I haven't really posted any pics of this donor axle, but here's some pics of this past Saturdays activity.

My buddy Bob from work was coming in to sandblast a buggy frame he is working on. It's a chopped VW Bug frame with some custom square tube around the perimeter so he doesn't have to redo the "unit frame" panels that made up the floor and has more choices for the floor.

That's Bob in the pics -- I'm not in these. These were taken with my Motorola V3M Razr which isn't bad -- but not great quality.

You can see partially cleaned pics of the axle and what things looked like prior as well. It was very dirty and rusty underneath. It's interesting how the sandblasting rig leaves this uniform gray finish that looks like primer.

I also sandblasted all the coil buckets, shock mounts, radius arms, wagon wheels, etc.

It's a pretty big blaster -- has quite a kick when you activate it.

I wore a respirator and goggles but neglected ear protection which I regretted. I lost almost all my hearing for about an hour afterwards, and had terrible tinnitus and poor frequency response for a full day. Oh well -- I really should know better.

I've never used one of those things before this -- it's really fun.

The axle is now painted black and I'll get some more pics later. I have some flat-top knuckles from an F-250 I need to blast as well.

 

**** looks good man!! good job!

 

looks nice john. i forget but yours is a FW 44 right?

 

thats some awesome stuff


you think the do-it-yourself ones can do half as good of job?

 

Thanks -- and yes, and I have Int3rc3ptors cutout flares coming to help cover it, lol, and adapter/spacers for the rear.

It's a high pinion full width D44 from a 1978 F-150 standard cab. I have the entire front suspension from the donor vehicle including 4" lift springs.

 

I'm sure they can, but probably not as quickly, or as LOUDLY, lol.

All told, we went through over 400 pounds of "sand". That thing uses a LOT.

 

looks really good

 

looks great john... when are you gonna start the install?

 

It'll be delayed. I decided I needed to do it here, which meant buying more tools (like air tools) and what not. I'll do the transmission as soon as I get a rear driveshaft -- but I'm short of enough money to finish off the front end. I think the final SAS part will come in late summer or fall.

 

we have one of those at my work that we use to clean sidewalks and stuff with.. we use media and profile instead of sand tho... (environmental cleanup company... its mostly used at nucor steel mill so clean up ARC dust stains(KO-61))

 

that looks awsome john cant wait to see more pics and read on the progress

 

loooks good griggs..wanna know something funny

yesterday at work on lunch..i blasted the knuckles, calipers, caliper brackets..

 

looks good.

i really doubt a small blaster would ever make it look like that. we have one at home its a very slow process.

 

looks good John......wish i had some access to one of those!

 

defidently beats the crap out of my wire wheel, took me pretty much 2 days to clean up my housing with the wheel, your lucky.

 

It is a blessing to have access to some of the resources we have there -- and the folks to show me how to use the y things!

My electronics training generally hasn't prepared me for the motorhead world I've immersed myself in for the past 5 years or so, lol.

 

^^lol....maybe you could trade them some skills for their skills

 

That, Maurice, is exactly the way it's done, lol...

 

lol......i will be tapping into your vast knowledge here shortly when i get my EATC setup from Frank (pastfinder)..........i have read your How-To about 100 times now and there is still parts i dont understand too well.......even printed it off and highlighted items i though of importance so far...

 

I should have had you do mine while you were at it! I'm probably going to be stuck with the wire wheel, though I've considered picking up a cheapie from Sears to do the job.

 

haha. i know how you feel. My major in college started out in electronics but liked automotive work so interesting that i am switching majors