bigstacks95
Diesel Doc
Since I was already set on going to a drop box this winter, I figured I might as well do the front axle as well. I can't wait to see how this thing works out, it seems like its come out really well so far. Here's a rundown.
Started with a 2.5 ton military toploader axle and an F106 someone had chopped the axle tubes and spindles off of. Got the toploader for $300, the F106 housing for free, and the F106 dropout and carrier for $250 bucks. Chopped it all apart with a handheld band saw and made some aluminum pucks to go into the F106 dropout and toploader spindles which fit a 1-1/4" piece of DOM tubing through.
Mocked up on the shop floor. As you can see the F106 was cut off way to narrow but I was bound and determined to make it work.
Also picked up a pair of 16 spline TRB axle shafts from an old time modified 4wd puller for $400 bucks. They were pickled in wooden boxes, covered in axle grease, and came with a set of locking hubs. Score!
Here's the housing all welded up and frenched together. I used some 3/8 and 1/2" flat pieces to make the transitions. Not the smoothest but it wont break!
Also cut what was left of the oem 2.5 ton steering stuff off
I found these nice Rockwell four-link brackets from Ballistic fabrication for like 70 bucks. Well worth it to me.
Mocked up four-link and steering cylinder mount, which I ended up having to flip to the other side since the cylinder inlet and outlet ports would have hit the tie rod.
First time under the truck. I cut the crossmember under the engine out and flipped the oil pan around. I googled "Cummins Front Sump Oil Pickup Tube" and came up with one from a 4B application that fits perfectly, its about a half inch off the bottom of the pan which is good enough for me.
Yes those are tractor links. I have been running tractor link lower control arms for years with the Dana 60, so I figured they'd hold up at least long enough to get a few passes on the truck and give me a chance to build some nice ones later on.
Mocking up the front suspension, I was originally going to make a bucket to run the stock coil in, but ran out of room and figured I'd bite the bullet and go with coil overs. These aren't Afco's but they are double adjustable and fit a standard 12" coil-over spring, and were only $189 a piece. The springs are about $50 each.
Excuse the splatter
To be continued....
Started with a 2.5 ton military toploader axle and an F106 someone had chopped the axle tubes and spindles off of. Got the toploader for $300, the F106 housing for free, and the F106 dropout and carrier for $250 bucks. Chopped it all apart with a handheld band saw and made some aluminum pucks to go into the F106 dropout and toploader spindles which fit a 1-1/4" piece of DOM tubing through.
Mocked up on the shop floor. As you can see the F106 was cut off way to narrow but I was bound and determined to make it work.
Also picked up a pair of 16 spline TRB axle shafts from an old time modified 4wd puller for $400 bucks. They were pickled in wooden boxes, covered in axle grease, and came with a set of locking hubs. Score!
Here's the housing all welded up and frenched together. I used some 3/8 and 1/2" flat pieces to make the transitions. Not the smoothest but it wont break!
Also cut what was left of the oem 2.5 ton steering stuff off
I found these nice Rockwell four-link brackets from Ballistic fabrication for like 70 bucks. Well worth it to me.
Mocked up four-link and steering cylinder mount, which I ended up having to flip to the other side since the cylinder inlet and outlet ports would have hit the tie rod.
First time under the truck. I cut the crossmember under the engine out and flipped the oil pan around. I googled "Cummins Front Sump Oil Pickup Tube" and came up with one from a 4B application that fits perfectly, its about a half inch off the bottom of the pan which is good enough for me.
Yes those are tractor links. I have been running tractor link lower control arms for years with the Dana 60, so I figured they'd hold up at least long enough to get a few passes on the truck and give me a chance to build some nice ones later on.
Mocking up the front suspension, I was originally going to make a bucket to run the stock coil in, but ran out of room and figured I'd bite the bullet and go with coil overs. These aren't Afco's but they are double adjustable and fit a standard 12" coil-over spring, and were only $189 a piece. The springs are about $50 each.
Excuse the splatter
To be continued....
