Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

A few updates:

1st - The truck has had an intermittent off idle flat spot. It would only happen when accelerating after slowing down from highway speeds. After a quick check of a few things I decided to pull the cap and take a look.

Here's what I found.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

There was a lot of dust in the cap. Very strange as the distributor was rebuild less than 30,000 miles ago.

Pulled the rotor to take a look at the weights. Here's the rotor.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Turns out the weights were wearing away. These were cheap weights but the only ones available at the local parts store when I was rebuilding the distributor.

Here's a pic of the wear.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

A reman ACDelco distributor has been installed. So far so good with that.

Next was the steering. The parts house brand reman steering gear was becoming sloppy. I decided to just replace it with an ACDelco and be done with it. Also installed an ACDelco steering pump.

To go with the steering gear, I installed a drop pitman arm. When the lift was installed, I put the raised steering arm on the axle but there was still a 2" drop from the pitman arm to the axle. This resulted in the wheels turning right as the suspension compressed. Which is most noticeable when braking or when pulling a trailer. Now the drag link is nearly level.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Nice lookin purpose-built rig.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Thanks!

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Part of daily driving in MN is snow. We got over a foot on Friday. Here's about half way through the storm.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

A shot of the truck clearing snow.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

One more:

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

I love your truck, especially with the tall pizza cutter tires.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Good looking snow pics! We have had one event with a few inches. I probably didn't need to but I plowed my inlaw's place with the GoPro on the truck. Need to get some video uploaded with sweet straight six sound effects.

How's your plow working? Mine wasn't turning one direction but I serviced it and seems to be 100% again.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

It was a heck of a way to ease into winter! I drive truck, and I was in the Brainerd / Bemidji area all day Friday.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Thanks for the compliments!

The foot of snow we got has pretty much all melted. It hasn't been cold enough yet to make any real ice. Looks like that's changing soon. Were getting an inch or two of snow today. I stopped at a landing on the way home to check it out. Here's a pic from the cab.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Fun!

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

We finally got out of our cold snap here. Mornings were down to -30 degrees with highs in the single digets.

So I took the opportunity to give the truck a good wash and quick wax for good measure.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Looks great all shined up. Do you park outside or have some warm storage?

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Thanks. It's kept in a heated garage.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Realized it’s been quite a while since posting. Truck took a break from daily duty’s for a while but is now my daily again. So far I’ve got about 45,000 miles on the rebuild. Also did a few upgrades.

Here’s a pic of her all shined up.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

I didn’t use the plow enough to justify keeping it on the truck. I like the look better without the frame.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Also ended up having to rebuild the front brakes after the drivers side started dragging. It had the original rotors and calipers. New rotors, calipers, pads, and hoses were installed.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Also got some new rubber. Kept with the original size. 235/85-R16.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Installed the ORD steering box brace and sway bar links.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

That turned out great. 45,000 miles is some good utilization!

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Any good pics of the steering box brace????

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Glad to see some updates

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Not the easiest spot to get pics of. Here’s a couple more.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Thanks. 45,000 and climbing. She was built to work.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Thanks buddy, easy install? Direct bolt in?

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Fairly easy. Fitment to the steering box was good. You may need to shim with some washers depending on year and crossmemeber. I had to drill the hole in the center. Also had to clearance for the brake line.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Wow, quite a while since posting. The ‘ol 400 has been retired again from daily duties for a couple years. I continue to use it now and then as a backup/ fun rig.

She gets to hibernate in the winters now in a heated shop.

Got her out for a trail trip today. Just an old railroad bed turned into a minimum maintenance road.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Close up of the “little mud on the tires”.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

The dog enjoyed the ride too.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

What a great rig. I like how you always tackle whatever goes wrong and update, upgrade, and fix it. Still looks really good.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Truck looks great! Time to drive her more with the cheap gas!

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

Thanks!

Speaking of fixing...

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

I noticed a bit of variable rear steer a couple years ago. Found the forward bushings on the rear springs were shot.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

ORD had the poly bushings and greasable bolts to make for a lasting repair.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

This year it was time for cab bushings. 5 of the 6 bolts came out with little fuss. Then the inevitable result of wrenching on a Minnesota truck.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

With some luck and skill, I was able to use the inverted drill press and some old fashioned machinists tools to drill out the 3 + inches of remaining bolt and retap it.

Re: Minnesota Daily Driver
 

I previously saw someone post this method of lifting the cab to get them in.

Worked quite well.