A way to compare axles... the U-bolt is for a D30, sitting on the D44 tube.
(7-27-05) Joe making the first weld on the brackets!!! After a TON of measuring, remeasuring, measuring again and measuring one last time. WOOHOO!!!
The left rear front bracket in place. We stopped short of fully welding them in order to mock everything up with the springs, axles and steering first. I have a third gusset to put in the middle of the plate, Joe wanted to fully weld the other two first though.
The right front rear bracket (say that three times fast).
The left front front bracket. The weld plate fits inbetween the gussets.
The left front front bracket
View down the left side.
Right side.
(8-3-05) WHEELS...kinda. I got the front axle assembled to the point where I could finally throw the tires on to see how wide I'm going to be and where everything will sit. I just had to throw the bumper and winch on it to see how the overall look would be
This is the "before" picture. It's hard to tell the difference in width because of the different flare, the missing mudflap and the slightly different angle of the photo...
Head on shot. I LOVE the width with these fender flares! It just looks MEAN!
From behind... I can't WAIT to see it with the rear mounted too.
Rear angle.
This is the front end with the weight of the vehicle on it (with winch). The shackle angle looks dang fine to me.
Low angle...
The Dana 44 in its new home.
And now, the PROBLEM... the tierod is directly under the pitman. I have MORE axle relocation plates coming to move the front axle back an inch. Combined with a slightly shorter pitman arm, I'm hoping that I get enough clearance for the steering. I also have an email into Ruffstuff to see if they can do a RHD mounting bracket that would move the steering box forward 1.5"
(8-21-05) WELDING WEEKEND!!! This is my first actual welding project on something that will be really used on the postal. It's a steering box brace that I disassembled because it won't work on my RHD. I needed to change the orientation of the two ends of this bar and no amount of bending would have done it. I cut it, beveled the edges and welded it back together. I ground the welds smooth to ensure that there was good fusion.
I was impressed with how straight and even I was able to make it. I was just holding the short end on when I tacked it. This got my confidence up and I tackled another project I'd wanted to do....
Giving blood for the cause! This is a nice chunk I took out of my hand with a shot from my favorite BFH trying to fix the dent in my firewall... hard to tell but it's nice and deep into the lowest part of the skin that you're not supposed to ever see. Fun stuff! (Kate made me take the picture.. I swear!)