The Little Blue Truck

Doing my part
An den...
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Jody Treadway said:
That's syphilis dude. Ain't got nothing to do with me
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Damn, that’s not what the tour guide told me this would be like.

All BS aside, I’m thankful for you being the person handling the axle build. It’s nice to know the axles won’t ever be the problem.
 
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So… just in case…

Explain me what truss and full hydro mount would you use for a Chevy Dana 60 and why… just in case I was entertaining a three link with a PSC double ended ram.
 
frankenyoter said:
So… just in case…

Explain me what truss and full hydro mount would you use for a Chevy Dana 60 and why… just in case I was entertaining a three link with a PSC double ended ram.
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That double ended ram, along with it's massive mount, will greatly complicate packaging working around that pesky track bar needed with a 3 link.
 
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Stuntman Autoworks said:
If you plan to go full hydro just go ahead and skip the 3 link and do a 4 link.
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And try to use ORI's rather than coilovers if possible (no bumpstops, limit straps, and they are thinner and easier to package) . There's a lot of fitment and packaging because room to work with is scarce. I did my 60 3 link with coilovers and man what a math and trial and error project! BTW I have a TMR Ram mount still in the box if you want to go that route. I'll sell for half price. I used the TMR truss also.
 
Stuntman Autoworks said:
If you plan to go full hydro just go ahead and skip the 3 link and do a 4 link.
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On a framed truck like his, building a triangulated 4 link up front would be a huge undertaking. The packaging with a 3 link and a singled ended ram would be easier and very effective.
Same as my truck's setup for the last 10 years
 
Shreddinlettuce said:
If you plan to three link start with these and wrap some plate around where the third link mount will be, and add some bracing to the shock hoops

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Toyota 4wd Pickup 1979-85 Frame Plates | WFOConcepts.com

Find Toyota 4wd Pickup 1979-85 Frame Plates at WFOConcepts.com
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I would actually skip this and chop the frame off right where it curves up and in and replace it with square tube. I did that when I did my solid axle swap and it worked out great. You start with a clean slate and can get more up travel then working around the factory frame. Pretty common with the Tacoma guys, if I did mine again I would add a bend on the pax side for more steering clearance, but that's easy.
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gslander said:
I would actually skip this and chop the frame off right where it curves up and in and replace it with square tube. I did that when I did my solid axle swap and it worked out great. You start with a clean slate and can get more up travel then working around the factory frame. Pretty common with the Tacoma guys, if I did mine again I would add a bend on the pax side for more steering clearance, but that's easy.
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He already has a steering box located or I’d 100% agree. The frame plates mean he can keep the steering shaft in place
 
Shreddinlettuce said:
He already has a steering box located of I’d 100% agree. The frame plates mean he can keep the steering shaft in place
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Thats no problemo. That's a Toyota steering box brace/mount kit that I slapped on mine after ditching the ford forward swing box that used to be on here when I did the initial swap.
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Jody Treadway said:
On a framed truck like his, building a triangulated 4 link up front would be a huge undertaking. The packaging with a 3 link and a singled ended ram would be easier and very effective.
Same as my truck's setup for the last 10 years
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I know yours is 3 link, but it also almost destroyed everything in the front when 1 bolt broke up on top of the ridge in Windrock. Packaging a 4 link will be a little tougher but remember my buggy still uses the factory samurai frame rails up to the motor mounts, so my 4 link is squeezed onto the same axle with arguably a smaller frame and area to work with and it works. A 3 link will work, the 4 link will be stronger.
 
frankenyoter said:
So… just in case…

Explain me what truss and full hydro mount would you use for a Chevy Dana 60 and why… just in case I was entertaining a three link with a PSC double ended ram.
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My 3 link with full hydro is freshly done from earlier this year and will be clean enough to see at the Veterans ride and I'll be glad to walk you thru the fitment and issues that I had. Caver's single ended ram will also be there for your viewing pleasure to get an idea on that.
 
Stuntman Autoworks said:
I know yours is 3 link, but it also almost destroyed everything in the front when 1 bolt broke up on top of the ridge in Windrock. Packaging a 4 link will be a little tougher but remember my buggy still uses the factory samurai frame rails up to the motor mounts, so my 4 link is squeezed onto the same axle with arguably a smaller frame and area to work with and it works. A 3 link will work, the 4 link will be stronger.
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True and my new build will be/is traingulated 4 link. But it has a toob chassis.
In Mike's case, I also know time is a driving factor. He wants to wheel and not have a 2 month ton swap turned into a 2 year project bouncing from shop to shop.
I still vote for him to do a simple ton swap with Sky or whoever's leaf spring hanger, single ended full hyrdo and be wheeling the thing Jan 1.
 
R Q said:
My 3 link with full hydro is freshly done from earlier this year and will be clean enough to see at the Veterans ride and I'll be glad to walk you thru the fitment and issues that I had. Caver's single ended ram will also be there for your viewing pleasure to get an idea on that.
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Sent Mike these pics yesterday. My 3 link, full hydro, single ended setup has been trouble free and the steering response/effort is perfect. So much that I'm keeping the exact same setup on the new build (ram, mount, tie rod, etc).
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Jody Treadway said:
True and my new build will be/is traingulated 4 link. But it has a toob chassis.
In Mike's case, I also know time is a driving factor. He wants to wheel and not have a 2 month ton swap turned into a 2 year project bouncing from shop to shop.
I still vote for him to do a simple ton swap with Sky or whoever's leaf spring hanger, single ended full hyrdo and be wheeling the thing Jan 1.
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Truth! My simple winter 2023 ton swap and front link job turned into a full blown total 18 month redo because that's just what can happen. And I did all the work myself with just a little help from friends at needed times.
 
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gslander said:
Thats no problemo. That's a Toyota steering box brace/mount kit that I slapped on mine after ditching the ford forward swing box that used to be on here when I did the initial swap.
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Honestly at that point I’d just get a Saginaw box so you have more pitman arm options, but thats more time/work to locate a box and mess with a steering linkage that’s already there. With frame plates he doesn’t even have to worry about squaring up tubes as simple as it may be it takes time and effort and can result in unintended consequences (read cobwebs)
 
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