Well I finally got some stuff done today. Things should kick into high gear now...at least on the weekends. I was just offered a job at Tulsa Fire dept. and will start the academy on Jan. 2 '08. WOOT!

Anyway. Just ordered my R&P and install kit for my dana44. And I'm waiting on a FlatTop from Matt. I will be ordering my steering in the next couple days. My Dana 300 came in this week and I bought a clocking ring that should be in the mail soon. Now I just need to go have my shaft made for my doubler.

I had to abandon the Dana 60 and 44-8 lug conversion due to funds and time constraints. I will be putting in a Chevy 12 bolt with c-clip eliminators and disk brakes in the next couple weeks.

Obviously I abandoned the coil/link setup too for the same reasons. I got the axle hanging today and am very happy with how it turned out. I am sitting 23" to the rockers and 43" to the fender well. Not as high as I tought it would be.

Before anyone says anything I put gussets on the rear hangers, it was just to dark to get a good pic. You can't see it very well but I also put a 2x2 tube cradle under the front cross member. That is what those two tabs are next to the spring hangers. I was going to get some better pics but I figured it's been covered a thousand times so far.

As it sits, my caster is at 14* and my pinion is at 0*. I am going to try and put some 7* shims in it, which will put my caster at 7* and my pinion at 7* Does anyone have a conflicting opinion on that? I would love to get away from cutting and rotating my knuckles.

Lookin good! Keep those progress pics comin!

Tulsa FD, huh? Congrats! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Been doin a little work.

Keep those pics coming! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Lookin awesome! I can't wait to see it finished. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

that is really looking great

WOW... That looks great... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />'s I should be gettig the rest of my steering parts from Matt this week or next. Once I get them installed I'm gonna put it on a trailer and take it to work so I can cycle the suspension with the forklift for some measurements and tweeking. I'll get some pics of it then.

Well this is probably the last update for the next few months. I started the Fire Acadamey Yesterday so I won't have any time to invest in it for a while.

While setting up my steering for the final time I took the opportunity to flex it out a little to check clearances. Everything turned out good. I wish it flexed a little more but everything appears to be working to its capacity so at least I got that part right. I will likely get a little more out of it once I add some weight to the back. The front seemed to have a little more to offer before the rear got so light it started scooting over on the grounded side. As you can see there is almost no weight on the passenger side rear tire. I would estimate the sprug weight in the rear to only be around 400-500lbs since there is less sheet metal and no gas tank yet. I'll also be adding two batteries back there Plus my gear and parts.

Just view it relative to the IFS it replaced in terms of suspension travel <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />