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tbecktold

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Posts posted by tbecktold

  1. O rly...you mean a Ford d44 with the cast-on RA brackets?

     

    One idea would use Ford axle/arms/springs/shocks. It would be somewhat easy to build with a proven design (40 years). Go to a JY and pull all the Ford stuff for a reasonable price. Here are the fabricated brackets needed to make this build work.. so to speak.

  2. Trent has a spring under setup on the front of his HB. It gets fairly close for the amount of work. However rigs drive smoother/nicer with a spring/track bar rig.

     

    Troof. My springs are a little forward of most and I'm still about 3" higher than Ryan's pic below. My 37s measure out to 35.5" tall in front (worn) and his SSRs are probably a true 35", just to give an idea.

     

    100_1865800x600.jpg

  3. Mookie has leaf springs front and rear on his Pathy and it seems to work pretty well.

     

    On my HB I run Rancho 44044s up front SUA and Waggy stock leaves out back SOA, it flexes well also.

     

    Like somebody else said, RUF (Rears Up Front) is really common in Toyota builds, usually used with Chevy 63" springs from a 1/2 ton pickup in the back.

  4. What did you do for the brake line conversion?

    I had custom brakelines made, at first I tried using all the adapters and stainless lines like Barry did, but eventually went to custom-made rubber lines. Personal preference.

     

    What did you do for the drive shaft conversion?

    I had Barry build me a driveshaft, my front axle is further forward of where Calmini intended so the typical adapter/XJ shaft wouldn't work.

     

    Where did you get your new gears for the axle? and What gears do you recomend i use for 35" tires?

    I bought used 4.88s for the front off a local forum, and used 4.9s from an Xterra off a guy on nissan4wheelers. For 35s I'd recommend 4.88/4.9s or 5.13/5.14s, either should work alright.

     

    How did you attach the steering linkage to the steering box/ pitman arm?

    I tapered an extra Nissan pitman arm to fit the Waggy TREs, I think any TRE from a Dana 44 is the same (older Jeep/Chevy/etc). Sometimes Calmini will sell their beefy pitman arms singly, I would get one and taper it if I had to do it again.

     

    What did you do for shocks and shock mounts?

    I used some Trail Gear shock mounts and chopped them a little to fit the frame. Then I flexed out the truck and measured for compression and extension, and got the appropriate shocks. I got cheap ones but people usually go for something nice like Rancho RS5000s or RS9000s.

     

    What spring or leafs did you use?

    I used Rancho 44044s SUA, moved ahead about 4" from where Calmini wants it. I get a little bumpsteer and the hanger sits a little further forward of where I'd like, but I like the way it wheels and flexes and the 34s (TrXus) stay out of the fenders with no bumpstops on my HB. With the way the frame bends and the shackles forward of the body mount, I switched the shackles side to side, and they work great.

     

    The Calmini truck uses 44044s with one spring removed, SOA. I didn't have a problem with bolts as someone suggested, and I don't see how the Calmini shackle in any position would keep from hitting the frame, or needing a window cut in it. My shackles hit the frame a little bit but it hasn't caused any big issues yet.

     

    It sits a little lower than this now, with a slightly better rear shackle angle.

    truck1.jpg

     

    Dirty chopped TG shock hoops

    tgshockhoop.jpg

     

    An idea of how far forward the front hanger is

    truck2.jpg

  5. in Seattle

    l_05d9a23957bc461f8d828b89f3d3ee26.jpg

     

    Hosted by myspace, I will rehost later. There are a bunch of pics, this is just one.

    It's at Campbell Nelson Auto Wrecking, 888-337-7757, ask for Dave.

     

    Anybody know what happened?

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