silverstate55
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Finished lots of little details today: ran the new horn wire & wrapped it for protection; installed the horn button in the new steering wheel; ran a separate ground wire from the flasher lever on the steering column to a good grounding point on the firewall; relocated the flasher unit from the fender to the firewall; soldered several connection points (all ground wires) that needed it; created a new ground wire for the driver's side BO light; wrapped the main wiring harness on the firewall in 3/4-inch heater hose to prevent rubbing/chafing on flasher unit; reinstalled compressor air pipe and related accessories; cut the required notches on the inner driver's side fender to clear the new P/S box & column, then reinstalled the fender & reconnected all wiring.
I also installed the Pitman Arm & Drag Link to complete the power steering conversion (using the kit from Waterloo Specialties). I supported the front axle on my 2 10-ton jackstands and bled the system with the engine off, by turning lock-to-lock 50 times. I used 4 quarts of power steering fluid total, which I thought wouldn't be enough...M-35Tom says 2-3 quarts will do the trick, and he's right. I just wanted a little extra in case it "settles in" over time and I don't want any surprises. There are no leaks at all, everything is cinched down nice and snug.
I reinstalled the left front wheel/tire and fired the engine up, then turned lock-to-lock with the front end off the ground for another 25 times. After removing the jackstands, I took it for a test drive around the neighborhood (and after obtaining a temporary movement permit from the nearby DMV so I can finally get it titled & registered tomorrow). The power steering worked immediately, and I am very very happy with it. I am also very impressed, it wasn't difficult at all to install and was well worth the effort. This is the single best improvement I've done to this truck, and makes it so much more driveable.
After the test drive, I checked for potential problems or loose nuts/bolts...finding none, I headed off to the local scrap yard to unload the back of the truck bed to hopefully generate some funds for registration tomorrow, then I went by the nearby truck stop across their scales (just in case, as long as this truck weighs in over 14K pounds it is smog-exempt in NV). It weighed in at 16,500 pounds!!! Holy mackerel!
The big super singles definitely slow the engine down RPM-wise as well as speed-wise. It doesn't get up to speed quickly at all, but once it does it drives well. There is NO wandering nor bump-steer, the power steering conversion really works very well for driving. I am impressed and happy to be driving my Deuce finally!
I do need to get a hard top though, and new insulation for the cab...not to mention a muffler. This sucker is LOUD! But I'm very happy, and now I can start troubleshooting all the remaining little problems: several gauges don't work, I have no dash lights, need to replace the flasher unit, etc...
I also installed the Pitman Arm & Drag Link to complete the power steering conversion (using the kit from Waterloo Specialties). I supported the front axle on my 2 10-ton jackstands and bled the system with the engine off, by turning lock-to-lock 50 times. I used 4 quarts of power steering fluid total, which I thought wouldn't be enough...M-35Tom says 2-3 quarts will do the trick, and he's right. I just wanted a little extra in case it "settles in" over time and I don't want any surprises. There are no leaks at all, everything is cinched down nice and snug.
I reinstalled the left front wheel/tire and fired the engine up, then turned lock-to-lock with the front end off the ground for another 25 times. After removing the jackstands, I took it for a test drive around the neighborhood (and after obtaining a temporary movement permit from the nearby DMV so I can finally get it titled & registered tomorrow). The power steering worked immediately, and I am very very happy with it. I am also very impressed, it wasn't difficult at all to install and was well worth the effort. This is the single best improvement I've done to this truck, and makes it so much more driveable.
After the test drive, I checked for potential problems or loose nuts/bolts...finding none, I headed off to the local scrap yard to unload the back of the truck bed to hopefully generate some funds for registration tomorrow, then I went by the nearby truck stop across their scales (just in case, as long as this truck weighs in over 14K pounds it is smog-exempt in NV). It weighed in at 16,500 pounds!!! Holy mackerel!
The big super singles definitely slow the engine down RPM-wise as well as speed-wise. It doesn't get up to speed quickly at all, but once it does it drives well. There is NO wandering nor bump-steer, the power steering conversion really works very well for driving. I am impressed and happy to be driving my Deuce finally!
I do need to get a hard top though, and new insulation for the cab...not to mention a muffler. This sucker is LOUD! But I'm very happy, and now I can start troubleshooting all the remaining little problems: several gauges don't work, I have no dash lights, need to replace the flasher unit, etc...
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