Project "Funky Monkey"

[funkytechmonkey]

I got the rearend blasted on the outside...



I hadnt opened the rear housing yet to find a big surprise. Opened her up and here is what I got. It had no oil in it for many years.


The gears were rusted together. This is just my luck. I didnt know anything about what to look for when I bought the axel so it was a learning curve. I will know what to look for next time. I am buying new gears and having the inside of the housing blasted. So I believe I will still be able to use it.



I took the axel housing and the gears to get dipped at a local radiator shop. It cleaned up the gears pretty well but didnt do much for the housing. Here is a pic of the pitting in the 373 gear..... shame...




Here is the frame blasted and primed.


This is what I used to prime and seal it. Adding the trigger to it was the best idea I had. It made things easier and it sprayed perfect.


I was debating on going with the gloss or the flat. I choose gloss.


I got the spindles painted.


All my front suspension came in. Its funny how the UPS guy now comes in the garage to see my progress.

[funkytechmonkey]

Frame all primed up and ready to cut my notches for the rack and pinion


This is my VERY FIRST welding job ever! I was kinda proud of myself. I had a good teacher.


The finished welding project.






Started painting up the frame.




The frame turned out really nice.

[funkytechmonkey]

Rear suspension is back from powdercoat........ What do you guys think about the blue??









Just laid this in there as a teaser to see how it looked.

[-sean-]

I would strongly recommend NOT getting the inside of the diff housing media blasted. It is unnecessary and very well may do more harm than good.

Been watching your build, good stuff!

[funkytechmonkey]

The guy that is doing my blasting also builds cars. I talked to him about it for a while and we talked about that. For example, the places where the berings go. He said he will be able to mask them off. Inside the axel tubing and the bell housing was rusted really bad, big chips of rust and a ton of surface rust.

Why would it be a bad idea, I really would like to know.

And thanks for the compliment.... Its kinda cool to know people are watching my build. I look up to a ton of guys on this forum and its really awesome to see them comment on my thread.

[67cheby]

looking good man !!

[Hduramax]

nice looking build, like your set up, keep up the good work, I will keep an eye on this build,just getting started on mine also

[mjensen]

Looks like we have some stuff in common here...I was a Sys Admin for 10 years (now an IT Director), this is my first rebuild, and they're both GMCs

Progress looks great! Can't wait to see your progress on the bodywork.

[funkytechmonkey]

Ive done a little bit since my last post. I ended up getting the rear end dipped at a radiator shop and that didnt help one bit. that was a waist of $60. I took the rear end to my media blaster and he said he should be able to clean it up nice without distroying anything. So thats the route I went. It looks super awesome and its all together with the POSi, 373 gears and new 5 lug axels. Here are a few pics of the work Ive been doing.

[butternut1972]

Frame is looking good. Nice job.

[funkytechmonkey]

thanks man...

some more pics of the goodies laying around waiting to be put on.

[67cheby]

LOOKING great man...those Wilwoods look sweet

[oldman3]

Caught your build today, nice job on everything so far, will keep watching for updates....Jim

[lolife99]

Great Job!

[David67]

I like it!

[sgaylord]

Subscribed!

[funkytechmonkey]

Thanks guys!

I am hoping to get it sitting on some wheels here soon. Its going to be a good feeling to see it rolling.

I dont know if I have mentioned this or not but I did the mild notch and the dropmember so it will give it a nice clean lowered look and I wanted to do the rack n pinion. But I have no desire to lay frame with it. I am going with a set of factory spindles to keep it from slaming on the ground. I havent seen it done on here yet, so I am really excited to see how the stance turns out.

Making the decision to go with the mild notch and dropmember defiantly had its disadvantages. For example you can see the two rotors (front and rear) are different colors. Thats because I ordered the Wilwood rear kit from Summit, that came directly from Wilwood, and I ordered the front break/spindle kit from a different company. They use a facotory spindle and machine it so the wilwood caliper will fit on there with a 12" rotor. They look SICK!. I love this front kit.

To use the wilwood front kit I would have to go with a CPP drop spindle bc they only offer a 13" rotor w/ 6 piston caliper. No on offers a 13" rotor on a factory spindle. Reason being.... a 13" rotor will not clear the factory spindle in addition to the caliper mount on the factory spindle will get in your way. CPPs spindles remove the factory caliper mounts allowing you to make a custom mount for your caliper so you can use a bigger rotor. The spindles and break kit I bought from *** allows a 12" rotor and the Wilwood 4 piston caliper. They have to machine out the factory caliper mount to allow the wilwood caliper to fit. It looks awesome and really glad I found these. Ill post up some links later on if anyone wants them.

Im sure most machanically inclined people understand all this... so I posted the info for the rookies like myself to understand.

[hdzammo]

Love the work
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[fastcam1]

Gonna be one sick rig!!!! Nice job wish I had your kind of budget
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[alwaysbroken]

words can not describe how good that looks! wicked work.

[funkytechmonkey]

Originally Posted by fastcam1

Gonna be one sick rig!!!! Nice job wish I had your kind of budget
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Thanks... You know. I really have been planning this out pretty well and staying on a MONTHLY budget, along with selling a few things around the house that I never use anymore (example, xbox 360, ps3...) and using those for my "Truck Fund". The wife hasnt complained one bit. Plus...It has helped me stop being so lazy and get out and work on my truck. LOL

Im a lucky man when it comes to my wife, We were budgeting the other day and SHE SAID "Dont forget we need to budget for your gas and break lines since you just got your tank". She is pretty awesome!

Originally Posted by alwaysbroken

words can not describe how good that looks! wicked work.

I am really liking how it has turned out too. That blue is an awesome color. It took me foreeeeevvver to pick it out. The frame is just rattle canned and I was really surprised at how clean it look. Thanks for the kind words!!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

For being a rookie it looks like your doing a great job.. I dig the black frame rails with blue powder on the rest of the chassis items.. What ever happened with the rear shock mount I see its coated so it must have been resolved/...

[72BlckButy]

Great looking project, keep at it!

What are your wheel options?

[funkytechmonkey]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

For being a rookie it looks like your doing a great job.. I dig the black frame rails with blue powder on the rest of the chassis items.. What ever happened with the rear shock mount I see its coated so it must have been resolved/...

The shock mount bar came up exactly 1/2" short and Nate (porterbuilt) sent me new tubular crossmembers for the rear. So I yanked out the old xmembers, put in the new ones and everything lined up perfect. I have no idea why my frame would be 1/2" wider. Kinda odd.

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Great looking project, keep at it!

What are your wheel options?

Those are secret... lol. I am going to try and do something no one else has done. (or atleast I havent seen it done) Truthfully.. I havent made up my mind yet. I will let you guys know when I figure it out.

[funkytechmonkey]

Today I actually got a few more things done that I have been dying to finish up. The rear suspension is complete. I hope to finish up the front this weekend or atleast get the gas tank mounted. I'll post up some pics tonight. Im pretty excited about the rear suspension being complete.
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