Was out there for just a little bit today , but it was all easy stuff I did , so didn't take long at all.I put in a new nut and bolt for the diff drop bracket , as the problem I had was the bolt had a marred thread on it , thats why it was so hard to get in , even after tacking the nut back in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Anyway , the new one went in so smooth with the new nut , so thats all done.I then put on the new indy4x tie rods and rancho 9000 shocks.It took me about half an hour to both sides start to finish , soooo easy to put in there <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I thought I was going to have issues with the shocks and tie rods as it didn't look like a lot of room , but the shocks did not touch at any time even with full steering.The driver side seems to be a little closer to the shock then the passenger side by about 1/4" or so , but it still doesn't come that close to touching , so its all good.Still waiting to hear about the torsion bar thing , as thats all I have left to fix on the front end , other than put in my steering stabilizer , which I am not 100% sure how it goes yet.
I read the instructions on it , and it says one part attaches to the drivers side axle , and the other goes to the passenger side drag link.So , it doesn't sound too difficult , but I'll have to wait and see if the front skid plate will need to be altered to work with it.

Heres the latest few pics of all the front stuff done.

Starting to really come together.

Thats got to give you the warm fuzzies seeing the front end all together. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You should be sitting on all 4s in no time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I guess I need to get my <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> back to work.

I've been rather lazy over the past couple weeks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" />

Got a few more things done on the truck today.The torsion bars are now reindexed and doing what they are supposed to do , with a lot left for adjutment when I am ready to crank them up.I also put on the crossmember that goes under the axle , its the modified one from Joe darlington.I had to modify it a little to get it to fit , as the axle hit one corner so the holes didn't line up to bolt it on.I just ground down part of the crossmember that hit the axle , then made the holes just a tad bigger <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I also made one bumper bracket and bolted it up , still needs the holes drilled in it to mount the bumper on , and ground down a little.I started on the second , but wore out my cutting wheel , so I need to pick up another , and a couple of grinding discs for the grinder.I also mock mounted the hitch to see how it will sit.I couldn't put the bumper up as it is still tacky from the painting last night.

Anyway , heres the latest pics for today.












I am sticking the tube bumper out a little farther than the stock bumper sat , plus because of the body lift , I am making it sit a little higher than stock also , thats why the bracket is so high right now.I will be grinding the extra off once I am sure how high I want the bumper to sit , whether 1 1/2 or 2 " higher than stock.I don't want to go 3" as it is allready a little higher than stock size.

Today I mounted the hitch and bumper , not just mocked up.I don't have any pics at the moment so you'll have to suffer till tomorow <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> Because the hitch was made for the step type bumper , it stuck out a little , so I made the tube bumper stick out as far , then raised it just a little over stock height.I am thinking in the gap between the body and bumper I can rig it up to carry a jerry can , and maybe some other stuff , we'll see how it turns out once the body is on for exact room.

I also put the front tires on , but when I did , I think I found a problem.I bounced the front end up and down , and the drivers side tire was flopping around , almost like the rim wasn't completely tight.I took the tire off and pulled on the hub , and same thing.It slides back and forth almost 1/4" , which when you have a 33" tire on there really looks bad.I'm at a loss of what I could have done wrong as I put everything back together the proper way , to torque specs.The other side is fine.It can't be the ball joints or control arms , the ball joints are all brand new.Could the tie rods have anything to do with this?I haven't adjusted those yet , I just slapped them on.Or could it possibly be because there is no pressure on the brakes? Any ideas anyone?I never checked for this before , so don't know if its normal to have some play in the hub so you can pull it out and push it in. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

How are your wheel bearings? I had some play in mine. I looked at mine and there was no preload on them <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />. So I greased them and made sure they were nice and thight(to factory specs). That took care of alot of play I had.

My bearings aren't that old on here , I just greased them up and figured they would be good.I never preloaded them , no idea how , never done it before <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I guess I'll have to learn how.

Got the bearings all fixed up today , didn't take too long , then put the tires back on.It looks pretty rugged with the tires on , much bigger than the 235/75/15 I had on the frame before <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Anyway , heres a few pics of the tires on , and a couple pics of the bumper.As you can see , the bumper sticks out a few inches , just enough to cover the hitch , which if it was the stock bumper with the step on it , would be out just as far to cover the hitch.















The next step is to swap in the rear axle , but I want to get the body off the truck before I yank the axle out.I also have to get the tank off and out of the way too , so hopefully we get some decent weather this weekend.Once its on 4 tires , the engine is going in next <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Worked out in the front yard all day today , and managed to get a fair amount accomplished.No new pics though today.I got all of the body mount bolts off , took the front clip off , took all the emergency brake stuff off , dropped the gas tank , got the exhaust all unhooked so I can pull it out when I take the rear axle out.I didn't unhook the exhaust manifolds yet , I'll do all that once the body is off , which is what I am getting ready to do.

I also pulled the old rad , and unhooked all the wiring and stuff that was attached to the front clip.Hopefully tomorow I'll have the axle out , get the doors all taken off , and get the body off.Then I can slip the axle under the other frame and get that all done , then can start getting the engine stuff ready to go in. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Looks Great! Keep up the good work <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Once you installed the heavy duty tie-rod ends did you turn the steering lock to lock to see if they made contact with the shock body.

Looks like they fit fine with it sitting with the wheels pointed straight ahead, but check with it turned to the steering lock.

Looking good, BTW.

Joe