My 1st 68 panel

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by richard2717

Ok so if I "read'' this right the rear is 3:73 ratio. The ring gear 11-41 stamped on it. Everything looks good to my limited eyes so I will just clean up, reseal and refill.

Here is a chart on the ratios.

Rear Axle Ratios

Ratio 2.56:1 - Tooth Combination 41,16
Ratio 2.73:1 - Tooth Combination 41,15
Ratio 3.07:1 - Tooth Combination 43,14
Ratio 3.08:1 - Tooth Combination 40,13
Ratio 3.08:1 - Tooth Combination 37,12
Ratio 3.31:1 - Tooth Combination 43,13
Ratio 3.36:1 - Tooth Combination 37,11
Ratio 3.42:1 - Tooth Combination 41,12
Ratio 3.55:1 - Tooth Combination 39,11
Ratio 3.73:1 - Tooth Combination 41,11
Ratio 4.10:1 - Tooth Combination 41,10
Ratio 4.11:1 - Tooth Combination 37,9

The tooth combination numbers will be found stamped into the ring gear when you take the back cover off.

They may not all be for the trucks.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by richard2717

The speedometer cable connection is leaking on the transmission. Other than that the transmission is dry. How do I go about getting that to stop leaking?

.

There should be an "O" ring on the "Bullet" adapter that goes into the trans. Just replace that.

LockDoc

[richard2717]

Much appreciated Leon. Will give the o ring a peek today

Richard

[richard2717]

Just realized I used most of my POR 15 on the bobcat earlier this summer and forgot to get more. I had enough to do the rear diff. cover as well as one of the brake backing plates. Might have enough to do the other one but I always leave one side assembled for reference when I have not done it for a while.
Yesterday I ordered up my Moog front end parts, rear brake shoes, rear brake hose and a differential gasket from Rock auto. It said they would arrive middle of next week. I am not in a hurry for them and saved a few bucks. Last night surfing here in the reviews I came across a negative post on them and it had me worried (still might be on the rear hose) but all of it arrived on the FedEx truck today (except rear brake hose) and it was all exactly what I ordered, So I am happy about that.
Did not get much time to work on it today just basic clean up and painting of those two items. Tomorrow I will get the new wheel cyl. and brake assembly back together on that side and get the driver side torn down, cleaned and painted.

.

[richard2717]

Did not get much done today. Grandson came over and wanted so play, so that's what we did till he had to go home. Afterwards took Mama to dinner. It was a lot less humid when we got home from dinner so I went out and pulled a good set of trailing arms from under another burb sitting here so I can put them on the panel. The ones on it have some rust through. I bought a new set of bushings from another board member and they got here today. I have been dreading getting the old ones out based on all the stories I have read. Even the directions from Energy suspension recommend burning the old rubbers out. I did not want to go that route. I took my battery drill with 3/16" bit and drilled a slew of holes all the way around the metal inner sleeve to loosen up the rubber. Sat id sideways in the vise and used a socket and small sledge hammer to drive it out. Did both of them in less than 10 minutes with minimal mess, no damage to the arms and my nostrils still intact. Will try to get them cleaned up tomorrow, painted and new bushings installed but I will wait to install them until I find out if I am going to need lowering blocks. It will be nice to have them ready though. Saturday I plan to get the rest of the frame cleaned up and brake/ gas lines torn off so I can get it all painted along with the front cross member.






Earlier at lunch time I was able to get the brake assembly back together with all new parts on the side I painted yesterday. I also got the differential cover installed with new gasket and got the ds brakes removed. Ran out of time before I was able to get it cleaned up and painted. Will do that at lunch time tomorrow.

[Average Joe]

Nice work!

You are making up for lost time!!

[richard2717]

Got a little more done today. Got most of the frame wire wheeled. Still need to get into the tight spots with a straight wheel instead of the cup but arms were wore out lol.

Got driver side rear brake put all back together with new parts but somehow lost the little spring that goes on the brake adjuster arm. Never did find it so Ordered one from Napa but won't be here until Tuesday.

