73's Build Thread...

[EricsGreen98Tj]

^^^Thats why I went with an E-Locker. You really get the best of it all; selectability and NO AIR lines to screw with. But OBA is nice to have just for trail repairs. I recently tore my tail pipe/muffler off and wrapped it all around my rear axle...Having to cut that shit off with a hack saw while laying in the mud sucks! A die grinder would have made quick work of it....


SUPER NICE FORD man. I really like that you DID NOT cut the body up to fit 44's under her..

[73 ford guy]

so I got a package of some Stainless collector parts today!





I also got a box full of 10 stainless 304, 2", 90 degree elbows. This stuff aint cheap!!


I bought a 20' stick of 304 stainless that showed up yesterday too



Its a super tight fit for the 2'' tube that slides into the collector. High quality stuff.

Lastly I purchased a new stick,tig, inverter welder. I plan to run a wire feed suitcase off of it to eventually one day as this unit can supply big power.



Its all coming together

[chevy_phil]

Originally Posted by 73 ford guy

so I got a package of some Stainless collector parts today!

Its all coming together

Together yet?

[73 ford guy]

Originally Posted by chevy_phil

Together yet?

Need more parts! deciding on whether I'll make the 3/8 stainless head flanges or buy. Also I'll need some 180 stainless hoops to make some of the less than 90 bends. Gotta get setup for tig as well with all the junk I'll need. I did buy a portable Esab suitcase welder that will hook up to my inverter. Pretty freakin badass!

http://www.oxygenservicecompany.com/product4000.html

[TorqueRanger]

Originally Posted by 73 ford guy

I saw pic and though this would have been a better mount???

[73 ford guy]

My little bolt/clamp tabs work pretty good. That one requires threading in hose then bolting on and removing unbolt then spin off holder as the hose would twist into a big spiral if you tried spinning just the hose. Still works just mine is simple.
Thanks for the idea though.

[biz77]

Awesome info!

[prosport33]

you ever do much tig welding?
its what i learned on, and it's the most fun i have putting any two pieces of metal together. when i have the time for it, as it seems to take a bit longer to get everything to fit nice and tight for a good clean tig weld. as opposed to "good 'nough" for a mig to fill teh gap.

anyway, pretty bitchin machine; cant wait to see some passes made with it

[73 ford guy]

I Havnt done much stainless tig at all. I just got a few hours of seat time in the other day and was the second time I've done it. Wasn't too bad at all. Makes me feel alot more confident going into this project.
I still need to round up more parts but I've been in California and Vegas for the past 2 weeks AND my work is slow and I'm in between jobs.
I did mount up my new high steer setup though along with removing 2"s of lift front and rear to make it a little more offroad friendly and less top heavy. Im diggin it!

[73 ford guy]

I'll update a pic of high steer tomorrow

[73 ford guy]

Put the high steer tubes all together with all new rod ends and got around to welding on tabs to diff and tie rod.







You can see the ram has taken a few scratches offroad so this was a needed upgrade. The ram is totally hidden now being totally protected.
The best part though...It drives Awesome!!!! I took it for a rip down the highway and it has never driven so well. No real shakes or vibrations.
I also did some minor tweaking with suspension. I removed 3 leafs from the pack front and rear. The front also had a pinion shim which wasnt needed. It took about 1 1/2- 2's of lift out in total. I cant get over how well it drives. The smooth ride, big power and handling I felt like I was driving a sports car passing on the road. Im loving it right now!

[NUTTY4X4]

44s/sportscar lol, looks good though

[73 ford guy]

Originally Posted by NUTTY4X4

44s/sportscar lol, looks good though

lol i know but its never run smoother. You just gotta finish your rig so we can go wheelin!

[FordX4-offroad]

interested to see how well the hyd. asst. diff. brackets hold up.
doesnt look like a large contact patch. 2"?

any progress on the exhaust?

that stainless will rust if you dont use it fast enough

[73 ford guy]

Originally Posted by FordX4-offroad

interested to see how well the hyd. asst. diff. brackets hold up.
doesnt look like a large contact patch. 2"?

any progress on the exhaust?

that stainless will rust if you dont use it fast enough

Tabs are 1 3/4 wide. I used preheat and welded with a 7018 rod. Last high steer I did I used a nickel nirod for the first pass then capped with a 7018. That worked but I think this will be fine as well. I think the diff is cast steel not full cast and in my experience at work we've used 7018.

Exhaust is collecting dust until I can get my equipment together. Also need the stainless head flanges. Forgot about that one. Do I build em or buy em? I gotta figure that one out. They would need to be plasma or water jet cut

[73 ford guy]

Caged up and ready to go wheelin this weekend!

[THEWHITEZOMBIE]

Any updates from wheeling

[73 ford guy]

Originally Posted by THEWHITEZOMBIE

Any updates from wheeling

Truck ran great. Air locker worked flawlessly and we made it to the top of the trail with a final climb that was hella aggressive puttin on a show in front of a crowd watching on the side. The decent down was maybe scarier than going up. Lol. Man hydroboost brakes are really a necesity on this truck as I had the brake planted hard going down. It was to the point of locking up while creeping down. Got a few pics I can get later. All in all it was a good day, couple new dents in box but drove it home afterwards.

[73 ford guy]

tried to get pics from last trip out but didnt work out. going wheeling again this Sunday maybe I can update this thread with some good stuff!