"Dixie" 1988 Chevrolet V30 3+3 Dually

[focusedontheprize]

While I was bleeding the brakes and felt like the rears were not grabbing. I put the rear end up in the air and confirmed that was the case. I pulled the rear drums and the insides were shot. It looks like the wheel cylinders had been leaking for quite some time.

[focusedontheprize]

I put an order in for all new everything - shoes, hardware, cylinders, etc. I really enjoy working on clean materials, so while I had everything stripped to the backing plates I freshened up the inside and ran emory cloth over the axle where the bearings ride.

Much better.

[focusedontheprize]

The new hardware showed up and we installed it in the middle of the day here in Texas. 99 degrees and a little bit of sweat does the truck good? No, that is not right. Well at least everything went in without a hitch.

[focusedontheprize]

This weekend I did not get as much done as I was hoping for, the temperatures here in Texas have been insane for October.

The transmission had a small leak that kept dripping on the driveway. After examining the pan, I found the leak was coming from around the kickdown case switch. The truck had an aftermarket B&M pan on it with a drain plug, so it made the oil change a little bit easier and cleaner. The new switch arrived from Summit within 2 days, I am always amazed on how quick their standard shipping is. I picked up two new o-rings and installed the new switch. Changed out the filter, installed the new gasket, and filled up the pan.

When I bought the truck I noticed I was missing 2 cab mount bolts so the cab was never fully bolted down to the frame. The rubber mounts had seen better days so I decided to upgrade to polyurethane mounts while I was swapping them out. I replaced the shims, bottom cups, and the bolts. With everything snugged down, the cab rides so much nicer.

[focusedontheprize]

I have not touched the exterior yet. I am hoping to get to it this fall with the machine to see if I can buff out the dullness. The wheels and tires made a huge difference though.

[Shifty One]

I think that I love this truck....

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by Shifty One

I think that I love this truck....

Thanks Shifty, Dixie is getting there to how I envision her.

[focusedontheprize]

Friday I came home from work and realized that those step nerf bars needed to go. I really do love my Milwaukee sawzall. I can get into the truck without a problem, however I will pick up a small step stool for the wife until I get the AMP Research Powersteps installed.

[focusedontheprize]

This weekend was a quick check off project. When they installed the rear lift kit they had an issue with the Sulastic shackles, so we did not install them.

This weekend I re-torqued u bolts and trimmed them to size. After that was done, I moved to the rear shackles that were shot. After a little massaging with the angle grinder, the shackles fit great. I scuffed everything done quickly with a green Scotch pad and sprayed the rear end to clean everything up a little more with color. Eventually I am going to pull the rear end for an overhaul so that is for another day.

[focusedontheprize]

Rear axle look a little better with some light coats of paint. The OEM shackles were shot, so hopefully we will see a little improvement in the ride.

[focusedontheprize]

Tuned the motor today. The truck was running a little rough when I bought it. Timed the motor, adjusted the primary squirter, and dialed in the fast cam.

[focusedontheprize]

My next project is trying to locate where the slop is coming from in the steering wheel column. The truck has a brand new steering box (Redhead steering box) and steering shaft (Jeep XJ upgrade). I still have a small bit of play in the steering wheel side to side before getting a good positive response to the steering.

I have made adjustments to the sector shaft using the adjuster on top, but there is still slop in the wheel. I also have clamped the pitman arm and found the slop exists from where the shaft connects to the gearbox up to the steering wheel.

I am trying to see if there are any other areas I should check on where I might have wear causing this?

[bigdaddy4x4]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

My next project is trying to locate where the slop is coming from in the steering wheel column. The truck has a brand new steering box (Redhead steering box) and steering shaft (Jeep XJ upgrade). I still have a small bit of play in the steering wheel side to side before getting a good positive response to the steering.

I have made adjustments to the sector shaft using the adjuster on top, but there is still slop in the wheel. I also have clamped the pitman arm and found the slop exists from where the shaft connects to the gearbox up to the steering wheel.

