, F350 4x4's, plus 2wd & 4x4 05+ F450, F550

bajacustoms.com

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

So, starting to look at steering. Is the factory F550 stuff really that bad?

2005-24 F-450/550 WIDETRACK HD Tie Rod Bar-PMF-FRD-5006

www.pmfsuspension.com

2005-24 Ford F-450/550 WIDETRACK HD Single Piece Draglink-PM

www.pmfsuspension.com

I am going to do a trac-inator on this:

The Trac-inator - Baja Customs

Ford 05-16 F250, F350 4x4's, plus 2wd & 4x4 05+ F450, F550

bajacustoms.com

I've got 115,xxx miles on my 19k lb service truck and I have had zero trac bar or steering issues. Who's claiming the stock stuff sucks?

 

[Grendel]

I've got 115,xxx miles on my 19k lb service truck and I have had zero trac bar or steering issues. Who's claiming the stock stuff sucks?

Those manufacturers. Keep in mind, I am looking at 41" tires and a 25K GVW.

 

[holdmypocket]

Seeing all of these aftermarket solutions to the super duty trackbar mount are making me regret torching mine off and using a ruffstuff conventional mount.

 

[Grendel]

Seeing all of these aftermarket solutions to the super duty trackbar mount are making me regret torching mine off and using a ruffstuff conventional mount.

I did a trac-inator on my other Ford chassis project, the IH Crew Cab.

Certainly doing it again on this one.

 

[Grendel]

So I am going back and forth on the t-case for this. I have a Ford NP271 and a Ford NP205 ( both are married).

Seems like a lot of work to put a VSS into the Ford 271, but they're robust and have an OEM SYE

NP273 Rebuild and Duramax Swap

I'm pretty happy about how the reluctor wheel and clamp worked out. It centers quite well and spins true! The clamp is a Dayton 1L710. I bought two just in case. I spaced it apart so it was round and then opened it up to 2.100" and then made a .250" shoulder with a diameter of 2.198. It clamps...

nc4x4.com

Ford 205 is easier for the VSS, there are lots of kits.


Or I could just set up the 4wd Allison like a 2wd and put either on:

HD 4x4 Tail Housing for Allison 1000 5 and 6 speed transmission

HD 4x4 Tail Housing for Allison 1000 5 and 6 speed transmission

quickdrawbrand.com

ALLISON 1000 (GM) 29 SPL. TO FORD NP205 (on back order for a while)

 

[arse_sidewards]

Can you just cut notches onto the flange and run the VSS off that? People have been doing that when swapping out VSS axles for non-vss axles since the 80s.

 

[Grendel]

Can you just cut notches onto the flange and run the VSS off that? People have been doing that when swapping out VSS axles for non-vss axles since the 80s.

Potentially. Needs a 40tooth reluctor for VSS. Not sure I am that precise.

Differential Mounted 40-Tooth Reluctor Ring Kit for S10 & 4L60-E V8 #4L60-006

Why You Might Want One. For those who install a Turbo-350 transmissions (or other transmission with no reluctor ring) into 1989 and newer trucks, the differential mounted 40-tooth reluctor-ring kit is a simple solution to make the electric-speedometer, cruise-control, and anti-lock brakes work...

jagsthatrun.com

Something like that could work, but nervous about exposed VSS fucking with shift tables in a vehicle that could see mud and shit.

 

[Grendel]

I also found rear hubs that are 10 on 285MM, so no rear adapter needed.

 

[arse_sidewards]

Potentially. Needs a 40tooth reluctor for VSS. Not sure I am that precise.

Differential Mounted 40-Tooth Reluctor Ring Kit for S10 & 4L60-E V8 #4L60-006

Why You Might Want One. For those who install a Turbo-350 transmissions (or other transmission with no reluctor ring) into 1989 and newer trucks, the differential mounted 40-tooth reluctor-ring kit is a simple solution to make the electric-speedometer, cruise-control, and anti-lock brakes work...

jagsthatrun.com

Something like that could work, but nervous about exposed VSS fucking with shift tables in a vehicle that could see mud and shit.

Can't be worse than a crank sensor. Sure it's more vulnerable but you're also not dead in the water if it dies.

I need to check what indexing plates I have for my rotary table but I could easily put 40 radially symmetrical notches into an output flange if you wanted to go that route.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Dividing head in a mill would make short work of grooving a drive flange, no?

 

[arse_sidewards]

Dividing head in a mill would make short work of grooving a drive flange, no?

Yes, or rotary table with indexing plates (or legible markings and a steady hand).

I'm sure a "real machinist" would know a trick for doing it without either.

 

[WaterH]

Damb, I don’t know how I missed this. Love the concept.

 

[Grendel]

So the gent on the NC4x4 thread is going to rebuild my NP271 and set it to mate with my Allison. He'll machine a VSS into the tail housing, like he did on his NP273.

When he gets back from Korea, sometime July/August.

 

[Grendel]

Set the cab onto the chassis for storage. Looks like the F550 chassis will be the right width.

It now waits, two other projects get done.

 

[Grendel]

So, I got a hair across my ass, as I get rid of stuff, to see this again. Pulled it out of storage.

Hate how it looks on the F550 chassis.

I got a C50 frame from John Giffin before he fled black fly country. This frame profile fits the G506 cab better.

The new ladder frame is 34" OD, and the F550 rear axle and springs/hangers would bolt up.
Looks like I could fit F150 rear leaves and shackle into the funky leaf spring hangers that were there. They would be 31.5" spring pin to spring pin, which means the 2004 F550 SD60 (Fat Boy) we cut down would fit. My son says go with leaves and finish cutting down the axle, that JR4X is sending me tube for . The long side would take a Chevy 60 long side axle, too boot. I was going to stick this axle into my street queen YJ, but it's really not needed.


Or radius arm brackets that fit the 34" OD of this new frame and bolt up the 2011 SD F550 front end (suspension, etc) and I already have bolt on spring and shock buckets. Everything would be stock and mimic my other big tired project, the IH.

Thoughts?

 

[Grendel]

So I decided to carve up the F550 chassis, to have a good looking frame to body meld.