Project Downward Spiral

[5spd_xj]

3 years
63 pages
939 replies
149,700 views
and still on jack stands.....
pricelss :cheers:

:roflmao: AWESOME

 

[Justpunchit]

late spring of 2010? hahahaha nah man I think you can do it if you can get the cash, you've made a ton of progress already! looks even better in person.

wow... I guess I was right. hehehe

 

[RCman]

Well, aside from a few things I got done this weekend. I wasted a few hours messing with (and ~$30) front D60 inner axle seals.

I wanted to use the new Ford SD style seals as they are supposed to retain oil much better. However part of the seal interferes with the tube as it enters the center section. Odd as I've read lots of people run this seal in non SD D60s with no issues at all.

The part of the seal that interferes can be seen below. The seal on the left, the smaller diameter rubber coated part that faces the middle of the picture. It hits the tube tube and either bends it out of wack (yes, going in straight) or binds.

So it looks like I'll have to run the less desired seal and hope that I don't have gear oil coming out my tubes. This seal pictured below.

The other downside is nobody around here carries the traditional seal so I'll have to wait a couple days and order it.

 

[Begster]

Bill, did you order those seals from broncograveyard?

I wish you better luck than I had if you did.

 

[RCman]

Bill, did you order those seals from broncograveyard?

I wish you better luck than I had if you did.

Nope, those seals came from Wayne @ AllJeep. Its not the seals fault, its my axle.

I've placed two different orders from the graveyard for this build, both have been on my doorstep in less than 5 business days.


Back to seals, I'll be running the traditional inners, but what are the thoughts on Mad4wd's out seals? There doesn't seem to be anyone else making anything (that I've been able to find). I'm seriously considering picking them up. It'll help keep the inners alive and hopefully prevent an ecosystem like the one growing in Colin's (MoparManiac's) front D44.
Link: http://mad4wd.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=162

 

[vetteboy]

Dude, my inner axle seals are from 1982. I didn't change them when I regeared my front and they haven't leaked a drop.

Go with the OEM style, don't worry about the outer seals, make sure you've got a good seal surface on your shafts, and go wheelin.

edit: this was post number 2000 for me.

 

[RCman]

Dude, my inner axle seals are from 1982. I didn't change them when I regeared my front and they haven't leaked a drop.

Go with the OEM style, don't worry about the outer seals, make sure you've got a good seal surface on your shafts, and go wheelin.

edit: this was post number 2000 for me.

Mine from '78/'79 were trashed. It looks like someone in the last 30+ years tried fixing them with RTV. It didn't work.

I'd doing the older OEM style inner seal no matter what. I'm just up in the air about the outers. I know it isn't a huge deal to run 'em, its just easier to do them now while everything is apart. It's not like these will be holding me up at all.

Thanks for wasting post 2000 on me. :laugh3:

 

[asp]

the traditional seal looks just like a bigger version of a dana 30 seal. as long as you press it in right and like chris said, have a good surface i think you'll be fine.

 

[MoparManiac]

It'll help keep the inners alive and hopefully prevent an ecosystem like the one growing in Colin's (MoparManiac's) front D44.
Link: http://mad4wd.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=162

HEY I like my ecosystem...

Dude, my inner axle seals are from 1982. I didn't change them when I regeared my front and they haven't leaked a drop.

Go with the OEM style, don't worry about the outer seals, make sure you've got a good seal surface on your shafts, and go wheelin.

edit: this was post number 2000 for me.

x2, I'd go with the OEM inner seals like we talked about. I wouldn't worry about it, like I said mine ONLY leaked a few drops when I was posing at Carlisle on Adam's tire for half the day. My gear oil is still minty fresh since we did my gear install almost a year ago.

The only reason I would say to get the outer seals is because I hate the thought of plowing mud/muck into the inner seal if you have to pull/install the shafts for whatever reason. I know I was worried about that when we did my ball joints on the trail that night.

 

[foxwar71]

And here you were Bill trying to convince me that when i regear my 60 to upgrade to these cool new seals.

Those outer seals are cool, i was thinking about them myself. As long as the tubes are clean and the shaft splines/seal area is clean, i wouldnt worry about having the regular seal. Most leaks from inner seals are from shafts being forced into place or having dirt/gunk on the splines/seal area that juct chews the seal up. ive had shafts in and out of my 30 at least 15 times, mud and dirt and everything, and only now is it jsut starting to leak a couple of drops once in a while.

 

[MoparManiac]

As long as the tubes are clean

Case and point.



I'd rather be safe than sorry for ~$65.

I know mine haven't gotten bad even with all the crap that got into my tubes, but I just hate having to worry about it.

 

[Begster]

Nope, those seals came from Wayne @ AllJeep. Its not the seals fault, its my axle.

I've placed two different orders from the graveyard for this build, both have been on my doorstep in less than 5 business days.

I wasn't referring to the axle, or to their promptness on shipping. I was saying good luck if you ordered the seals from BG, because as I was telling Rob last night, I ordered seals for my 44. Not only did they send me the wrong ones, they sent me two different ones. They did this on two separate orders for seals (I messed one up installing it, and had to reorder).

Oh, and one of them is already leaking a good amount of oil out the tube. And you know how much I drive mine....

Everything else I received from them had no problems.

 

[RCman]

OK, way behind on updates I know. Lots of things going on lately…

Anyway, first off I got asked about my front limit strap mounts and how they are mounted at the unirail side. Quick pictures explain everything.

The tube/sleeve pictured runs all the way through the rail and welds to a reinforcement plate on the inside. This allows it to be stepped off the rail so the strap doesn’t rub or chafe.

Knuckles. Where to begin? I posted most of this before, but I now understand why most people just buy aftermarket ones for the Fords. This was a pain, especially with 1/4” and MAPP.
Preheat to 250degrees (verified with IR temp gun):

Then weld, cool in sand, smooth the plug welds, primer and paint (sorry for the dark picture):

This gives you an idea of what the side profile is now like were the steering arm used to belong.

Then the rear axle got assembled and put under for the last time.

I also got the t-case linkage all set. Thanks again to Adam (Dundy) for the hookup on the all thread!

The orders for my brand new spindles, gaskets, hoses, belt, SpinTech muffler, etc arrived. Thanks again Chris (vetteboy) for the legwork on the brake line part numbers.

Hopefully I can accomplish a lot this weekend.

 

[5spd_xj]

Hopefully I can accomplish a lot this weekend.

Maybe I'll stop by randomly at some point and see how much I can slow you down :smsoap:

 

[CROSBIKE]

Its always a good sign when you are starting to put coolant hoses on a rig. Means you are almost there. Love the build now rap it up and get to wheeling.

 

[RCman]

Maybe I'll stop by randomly at some point and see how much I can slow you down :smsoap:

Haha! Give me a heads up first.

Its always a good sign when you are starting to put coolant hoses on a rig. Means you are almost there. Love the build now rap it up and get to wheeling.

It is. It does. Thank you. I can't wait.

 

[vetteboy]

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time this thing ran?

 

[RCman]

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time this thing ran?

The engine last ran May 21st 2008.
So 1 year, 9 months, 26 days ago.

 

[POLAR_JEEP_04]

well when you do get it running you gotta post a clip of that spin tech! i have always wanted to know how they sound behind a 4.0 and cant seem to find one anywhere

 

[5spd_xj]

Haha! Give me a heads up first.

nope :moon: