58 Fleetside

[Tchia65]

Thanks guys. I'm trying. I'm hoping to get it fired soon, maybe a few trips up to L.A. to shake out the bugs before I head east in April. Hoping to get some lines bent this week. Still need to figure out the throttle, some wiring, and the master cylinder situation.

[Tchia65]

Started getting the big pieces back in. Made up the lines from the compressors to tank, tank to valves, valves to back bags, and the pressure and return lines to the engine.

[Kim57]

Wow that's a lot of plumbing. Looks real nice.
Kim

[Tchia65]

lol. I like a lot of plumbing. Still need to clamp everything up.

[upon1]

Where did you get your fuel cell? what kind is it?

[GhostTown]

So far your plumbing looks GREAT. What is your opinion on the Ride Tech stuff so far? Is it going together easily?

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by upon1

Where did you get your fuel cell? what kind is it?

It's a summit cell. They have powder coated in the same size. 20 gallon, was like $200 bucks.

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by GhostTown

So far your plumbing looks GREAT. What is your opinion on the Ride Tech stuff so far? Is it going together easily?

I like them. I had Airride on a dually before this. Their stuff is not the fastest by far, but they have been reliable. Plus I wanted digital control, and automatic presets. The only gripe I have with them is the wiring is way too long for my application. I'm looking for the right pins so I can shorten the harnesses.

[Kabwe]

Looking great my friend, looking really great.

[ChuckDriver]

Nice work!!

[upon1]

The tank has an 8an fittinings coming out right? what size of lines did you use for your feed and return lines? Are your air lines just aluminum fuel line?

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by upon1

The tank has an 8an fittinings coming out right? what size of lines did you use for your feed and return lines? Are your air lines just aluminum fuel line?

The tank does have 8AN. Two in the sump, one on the left, and one on the right thats actually a vent. The feed is 8AN to the prefilter, and the pump, then 6AN through the post filter to the motor. The return is 6AN from the motor all the way back except for the last bit were it goes to hose. I didn't have enough room to reduce it to 6AN on top of the tank so it 8AN. The air lines are 4AN stainless. I hate working with aluminum, it cracks too easily if it's heat treated wrong. I couldn't bring myself to use the plastic line that came in my kit, been working on aircraft too long I guess.

[Tchia65]

Thanks for the compliments, I plan on tearing it down next winter for paint, but as of right now I'm just freaking out since I'm planning on driving it too Rhode Island in eight weeks. I brought my bed home to raise the floor here while the auto hobby shop is closed. Started working on it tonight but ran out of gas. built the back brace out of 2x2 and 1x3 so it mirrored the stock rear sill and give my a standard lip to mount my wood too. I'll get some more gas tomorrow, but for most of the rest I just plan on using 1x1 angle and maybe stretching the wheel tubs. Also thinking of building some 16x18x22 storage boxes into the floor of the rear corners.

[sgtusmc]

WOW... fricken outstanding!

[Tchia65]

Thanks SGT, I like yours too.

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Looking great my friend, looking really great.

I saw your post about your complaining neighbors and no car guys around you. I'm from Bellflower, stationed in San Diego.

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by Tchia65

Thanks guys. I'm trying. I'm hoping to get it fired soon, maybe a few trips up to L.A. to shake out the bugs before I head east in April. Hoping to get some lines bent this week. Still need to figure out the throttle, some wiring, and the master cylinder situation.

WOW Good luck on the trip, time flys it will be April before you know it. You got a full plate. Project lookin' good.

[Tchia65]

Got a little more done on the bed raising tonight. Not really a bed anymore, more like an open trunk. Also finally found a master cylinder that should work, and dropped of my pieces to get a drive shaft made. Need to go to the junkyard but it's supposed to rain.

[hotrod1]

How far is your engine from your firewall?

[Tchia65]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

How far is your engine from your firewall?

I put it as far back as I could without making canted standoffs hanging off the back of the cross member. I'd say I have 1.5 to 2' from the back of the intake to the firewall. I modified the mounts from No Limit, shortened them, beefed them up a little and clearanced the drivers side for the rack input and mounted them as far back as I could while still on the flat portion of them member.

[Tchia65]

Slow progress this week. Trying to take care of some of the small stuff. Airlines are done. Still need to clamp most of them. Steam line, driveshaft, battery box installed. Started with the wiring, but the PO was not a genius... Got the Instrument panel installed, two gauges lights are different colors, not sure how that happened. Wish I had access to my truck more than 20 hours a week.

[troy54gmc]

Hey Tchia what year explorer did you pull your rear axle out of? i just picked one up for my truck. i got it from a 95 explorer. When you welded your four link on what degree did you set pinoin angle at? oh ya sweet build man.

[Tchia65]

Thanks man. Ah if I remember right it was a 99 explorer. 3:73 limited slip. I do my pinion angle different than some on the board. I level the truck front to back and side to side. Measure what angle to the drive train is at. 3 degrees down is what I sent mine at and is pretty standard. Then put the rear on jack stands at ride height and strap it into the brackets. Then tilt the rear to your desired angle 2 degrees up in my case. I always split the difference by 1 degree, some would go 3 up since the drive train is 3 down. I split to compensate for axle deflection on hard acceleration, also real helpful to do it that way for leaf springs since they will deflect a lot more than 1 degree. Ask around you'll get more than one opinion.

[Tchia65]

SHE LIVES!!! I took a video of the Fleetside finally running but the forum says my upload is missing a security token? Still need to install the front sheet metal, make my exhaust, plumb and bleed the brakes, power wires to the fans and my airbag computer and stereo wiring, but she starts. The steering was installed but with any kind of input the wheel would start thrashing back and forth. Either I hooked up the hoses backwards or that is one hell of a "twitch" from the T-bird rack & pinion.

[Tchia65]

http://www.facebook.com/video/video....54966404560588