Author Topic: SquareD Build Thread, Part 1: The beginning (Read 143739 times)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #250 on:** September 21, 2014, 04:17:29 PM »

Next, the drag link and the steering cross over link went bye-bye

Flyin6 · « **Reply #251 on:** September 21, 2014, 04:18:24 PM »

Then the exhaust was removed. It had failed 5 years ago, but I guess no one noticed!
I even pulled all of the hangars off of the frame...I am starting with my own design and all new stuff

Flyin6 · « **Reply #252 on:** September 21, 2014, 04:20:37 PM »

Then I made the one surprising discovery for the day. The read Dana 70 is trashed! I mean GONE
That big donut around the magnetic drain plug is all metal. Ranging from filings to inch ling slivers. There is so much play between the ring and the pinion, one of them has obviously failed. The ring gear felt good, so I imagine it's the pinion gear. Bummer!

Well I was debating getting a locker, now I guess that decision will have to be made for sure, since I will need new gears and bearings

Flyin6 · « **Reply #253 on:** September 21, 2014, 04:22:36 PM »

Conversely, the Dana 60 in the front looked like new

Flyin6 · « **Reply #254 on:** September 21, 2014, 04:23:43 PM »

I know, crappy cell phone pics, but about then, the back up camera stopped working as well! Bad day for cameras!

The trash pile grew throughout the day

You can see a good side by side of the front and rear covers. Any question which one is no good???

Flyin6 · « **Reply #255 on:** September 21, 2014, 04:24:21 PM »

Next I pulled the drive shafts. THey will get sanded down, rust neutralized, then painted with that good Lycoming gray before reinstalling

Flyin6 · « **Reply #256 on:** September 21, 2014, 04:26:09 PM »

Then I went pressure washing again with hot water.
This is not all it is getting, but removing the tires opened up areas that I could not get at earlier.
Tomorrow the entire undercarriage will get soaked with the purple cleaner and skin remover, then pressure washed until the vehicle weighs at least 200 los less.
After that will be the wire brushing and coating with the rust neutral stuff. My goal is to spray the entire underside with more J Deere Blitz paint and gun lube before reassembly

Flyin6 · « **Reply #257 on:** September 21, 2014, 04:27:57 PM »

It may not look like it, but the truck is getting a lot cleaner

Flyin6 · « **Reply #258 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:50:29 PM »

And this is where it sits as of COB today!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #259 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:51:54 PM »

Quote:
Originally Posted by lutzjk913 View Post
I guess you are right. You doing new brakes right? Calipers and lines included?

Yes, Rebuilt loaded calipers, turned rotors, new rubber brake lines everywhere.

Shawn sent me some of his rear disc brake conversion brackets, but for now I just want to get the thing up and going. SO I might just rebuild the factory 12 X 2.5" drum brakes.

I don't want to spend anything on the master cylinder since later on I want to convert it over to chevy hydro brakes

Flyin6 · « **Reply #260 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:53:28 PM »

Quote:
Originally Posted by 20DirtyMax05 View Post
I've got to tell you that I look forward to seeing what has been added each day to this thread. I thoroughly enjoy the stories and life inputs that you provide as well as love to watch this truck come together. Thanks for both and a huge thanks(can't say enough) for all of the service men and women out there and what they have done for us!

Glad you are enjoying it. Although in all truth, I guess I really don't care if anyone enjoys it or not, It's a good thing that some do. Let me explain. I do not live my life to appease others, I just live it. I don't take a lot of interest in the interests of people, unless I am serving and they are issuing orders or I see a genuine desire in their heart to do good, change for the better, do something selfless or the like. I have found most people to be self centered and at heart disinterested in what is going on around them. Therefore their opinions mean nothing, and since that attitude is so prevalent in American Society, well, you get the drift.
I guess I'm just doing this because I genuinely hope it might help or inspire someone, but foremost because they might see the Jesus in me and have that cause some thought.
Admittedly, I am a pretty poor example of what Jesus would call us to be, since I seem to be harboring a bigotry for the Islamic culture, but I'm dealing with that. But maybe I just see the truth of what they really are and that just runs so counter to my Red blooded American freedom loving heritage that I can't help but for the hairs on my neck to bristle when I consider them and the danger they, and now the liberal retards populating the dry places between out two oceans.
OK, I'm done, and I'm happy that you like this!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #261 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:54:03 PM »

Quote:
Originally Posted by EL TATE View Post
Ugh... did you happen to find a tag# on that pig?

