new from MD

[350TacoZilla]

well its at the no turning back stage! truck is officially 2 axles now. I got the tandem setup out today and moved my rear crossmember up to its new location, didnt get new springs on yet so truck is blocked up for now but next day off I plan to mount the springs and set it down on own weight again. I had been back and forth on what length bed would look right since I was sliding bed forward almost 1 foot, seems like I will end up with a 9'6" bed and bed will come right to end of frame not hang over like stock. ( I also do not plan to put the bumperettes back on.) In the first pic (with truck facing away from camera) the jack handle is about at the cut off point for frame to give idea of overall length.
I will try to take camera down and get real pics instead of crappy cell ones.

 

[jcappeljr]

Looking good.You have the hard part done.

 

[350TacoZilla]

Thanks john. I think the hardest part was that massive center crossmember with its 9 million rivets (ok maybe few less) that wouldn't punch out even after cutting off the heads and grinding smooth. Any idea what the tandem setup and rear axle would weigh? our skid steer is rated to pick up something like 1800lbs and it would pop back tires off ground. I'm guessing at 2100 pounds with the 4 tires

 

[jcappeljr]

Each tire and wheel weigh around 230 lbs each.

 

[350TacoZilla]

UPDATE

got frame cut down and rear crossmember in final spot, the bed looks like it will be 9'6" on nose like originally planned



now if I can just get those air cans rotated like everyone else I will be good, right now axle is sitting on wood black to keep springs from hitting.

 

[350TacoZilla]

well just got back with my 16.00r20 XZL's (no pics since it was dark by time I got back) now the hunt for fmtv rims continues or switch to completely different wheels.

 

[350TacoZilla]

Worked today so didn't get much done for truck, got 6 of the old g177's broke down off rims and got my temp wheels mounted up for back (2 more matching 425/65/22.5's like on front but on standard rig 22.5x8.25 wheels) till I can get some combats or fmtv's.

I rolled a xzl up to truck for quick comparison pic.I honestly cant believe the difference in how much they fill the fenderwell up and I have had 16.00r20 goodyears before so not new to the large tire game.

 

[350TacoZilla]

also here is a comparison between the 11r20's and the 425's so you can see the 425 are not small....just look it on the 923. both of these tires are off rims with no air or weight obviously..

 

[350TacoZilla]

worked on finishing bob job today on truck and started out fine I got the cans rotated, axle centered,springs in place and bolted tight,and then noticed I had put the wrong rear back into truck (I put the one without the abs sensors in it back in) so using skid loader I go to get correct axle and axle slides off end of fork and I take out both air cans (luckily I was in skid steer cause the main spring shot out like many people know can happen). I now have the option of either taking apart the brake cans from axle under truck (the factory middle axle) and putting them into the rear rear axle and then swapping axles out from under truck OR taking brakes apart on both axles and putting abs into the axle under truck off the spare axle. I am thinking the second option since it was pain to get axle under there in first place.

Any tips on how the abs is in there?

 

[350TacoZilla]

Ok so today I took rear back out of truck, put correct rear in, switched air cans from one rear to other, rotated cans to clear springs, and plumbed the air lines except a few I need to get longer lines for so i basically got back to the place I was yesterday after about 9 hrs of work today. 1 step forward 2 steps back some days.

 

[chrisshenk]

have a m932a2 in westminster, MD

 

[350TacoZilla]

Cool good to see more of the MV's in general area I would like to attend one of the get togethers someday soon.

update on truck is I got bed cut down and the header slid into new spot and tacked into place for today, hope tomorrow to get welding finished and get bed in place.