2002 2500HD - Solid Axle Tow Rig

[Croatan_Kid]

Here's some eye candy for the time being.

I haven't been doing "nothing" over the last two years, even if it feels like it. I've been slowly collecting parts to make this as swift of a process as I can. I'm down to the short rows now and some things will inevitably have to happen at a later date.

I still need to get some sound deadener/heat reflective matting, new door speakers, make a hefty Amsoil order for fluids/oils, then I'll give both driveshafts a thorough inspection and send them to be checked out or repaired as necessary. I think they're fine.

Anyway, here's the new WFO frame plates, coilover mounts, pandhard bar bracket, bumpstops, some fuel filters, transmission mount, motor mounts, body mounts, and tires. If money allows, I'll go ahead and do headgaskets, studs, and replace rubber fuel lines on the engine.

I'm pretty pleased with the tires. I think they're gunna look awesome and work out really well! They measure right on 34" unmounted, so I'm thinking 4.10s will work well with them, but I'll verify once they're mounted and see what they measure.

 

[Shreddinlettuce]

Here's some eye candy for the time being.

I haven't been doing "nothing" over the last two years, even if it feels like it. I've been slowly collecting parts to make this as swift of a process as I can. I'm down to the short rows now and some things will inevitably have to happen at a later date.

I still need to get some sound deadener/heat reflective matting, new door speakers, make a hefty Amsoil order for fluids/oils, then I'll give both driveshafts a thorough inspection and send them to be checked out or repaired as necessary. I think they're fine.

Anyway, here's the new WFO frame plates, coilover mounts, pandhard bar bracket, bumpstops, some fuel filters, transmission mount, motor mounts, body mounts, and tires. If money allows, I'll go ahead and do headgaskets, studs, and replace rubber fuel lines on the engine.

I'm pretty pleased with the tires. I think they're gunna look awesome and work out really well! They measure right on 34" unmounted, so I'm thinking 4.10s will work well with them, but I'll verify once they're mounted and see what they measure.

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I don’t think that jb weld gonna hold those frame plates on brotha

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Haaaa. Yeah, it's just laying there!

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Small victories. New batteries will be here tomorrow, which meant I needed to rob the wrecked truck of its battery trays. The ones in the new truck are SHOT.

Got the donor parts removed, gotta clean them and paint them tomorrow, remove the crusty ones from the new truck, and replace with the good ones. I'd have done it this afternoon, but it's cold, dammit!

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Got the new battery trays swapped in, topped off the new batteries, and got everything buttoned up. Amazing how the voltage shows 14.6 now...

 

[Croatan_Kid]

No updates because 18" of snow, but I did go out and start it when it was 10 degrees. It didn't give one, single, solitary inkling of any kind of thing remotely resembling a fawk.

Mission accomplished.

In other news...showed up to work foday for the first time this week. We had 30 hrs of admin leave for the weather, gotta work tomorrow and Saturday for overtime, AND I found out I got a 14k bonus. So, it's definitely about to happen sooner than later!

 

[Croatan_Kid]

These finally showed up and, man, they're gorgeous! I know it's just battery cables, but they're very well made. The attention to detail is phenomenal. The quality of materials is also top notch. The price also reflects that, but I seriously doubt I'd ever have to buy them again.

The main stuff is 1/0 oxygen free, tinned copper wire. There's bolts, washers, star washers, and zip ties included for install. The cables themselves have close to 5000 individual strands, they're nice and flexible, the terminals are hydraulicly crimped, there's good adhesive heat strink, annnnd heat protectors. They really thought of everything!

I also got the "big three" upgrade while I was at it. The alternator charge wire is 2/0 with a 250 amp mini mega fuse inline. I have a 250 amp alternator now and if I go bigger in the future, it's just a matter of changing the fuse amperage. There are also extra ground wires provided. Battery to frame and then frame to the alternator case. Very nice stuff! However, no ra-grets! CE Auto Electric Supply. If you can think of it, they have it. I may hit them up again later on for some other wiring projects I'll have on this truck. The 2 day shipping from AZ is nice too.

Home - CE Auto Electric Supply - Automotive Electrical Solutions

ceautoelectricsupply.com

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Picked up another set of wheels so I can go ahead and mount the new tires. My buddy is going to buy the ones that are on these rims. I lucked out and found these in the housing area of the base where I work. Good price (500 bucks) and only about 6 miles away? I'll take it!

Now I have a set of 3rd Gen and 4th Gen Dodge wheels.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

I'm just before fixin' to leave for a trip up to WV. Literally, walking out the door right now. I couldn't stand the thought of listening to the raggedy ass, driver's side, front speaker. Crutchfield FTMFW! Took me about an hour to do all four, outside, in the dark. Not bad.

Picked up another full set of Kicker DS5 6½ speakers. To my surprise, the ones I pulled out were Kicker CS5s. 6¾ fronts and 4x6 rears. Why anyone would do anything other than 6½s all the way around is beyond me...they fit perfectly.

Didn't take any pictures, but this is when I put them in the last truck. A clip in adapter for the front doors and the rears will screw right in to the factory speaker shrouds like they were meant to go there. I despise finding speakers screwed directly to the door, wire nuts, and the factory wiring connectors missing. Lucky me, that was the case...but everything works now.

 

[jeepinmatt]

I despise finding speakers screwed directly to the door

Clearly you don't understand how to "feel" the bass vibrate throughout your vehicle cuz.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

We in this bitch! The old rig did a fine job. Every trip helps me refine the list of things I want to dial in on round two of the tow rig build. This will likely be its last run before going under the knife. I'm definitely ready for it!