Yup there was a tag right on it

Two lines of information printed out like this:

52068173
3.54 605509-1

I believe it to be a Dana 70 based on the larger than the D-60 axle tubes.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #262 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:54:46 PM »

Quote:
Originally Posted by stlaser View Post
Don, normally you don't need to do anything to that master cylinder to run disc brakes in the rear. Some guys add an adjustable proportioning valve (wildwood $40) but that is it. Also some point early 90's thinking maybe 93Dana changed to a larger hub on the 70 units. Those particular axles need the hub OD turned down on a lather slightly so the rotor I use will then still slip on.

Well, Shawn,
I was not planning to get that deep into the axles just yet, just get the thing running and well and drive it around for awhile to learn it's strengths/weaknesses, then address them after the SAS was in and installed.

But now I have to do something. I checked with Roy today over at Performance Off Road, and he is ready at the drop of a hat to take it in and install anything we decide on.
I was about to contact Tate at Randys Ring and Pinion to get his recommendations for what would fit this build best.

Duane threw an interesting curve ball in the mix just this afternoon. It seems he remembered I just happen to have a 14 bolt sitting here in my garage!

Not a good fit though, I measured the spring pads at 43" outside to outside and the Dana 70 is a bit over 45". So at a bare minimum I'd need to cut off and weld on new spring pads, but that isn't too big of a deal. Secondly, I counted the gear teeth, 41-10, so it's a 4.10 ratio. Finally it's an open diff as well so really I'd need to buy the same gears and install kit, same locker, weld up spring pads, and adapt the parking brake cables. Not so sure that would same me any money at all.
So far it's looking like a big $$$ dump on a worn out Dana 70!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #263 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:55:54 PM »

From El Tate:

Sure is.
605509-1 DANA 70 3.54 STD open differential
Ring & Pinion kit # 708015-1
Differential case # 708016
Diff inner parts kit # 707252x
Axle shaft left and right # 43811-1
Not sure if this will work, but this link is invaluable: Dana Holding Corporation - The Expert Axle Bill of Material

Flyin6 · « **Reply #264 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:56:15 PM »

Oh and no workie on Square D today. Had a Dr's appointment along with parts gathering, a great sandwich for lunch, more parts gathering, running one of the pre-rangers to x-country practice, then tending to the critters.

I did get the spring shackles in, so that block is checked

I picked up 32 black splined lug nuts for the wheels...Check!

ANd a quart of J Deere Blitz black and some other chems for tractors which ought to work fine in that tractor like Square Dodge!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #265 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:57:55 PM »

If you go 14 bolt we have the perches, top plates, girdles, disc kit, cover & cool pinion guard available. Not that I'm pushing you towards a 14 bolt or anything even though it is the better choice versus that worn out black sheep 70 you own.....

Quote:
Originally Posted by flyin6 View Post
Well, Shawn,
I was not planning to get that deep into the axles just yet, just get the thing running and well and drive it around for awhile to learn it's strengths/weaknesses, then address them after the SAS was in and installed.

From Flyin6:

But now I have to do something. I checked with Roy today over at Performance Off Road, and he is ready at the drop of a hat to take it in and install anything we decide on.
I was about to contact Tate at Randys Ring and Pinion to get his recommendations for what would fit this build best.

Duane threw an interesting curve ball in the mix just this afternoon. It seems he remembered I just happen to have a 14 bolt sitting here in my garage!

Not a good fit though, I measured the spring pads at 43" outside to outside and the Dana 70 is a bit over 45". So at a bare minimum I'd need to cut off and weld on new spring pads, but that isn't too big of a deal. Secondly, I counted the gear teeth, 41-10, so it's a 4.10 ratio. Finally it's an open diff as well so really I'd need to buy the same gears and install kit, same locker, weld up spring pads, and adapt the parking brake cables. Not so sure that would same me any money at all.
So far it's looking like a big $$$ dump on a worn out Dana 70

Flyin6 · « **Reply #266 on:** September 21, 2014, 07:59:43 PM »

Well, I got the thing cleaned and ready for the rust conversion process.
That was a lot of work
I decided to get full industrial on it. Went through 2.5 gallons of the purple degreaser stuff. It loosened all the mud/dirt/grease/undercoat. bugs/old jap car parts and so forth

Flyin6 · « **Reply #267 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:01:15 PM »

I sprayed it all over the undercarriage, several times and kept it soaking for several hours

Flyin6 · « **Reply #268 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:02:00 PM »

It looks like a hazardous chem spill, because...It is!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #269 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:03:46 PM »

That's when all the nasty spraying and scrubbing happened. I got under that thing and started on one end and went to the other. It took me like 2 hours of spraying to get all the crap off that the purple stuff had softened up.

