How to fit 14.00r20's (and still have 6wd ;) )

[wanderingwillys]

Thanks guys - Hot rod deuce could you post or PM me the info for the spring shop - thanks.

Gringletaube - My other plan was to add some steel to the inboard edges of the perches to prevent the spring from falling out however it doesn't address the keeper on the top... anyways I was going to do something about it soon...

I added 2" to all the control arms which resulted in a center to center distance of 52" on the rear ends...

Gringletaube and Joec: As for the wheels they are 5-ton combats that I recentered with pieces cut from a factory rim... So they are a true two piece tubeless rim sealed with an o-ring in the middle. I am just using the factory beadlock ring from Hutchinson and the Michelin XL 14.00r20 tire bead boots up and seals like it should. I put up some info on them here:

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?t=27703

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?t=27704

No word on power yet since I have only gotten it up to about 45mph on surface streets in the snow here... Seems peppy enough on the low end... I may work on a different tubo and charge air cooler system to help the power as it only makes 9psi max boost now... I figure with some main cap gridle work I can see 22 to 25 psi - need to take a look at what can be done there... I'd rather beef the OEM multifuel than repower just because of the challenge.

HTH

Matt

 

[Unforgiven]

Gringletaube and others, if I can pick your brains. What kind of steel are the control arms? Are they simply weldable carbon steel? Yes, I understand these particular ones were cut then lengthened. But I'm not that talented of a welder. Do you know of any longer control arms from other types of trucks that could be a bolt up istead of a chop & weld?

 

[jesusgatos]

People have suggested using 5-ton control arms.

 

[Unforgiven]

jesus,

I thought the 5 tons were some kind of air-ride suspension. Do they have a similar setup to the M35? That would be fantastic if 5 ton arms would fit. All that would be required would be a spring shop to custom cut a few extra-long leafs for the spring pack. 5 tons run very large tires stock right? So the rear spread must be about a foot or so wider than the Deuce.

 

[jesusgatos]

Same setup as the deuces, just bigger/longer/heavier. You could probably use the springs too, just need to tune them for the (lack of) weight. At that point, I'd want to just install the 5-ton axles along with the whole suspension and bogey...

 

[Unforgiven]

But the 5 tons have air brakes right? That would require a commercial driver's license & make incompatible braking with the front axle.

You wouldn't happen to know where a photo of the 5 ton rear assembly can be found would you? I've been searching for almost an hour with no luck.

 

[jesusgatos]

You'd obviously need to use the front axle too, but there are a lot of benefits there (5-ton vs. 2.5-ton rockwells), and the 800-series did not have air brakes.

 

[Unforgiven]

The only problems I see in using the 5 ton axles are 1-finding the complete assembly with springs and hangers, likewise front ... 2-the pumpkin is on the opposite drop as the transfer case ... & 3-they don't make ARB's for 5 ton pumpkins. But, I certainly would love to know if 5 ton control arms & springs fit the 2.5 axles that's for sure.

 

[gringeltaube]

......What kind of steel are the control arms? Are they simply weldable carbon steel?

The material of the old style rods (= round section) sure IS - the newer (I-beam style) SHOULD BE - perfectly weldable with MIG or adecuate stick.

Personally I've only built a set of the old ones, each extended 2" to be able to run 14.00s. Once painted one could hardly tell where the weld was.
No experience with the newer ones but I have seen them welded/extended also.

G.

 

[wehring]

very nicely done

very nicely done. Second the articulation caution but it sounds like you are on it.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

 

[cessnatwin]

that is one good looking truck.

 

[wanderingwillys]

Thanks guys - I did use the late model H beam control arms and just ended up cutting them off set so there is only one weld - basically took 7 arms and made 6 from them. The steel is weldable - ended up using some 7018 and adding some 3/4" round bar splices in the web of the H - about 4" of round bar on each side...

 

[Stalwart]

I missed this tread before, good job as usual Matt!

 

[jblack6527]

Looks good!
And here I thought I was making a lot of progress on Saturday just removing three wheels/tires and putting one back on.

 

[wanderingwillys]

I missed this tread before, good job as usual Matt!

Thanks Stuart - got to spend 6 days back in seattle before I went back up to Ketchikan but got the M31-c finished for the willys and installed a pertronix and 40,000 volt 3 ohm coil - runs and drives nicely now...

Matt

 

[Unforgiven]

I read a post on here last year where someone found a spring shop that made custom leaves.

The idea was to remove the two, short, top leaves in the rear spring pack. Two custom, longer leaves are then placed in the stack to allow for spreading the tandem axles farther apart w/ lengthened control arms.

I think it was a spring shop in Michigan or somewhere. Does anyone remember that post? I can't find it in the Search anywhere.

 

[jesusgatos]

I read a post on here last year where someone found a spring shop that made custom leaves.

The idea was to remove the two, short, top leaves in the rear spring pack. Two custom, longer leaves are then placed in the stack to allow for spreading the tandem axles farther apart w/ lengthened control arms.

I think it was a spring shop in Michigan or somewhere. Does anyone remember that post? I can't find it in the Search anywhere.

Try Deaver

 

[Flat Black]

Right here in this thread: (towards bottom of page two)

Zenith spring In Duluth Mn. can get you the longer springs you need. Mine are like 64-66 inches. I bought 4 and took two little ones out of each side. They were around 300 for the set I think.

 

[Unforgiven]

Thanks, I missed that.

 

[Hooty481]

Nice Truck looking to do the same thing to mine...