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HanksDeuce: 8" Lift, Bobbed, External Cage, A/C and more Project!

DHennon

Member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
Orlando, Fl
Nice Job, Hank. Looking forward to seeing it finished. Still working on my a/c and will let you know when I have made enough progress to post pics. Evaporator is almost ready to go in. I have been putting off the compressor install as it has really been nice and I wanted to get some drive time in first.
 

Skinny

Well-known member
2,130
488
83
Location
Portsmouth, NH
If you have a few hundred bucks kicking around, look up the mini ductor. Great tool for heating up metal parts without burning near by items. I use it all the time on under car stuff without worrying about burning a fuel tank, line, or seals. Works great for heating up steering box nuts and pitman arms without popping the seal. I live in Maine so I use it every day on rusty junk.
 

HanksDeuce

Well-known member
1,081
242
63
Location
Prairieville, LA
That Mini Ductor is a really neat tool! I might end up buying one someday.

For now, I'm probably going to torch the splined shaft off the stock deuce gearbox so I can remove it without taking the engine out. This will all happen if I decide to go the power steering route with external Saginaw 710 box. Timntrucks said a friend removed his pitman arm with a gear puller with no problems.
 

HanksDeuce

Well-known member
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242
63
Location
Prairieville, LA
Lots of work completed in the last few days. Timntrucks is amazing!

The front suspension was completed and the deuce was raised up to fit the 53" Michelin XZLs. I didn't take a picture, but the front suspension rear brackets have a flanged (removable) cross tube that allows removal of the transmission. Time flies by so fast when working on the deuce. I got a chance to climb in the cab to experience the new found height and I forgot to make "whistler turbo" noises! :D

Picture comments:
1) The master at work.
2) Front suspension, rear Black Rock Fab spring hangers in place.
3) Front suspension, front spring hanger location to be cleaned up, drilled, etc.
4) Front spring hangers and bump stop bracket in place. So close!
5) Timntrucks welding the spring hanger backing plates and cross tubes.
6) Front and rear spring hanger cover plates.
7) Quick shot of the side before the sun goes down. Cleanup time!
8. Night shot after tools and area were cleaned up.
9) Front quarter shot after cleanup.
10) Front shot as the sun went down.

Still lots left to do!
 

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littlebob

New member
1,548
26
0
Location
Baton Rouge LA
Looking Good! I'm sure all the detail work will go faster once you get it home and can work on it every day. I'm sure your wife's going to love that as much as mine did.
 

3dAngus

Well-known member
4,719
101
63
Location
Perry, Ga.
Dang. Don stole my words after I just spent the last 30 minutes reading all these posts.

One "fine" looking truck for sure. I love it. Fully subscribed here.
Thanks for the full history and all the work and joy you share here with fellow SS members.
This is what makes this site so fantastic. And for TimNTrucks too, you're a real fine fella. Great work!:)

I'm rating this thread the full five stars.
 

m-35tom

Well-known member
Supporting Vendor
3,021
222
63
Location
eldersburg maryland
pitman arm puller made by snap-on or otc, looks like this. comes in several sizes, the correct size fits well and will pull the arm right off easily. this is the style i have always used.
tom
 

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HanksDeuce

Well-known member
1,081
242
63
Location
Prairieville, LA
I ordered custom length steel braided brake lines with black sheaths from Connector Specialists in Baton Rouge, LA. They in turn sent my stock hoses to their Pearl, MS branch for fabrication. The lines are certified for DOT brake use and they are designed for a maximum pressure of 3000 psi. The deuce system only generates a maximum of 1900psi (source pg. 12).

The next day Connector Specialists (Pearl, MS) called and told me the price.

- Two new front brake lines (axle/wheel, stock length)
- One new custom length line from the frame fitting down to the front axle (36")
- One new custom length line from the frame fitting down to the rear axle (60")

$106.00 :shock: That's approximately $0.58 per inch. Some on-line places wanted $1.75 per inch to fab the lines and 7-10 days lead time!

:doghead: :beer:

I paid for overnight shipping of the internal thread fittings for the front brake axle/wheel lines because they did not have those in stock.

Total out the door with taxes, $157.76

Pictures tomorrow! I need to build a power bleeder too.

Black Rock Fab shipped out my custom 8" rise steering arm today. It should be here Saturday afternoon. I might get to drive the deuce this weekend!
 
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HanksDeuce

Well-known member
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242
63
Location
Prairieville, LA
Well, after many many rotations of the earth & moon I drove my bobbed deuce home from Timntrucks house to mine. I made sure to do a thorough check of EVERYTHING before I got on the road.

  • Connect battery cables
  • Oil check
  • Coolant check
  • Brake fluid check
  • Fuel level check
  • Leak check
  • Loose wires/hoses check
  • Bolt torque check
  • Crank engine
  • Repeat Leak check
  • Test brakes after building air pressure
  • Brake fluid check
  • Grease steering components, front axle and driveshafts
  • Remove chocks
  • Release parking brake
  • Drive slow in Timntrucks driveway and test brakes
  • Load up all my tools and other stuff
  • Drive home!
Picture comments:
1) Rear driveshaft 62 3/4" long (made by Margot Truck & Trailer Service)
2) Front driveshaft (no modifications necessary)
3) Setup for drilling top and bottom of frame rail for rear bumper assembly
4) Stainless braided brake lines (Connector Specialists)
5) Rear brake line bracket
6) 8" lift steering arm with longer studs (Black Rock Fab)
7) Side shot at home
8. Corner shot at home
9) Profile shot with my 2003 Ford Expedition

Next up is to install the power steering kit from Waterloo Specialties, the A/C kit from stonepicker and paint it!
 

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