Made the most out of trans rebuild downtime

[BLACKSHEEP757]

So,my rig has been down 3 weeks today,made it to alignment rack today though so i finally get to test drive on monday and what a 3 weeks its been for her!

trans started puking from the pump so of to a builder friend of mine it goes for a rebuild not going for the band aid manuver,only want to do this once if i can help it..... both planets were starting to look rough and i definatly needed the rear drum.....while looking for a core my boy stumbled acoss the right deal for sure.......brand new,never had fluid,assy lube only 2wd unit.......case and output shaft are the only used parts in it now so im told anyways......had to go the cheap route with converter..not a great time for this expense to pop up......bought a transtar/recon single disc/billit cover $400 with a trans shop discount

as for the downtime re-construction......since i bought this truck in early may this year ive been buying a few parts at a time as i could to overhaul the front susp/steering/brakes/free-spin conv......time to get to work.....finally done with this chapter. hopefully she will feel like a new truck vs.the everything attached to front axle worn out 250k mile pig i had a few weeks ago.....heres the list

HBS 2 1/2" COIL SPACERS
HBS STEERING STABILIZER
HBS GREESABLE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS
HBS SWAY BAR LINKS
USED COILS THAT HAD 8K MILES WHEN REMOVED FROM A FRIENDS TRUCK IN 99
PITMAN ARM
FRONT SHOCKS PLUS STAB SHOCK
ALL NEW STEERING LINKS,ADJ SLEEVES AND ENDS
ADJ TRACK BAR
CARDONE REMAN PS PUMP
VACUMN PUMP SEAL WHERE IT MATES TO PS PUMP
CALIPERS,HOSES,CERAMIC PADS
BALL JOINTS
AXLE U-JOINTS
HUB BEARINGS AND SEALS
SPINDLE BEARINGS AND SEALS
NEW F350 ROTORS
USED F350 STUB SHAFTS
USED DANA 50 HUBS FROM 95 F250
USED SPINDLES FROM SAME DANA 50
USED WARN LOCKOUTS FROM SAME
(BOUGHT THIS WHOLE TRUCK WITH RUNNING 460 FOR $500 AND PARTED OUT......HAVE GOTTEN $1400 BACK SO FAR..STILL HAVE TRANS,T-CASE,REAREND).....MADE MY HUB CONV. PAY FOR ITSELF!
DECENT USED SET OF 315 NITTOS.....SOLD MY 305S FOR $50 MORE THAN I PAID FOR THESE........HAVE A TOTAL OF $200 IN 5 TIRES AND RIMS NOW!
2" SPACERS IN REAR TO MATCH WIDER FRONT STANCE FROM HUB CONV.

CANT WAIT TO PULL HER OFF OF A FRIENDS ALIGNMENT RACK MONDAY MORNING AND SEE HOW SHE FEELS NOW!!!!JUST KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE TRANS IS RIGHT

TRANS WENT BACK IN LAST SATURDAY BUT WHILE IT WAS OUT WE KIND OF KILLED LT FRT HUB BEARING TRYING TO REMOVE SO I LET IT SIT DURING HUB CONVERSION THIS WEEK

*****obviously these are pre-alignment pics.....just noticed the dead-front shot looks horrible!

[mvanhelden]

Looks good! What backspace are those rims? They look wide. Good luck seeing out your side windows after driving down a muddy road

[BLACKSHEEP757]

havent measured backspace,free-spin made front a bit wider and i added 2" spacers to even up the rear.....I like the stance my trucks have always sat like that.......I did pick up a set of c/l flares about a month ago for $50...Ill probaly hit them with a couple cans of rattle-can bedliner (along with rear bumper,nerf bars,taillight trim,mirrors.etc.) and throw them on within a couple weeks though.

......half drunk mock up pics before lift,rear spacers,hub conv,and still had 305s on

.......left lower bedside was smoothed out a little bit this week too....so flare will fit a little better

[LOGANSTANFORTH]

I want to upgrade to Ford 60 knuckles eventually so I can get the better calipers and be able to use all stock OEM parts instead of worrying about tearing up a spindle and not being able to replace it...

[mvanhelden]

Do what I did, I re-drilled an extra set of spindles when I did my conversion, I've seen spun wheel bearings too much. That way i'd just be able to bolt it in.

[BLACKSHEEP757]

Originally Posted by mvanhelden

Do what I did, I re-drilled an extra set of spindles when I did my conversion, I've seen spun wheel bearings too much. That way i'd just be able to bolt it in.

I was thinking the same thing with d50 spindles bieng so cheap and readily available vs the cost of d60 knuckles......along with the fact that the dodge steering geomotry is better with the arms of knuckle being a couple inches higher......the only down side is being stuck with single piston calipers....still work well with hydra-boost.......just my opinion and why i went this route

[mvanhelden]

Yeah, I don't know why people get boners about the twin piston calipers, when Dodge diesels have stopped giant loads, for a long time with the brakes they have, yes the twin piston may be better, so what, what do people actually need? Mine stops great with hyro-boost.

[BLACKSHEEP757]

Originally Posted by mvanhelden

yeah, i don't know why people get boners about the twin piston calipers, when dodge diesels have stopped giant loads, for a long time with the brakes they have, yes the twin piston may be better, so what, what do people actually need? Mine stops great with hyro-boost.

ill drink to that!......have to admit though I thought long and hard before making my final decision......i suppose if-1- I just happened to have a balljoint ford 60 laying around and couldnt think of anything better to do with it,or 2-had a line on 1 for a few hundred bucks,hahahaha,or 3-I just hated money......I would have probally gone that route!

[BLACKSHEEP757]

considering ive already made a grand off of the donor truck that my hubs,spindles,and lockouts came from and still have another grand in parts left to sell from it,.......I think ill wait to stumble across a couple more F250 to build some spare piles!

[BLACKSHEEP757]

and just in case my new ,wider stance bothers me (and local law enforcement) as much as a few others who have commented on it,I spent $25 and a couple hours tonight prepping those flares.....lol....maybe ill mock them up and take some before and after pics with them in the next couple nights

[BLACKSHEEP757]

guess i should have read his sig before speaking in broke dick terms,....he certainly isnt afraid to spend it.....of course im not AFRAID to either,just dont have it like that

[mvanhelden]

Originally Posted by BLACKSHEEP757

guess i should have read his sig before speaking in broke dick terms,....he certainly isnt afraid to spend it.....of course im not AFRAID to either,just dont have it like that

I'm not rich I've just owned the truck since new, Pirate slang mang.