Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[Vic1947]

OK, with some gentle persuasion, I threw caution to the wind and ditched at least a week's worth of work and cleared the way for an under the bed install of the AccuAir components. Like my best bud Jay says... IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG NOW!!!! Additional hardware and new SS resonators are on the way. Removed the tank and compressors from my homemade mounts and started taking measurements to see if they can be repurposed.

Also reinstalled the passenger side bag and lower control arm. I've been cutting a few extra 1/2-14 NPT threads in the bag port where the bushing and push lock fitting go. Main reason is to improve sealing, but it also looks a little nicer when the fittings don't stick out so far. Worked to perfection in the rear, but there's a flange in the front crossmember that may interfere with the air line. Hope not, but it would be consistent with the law of unintended consequences.

[Elliot949]

Looking really great Vic...

[Xeen]

Oh yeah that's what I'm talking about Vic, be fearless!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Xeen

Oh yeah that's what I'm talking about Vic, be fearless!

Yeah, that's me - fearless AND penniless.

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Yeah, that's me - fearless AND penniless.

Man do I understand penniless... my truck is breaking the bank... LOL

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

Man do I understand penniless... my truck is breaking the bank... LOL

What bank? My truck has already crushed the bank. But on the lighter note I like the way the truck is turning out. But will that sway bar be in a bind that way. Just wounding that's all.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by gdavis

But will that sway bar be in a bind that way.

Good question, George, I hope that's not the case. Guys that like to go around corners say the ends of the bar should be between -5 and +20 degrees relative to the ground with the links as close to vertical as practical. Off road guys prefer to keep the angle in positive territory, as the amount of extension on those vehicles could possibly cause the bar to overcenter. The spherical rod ends, when aligned with each other, should allow free movement throughout the range of travel. On the bottom rod end, I chamfered the spud it attaches to and added a .150" spacer between the ball and the head of the bolt. This allows the rod end to swivel to the maximum possible. If there's any potential for binding it would be at the top. I'll monitor it after I get the truck on the road and if I see any evidence the upper rod end is binding, I'll mill .250" off the ends of the bar and add spacers. This setup is used on all kinds of race cars and is preferred for its simplicity, adjustability and reliability.

[jlsanborn]

Didn't mean to toss any tools in the box there. The way you described plan "A" sounded to me like you kinda felt the same way anyways. I was simply saying what you 'wanted' someone to say right?
Sounds and looks like you did some heavy thinking on all that sway bar geometry. That's a whole-lotta shifting going on up there but I think you've got it covered well. Can't wait to see some stance shots once you've got it mocked back up Vic!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Didn't mean to toss any tools in the box there. The way you described plan "A" sounded to me like you kinda felt the same way anyways. I was simply saying what you 'wanted' someone to say right?
Sounds and looks like you did some heavy thinking on all that sway bar geometry. That's a whole-lotta shifting going on up there but I think you've got it covered well. Can't wait to see some stance shots once you've got it mocked back up Vic!

You're right, John. The decision to stuff everything in the bed was made very reluctantly. I needed a push to reconsider and not take the easy way out. You provided that and I appreciate it. The effort will be worth it in the end.

The sway bar deal has also been lurking in background ever since I got it. Never did like the way it attached, plus the ends weren't symmetric. So it got a makeover. The big unknown is how well the 7/16 rod ends will last. I had some 1/2" ones in a spare parts box, but they looked kinda big for the space. I don't autocross or off road my trucks, so hopefully these ends will stand up. If they don't, I'll dust off the 1/2 inchers and make them work somehow.

[Vic1947]

The Schrader valves arrived today, so the suspension is "working" in the most limited sense of the word. I do feel better seeing it down on the ground and rolling again. I'm in the process of reconfiguring the tank and compressor mounts. First step was to machine some tabs to go into the chromoly tubing that will support the tank. Right now, it's all just mocked up since I seem to change my mind every ten minutes or so. The compressors will mount inboard of the frame and forward of the shock crossmember. Doesn't look like I'll be able to use my trick little tank mount for the actuator, so it will have to be remade from scratch.