Took driveshaft out as well as the gas lines and took them to Napa as well. Having them install new Ujoints and carrier bearing and got new U straps for the rear joint. Since I am putting Stainless brake lines back on the truck I figure I might as well do the gas lines in stainless as well. The man I needed to talk to about doing that was not there today so they will contact me Monday with price for that. The guy today seemed to think it was a load more expensive so he wants me to ok cost before they do them.

Got 1st coat of Chassis saver paint on the front cross member as well as the front frame rails. Will let that dry overnight and put a 2nd coat on in the morning. Wanted to get all that while access was easier but will wait to paint the rest of the frame until later on. Hope to get cross member back in on Monday but we will see. Ordered quite a bit of new stuff that should be here next week as well. I would love to have it all back together next weekend and back on the ground.

Changing the rear gear and transmission oil to synthetic while I have it all drained. Also have to pop the speedo gear out of transmission to match up a new O ring. Hoping that will take care of that leak.

.

[richard2717]

Originally Posted by Average Joe

Nice work!

You are making up for lost time!!

Thanks It has been driving me crazy just watching it sit there. Can't afford to do everything I want but I plan to make it safe and a lot less rusty so I can drive it.

Richard

[richard2717]

Got the front cross member back up in place today with all new grade 8 hardware. I am assuming the guy that put this all together did not put the correct shock on it when he redid it all. The lack about 1.5" from opening far enough to catch both mounting bolts so I am going to say they are still stock springs. Luckily I have a new pair of stock springs here and will put them on once I paint the bottom of the cross member.

I also took the speedo gear out of the transmission and put a new Oring on that. I am hoping that is all the leak was but won't know until I get fluid back in it later on.

Too hot out to work on it right now. Humidity is so bad I was sweating thru my forearms and knuckles.

.

[richard2717]

I was going to pull my 67 parts truck in this morning and check out the trailing arms on it since I keep striking out on finding a decent driver side one but this ole girl changed my plans. She has a beautiful web covering the entire door opening so I left her and the truck alone. They are amazing to watch as long as they are not in the shop lol. If you look close in the 2nd pic you can see the full web where the gas tank would be all the way to the floor

.

[richard2717]

Stainless brake lines just showed up. Gotta get the frame finished up (clean & paint) before I can install. The stainless Fuel lines should be here by end of week as well

.

[Travisarmenta]

Originally Posted by richard2717

i was going to pull my 67 parts truck in this morning and check out the trailing arms on it since i keep striking out on finding a decent driver side one but this ole girl changed my plans. She has a beautiful web covering the entire door opening so i left her and the truck alone. They are amazing to watch as long as they are not in the shop lol. If you look close in the 2nd pic you can see the full web where the gas tank would be all the way to the floor

.

Nope.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by richard2717

Stainless brake lines just showed up. Gotta get the frame finished up (clean & paint) before I can install. The stainless Fuel lines should be here by end of week as well

.

Where did you find SS lines?
I bought them for Square bodies but Can’t find them for mine

[richard2717]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Where did you find SS lines?
I bought them for Square bodies but Can’t find them for mine

Found them at GMC Pauls, one of the vendors on here but they actually came from Inline tube. Have not put them on yet so can't say how accurate they are yet but hope to get to that on Saturday

http://www.gmcpauls.com/brake_lines_&_hoses.htm

[richard2717]

Got my new Stainless fuel lines back from Napa. They charged $75 for the pair and they look dead on. Hope to find out tomorrow.
They had to fix something on my driveshaft that ended up costing me a little over $100 in labor but for $200 total it is now balanced and has all new consumables. I will not put that in until I get the trailing arms changed out. I have one more parts truck here to check out for a good driver side arm and if it is no good I may have to resort to taking one off my longhorn (which I am trying to keep together).
All my new bushings are here for the trailing arms and the panhard bar as well.

[LockDoc]

-
Those Garden Spiders eat a lot of bugs. Some years we have quite a few of them and some years hardly any. Their web is really tough too. I wish they would eat mice....

Lookin' good on the progress. I always swap the whole X-member too. As far as the shocks you may be OK when you get the weight down on it but 1.5" is quite a bit......

LockDoc

[richard2717]

Thanks to Randy500 I can get the steering back together now. I needed a center link and he got one shipped to me reasonable.

