Project: Custom 71 4x4 hotrod

[msgross]

That Harbor Freight gun works pretty well doesn't it? I just used mine to clear coat my kitchen cabinets....

[silver7]

Yes, it's not too shabby for a cheap gun. A LVLP gun would be nice but this works for me with the little bit of painting I'm doing.

[silver7]

Unfortunately I am not a very good painter yet. Although the calipers turned out well, I had a few bags on my black brake caliper brackets so I wet sanded, hit it with a red scratch pad and will repaint soon. I could have left them as is but my obsessive compulsive side wouldn't allow that. The week long sinus infection and third week of rain, snow and ice hasn't helped speed things along either.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice progress and great job painting your parts!

[silver7]

Things have been crazy lately but I've been able to get a lot of research and some work done.

Changed my mind on my transmission, again. After a lot of research I decided to go with a NV4500 out of a 93 4X4 that should arrive next week. Thanks to Big Mike for turning me on to the idea a while back. Really like how much better it will match my powertrain and enable me to take it on long highway trips if needed. Also dig how the NV4500 tail shaft direct matches directly with a late model round 6 bolt pattern NP205 versus the early model NP205 figure 8 bolt pattern I have now. They are hard to find at a decent price because of this reason so the search is still ongoing. No AA adapter for me, thank you very much.

The pic shows the progress I made on my front end. Driver's side is complete with only about an hour's work left on the passenger side. Once I get some tall jack stands I'll get my front tires mounted and finally have a pseudo rolling chassis.

I probably set my pinion depth and backlash close to ten times and took the hub apart and put it back together 5 times for different reasons but I sure know my truck now. It was a lot of time and money but the effort is finally starting to pay off. I must say it was overwhelming at first, and I made more than my share of mistakes but it was all worth it.

[freakshow108]

I told you so, yours is going to be so bad$%&, and it is actually already there! She sure is looking nice brother, keep up the good work, i need your build to keep my brain sharp.

[silver7]

Originally Posted by freakshow108

I told you so, yours is going to be so bad$%&, and it is actually already there! She sure is looking nice brother, keep up the good work, i need your build to keep my brain sharp.

We are certainly motivating each other but I do appreciate the kind words. I'm just trying to keep up with you my friend.

[MTCK]

That's going to look slick once the calipers go on! I think you'll really like the OD trans - I know I wish I had one...

[silver7]

Originally Posted by MTCK

That's going to look slick once the calipers go on! I think you'll really like the OD trans - I know I wish I had one...

Thanks and I agree. That bright red will stand out great against the black and carbon fiber metallic. I hope I can see some red in between my rim spokes.

[msgross]

cool

[Conroe trucker]

I hope you have better luck with your steering box than I have.
Still working the bugs out of that thing.

When you going to hang some sheetmetal?

Chassis and axles look great.

[silver7]

Originally Posted by Conroe trucker

I hope you have better luck with your steering box than I have.
Still working the bugs out of that thing.

When you going to hang some sheetmetal?

Chassis and axles look great.

I hope to dig into the steering box soon. Did you get a new one or keep the original?

Hopefully I can be in some sheet metal by spring.

[silver7]

After getting both my front hubs finally installed I tried to mount my wheels and discovered the new wheel studs from LMC are too short. Unfortunately, they protrude from the hub about 1.75" - the same thickness of my rim. The lugs in the photo barely grab the stud. Do any of you guys know where I can buy some wheel studs which will work with Dana 44 set-ups (knurl is offset so that the press fit is with outer the hub assembly instead of the inner rotor) and aftermarket/thicker rims?

I probably need around 2.75" long 7/16" 20RH studs (wheel mounting surface to end of the stud) with the offset knurl.

[silver7]

With some help Rennat 2006 I think I found my solution -mag style lugs. Ordered them tonight off Amazon after finding them on www.summitracing.com (cheaper and shipping was free). If anyone is looking for a deal on some acorn style 7/16" RH Gorilla Lugs and locks I'm your guy.

Got a great deal on the ultra-low 6.34-1 granny gear NV4500 out of a 93 Chevy last week and received it Thursday. Also found an even better deal on a 6 bolt pattern NP205 transfer case from of a 87 one ton this week. The pics show how this combo is a direct bolt on versus needing a $900 Advance Adapter if I was use my other figure 8 bolt style NP205 instead. They both need some TLC but I planned to rebuild the NP205 anyways. The black/red NV4500 and NP205 photo is similar to what I think I will do with mine- minus the twin stick.

[1985-GMC]

Nice score on the nv4500 and round 205!