The resonators arrived today and true to form, the ID on the ends are about .010" too small to slip over my exhaust tubing. I'll have to use the expander on them. Made in China ...probably metric.

[Elliot949]

WOW!!!!... Now I have to get up there and see this again... but you could come here and bend some brake and fuel lines... LOL...

[Elliot949]

Dude... You need this Air Cleaner on top of that Engine...

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

WOW!!!!... Now I have to get up there and see this again... but you could come here and bend some brake and fuel lines... LOL...

Anytime you're in the area, Dan, be sure to drop by. You don't want me bending lines ...it takes me forever. It's so bad, I ordered most of my lines from Inline Tube. Even tweaking them to fit can send me around the bend.

Originally Posted by Elliot949

Dude... You need this Air Cleaner on top of that Engine...

Man, that's an oldie but a goodie! Looks like it came off a fifties fueler.

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Anytime you're in the area, Dan, be sure to drop by. You don't want me bending lines ...it takes me forever. It's so bad, I ordered most of my lines from Inline Tube. Even tweaking them to fit can send me around the bend.

Man, that's an oldie but a goodie! Looks like it came off a fifties fueler.

I would look really cool painted in the colors of your Engine...

[Xeen]

I'm on the edge of my seat, I can't wait to see how this turns out.

[swamp rat]

Vic what brand of resonators did you get? I saw the S S part i assume stainless.

[Low Elco]

I like the tank placement- that's a rarely used space. That air cleaner would look good. Dan needs to come up for the Nationals!

[mcbassin]

Very nice progress

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Vic what brand of resonators did you get? I saw the S S part i assume stainless.

Hey Mike, they're made by Vibrant Performance and I got them from Summit. They're the stainless bottle style with a 2.5" inlet and outlet and a 4" OD. They fit in the available space and are priced reasonably.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Hey Mike, they're made by Vibrant Performance and I got them from Summit. They're the stainless bottle style with a 2.5" inlet and outlet and a 4" OD. They fit in the available space and are priced reasonably.

Once i get my corvette replacement manifolds i'm going to have the muffler shop install some Flowmaster 70's and i also want to add resonators on ether side of the hitch on the straight out the back tail pipes. I may be persuaded away from Flowmaster but i want a pretty tame exhaust note, my hearing is bad enough as it is. I have Magnaflow on my DD and i like the note, but it resonates pretty badly. Thanks!

[jlsanborn]

Awesome!!!! Your photos are always a story in their own. My only charge for "advice" is a video of a nice burnout in front of the house.

[sduckworth13]

Vic, thank you for all the help your providing me on getting my engine rebuilt and letting me take up your weekend. I can't say thank you enough.

[Low Elco]

Thank you also for the fittings. I appreciate all the technical assistance and time.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Awesome!!!! Your photos are always a story in their own. My only charge for "advice" is a video of a nice burnout in front of the house.

I may need to find a less conspicuous place, John. Two KCPD officers on our block, one right next door to me.

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Vic, thank you for all the help your providing me on getting my engine rebuilt and letting me take up your weekend. I can't say thank you enough.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Thank you also for the fittings. I appreciate all the technical assistance and time.

No problem guys, it's a welcome break for me.

[Vic1947]

Since I last posted up a progress report, I've been mainly working on mounting the hardware for the air springs. I built a cradle for the air tank to position it between the two front cross sills under the floor of the bed. Then further back, I built another cross member to support the back of the panel I'll use for the solenoid valve assembly and the brain box. There's way too much wiring for the sensors and etc. so I'll probably end up using the top of the tray to store the excess out of the way.

I decided the mounting tray needed a bit of bling, so I got out my el-cheapo dimple dies and went to work. The dies are not meant to punch the hole and then form the edge like the nice Mittler Bros. ones, so I had to use hole saws to lay out the pattern. But that's a small inconvenience for such a low buck tool.