I got the rear end dropped out of it yesterday so I could finish cleaning up the frame. Got one of my parts trucks pulled in and found a good DS trailing arm so got that pulled off, cleaned & painted. Got the panhard bar cleaned and painted. Got the spring cups removed and found the top ones were rotted so found a good set out in the parts truck.

The glass was getting bad in my blasting cabinet so I cut a new pc of clear plex and replaced it. Also found some of the stick on clear covers at Tractor supply Got about 4 pcs blasted and noticed my pressure dropping. Went over to the air controls and noticed the breaker was tripped. Went out to the compressor figuring the belt popped off again and jammed it enough to kick the breaker like last time. Nope, all looked good so I went back and reset the breaker. It kicked back off almost immediately. went over and unhooked power from motor and now breaker does not trip. Bad motor I guess. They just don't make things to last anymore. The compressor is fairly new, I purchased it from Snap On back in 86' New motor is about $350 so rather than spend my panel money on that I will drag the back up out of storage body and piggy back it in with the bad one until I can get the motor fixed. Will probably leave them both hooked up so it will give me 160 gallon capacity and two pumps when needed. I will set the pressure switches at different amounts so the one only comes on under heavy use.

[richard2717]

And this is why it is good to check your trailing arm U bolts every 50 years or so. The plan was to replace them anyway but I am glad that was the plan

.

[richard2717]

Got the rest of the rear end cleaned up and wire brushed. Cleaned & wire wheeled the rest of the frame toward the rear. Gonna try to get paint on it this evening while we have a cool spell. Gotta find a couple lower shock mounts that are in better shape than these and get them painted as well. I should have several sets floating around. While thats all drying will try to get the new bushings put in the newer trailing arms and the panhard bar. Maybe tomorrow I can get the rear end back together.

[richard2717]

SO it appears I am stuck with either stock rear springs or 4" lowering. I have been looking everywhere for something between 1&2'' drop and have found nothing for the Suburbans. I guess I will stick with stock I was just hoping to level out the back some. I did not want a bunch of drop. I already have 2" blocks for the rear and the front has 2'' spindles.

[richard2717]

Well need to get the panel off of the lift so I can get the wifes SUV on to replace dang fuel pump. Last night got the rear end all back up in it which leaves getting the steering components back on it then I can swap them out. Hoping the fuel pump won't take too long so I can get it back in the air. Good thing about snooping around in my stash was I was able to find MY NOS panhard bar. I still replaced the bushings in it with new Poly ones. That went way easier than the trailing arm bushings. All new grade 8 hardware & 2'' lowering blocks but still stock springs. Springs will be coming back out for either replacement or cleanup.

.

[CG]

Coming along nicely!

[richard2717]

got it back on the ground so I can get it back outside. Glad I did not go with any lowering spring in the rear, from the tape measure it is already sitting 1'' lower than the front. May have to drop the front an inch or just put a little taller tire on back.

Richard

[richard2717]

When I measured the back of the truck at the wheel openings I am a 1/2" difference from side to side. I assume one spring has a little bit of sag. I found a deal on some new moog stock height springs today for $80 shipped so went ahead and got them. I was dreading blasting the old ones anyway so this should simplify everything. Actually glad I need to pull them back out since I forgot to put the thick washer back on the new lower coil spring retaining bolt anything done is better than not doing anything (like i have since 2011 with this one)

[richard2717]

While I await other parts to come in I figured I would spend today gutting the interior up front. It had aftermarket seats (with custom mount blocks) which had to go, badly faded carpet as well as a Herman Munster goes to war shifter. All of that is removed so that I can attend to the few spots in the floor that have been badly butchered by others. I have come to the conclusion that they were unaware you could A) use metal to do repairs correctly and B) if you are going to use body filler, you do NOT have to mix and use the entire 5 gallon tub. It looks like they just poured it in the DS rocker panel as it was almost completely full of filler. Then they poured it all over the top of the rocker and ever so gently mad a sweeping curve up to the top of the gasket pinch and slapped some paint over it. Surprising part is the floor is not in very bad shape. Once I did manage to get to the bits of metal they (ahem) welded in I understood why they top coated it all in filler

.