I was covered from head to toe with all manner of crap...probably some of that too, come to think of it.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #270 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:04:56 PM »

It may not look it, but that puppy got a whole lot cleaner!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #271 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:06:31 PM »

Then I attacked the driveshafts and steering link with the wire wheel and prep sol

Flyin6 · « **Reply #272 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:08:03 PM »

Then the rust conversion process after cleaning the parts with lacquer thinner

Flyin6 · « **Reply #273 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:09:31 PM »

course more new parts come in
This time Rock Auto anted up with all the weather-strip and door window seals.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #274 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:10:43 PM »

Bad thing about that is that it blocked more of the view of the jap maple!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #275 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:11:18 PM »

Tomorrow I think it will be all about painting a lot of the pieces parts in preparation for some reassembly.

I just realized, I didn't show any pics of the borgensen steering linkage which will soon replace all the stock stuff.
I'll get it tomorrow

Flyin6 · « **Reply #276 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:11:58 PM »

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cudakidd53 View Post
Pretty large undertaking, being on your back dodging falling junk! That rust converter really makes a difference on the drive shaft and other parts. Thanks for sharing yet another cool product from Don's Garage!

I hope to be painting a whole bunch of pieces parts tomorrow with that kool Lycoming gray paint. I decided to paint the shocks as well, since they always manage to rust up pretty quickly.
I'll paint the steering linkage, brake calipers, steering gearbox, Borgesen linkage, steering stabilizer, shocks, spring shackle, and anything else just hanging around awaiting installation.
Might not look as cool as some of these neon green undercarriages, but it will be mo-rust proof!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #277 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:15:01 PM »

Worked for hours today on the rust. It's yielding, but it's a lot of work.

First I pulled the front calipers off as well as some questionable steel and rubber brake lines to make way for shiny new pieces parts

Flyin6 · « **Reply #278 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:38:37 PM »

I already have the new Bendix calipers, pads, hardware, hard and rubber lines. I decided to just put everything in there new to give me peace of mind and a good baseline. The brake fluid I pulled out was pretty clean and the MC was clean as a whistle on the inside!

Then I started applying the Rust converter

Flyin6 · « **Reply #279 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:39:51 PM »

still cookin' in the pictures so far. Some areas were worse than others, but in 4+ hours, I went from the front to the back. Checking just now, I see where I missed some areas which will get my attention tomorrow.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #280 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:41:06 PM »

these pics you can really see the difference between the uncoated spring and axle and the treated parts.
That spring and axle will be coming out for good PDQ!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #281 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:42:18 PM »

Here's that new Borgensen steering shaft that gets rid of all the slop from quick wearing factory components. This thing will not wear out and give good steering for years to come

Flyin6 · « **Reply #282 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:43:46 PM »

The truck will be getting a rebuilt steering gearbox as well

Flyin6 · « **Reply #283 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:44:40 PM »

The hanging jungle of parts will be getting a coat of my new favorite Lycoming gray in the morrow!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #284 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:45:09 PM »

Got some good news
I found a used Dana 70 out of a Dodge W250 newer than mine with a 3.54 gear set and the anti-lock setup.
We agreed on a selling price of $250!
I'll pick it up Saturday

Flyin6 · « **Reply #285 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:46:34 PM »

Quote:
Originally Posted by EL TATE View Post
Good to hear; were you able to confirm the finer points with that Dana BOM lookup link? They only major recommendation I have for you is to disassemble and fully inspect the PowerLok limited slip unit if it has one. They are known for being self destructive especially on the smaller spider gears. That being said, if you do have the limited slip, you have one of the strongest, most aggressive units ever released to the general public.

