afFORDable build

JAKRANCH

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Hello all, wanted to start a build thread for my 85 6.9 super cab. I won't be able to actually make any forward progress till school gets over in December but I wanted to lay out previous modifications, and long term plans.
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Unfortunately I got hit on the passenger side rear tire in September. Damage to the truck was a broken leaf spring, broken shock, sway bar end, and the bed is quite crumpled. Before this incident I had installed a zf5 and previous owners had installed a manual glow plug switch and a banks power pack n/a intake. Short term plans are to replace broken suspension parts and put on a flatbed. After that I have other vehicles to focus on. Long term plans include turbo/inter cooler and head stud install with appropriate gauges. As well as a Dana 60 swap(currently 3.55s when switching axles may change to 4.10s) with bigger tires and possibly lockers,custom front bumper, more comfortable seats, and possibly a rebuild on the zf5.
Nothing too crazy, but i did want to write it down and start recording as i went along. Current progress since the wreck has been to inspect the frame and PB blaster all involved hardware several times. knock on wood it all comes apart easy when I finally get the professors off my back.
 

JAKRANCH

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Unfortunately no, had minimum coverage. Max coverage is enough to buy a new to me idi every couple years.
 

saburai

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I've had great success with multiple applications of PB Blaster over a few months. I've had bolts easily come loose that I thought would never budge. I'm talking about a liberal spraying every week or two for 3-4 months. Good luck with your build!
 

JAKRANCH

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Over the last couple weeks progress has been made! Pulled donor leaf sprints off a buddies truck in the snow. Froze our butts off. Got the pass side tore apart and discovered the bushings O'Reilly's had listed were wrong. :backoffSo now I've got a set of Energy's due in a week from Amazon. Along with new u bolts hopefully she'll be good as new.
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JAKRANCH

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Before and after, test driven and going down the road straight!
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New rear shocks, leaf springs (to the truck), and bolts and bushings. Upgrades for the immediate future are front shocks sway bar ends, and a flatbed. Wife reported stupid grin as I set the truck back on a functional axle for the first time in 6 months.
 
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IDIBRONCO

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If not, you can buy a new bed side (skin) and put it on. It takes some time, but it's really not too difficult to do. I think the worst part is drilling out all of the spot welds.
 

Knuckledragger

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It is way too easy to change an entire bed, if you can find a clean donor. I have done it on the side of a hill.

Also, I am guessing you are looking to put a D60 in front. The rears on those trucks are D70, often with anti-slip installed on 4x4 setups.
 

JAKRANCH

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I've got a crew cab I'm working on for a box bed, when I get it running I've got a flatbed to paint and put on the white truck. Eventually I'm gonna swap a d 60 under it, but right now my truck moneys going to my crew cab and what remaining suspension components I need and tires. Someday I might go for repairing the bed and do bull nose skins on it, but we often find ourselves borrowing my dads flatbed truck
 

JAKRANCH

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Finished installing 01 or 02 super duty seats this evening. Super comfy definitely sit up higher.
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Several of the seats are nasty and wouldn't clean up so I've got a couple of blankets to use for seat covers. Makes the Truck way More comfortable.
 

JAKRANCH

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Well it looks like im going to wrench on a ttb. I wanted to just swap a solid axle and rebuild the sas, but my normal wear tire is starting to wear again and I spent too much on them to just let it get ground down! The only thing I know about these axles is they eat tires and junk them asap. Ive got wear on the outside shoulder and possibly inside shoulder of my pass side front tire. When I get a second im checking the caliper to make sure its not hanging up. Any other suggestions?
 

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