doesn't it wanna wheel all over when you try to bend?

 

Theres no physical input, its all done by the hydro ram, so no it wont wheel around.

 

well i didnt think he was using the ram yet

 

There isn't a way to really do a manual bend with the Model 4. One of the downsides to it... I guess. But once I get the Hydro setup it'll all be good.

And the front wheel does have a lock on it.

 

good deal. gona be sweet to make **** with it. if you ever need a hand when you get into the project more i can help ya out if im around town.

 

Any new progress Matt?

 

Well, only real update for the whole deal is this (Andy already knows as he was at the Meet N' Greet tonight, but I'm excited about this one because it took me a better portion of 2 months to get this thing assembled).



HOLY SWEET JEBUS! THE 9" CARRIER IS ASSEMBLED! Next weekend (hopefully) I get the whole deal within specs (backlash and that junk) and then get the air lines ran to actually be able to Lock/Unlock the thing. It might get assembled someday.

Other side projects?

Umm.. the bender is almost done. I have all the parts, but the local Hydro store had no idea what a distrubution block was so I'm having a friend of my old man's get my setup done. Hopefully that will be running by middle of October.

Also, got a vice mounted on the table that I build back about 2 pages (the blue thing at the top of the pic). Also drilled some holes for a clamp idea that I want to do. (More pictures and explanations later if I ever get it done).

But yeah... it finally is getting somewhere at least.

 

good deal! hopefully we can build some nice stuff with the bender. I'll borrow it when yer done :)

 

sweet! nice job for your first gear setup. it only gets easier now, right?

 

That's what I'm hoping. My Detroit for the 44 can't be anywhere near as hard as this 9" was. Haha...

I mean no air lines, no different sized axles shafts, it can't be harder.... can it?

 

Matt when we starting on this junk again? lets get that bender up and running! hah..as soon as we find a damn guy that knows what you are talking about though i suppose. BTW I got some axles we can build soon too, might need a hand one day for mock up and the gear building since I'm noob to it, and no special tools. I'm sure i could handle it with the right tools though if i had them.

 

Funny you should ask. I'm heading home this weekend to pick up most of my axle junk that is sitting around back in Wisconsin collecting dust and rust. I'm going to go get most of the stuff I can fit in the truck, and haul it back to the Cities and setup shop in my Basement since my garage is small and some of my tools recently got jacked out of it. Hopefully things will be safer in the basement.

So there should be some sort of update coming soon.

As far as the bender goes, I believe I should have the Hydro fittings soon. Not sure on the total time frame yet, but I'm going to be talking to the guy this weekend. His dad has been sick lately, so I don't want to harass him too much for not getting my stuff done, but at the same time, he needs to get done what he said he would.

Once I get all that it's a matter of wiring the motor up and plugging it in.

 

Awesome, well as soon as its up and running i got some projects. Give ya some beer or food or money or a pat on the back to use it. your choice!

 

Update: I've come to realize the futility of trying to do this work with hand tools. No matter what I try without a good solid (heavy) workbench and some means of strapping things down, hand tools are pretty much worthless for a project like this.

I'm taking the axle back to WI next weekend as I have Monday and half day Tuesday off from work, where I have access to all sorts of air tools and electric tools as well as my new 1/2" Impact Wrench. My goal is to finish disassembling the Dana 44 (get the Carrier and Knuckles off) and then get all the Hydro parts ordered for my Bender by Monday at noon. If I can find time, I'll assemble the new 44 Carrier as well.

Here's some pictures I took just for the hell of it (i.e. I wanted to test out my new camera, a Canon Powershot SD1100. SO MUCH better then my old HP M525) .

Last attempt for the night of strapping the axle down to something heavy, i.e. the truck, so I could reef on the Knuckle Bolts. Failed as well, but on the plus side it's ready for transport back to WI:


The bolt that irritates me so:


One of my latest purchases, full set of Metric and Standard 3/4" Drive Socket Set:


Thought this was a cool photo, just showing how big a 2-1/4" Socket is:

 

That is a biga$$ socket, just looked into this thread. looks like youve had fun with this for a while

 

Nice socket set. Good luck with those knuckles man!

 

yeah you got MN/WI to thank for that damn bolt not coming off. Mine came off pretty well using my impact so hopefully when you get it to WI you'll have no problems. Getting that bender going will be sweet too. My only setback for me will be getting the gears setup in the axles since i have no tools for it. Let me know if you need help with stuff, like bending metal with the bender for random things like...my truck

haha keep it up

 

Ahh... the joy of air tools. So here's a little Physics lesson for you.

This (read new 1/2" Drive Impact Wrench):


plus this (read POS rusty bolts):


equals a emptier axle.




Took me all of 5 minutes to get the knuckles off. Air tools kick ***. I highly recommend the NitroCat for anyone looking for an Impact. It came highly recommended off the Pirate4x4 board, so I thought I'd give it a go. Picked one up off ebay for $190 bones and damn. Ripped off those bolts like they were nothing. Very glad I purchased that.

Anyway, also got the carrier out as well as removed the brake lines.





Now I just gotta clean up the axle and assembly can begin. Not sure on a time frame when I'll give my next update as I've got a couple weddings and stuff coming up, but I'm going to cram the truck stuff in somewhere. I want to get the axles under this the '99 by summer's end.

 

looks good man glad to see thing thing going on now!

Nice beer too -- i tired it today and not shabby!

 

You've never had MGD? Gah! You definitely are not from Wisconsin!

 

havent drank much since October! So Ive got a lot to catchin up to do!

 

hah awesome. air tools ftw. those orange knuckles will be blingn on there.

 

Quick update. I have all the parts for my Model 4 Hydro setup ordered. Guy at the Hydro store said that some of the stuff was backordered a month+ so I'm waiting on that stuff to arrive.

This weekends goal for this project are to clean up the Dana 44, assemble the Dedenbear Knuckles (put the Ball Joints in) and get them onto the Dana 44. Hopefully have some pics later.

 

Tried to rent a Ball Joint Press from the local O'Reilly's but it was already gone. So I'm just going to do it next time I'm home.

Next update should contain:

- Ball Joints Installed on 44
- Knuckles Installed on 44
- Begin Assembly of Detroit

I've got a wedding this next weekend, but the weekend after that I should be able to head home again.

 

Sounds like it will be some good progress Matt. It will be nice having the bender ready to go too!