I'm back in the IDI game!

homelessduck

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I'll get this engine pulled and torn down soon. Depending on how bad this engine looks I may just drive the parts up to you instead of shipping them, and check out your engine.
 

homelessduck

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This thing is locked up pretty good. I have all cylinders soaking in penetrating oil. I tried to use the flywheel turner to rotate it but because of the tooth design on the ring gear it won't work. So I guess it's time to make a tool to rotate it.
 

DaveBen

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You can use a socket wrench on the lower crankshaft dampener and turn it from the front of the truck, without crawling under the truck.
 

homelessduck

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I finally got around to making a tool to rotate the engine. It's one of the uglier tools I've made but it got the job done :D .

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I rotated it many, many times by hand and then tossed the batteries in to spin it over and get the compression test done....and the starter is toast. It's probably frozen up from sitting :frustrate
 

homelessduck

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I ran to town today and grabbed a new starter. Came home and tossed it in and it spun over great! I started doing the compression test and realized I won't be able to do them all without pulling the injector lines so I just did a few for now. The first two cylinders were 455 and 470. The next cylinder ( #6 ) was 250. So I decided to toss some old glow plugs in and see if it would fire... It fired right up! I still need to pull the engine and at least have the heads checked out , new gaskets and probably studs. But it runs! :Thumbs Up

Sorry about the crappy video. It was raining and wigging the phone out. :D
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homelessduck

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I started installing the lift kit the other day. The kit comes with 7/16 bolts for the axle pivot bracket support brackets. The instructions and their website says to torque them to 70 ft lbs. They are grade 5 and should only be torqued to 45-50 lbs. I knew it didn't feel right but decided to go with what the instructions said and the bolt broke at 60 lbs. I called them to see if the torque specs were wrong or if they sent me the wrong grade bolts ( grade 8 7/16 is 70 ft lbs ) , and they said they are the correct grade, incorrect torque specs. Their customer support was great and they are sending me new bolts.
 

homelessduck

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Man this lift kit is starting to really frustrate me. First the torque specs were wrong so I broke a bolt, then the spring center pin nut was too large for the spring plate. Neither were a huge deal but still frustrating. They sent me new bolts and a $50 credit for having to drill out the plates, which I can't complain about. Now I cannot get the springs to compress at all. I have the full weight of the truck on the springs and they will not budge. Any suggestions? I hope this 90*+ heat is just getting to me and making me miss something simple...


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Selahdoor

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Undo the front end of the springs.

Attach the springs to the axle.

Now jack it up and attach the front end of the springs.

I suggest this, because it is usually easier getting a grip with ratchet straps and pry bars and such, to wrassle the front ends of those springs back in place, than trying to compress the springs as they are.
 

The_Josh_Bear

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I don't know much about aftermarket suspension stuff but it's starting to sound like you got the wrong spring kit. Or at least the wrong springs with the correct hardware. The full weight of the pickup should compress them a couple inches at least. And the centering holes should be the right size.

You might try throwing on the u-bolts and hitting them with the impact until snug(to stay safe) and then jacking up the axle and dropping the jack as fast as possible. Maybe they are stuck from the paint job or rust inside/under the paint. I only work on my stock rig with add-a-leafs but this is how I get the springs back under torsion. I've just hit it with the impact until everything is tight. Drive around a bit and snug up again.

That's pretty crazy that you can't get them to compress! An IDI has nearly 4,000lbs over the front axle all the time. Even if it was the wrong kit most pickups wouldn't weigh any more than that.
 

homelessduck

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Undo the front end of the springs.

Attach the springs to the axle.

Now jack it up and attach the front end of the springs.

I suggest this, because it is usually easier getting a grip with ratchet straps and pry bars and such, to wrassle the front ends of those springs back in place, than trying to compress the springs as they are.

I tried that , among various other things. Ultimately, even if I get everything bolted up, the spring pack still will not compress any more, and the angle of the axle tubes are not even close to being reasonable for ride height.


I don't know much about aftermarket suspension stuff but it's starting to sound like you got the wrong spring kit. Or at least the wrong springs with the correct hardware. The full weight of the pickup should compress them a couple inches at least. And the centering holes should be the right size.

You might try throwing on the u-bolts and hitting them with the impact until snug(to stay safe) and then jacking up the axle and dropping the jack as fast as possible. Maybe they are stuck from the paint job or rust inside/under the paint. I only work on my stock rig with add-a-leafs but this is how I get the springs back under torsion. I've just hit it with the impact until everything is tight. Drive around a bit and snug up again.

That's pretty crazy that you can't get them to compress! An IDI has nearly 4,000lbs over the front axle all the time. Even if it was the wrong kit most pickups wouldn't weigh any more than that.

I definitely think they either sent me springs with too much lift, or too short of drop brackets. The springs did compress some, but where they are right now is the absolute max they will compress, which isn't enough to set things where they should be. even if I forced things to get the ubolts on I would still have the problem of the springs not compressing enough.


Step one: replace lift kit with a proper lift kit (Dana 60)

I should have just done that from the beginning. I don't mind a TTB axle at all, they actually work very well when everything is in good condition. But if I had known this kit would be such a PITA I would have just gone the d60 route. Unfortunately I am stuck with this choice now and need to make it work.
 

homelessduck

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Well, I just spoke with Rough Country and sent them pictures. They said " They will settle over time" . I know they will settle some, but it isn't even at an acceptable angle to be driven. Even IF the most aggressive alignment could get the tires at an acceptable angle it would still ride like absolute sh*t and have to be aligned a few times as they settle....
 

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