89 SFA buildup for rocks

[DieselS10]

Quote: Originally Posted by Donahue

yeah, the pickup cab makes sense for getting an environment back. the wife likes heat and doors. it would also solve a lot of problems the truck currently has with the rear suspension and exhaust.

You got that cab on there yet?

[Donahue]

Quote: Originally Posted by DieselS10

You got that cab on there yet?

i havent even looked for a donor cab. it seems like in the last few years, we spend like 2 years building a truck just to drive it once or twice every other year. i would not be surprised if the truck never left the garage all year.

[85S10Project]

whats happened to 3leaffab?

[Donahue]

Quote: Originally Posted by 85S10Project

whats happened to 3leaffab?

the economy tanked and the demand went way down. we are sorta hybernating

[Donahue]

so, after some thought, i think my wheel base is too short to go with the extended cab look. i'm only at 107" and i think i would need more like 120-125" to pull of that look and still like the way it looks. redder's truck is a good example of what i am talking about, it just doesnt do it for me. anyways, so it looks like if i want an environment back, i will probably need to fabricate a wall and convert the back of the blazer into more of a pickup/avalanch thing. who really knows though, the biggest priority is rebuilding the floor.

[DieselS10]

Sounds like a good reason to stretch it to me.

[Donahue]

i've been very pleased with the medium WB. things are a bit different here in the NW, too long is way too long.

[Donahue]

ok, well i took my truck out of the garage for the first time this year. i think i may just get around to working on it again now that the weather is nicer. with my rear suspension still tweaked, i decided to take it for a spin around the block. i unlocked the hubs and tried it in 2hi, just to see what it would do. i got it up to about 30 mph before i had some serious vibes at the rear driveline, not to mention some serious flat spots in my tires. i also aired the tires up to 25 psi from about 8 to see what difference that would make on the street.

i think i have lined out what i need to do this summer to fix it and get it up to fighting condition.

• i need to fix the rear driveline issue.
• in the process i will be fixing the rear suspension and beefing it up a little.
• i need to run my exhaust all the way to the back so that i am not smelling it while driving.
• i would like to start on some sort of cage for protection
• i want to finish the tire in tire beadlock

for the driveline, i think i am going to try and make either my own SYE or CV slip yoke, along with a new driveline. i am probably going to point the pinion back down a bit and run a cv shaft to see if i can make it streetable again.

while i am changing over to a new driveline, i will be tweaking the suspension back and adding a lot of new bracing. i may even have to run some through the floorboards (trying to not have to rebuild the whole floor).

my exhaust is too loud and obnoxious, and it gets in the cab area and suffocates me. i need to run it to the back which may require some more floorboard surgery.

i would like to build a full cage for me and the wife, some sort of interior/exterior hybrid. i would also like to build something of a wall behind the front seats so i can run it in bad weather.

as for the tire in tire beadlocks, i think i have a solution for that but i will just have to post more when i have real results. but it will be something similar to a staun beadlock, only much cheaper.

on a side note, i may try to incorporate a parking brake into the SYE, anyone know of a good small caliper to use?

[DieselS10]

[project87sdime]

make me some shackles please! 4-6 sets i emails you

[Donahue]

Quote: Originally Posted by project87sdime

make me some shackles please! 4-6 sets i emails you

i emailed you back. the quick answer is soon, we will certainly be making them again very soon. i've got the money together to start, just waiting on the supplier.

[Donahue]

well, it looks like this thing will get a resurection. i pulled the rear driveline, and i cannot believe how bad the caps were on the rear u-joint. i could turn the shaft about a quarter turn, it had that much slop in it. i have never seen anything so destroyed and still in one piece. well anyways, i decided to go ligit and get a driveline made for me that is balanced, etc, and will help get me more streetable. i did not end up using the caddy CV, but one like it. i will be tipping the pinion down a little and running a cv shaft the proper way. i am planning on having this thing on the trail this weekend.

[BillaksBlazer]

good cant wait to see it running again.

[DieselS10]

I was begining to wonder if you were ever going to work on it again.

[Donahue]

well, it gets up to about 40 mph smooth as a whisle. but at about 40, it becomes a wanderer. i think its either i need to get the front aligned or that my ackerman is just messed up and that is the best i will get.

[DieselS10]

Your Ackerman shouldn't have any effect unless your turning past about 1/2 way either direction.

[sockjock]

I found this cool suspension tech article it doesn't go in depth but it does have plenty of good info in it regarding 4x4 steering.

4x4 Steering

I think your large bias ply tires are probably your biggest factor in the way your Blazer is handling at speed. Interco even says on their website that their tires are much heavier than other tires of the same size. I'm not the expert but just my 2 cents worth.

[Donahue]

my alignment is the reason it drives the way it does, i noticed that for some reason my caster is about flat, not the 6* back like it was supposed to be. this is also why my pinion angle is so high. i will be fixing this will some angled shims.

update:
took the truck out wheeling this weekend, and it found its stride. i broke in the d44, literally. i think i broke my long side inner shaft, but i havent pulled it apart to confirm. i made it about 1/4 mile up that rock garden that claimed the life of my little 7.5". i now have a crescent shaped tie rod, but its still intact. i completely hammered my sas crossmember, but its held up in all the important ways. and i also put some nice scrapes in my new rear driveshaft but nothing serious. i will post up some pics later, but i cant right now, i have to consolidate pics from all the various cameras.

[Donahue]

Quote: Originally Posted by sockjock

I found this cool suspension tech article it doesn't go in depth but it does have plenty of good info in it regarding 4x4 steering.