I still have to look up the BOM # which he supplied.
I only asked if it has a 3.54 and anti-lock brakes which it did. It did have a rear sway bar attached which I plan on scarfing up, but I'm thinking that is not common. Therefore it probably came from a well optioned truck. Well optioned trucks usually come with some sort of anti-spin diff. I might just score, time will tell

Flyin6 · « **Reply #286 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:48:00 PM »

Man my head is just buzzing. Been painting for hours. I wore a good mask, but from the way I feel right now, I'd have to say it didn't completely block the vapors.

OK let's get started

First I opened up the rebuilt Bendix calipers and prepped them for acid etching primer, the first of several coats they are to recieve

Flyin6 · « **Reply #287 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:48:54 PM »

The reason I use the weld through stuff is because it is zinc. You put zinc on any metal and it will sacrifice itself first to rust and corrosion before any of the parent material. So I locked down the surface with several coats of this zinc rich product to keep it from ever rusting

Flyin6 · « **Reply #288 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:50:22 PM »

Then I removed the tie rod ends from the cross steering bar. I just didn't gingerly unscrew them, nope, I beat them with a hammer while soaking them with PB Blaster then used a 4' piece of pipe on the stud end to grudgingly twist them off a little bit at a time. It seemed like they only got easier to turn when the thing fell out. Right up to that point it was squealing so much both dogs came in and set to barking at me!

I cleaned the piece up and coated it with some of that zinc primer

Flyin6 · « **Reply #289 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:51:46 PM »

Then after studying the frame some, I decided I wasn't happy with the results of the rust converter on some areas so I ground all that stuff and the rust off with the wire cup. I then recoated it with the converter which definitely worked well this time!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #290 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:52:39 PM »

Next up came the lacquer primer step. Prior to painting everything got a wet coat of black primer just to aid in adhesion and get one more layer of protection on there

Flyin6 · « **Reply #291 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:54:01 PM »

The hanging jungle got sanded and wiped down with prep-sol then painted with two coats of primer. Then the under carriage got primed is some areas, but not everywhere

Flyin6 · « **Reply #292 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:55:47 PM »

Why the shocks? Because that white coating might as well be white wash hardly suitable for Tom Sawyer to paint up a fence in Mississippi!

While the jungle cured, I mixed up that John Deere (Valspar) Blitz paint with the thinner and hardener and sprayed the suspension, chassis, drivetrain, and parts of the body underside. I guess I just went a little wild!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #293 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:57:41 PM »

It has just enough flattening without being full on flat black. It does a good job with corrosion and minor abrasions such as tractors might often see.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #294 on:** September 21, 2014, 08:59:02 PM »

The photos show a reddish haze, which I believe is some sort of reflection. The whole undercarriage is as black as midnight in the desert in the interior of the Stan up beside some mountain with... Well, you get the picture!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #295 on:** September 21, 2014, 09:01:00 PM »

Next I got on the hanging jungle. I cleaned out the gun and mixed up a batch of that Nason Acrylic Enamel with hardener and sprayed the Lycoming gray on everything.
This step is not to make anything pretty. Not competing with the "Blacked out Chevy emblem crowd", nope, just getting a neutral color that will show leaks and cracks and keep things from rusting any more

Flyin6 · « **Reply #296 on:** September 21, 2014, 09:02:09 PM »

I kind of like the color

Flyin6 · « **Reply #297 on:** September 21, 2014, 09:03:06 PM »

The undercarriage paint was starting to set up about when I finished over spraying everything including my hair, two cats, the welder, plasma, and a bunch of other things!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #298 on:** September 21, 2014, 09:04:12 PM »

And this is how it sits as of this moment

Flyin6 · « **Reply #299 on:** September 21, 2014, 09:05:05 PM »

Originally Posted by nmeyer414 View Post
Somebody was a busy little bee this morning!

Nate,
Yep, not just this morgan.
Every day this week.
Get the knuckleheads off to school, do workout. Finish exercise, eat vitamins, change clothes, then out to the garage.
Work fast and smart. Come in around noon. Eat a fast lunch. Today 6 peanut butter crackers, then back out and keep at it until the boneheads come home.
Every day same drill
Trying to keep this thing progressing.
I didn't intend to get this deep into it, but every time I get into something like this it turns into a restoration. That's why I'm short cutting some things. I just want to get this truck driving and soon!