[silver7]

[QUOTE=silver7;4500919]With some help Rennat 2006 I think I found my solution -mag style lugs. Ordered them tonight off Amazon after finding them on www.summitracing.com (cheaper and shipping was free). If anyone is looking for a deal on some acorn style 7/16" RH Gorilla Lugs and locks I'm your guy. QUOTE]

Unfortunately, these new lugs did not work either. : I've come to the realization I am going to need to bore my wheel stud holes to accept the 0.685" diameter shank style lug nuts if I go this route versus longer wheel studs. But even if I do that they may not protrude far enough from the rim to be able to grab them with a socket. censored: At this point if I could buy some longer wheel studs I would. But I've searched far and wide and have yet to find a longer wheel stud in 7/16" 20 RH with the offset or very long knurl. The problem appears to be that my OEM studs have an offset knurl about 1/2" or so deep into the stud where it is a press fit with the hub assembly which fits inside the front rotor.

Anyone know where I can find some long wheel studs to replace the OEM studs with the offset knurl in this pic? Something in the 2 1/2 -3" long range would be desireable.

[silver7]

Got my steering gear, adjusting sleeve, pitman arm, steering knuckle, tie rod and front diff cover installed. I think I may have a clearance issue with the tie rod and front diff cover so I did not torque everything to spec yet but you get the idea.

Still need to get off my rear and order some custom U-bolts from totally stainless for my brackets so I can get my dual steering stabilizer put on as well. NP205 should be here by Monday.

Inline Tube stainless brake lines, custom aluminum fuel tank from Boyd Welding, and NP205 cleaning and rebuild are next on the list - I think.

[1985-GMC]

You may need a drop pitman arm to get the drag link as close to level as possible, but I wouldn't worry about it until you have all the weight on the suspension.

Everything looks great!

[silver7]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

You may need a drop pitman arm to get the drag link as close to level as possible, but I wouldn't worry about it until you have all the weight on the suspension.

Everything looks great!

Thanks, I'll definitely take a look at that when the time comes.

[my67chevytruck]

nice progress.

[silver7]

NP205 arrived Monday. Exterior looks a little rough but I plan to take it apart so I can rebuild it. Before I do I'll send the case to get sandblasted for epoxy primer, base and clear.

No luck with a definite solution to my wheel stud issue. Called ARP and their special order department seems to think there is replacement in a 1/2" variety they can sell me. They also said it would be about $1K to special make me a special set. . . Although not perfect I like the 1/2" option better. Unfortunately, I'll still have to pay about $12 per stud and redrill my hubs and my rotors to accept a larger knurl.

Also just purchased an aluminum fuel tank from David Boyd at www.boydwelding.com. He is having one of his group buys and I took advantage of the great deal.

[freakshow108]

DUDE! Updates please, i need you to get your tank and fuel lines in, you are my guinea pig for this part of the project!

[BLAZERMAN]

You should be able to find a 1/2" wheel stud that is long enough and has the right knurl size to fit your rotors...the 7/16" you have now necks down. I did this years ago on a 72 Blazer that I ran 35"s on and wanted the the bigger wheel studs. Tell your parts counter guy to show you his Dorman catalog, then go into the back where it lists the studs by size instead of application.

[silver7]

I've been really swamped with work, school (pursuing PhD in Forest Biomaterials at NC State) and basketball/baseball (my son) so no time for the truck lately.

I've been through numerous wheel studs and lug nuts but I think I may have a combination that works. The stud on the left is the ARP set ($65+ for a set of 5) and it was too long. The middle stud is a Dorman stud and the only one I could find long enough with an offset knurl. The right stud is what's on my truck now. The lug nut is the longest I could find that takes a special socket and I think it will work with the Dorman stud. Now I need to remove the hubs I worked so hard to install so I can drill the rotors and hubs to accept the new studs. What a kick in the balls. . . But at this point I'm ready to move past this unexpected set back.

My Boyd Welding fuel tank arrived earlier this week and looks great from the little bit I have seen it. One I get everything out of the box and mounted I'll post some photos.

Hopefully I can order my fuel and brake lines next month.

For you hardworking folks out there who believe in US manufacturing my employer Mannington put together this video to promote keeping jobs in the USA. Mannington is a 4th generation family owned company who produces high quality flooring here in the US. I am blessed that Mannington hired me out of the Army in 2002 and I'm currently a Technical Manager at our Wood Flooring Plant in High Point, NC. If you have 2 min to spare check it out and let me know what you think.

Mannington: Lets Makes Some Noise

Shawn

[my4by2]

Build's lookin great man - keep the pics coming!!! Anxious to see how this one turns out!