4x4 Steering

I think your large bias ply tires are probably your biggest factor in the way your Blazer is handling at speed. Interco even says on their website that their tires are much heavier than other tires of the same size. I'm not the expert but just my 2 cents worth.

i dont think you quite understand how my ackerman is messed up. normally, the inside tire is supposed to turn a tighter circle, but mine is backwards. the outside tire turns more than the inside tire.

[wrekd]

60 or Rocks??

[Donahue]

Quote: Originally Posted by wrekd

60 or Rocks??

60 for sure. i only need the front axle, i dont need to re-engineer a rear suspension for a new axle.

on a side note, a buddy and i are brainstorming a pathfinder build on mogs.

[wrekd]

Quote: Originally Posted by Donahue

60 for sure. i only need the front axle, i dont need to re-engineer a rear suspension for a new axle.

on a side note, a buddy and i are brainstorming a pathfinder build on mogs.

I would kill for a set of Mogs. You should steal them and put em under your Blazer

[Donahue]

i get as many kicks out of building someone else truck and watching it wheel as i do my own. him and i pretty much wheel together always anyways so its a win win for me, because i dont have to foot the bill.

[bubbagt57]

lol not paying for it it awesome too

[sockjock]

Quote: Originally Posted by Donahue

i dont think you quite understand how my ackerman is messed up. normally, the inside tire is supposed to turn a tighter circle, but mine is backwards. the outside tire turns more than the inside tire.

did you put your tie rod behind the axle? I'm sure you have the technology to get it working right..bigger, better, able to crawl over lesser vehicles..lol I have faith in ya

[Donahue]

Quote: Originally Posted by sockjock

did you put your tie rod behind the axle? I'm sure you have the technology to get it working right..bigger, better, able to crawl over lesser vehicles..lol I have faith in ya

yes. but i do not feel like making new knuckles from scratch at this point so i will just deal with it. i have a feeling once i fix the caster it will be ok.

[Donahue]

i also forgot to mention that my doors are back on, and have been modified to be removable. i can take them on and off in about 3 mins with no tools.

[4wdjoey]

pics?

[DieselS10]

Quote: Originally Posted by Donahue

yes. but i do not feel like making new knuckles from scratch at this point so i will just deal with it. i have a feeling once i fix the caster it will be ok.

I wouldn't even want to think about having to figure that out! I think your right about the castor fixing your problem, we put rear steer on my dad's Studebaker and it drove great, the front tires just squeeled horribly when it was turned sharp.

[wrekd]

Quote: Originally Posted by 4wdjoey

pics?

x2...

[Donahue]

i've got a busy week and they wont likely be uploaded till this weekend.

[Tim99Zr2]

werd, im going to be making half doors soon, so i wanna see your hinges too

[Donahue]

its really simple, i just removed the bushings in the door hinges, and drilled the other holes to 13/32". then i used a piece of 3/8 CR rod with a set collar on one end and a pin on the other. its a little sloppy when the door is open but solid when its closed. the sloppiness is nice for installing the pins, otherwise it would be a hugh pain to line up.

[Tim99Zr2]

yea man, def get pics. im really interested

[bubbagt57]

as am i

[Donahue]

ok, some pics as promised. i dont have all the ones from the last day, they were on my buddies camera.

the current configuration:


notice the sweet unpainted doors


some ghetto late night last minute suspension fixing


notice the new driveline


one of the new door pins, a piece of 3/8" cold rolled rod with a set collar and a pull pin. the hinge was drilled out to 13/32"


who says leafs cant flex?


crossmember damage. i should probably box this in. (so should all the guys running sky's crossmember)


my truck next to the neighbors stock with a body lift 4x4. i dont think its that tall considering.

[Donahue]

i've got a video uploading right now. it was the start of my rocks run, right as i ran out of gas. it turns out the gauge is broken or something, kinda a funny spot to run out of gas.

[Golana]

looks awesome! i cant wait to see the video!

[sockjock]

The quick remove doors are pretty trick but for some reason it looses some of it's overall coolness factor with the doors on. But I'd still own it...and wheel it every chance I got.

[Tim99Zr2]

love the look with the doors. i started my half doors tonight. made an error.

where is the winch?

[wrekd]

Looks good. The removable door mod looks easy enough. I think Im just gonna take mine off and make some tube ones. My d-side door is still all messed up from the flop and its starting to piss me off.

And I'll definitely be boxing in my crossmember now

What happened?? Slip off a rock and land on it??

[DieselS10]

Glad you've got back into this thing.

[wrekd]

Quote: Originally Posted by DieselS10

Glad you've got back into this thing.

x2...

[Chevtech]

X3

Since you live in Springfield and I live in Portland, we should plan a trip some time after both rigs are complete.

[Baggey22]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chevtech

X3

Since you live in Springfield and I live in Portland, we should plan a trip some time after both rigs are complete.

That would be quite a sight to see

[BlownDime]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tim99Zr2

love the look with the doors. i started my half doors tonight. made an error.

where is the winch?

How big of an error?

[Donahue]

ok, here is one of the video's. i need to re-upload it though, my camera films in 16x10 and i forgot to letterbox it, and youtube compressed it to 4x3.

i ran out of gas at the end of the video

[Donahue]

these rocks out here are huge, i dont even know when i damaged the crossmember, i only noticed it later. the winch was not mine, i was just borrowing it for last years trip.

we are thinking about making a trip to tillamook possibly this summer. we havent been there yet but i hear good things.

[wrekd]

That sucks you ran out of gas. That was a cool video.

[Donahue]

it wasnt too big of deal, its only 12 miles or so out of town. i left it parked there overnight and did the rest of the run the next day, which is when i forgot the camera.