The nimble, lightweight crawler

[mr.mindless]

That doesn't seem terrible - but swapping the '78 Ford in there whole with fresh brackets and a fresh set of 5.13s/5.38s and gearing the 70 to match seems more reasonable to me.

I haven't decided what I'm doing with this thing yet so KISS and cheap is my current aim.

[M4wdFab]

weld the rear when you put a cover on it sounds like a plan.


swallow your pride and add an additional trans cooler and steering cooler to whatever is there already   

[mr.mindless]

planning a deep pan and temp gauge - already have 'em. the pan didn't feel hot but who knows.

steering I have no idea how it did other than functioned well. it'll probably get the cooler and filter from the dakota.  I don't have a spare trans cooler to trash pick - but I bet an AC condensor with proper flaring would be pretty boss with a good flushing

[TrailTamer]

If you don't know, the D70U came in those rams use 32 spline axle shafts. Not necessary to consider weak but there's room to improve if you can find D80 axle shafts and 35 spline side gears or locker to put in the D70U. Otherwise weld it lock and go wheeling and it may hold up just fine.

[mr.mindless]

hmm. maybe toss both axles from the Dakota in, then. I didn't know that wasa 32sp unit. Thanks.

[mr.mindless]

Fixed fuel leak and re-coated gas tank patch in Right Stuff. Noticed that it says not for use on parts in contact w gas. Oops?

Burst brake line is a hard line from abs pump to one front. Going to keep the front abs in place: it has a bias valve that keep the fluid in the system, that seems handy. Need to replace all three hard lines that run from brake system to the frame and maybe from combo valve to abs and the rear hard line. May need to swap the driver soft line. Found a compression fitting in the passenger front line, the caliper half was replaced but not the driver side half.

Starting to rain. Wishing for a useful shop, bah!


Tapatalking in traffic

[mr.mindless]

Redid three of the lines so far. Two NEED doing. Maybe redo the front cross that has the compression fitting and look at the rear hard line.

Bleeder on the passenger broke free no prob. Belled on the driver side just plain broke.


Tapatalking in traffic

[mr.mindless]

Brakes felt good till test drive attempt when the old flex line on the driver side popped.

Seemed to bleed well enough at the banjo bolt but I don't know I I can do that with a flex line replacement.

I guess I'll pull the caliper to try and remove the bleeder? Not exciting.


Tapatalking in traffic

[Harrison]

I've never had much luck removing frozen bleeders. Heat always seemed like a not great idea haha

[mr.mindless]

If I try it's getting the full-on fuck you treatment of welding a nut to it


Tapatalking in traffic

[mr.mindless]

I hope it's steel


Tapatalking in traffic

[Harrison]

I usually break them off right in the caliper

[Wingman]

I usually break them off right in the caliper

This. 

[M4wdFab]

use a c clamp to push caliper to bleed at the bango, tighten ad repump up, works always. 

[mr.mindless]

not a bad idear, I like.

I'd still replace the caliper if it's cheap but that's an easy out.