What did you do with your truck today, Part 3

[mick53]

I started working on my turn signals and cruise for my 53. The turn signal mech is from a tri five apache. The cruise is Dakota Digital. I had a slight fitment problem on the cruise control handle. I practiced on an old one I had to see if it would work. I milled it square and flat. I then filed groves in the mech 1 molecule at a time. I sliced a 1/4-20 bolt to fill the void at the bottom and installed a screw in the top. It works amazingly well. Tight fit and no slop. Sometimes I get lucky. The hardest part was turning my mill upside down.

[mikebte]

Front springs installed. I may need to change shocks as they are close to the compression limit. Bump stops removed as they were very close.
Rides nice. Next to install the rear and align my steering wheel.

[nvrdone]

mikebte: what steering box are you using?

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by mikebte

Front springs installed. I may need to change shocks as they are close to the compression limit. Bump stops removed as they were very close.
Rides nice. Next to install the rear and align my steering wheel.

Steering wheel alignment should be easy with that turnbuckle on the drag link!

[Black_Sheep]

Adjusted the wiper linkage so the transmissions wouldn’t go over center and dismantled the passenger side door to diagnose the short in the solenoid for the shaved door handle. Discovered the solenoid has a dead short. I ordered a new one and put the door back together so I can use my truck in the meantime...

[Black_Sheep]

Duplicate post

[mikebte]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

mikebte: what steering box are you using?

CPP steering box. Had to make the stock steering box hole a small amount bigger for it to clear. Works nice!

One more leaf down and one to go, plus the parts I ordered for some other stuff found along the way. But almost have the springs done.

[mick53]

I finished rebuilding my turn signal mech. and installed the cruise control handle I altered. I blasted it with a fine Garnet. I'm still surprised at how well the handle fits.

[mikebte]

Finished the drop springs. Had to remove the bump stops all the way around. Rear seems to clear but I'll need to change the sway bar location a bit. Front kits the frame if not careful, I'll most likely make a front shackle that's a little longer and it should resolve the issue.
Loaded up all my scrap in the back and it squats a bit. Ride is much better and that was the goal.

[MARTINSR]

Damn you guys are getting some cool stuff done, can't wait to get back to mine!

Brian

[mikebte]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Damn you guys are getting some cool stuff done, can't wait to get back to mine!

Brian

I can't wait for you to get back to yours ether, I have enjoyed watching your 5 minutes a day. After all, your build convinced me to stay leaf spring and It does ride nice.

[mick53]

[QUOTE=mikebte;8729252]I can't wait for you to get back to yours ether, I have enjoyed watching your 5 minutes a day. After all, your build convinced me to stay leaf spring and It does ride nice.[
I'm also keeping my leaf springs. Check this guy out on leaf springs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7rCGda4Ab8

[mikebte]

[quote=mick53;8729578]

Originally Posted by mikebte

I can't wait for you to get back to yours ether, I have enjoyed watching your 5 minutes a day. After all, your build convinced me to stay leaf spring and It does ride nice.[
I'm also keeping my leaf springs. Check this guy out on leaf springs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7rCGda4Ab8

That is very cool, even running the inline 6 and straight up killing the LS runners on the track. Always. Enjoy stuff like this, people using creativity and enjoying the car.

[mick53]

[quote=mikebte;8729733]

Originally Posted by mick53

That is very cool, even running the inline 6 and straight up killing the LS runners on the track. Always. Enjoy stuff like this, people using creativity and enjoying the car.

I love the sound of an angry inline 6.

[mikebte]

Well I had ordered new shackles with my leaf springs from the usual scum bags only to find out they were unable to get shackles from the supplier. Since I am a rather impatient person I installed the new springs without them only to find out the original shackles were in fantastic shape. Asides from 7 of the 16 original seals had gone MIA, the new bushings in the leafs fit the old pins nice.
As they are in such good shape I ordered 16 replacement seals and just installed them on the old shackles.

Since I was at it I also started taking off the tie rods for new boots as the 6 year old boots are gone from the Arizona heat. Poly will be filling the void.

[mick53]

Haven't got much done this weekend, a few hours of polishing. I have a 12" X 36" lathe coming tomorrow So I have to make room and run 220v over there.

[idbeast]

Last week the wife wanted to go for a ride in the 56, so we started driving and the front fenders started dragging on the tires, (77 nova front clip) so I took it home and went down and picked up some 1" spacers to put in the coils, it didn't help at all. So I dug out the new 1 1/2" lowering springs that came with tubular control arms I bought, and installed them, the front end sat even lower then when I started, so I took off my 2" drop spindles and put the stock one back on. Now it rides great without rubbing!

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by idbeast

Now it rides great without rubbing!

Looks pretty darn good too!

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by miraclepieco

looks pretty darn good too!

x2

[nvrdone]

nice stance. looks like it should be a great driver. especially with this weekend's weather in Seattle.

[nvrdone]

so today I made some great progress on my power drum brake conversion. for those of you who have helped with ideas, thanks much.
I was talking with a friend who owns, at last count, 38 Buicks of all models, classics and hot rods. Anyway, he suggested that I check the clearance between the push rod from the brake pedal to the booster & said it should be about 1/8 - 1/4" just so there was no pressure on the shoes. I checked & mine was almost 1". adjusted that & got a big improvement. he also said that on manual brakes the pedal ratio should be 6:1 and on power it should be 4:1. I checked mine and it was at 6:1. I was able to drill another hole in the lower arm & get 5:1 which again helped pedal travel. at this point the pedal travel feels much better but may need more work. tomorrow I will test drive it. wish me luck.

[Mains52]

I managed to make boxing plates and weld them into the rear area of my frame where my 4 link will be.

[mick53]

I spent most of the day making a place for the new lathe but I received the rest of my fasteners for the thermostat housing on the 292.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by mick53

I spent most of the day making a place for the new lathe but I received the rest of my fasteners for the thermostat housing on the 292.

While ot thought i'd mention that if many lathes of that size need ample access behind them. Some with rear electrical controls need a foot or so. Many realize it too late.

[nvrdone]

test drove the truck today & brakes feel better, but still not 100%. pedal has more travel than I would like. feels like there is still air in the brake lines so Friday im taking it to a friend's shop for a look see and to bleed the brakes. so at least im making progress