I am trying to see if there are any other areas I should check on where I might have wear causing this?

i hope you can find out some more info about your steering i have done changed the steering gears on my 77 k3500 crew cab 3 different times 2 times with brand new napa steering gears with no luck getting rid of the slop side to side in my steering the last gear i put on was a used one off 85 m1008 its tighter than the 2 napa gears i have put on both of the new napa gears and had heavy steering the used 85 one turns a lot easyer but still the slop is it . i am gona take out the steering colum of the 85 and take it a part to see where the slop, is coming from

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy4x4

i hope you can find out some more info about your steering i have done changed the steering gears on my 77 k3500 crew cab 3 different times 2 times with brand new napa steering gears with no luck getting rid of the slop side to side in my steering the last gear i put on was a used one off 85 m1008 its tighter than the 2 napa gears i have put on both of the new napa gears and had heavy steering the used 85 one turns a lot easyer but still the slop is it . i am gona take out the steering colum of the 85 and take it a part to see where the slop, is coming from

I have been researching around and seeing where others had found their slop issues to lie. The majority of people I have found have lived with it, however since everything is new (except the steering column) I am adamant to find it, so I will report back what I find.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

I have been researching around and seeing where others had found their slop issues to lie. The majority of people I have found have lived with it, however since everything is new (except the steering column) I am adamant to find it, so I will report back what I find.

This is my observation as well. I had already replaced the TRE's, BJ's & control arm bushings on my dually. Recently I did the steering box, pitman & XJ steering shaft swap. The 'play' to me is not much but still present. But, if the truck is off & in park (auto trans), I feel the 'play' is equal to or not much more than the movement a locked column has when everything is off.

I'll definitely keep watching to see if you come up w/additional ideas.

[MTCK]

Nice clean project! Appreciate the detail documenting your upgrades. My crew can needs a steering box...

[focusedontheprize]

Thanks everyone.

@SCOTI and MTCK - The steering slop for the moment is not bad at all (again me wanting to perfect it). I am shifting it out to a future date.

Today was a bit of a waste of the day. Went to go look at some parts and found they were junk. So I end up coming home at adjusted the idle fast cam. Tomorrow is another day.

[FoxCustom]

Axles and brakes are looking great!!!! Looks like a very solid, big dually!

[calvin78612]

Just read thru your thread. Great looking truck ! Makes me want to get back on mine but may be to cold to degrease/ clean engine bay today ! Love it ! Keep up the build thread, It's great motivation.

[focusedontheprize]

@FoxCustom: Thank you sir, your build is one I follow closely and am looking forward to seeing updates on.

@Calvin78612: Texas weather in incredible, it is high 70s one day and then high 30s the next. I am happy to hear the updates are motivating as I feel others builds here are incredibly motivating to me. Just trying to add to the family here.

Back to the updates...

[focusedontheprize]

I have been in between keeping a drop bumper on the truck (sourced a brand new one that I have in storage) or going with a sport style bumper. After seeing other dually setups with it and speaking with SCOTI I end up placing the order with LMC for the bumper and brackets.

The UPS and FedEx guys are now on a first name basis with me.


I began to drop the rear drop bumper and noticed that someone had done some "modifications" in the rear. It looks like maybe at one time someone had welded a rear hitch on the back and then cut it off. In doing this, they also welded over the holes that I needed to use for the new rear bumper brackets.

[focusedontheprize]

"Do it right or do not do it at all".

The bumper holes were partially filled, the rear frame could use some dressing, and I wanted to install helper bags in the back. One thing led to another and I found myself building a cart for the rear bed and I began to separate the bed from the rest of the truck. My neighbors came out after and were amazed that I was able to do it all by myself. A cherry picker, some wood, and patience is all it takes.

Because I was working by myself and the driveway is on a little bit of a slope I had to rig up a "safety" strap.


After I was finished moving it.

[focusedontheprize]

Here are some photos of the "carnage" in my mind. A cut off wheel, a grinder, flap wheel, and the welder will make it all disappear.









The bed will need some work so I will be moving between the chassis and the bed for work

[focusedontheprize]

Over the weekend I started to remove the saddle tanks. I have been using the passenger side one, but the driver's side never worked correctly so I plan on fixing the unit. I did make the mistake of having a full tank when I dropped the passenger side so that always makes it interesting.


Frame rails will be cleaned and repainted with Chassis Saver, but I was happy to see there were in great shape.



After removing the tanks, I started to remove the helper spring brackets and pads. I will be putting helper bags on the truck instead.

[SCOTI]

Those rail ends do look ROUGH.