Project: Recycle

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Man those Volvo's grow on me each time I see them.

I love the amount of detail in your work.

He's done more than 1 Volvo but anything Sean builds (IG = hackster1) is worth the time it takes to read about it. He really has great attention to the details.

[TA_C10]

Just checking in. Any updates?

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[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by TA_C10

Just checking in. Any updates?

.

Technically, yes. I've been e-mailing images/info back & forth w/Mr. PB on possibly obtaining some parts before I posted current status. I purchased some narrowed arms today so.....

I'm revising my front Dropmember (v.1 ) so it can utilize coil-overs. BUT, I want it set up similar to how I built the rear half (air springs OR C/O's). It was in mocking everything up & ordering the parts that I scrutinized the track width & came to the conclusion I needed to narrow the front track width slightly before finalizing my templates & fabricating the brackets.

[SCOTI]

I already ordered some Delrin bushings, C/O lower mounting brackets, shocks, CPP modular drop spindles, & caliper brackets; plus made an adjustable mock-up shock so I could get an idea on the location of the upper mount.

I pulled one side of the front suspension apart & set things up so upon reassembly it would all be located in the same spot. The OE hub/disc spindle/caliper were replaced w/the CPP modular spindle & a KORE3 billet hub. I've had the truck on spare trailer wheels in the front to allow rolling it around because I moved a bunch of stuff from a storage unit into my shop & they were closer to the expected final tire height for mock-up purposes. I grabbed one of the OG steelies just because I wanted to see it on there again. Glad I did.

With the changes to the rear end (12bolt to narrowed 9") & using spacers to get things (wheels/tires) where the math said they should be it now appears the rear track width is dead even or possibly a little narrower vs. the front. That's a No-No in my book for hot-rods.

So, narrowed arms have now been ordered, the Ridetech a-arms will hit the shelf for another project, & the Ridetech Delrin spec 73-87 style bushings will be returned to Summit.

The initial upper 'bracket'. It's ugly, but it started out just as some taped together pieces of cardboard:

[SCOTI]

I then copied it so it was one solid larger piece so I could play around w/the visuals. It was definitely too fat but it was still in the figuring dimensions phase. Then some slimming down....

[SCOTI]

Final upper template. Like stated previously, I was waiting to here from PB on obtaining some parts used on their C/O set-up but it seems w/the delays I'll just fab from what I have so far.

The lower bracket is pretty straight forward. You can see the template made (lower a-arm in white) that utilizes the bag mounting points as the centering of the final bracket. I'll need the upper in place to finalize the lower since the C/O will be slightly offset to clear the upper a-arm mounting hardware.

[TA_C10]

Nice, you needed to get this out I could tell

I’ve had a few wrenches photobomb me as well. Lol.

I’m in need of cpp modulars too. My fronts stick out way too far creating a nasty offset from rear. This of course with the wheels that came on truck. 275 all the way around and a huge lip. But this will get fixed next go around.

I like your ability to mod and get that much extra shock travel. She’s gonna handle really nice with that setup.

[aggie91]

Nice work Scoti. I like your approach to have the option to do coil overs or bags. One comment, I think you know this, but wanted to point it out so other people could learn something.

See picture. The sharp inside corners of your upper coil over mount bracket is a good place for cracks to start and could lead to failure of the bracket. Make these in to a smooth radius to eliminate that sharp corner to get rid of a place for a crack to start.

Looks good, I hope to see it at C10's in the Park this year...hint, hint...

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice work Scoti. I like your approach to have the option to do coil overs or bags. One comment, I think you know this, but wanted to point it out so other people could learn something.

See picture. The sharp inside corners of your upper coil over mount bracket is a good place for cracks to start and could lead to failure of the bracket. Make these in to a smooth radius to eliminate that sharp corner to get rid of a place for a crack to start.

Looks good, I hope to see it at C10's in the Park this year...hint, hint...

You are correct, a sharp edge does promote a possibility for stress failure. To make things better, you need to overbuild the bracket. In this instance, the bracket would be capped in certain areas depending on how it gets built.

You can only do so much when hand cutting brackets. Scribe out reference cut lines on multiple pieces of steel & cut them individually. You'll get 4 different brackets that need to be cleaned up to match. I've found that's harder than it seems (making individual cut pieces match).... I would love to step up my 'game' but can't seem to find someone w/a plasma or laser table that will machine-cut such a small quantity for a 'small' price. That would make a big difference in the brackets. I went through the same struggle in this build when making the shock brackets. It's just difficult to make an engineered looking part when cutting each piece individually by hand & shaping the edges.

[Inverter]

Well well.... someone’s been up at night.
I have some extra PB upper/lower C/O mounts for a level 3. I think they are version 1 DM type but could easily be trimmed.
Why is your rear end narrowed so much ?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Inverter

Well well.... someone’s been up at night.
I have some extra PB upper/lower C/O mounts for a level 3. I think they are version 1 DM type but could easily be trimmed.
Why is your rear end narrowed so much ?

It's a Lincoln Versailles disc brake housing @ 58" width. The math said a 58" housing would allow ~ 10" wheel w/a 4"bs or a nice deeeep lip. I currently have 1.5" billet adapters on there to utilize the 10" w/5.5"bs steelies w/285/60-16 tires. It has .500" clearance to the un-cut inner bed-side w/the set-up. Ultimately, I'm going for a Nostalgia drag/hot rod look.

