| Continuing on Saturday September 5th, 2009 | ||
| Step 6: Mounting font solid axle mounting hardware to frame | ||
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The solid front axle kit has a prefabricated forward bar with leaf spring hangers and a rear frame hole location and measurement fixture. We proceed to weld the forward bar and drill the rear holes and weld the spring bushing mounts in the new holes. |
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Note the kit supplied template we used to mark the exact position of holes we cut in the frame, for the spring hanger shackles. The fit is exact and the templates help avoid a disastrous mistake. |
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| Step 8: Weld frame support platters | ||
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Extremely beefy frame support platters get welded on both side. Small details such as a window for the stamped frame number is included. The plasma cut steel platters are available in 1/4" or 3/16". When we cut off the mounting hardware we actually weakened the engine mounts which share steel with the IFS. The platters strengthen things beyond original. |
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| Step 9: Weld Axle Ball Gusset kit | ||
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The axle changed from being a stock early truck stock front axle to becoming an extremely beefy go-anywhere rock crawling front axle. There is also the welding of bump stops and front protection hardware. The axle housing gets painted black and hangs there looking impressive. |
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| Step 10: Hang the axle | ||
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Once everything is in place, we can hang the axle. Since we used pre measured templates and pre fabricated front axle hanger assembly, everything fits perfectly. The grease fittings on the spring hanger bushings are nice. |
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More of the story to follow as we progress further. |
