72 K30 Build

[DWilbur]

For a daily driver I would say away from a locker or posy up front. My friend Pat had Detroit locker in the rear and posy in front in a 1972 K20 and it was slide ways in the iced up roads in the winter.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

For a daily driver I would say away from a locker or posy up front. My friend Pat had Detroit locker in the rear and posy in front in a 1972 K20 and it was slide ways in the iced up roads in the winter.

I've actually had this problem in a truck with an open front and locked rear - most people I know who drive in snow and ice prefer posi in the rear for that reason.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

For a daily driver I would say away from a locker or posy up front. My friend Pat had Detroit locker in the rear and posy in front in a 1972 K20 and it was slide ways in the iced up roads in the winter.

I’ve heard that same thing from several sources as well and you’re probably right, but I think I’m going to give it try and see firsthand how the helical-gear style carrier works out. Our off road plans do include pulling a lite weight 5th wheel and I want the extra pull when needed. We can always switch it back to an open and use this carrier elsewhere if it really doesn’t work out.


The front gear set seemed noticeably looser than the rear.

[7dee2]

First wave of axle stuff has shown up and the shock mounts are ready to be welded on. Found way too much travel in the rear springs, if we leave them like that it would possibly over extend our new shocks and could possibly bend or break the top leafs. We are going to have to limit the travel some.

[First c10]

Merry Christmas too you!!!
Looking good! I like the stage when you have parts coming in!!! Paying part or working to pay for them stage not so much!!!

[7dee2]

Merry Christmas to you and your family as well! Thanks my favorite part also, new parts are just the best!

Shock mounts are welded up and on there to stay moved inboard just a hair from the last set.

[7dee2]

Getting stuff broke down.

[rgunlock]

You'll have a roller before you know it Brett. Looking good!

[7dee2]

We got our 72 C30 RV T400 and the TC back from the transmission shop. We added a Trans Go shift improver kit with a low stall converter. The transfer case didn’t need anything and just ended up being a reseal. Both were run in on their trans dyno so they both should be good to go.

[First c10]

Looking good. For me this was the fun part. This metal work (on the body) is ok but not my cup of tea!
keep it up!!

Merry Christmas!

[7dee2]

We got a set of rims back from powder coat they have a little bit of metallic in the powder called silver sparkle , made this set of old rims we had look pretty good.

[DLTruck1973]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

We got a set of rims back from powder coat they have a little bit of metallic in the powder called silver sparkle , made this set of old rims we had look pretty good.

Hey Bret,

Hope you all had a good Christmas there. Project is looking real good. The rims look real nice. Almost like a factory argent silver.

You will be rolling soon.

Happy New Year,

Thomas

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

You'll have a roller before you know it Brett. Looking good!

Originally Posted by First c10

Looking good. For me this was the fun part. This metal work (on the body) is ok but not my cup of tea!
keep it up!!

Merry Christmas!

Originally Posted by DLTruck1973

Hey Bret,

Hope you all had a good Christmas there. Project is looking real good. The rims look real nice. Almost like a factory argent silver.

You will be rolling soon.

Happy New Year,

Thomas

Thanks everyone appreciate the encouragement and hope you are all having a great holiday season!

Hey Thomas, you have a good eye my friend we have used this powder before because it is so close to argent silver.



A second wave of axle parts has arrived and we just about have everything for reassembly, those carriers are like mechanical porn!

[First c10]

Ho Ho Ho!! Merry Christmas to you!!!

Funny how the older you get the fetish changes!!! lol!
Happy New Year!!!
Scott

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice parts and the wheels look great! Have a happy new year too!

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by First c10

Ho Ho Ho!! Merry Christmas to you!!!

Funny how the older you get the fetish changes!!! lol!
Happy New Year!!!
Scott

I know it's a sickness!

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice parts and the wheels look great! Have a happy new year too!

Thanks DW!

Hope you both had a great holiday!


Another round of cleaning up the 14 bolt this one should be ready to start reassemble soon. During the teardown we did find some more issues; need to replace all the inner and outer wheel bearings/races in both axles as we found problems with about half of them. Here is the upper kingpin on the RH side looks OK, LH side appears to have backed off a bit, not so good.

[hillbilly_deluxe]

Man just went through the whole build. Looking great!!

[DWilbur]

I have never seen king pin upper bushing up like that. I have tried to replace them couple time and not able to remove the old ones. even with a 600 ft lb wrench ended up twisting the adapter that goes in the bushing.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

I have never seen king pin upper bushing up like that. I have tried to replace them couple time and not able to remove the old ones. even with a 600 ft lb wrench ended up twisting the adapter that goes in the bushing.

I concur - I replaced mine, but it took every bit of the 1200ft-lbs my impact has to offer to get them loose. Seems odd that it would be up. Also looks kind of canted to me?

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by hillbilly_deluxe

Man just went through the whole build. Looking great!!

Thanks hillbilly_deluxe I appreciate that!

Originally Posted by DWilbur

I have never seen king pin upper bushing up like that. I have tried to replace them couple time and not able to remove the old ones. even with a 600 ft lb wrench ended up twisting the adapter that goes in the bushing.

Guessing I'm just lucky and that 3+3 donor was really beat up!

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

I concur - I replaced mine, but it took every bit of the 1200ft-lbs my impact has to offer to get them loose. Seems odd that it would be up. Also looks kind of canted to me?

Yep, it's a leaner like the tower of pizza!

Cone came right out with a big pipe wrench it has taken out about 2/3rd’s of the threads, not so good.

After a little internet research I found the most common repair for this problem seems to be:
A. Find another housing
B. Replace the inner C’s
C. Weld a new kingpin cone in place from below, if that fails see options A & B

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Cone came right out with a big pipe wrench it has taken out about 2/3rd’s of the threads, not so good.

After a little internet research I found the most common repair for this problem seems to be:
A. Find another housing
B. Replace the inner C’s
C. Weld a new kingpin cone in place from below, if that fails see options A & B

I wonder if you could weld a couple beads around the bore and re-tap the hole? Seems just as easy as your option C

[7dee2]

I think your right Jim and called around to some of the axle experts and a recommended machine shop in my area and they were really not much help, except for one place Boyce Equipment in Ogden, UT. Took the housing there for a look and they did agree to install new kingpin kits including the upper cones and weld up this problem side. Going to have to wait a few weeks as the main axle builder is out and backed up from the holidays.

The wait is probably for the best as I’m not 100% that I’m going forward with this housing, crap!

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

The wait is probably for the best as I’m not 100% that I’m going forward with this housing, crap!

Changes in the build, or just worried about that housing in particular?? Inquiring minds wish to know!

[7dee2]

No change of direction, I’m just concerned about this frontend housing. If I can’t source a reasonably priced replacement we’ll move forward with the repair. So in the mean time I cleaned up the knuckles and we took them over to Boyce, if we move forward with the repair they wanted to install the knuckles I guess to make sure all is well.

Here’s an update on our 14b, it has started to go back together. The hubs and pinion housing have the new races all installed. Sanded the hub seal area of the housing and then knocked the speedi-sleeves on both sides with a thin film of red Loctite.

[7dee2]

Last thing was to knock the new straddle bearing in place. Here’s a shot of the factory pattern and how ours ended up.