Got any pics on those mounts? I took a closer look yesterday & realized I'm beyond my original 1-2" higher dimension stated previously. My final template is about 2-3" higher than the a-arm shaft. Nate & I have been e-mailing back & forth but they're busy & my need is a 1-off deal so it's not exactly a high priority on his end (and I don't expect it to be).

I did order some 1" narrowed a-arms from them over the weekend & I'm waiting to meet w/a guy that was in the shop complex behind my work that's done some fab work for our in-house SS tubing contractors. I spoke w/him & explained what I need & he indicated he might be able to help w/my upper bracket needs. I was hoping to hear from him today (he said Thurs or Fri) but I haven't heard from him yet. With this 'stay in place' order, I sure would like to have what I need so I can make a decent progress push.

[TA_C10]

Nice work here sir. Precise.

[TA_C10]

You have the patience required But I certainly understand that frustration...

.

[rodstored-72]

very nice scotti,
so did you check the internals on that engine that N2TRUX gave you... I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled all the guts out!!…. !!!
nice beginning on this
...I will try to follow along....

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by rodstored-72

very nice scotti,
so did you check the internals on that engine that N2TRUX gave you... I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled all the guts out!!…. !!!
nice beginning on this
...I will try to follow along....

LoL…. He didn't mess w/anything on this one. I pulled it apart to correct the worn items & although there was significant carbon build-up on the pistons, it was about what you would expect for a 70k mile motor.

[SCOTI]

I guess I'll update quickly while I'm here & just edited the pics.

I got my brackets from the contractor @ my work that uses a guy that knows a guy.....

[SCOTI]

Quick test fit after I picked them up. They're cut from .250" material:

[aggie91]

Nice. Brackets look good.

Do you think you will have this truck at C10's in the Park later this year?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice. Brackets look good.

Do you think you will have this truck at C10's in the Park later this year?

Could I deplete my bank account & get it done by then? Yep... If parts were coming in within days of wanting them. The reality is that doesn't happen enough. Plus, when I'm buying stuff, I usually still have to tweak things from that point so it (the process) stacks up. Take these brackets as an example. Almost 2wks for something that I was told could be done overnight. It didn't work out that way despite trying. Now that I have them, they look like a 'go' but I still don't have the final a-arm set-up so I can't confirm. Hopefully they arrive within the next week or two. I have the drivers side base plates cut & drilled already but can't weld things up until I can do final mock-up of the actual parts. For this week, I'll focus on the pass side & get it to the same point as the drivers.

I know you know how it is when you're doing these builds on a tight budget. I am pushing forward & try to do something toward the build every day to keep my momentum.

My goal is to get it finished how I want it vs. by a set date (which impacts decisions). Timelines don't seem to ever work how I want so I stopped focusing on them. Besides.... I wouldn't be able to get it in anyway & it would just be parked in some random spectator lot.

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

…

I know you know how it is when you're doing these builds on a tight budget. I am pushing forward & try to do something toward the build every day to keep my momentum.

My goal is to get it finished how I want it vs. by a set date (which impacts decisions). Timelines don't seem to ever work how I want so I stopped focusing on them. Besides.... I wouldn't be able to get it in anyway & it would just be parked in some random spectator lot.

That is the best way to finish a project...I think that deadlines are good, but for hobby projects, it can influence decisions that end up being a compromise on what your final vision is or should have been. I have 3 passes to C10's, but only 1 running truck at the moment, it is starting to looks like 1 of the 3 might not make it...

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by aggie91

That is the best way to finish a project...I think that deadlines are good, but for hobby projects, it can influence decisions that end up being a compromise on what your final vision is or should have been. I have 3 passes to C10's, but only 1 running truck at the moment, it is starting to looks like 1 of the 3 might not make it...

Well.... If it comes down to it, the dually is definitely ready for action.

[SCOTI]

Got the e-mail w/tracking number info today from PB Fab. Arms are on their way as scheduled.

[tinydb84]

Well that doesn't look right. Is Porterbuilt going to send you replacements?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Well that doesn't look right. Is Porterbuilt going to send you replacements?

I haven't contacted them yet. I've been making inquiry's from others on how theirs worked, if they encountered similar issues, & getting some legit real user feedback.

I forced the driver side upper together so I could just do the physical mock-up. I staged the pass side upper just for pics to show a buddy which confirmed both upper arms if installed 'as is' will be in a bind. Two people I discussed the topic with (both owners of PB Delrin bushed arms) said there were assembly struggles & that the arms were hard to pivot but that everything worked out ok w/full vehicle weight.

We have a thing in my group that's a regular TAG line for me: "ScotLuck". I'll be the one crossing fingers that "everything works ok" & won't get the same positive result. Or.... I expect more out of the sum total of parts I research & decide to use. I suppose when things don't work it makes me a PITA in situations like this (because of my expectations). My thoughts are that a quality Delrin bushed a-arm should be bind-free & easily pivot (not pivot like it's on needle bearings but pivot smoothly w/o any serious bind). After assembling the lower arm, installing it, & seeing/feeling how easily it pivots..... it TELLS me the uppers definitely are not alike.

I've always had a good relationship w/Mr. P. so I'll get my ducks in a row & go from there. I'm going to disassemble the drivers side & get some measurements. I'm thinking maybe some tweaking in the hydraulic press can possibly align things better. Once I have some dimensions, I'll reach out to Nate & see what he thinks the best approach is for a positive outcome.

[SkinnyG]

I think it would warp like that if the balljoint mount was welded to the arms after the pivots were welded on.

It should warp less if the balljoint plate is welded first, and then the pivots welded on after.