There was a VERY long discussion on CK5 a couple years ago about histeer arms and RTV. It's even worse than a gasket. The bolts don't hold the shear (rotating) force on that connection at all. They simply clamp the arm so tightly to the knuckle that friction between the arm and knuckle prevents them from moving against each other. Nothing should be in that joint. I noticed when I rebuilt my axle, the side with the steering arm did not have a gasket, but the side with just a cap did.

As far as the ram, with the arms I have, I measured a (basically perfect) 6 1/8" travel, so I just used a 6" ram. the ram bottoms JUST before the steering stops in both directions, which is exactly what you want it to do.

The 1.5x6" with swivel eyes was on backorder when I did my setup, so I just got the Pin-style ends. I had to cut off one end and rotate it 90 degrees, then weld it back on to have the ports pointing in the correct direction, but that's a rather minor detail in the grand scheme of modifying a truck this much =)

I was surprised with how little my tie rod moved. The Sky D60 arms are shorter than their D44 arms by quite a bit. That's why I ended up having my track bar mount hit the tie rod. I didn't catch that when I did the axle swap, didn't notice it until day 2 or 3 on the run.

quote:

Originally posted by reddog:
..... didn't notice it until day 2 or 3 on the run.

You showed ME on Monday.

quote:

Originally posted by Reserector:

quote:

Originally posted by reddog:
..... didn't notice it until day 2 or 3 on the run.

You showed ME on Monday.

Mabye he showed it to you on Monday, but didn't remember it until Tuesday.. You know how nights are on the AZ Run.

quote:

Originally posted by Reserector:

quote:

Originally posted by reddog:
..... didn't notice it until day 2 or 3 on the run.

You showed ME on Monday.

Well, I started the run on Sunday so Monday was day 2, yea, that's it

I was with the group that started out for camp on Sunday and didn't arrive until Monday.

One of my hood hinges broke tonight. I know the hood wasn't opening properly on the run so I'll count that as run damage too

My 3 batteries were not happy on AZ8, so now they get a new home below the rear deck.

This is with the top shelf removed, everything else normal.



Here is the stock R50 rear storage area.



Uh Oh, someone made a hole.



Giving birth to ME



The NEW AZ9 BUMPER DUMPER!!



From the bottom. The spare tire used to be under here.





Top shot down through the hole.



The start of the container, yeah it is going to be heavy with 3/8" sides and 3/16" bottom/sides.



Almost done.



Test Fit, doesn't look that big.



Better View



Sure does swallow a battery pretty easily.



Trimming the edges.



Only hangs down about 2 " and I have to cut off the excess, trim up the top, and fit the sides around the box/weld to the box.

good idea.

I'll be taking you up on the bumper dumper idea, so I hope you don't mind poop on your batteries. I'll make sure to lay a cable across the +/- too.

I should do this for a tool box under my truck bed in the same spot. you got me thinking now.

Nice 8)

Yeah, I've thought a bit about making use of all the space I have available under the body because of the 3"BL.

Oh - the "giving birth to Keith" pics freaked me out

[subliminal]water tank[/subliminal]

More damaged has been found over the last month caused by the wet AZ 8 run.

As a note, before I left for AZ 8 the front bearings were inspected, new rotors, and bearings packed.

Front inner passenger bearing almost seized. It is all pitted to hell and was groaning very loudly.

Front passenger side warn hub bearing is gone. At highway speeds when unlocked it makes this wonderful noise and feels like a flat tire.

Two rear lift blocks were welded water tight on the bottom without weep holes. The water and sand got in there and started to rust them out; one of them was completely disconnected. I have since replaced these, painted the insides, and added much thicker steel as the originals were test devices.

The motor mount lift block lost half of its support. The driver side block had been modified, properly painted and suffered no damaged. The passenger side engine lift block was repaired, properly painted and reinstalled.

I had forgotten after inspecting the truck that the lift blocks were only designed for a couple of months before being replaced by the thicker units. I have been running on them for 2 years now

good thing you caught that stuff.

I'll be back working on the Meany this weekend trying to sort out rear suspension issues.

...and I'm definitely doing a in bed toolbox like your battery box. The ass end of the truck is plenty high for that now.

secret battery box eh? i know yer running dope across the border

lovin the taco hell sig andy!

keef, i'm totally doing to same thing to hold the aircopmpressor and a spare battery, cept it's under the back seats. the box is already made. just have to grow the balls to cut the hole...

modified motor mounts, did you modify them with a chain like the norm?

My motor mounts are stock, the blocks that lift the engine up were the problem. The engine to transmission brace on the driver's side of the engine was removed and a chain was welded from it to the subframe.

The battery box worked out great when we went wheeling a couple of weeks ago. I didn't hit it on anything, it didn't take in any water, the paint is no longer pealing and I was able to store all of the larger tool items, spare half shaft, welding cables and welding helmet in the box. It really opened up the cargo area for...other items.

Well, the Lakes Area Wheelers named my beast "Sasquatch", due in part to its size, and in part to it's lack of leaving the garage!

"It may exist, and it's big, but no one has seen it on the trails! If you spot it, all you get is fuzzy pictures in a dark space"

So that WAS your shadowy truck out there at Edwards Park when baby mobes jebus lit the night to help us see better, eh?

quote:

Originally posted by Mud:
So that WAS your shadowy truck out there at Edwards Park when baby mobes jebus lit the night to help us see better, eh?

"What happens on the Run, stays on the Run."