BajaF250

[Beam Junkie]

Well, speaking of the new springs. I know that there is no Earth technology to make mere metal able to withstand the rigors of the abuse that Shreck can dishout. I was thinking that maybe we could make the "springs" out of concrete. I believe that the ancient Roman invention would have about the correct spring rate for your seventy-hundred pound mint green grandpa rig. You could also look into something in prestressed or reinforced even, for fine tuning of course. Just a thought. Brandvig out.

[BajaF250]

Status update...

I worked on the radius arms a little bit this weekend. I wanted to improve on the basic design. When I originally made them, I only boxed the tubing about ½-way back, and of course, that's exactly where they bent, about ½-way back. I didn't anticiapate that much bending moment on the radius arms. So, I decided to box the radius arms all the way back to the heims to improve the bending strength. So, I got the radius arms all cleaned up and trimmed to accept the new boxing structure. Got the plating all cut out, form fit to each section and all tacked into place. They are both (radius arms) ready for the TIG table... which I hope to get to in the evenings this week... we'll see how that works for me!

I'm at a work stoppage on my front diff project. I've decided to completely box the front diff in with a built in ramped skid. And I wanted to avoid tying the skid plating into the diff retention bolts. So, Darin came up with the idea of running studs back through the bottom bolts. This is a great approach for a couple of reasons. First, it disassociates the skid plate from the diff mounting hardware and second, it will allow me to sandwich a mounting plate and the diff flange to mount the diff with grade-8 bolts where the impact stresses are greatest. I won't have to worry about pulling the bolts out of the diff casing if I swack something again. It's quite a bit of work since I have to mill the back of the diff casing to accept the studs, but I think it'll work great.

So, the work stoppage is I need to get a mill bit cut to size so I can use some 7/8" bushing stock for the sleeves... so I'm waiting for the tool cutter to size the mill bit. Should be done this week though.

I do have some pics, but still in the camera... will post at a later date.

[yikes]

Looking forward to seeing that Tom. The way I get along with boulders, it sounds like a solution worth replicating.

[BajaF250]

Looking forward to seeing that Tom. The way I get along with boulders, it sounds like a solution worth replicating.

Hey Brian,
Yeah, this is the second time I've schwacked the front diff and damaged my radius arms... huh, both times Rick was with me! Hmmm, I wonder if there's a pattern there.
I do have to come up with something to hopefully get the front diff to slide over the bolders instead of trying to level off the top... I've already proven that it doesn't work very well.

[BajaF250]

I got by the shop tonight for an hour or so. I got the first radius arm on the TIG table and started the welding process. I didn’t finish the arm, but got it about 75% welded. I’m certainly not the fastest welder, nor the best, but it works… and it usually takes me some time to get back into the rhythm since I don’t TIG all that often… I also got the bit dropped off at the tool cutter… he didn’t know how long it would take. I hope he can get it back to me by Friday so I can get to work on the front diff by this weekend. I’d hate to lose another week. We shall see!

[philofab]

I thought you bent one of the radius arms when you were in pismo and lawn darted it?

[BajaF250]

I thought you bent one of the radius arms when you were in pismo and lawn darted it?

Nope, the only thing I bent on that excursion was the skid plate... set it back about an inch! I think I determined the source of my issues with the lawn dart style... springs too soft in the front and crossover coming in too late. We shall see, I 've adjusted it all and should see a big difference.

The other time I smacked the front end and bent the radius arm was with Rick prerunning the 1000 on the back side of the summit a couple of years ago. It was that episode that convinced me that I needed to truss the front diff axle housing. Glad I did, it absolutely saved my front end from this last blast... I hit much, much harder this time. No damage to the axle housing, drove the rest of the week on the front end.

[SteveG]

Status update...

I worked on the radius arms a little bit this weekend. I wanted to improve on the basic design. When I originally made them, I only boxed the tubing about ½-way back, and of course, that's exactly where they bent, about ½-way back. I didn't anticiapate that much bending moment on the radius arms. So, I decided to box the radius arms all the way back to the heims to improve the bending strength.

I'm sure you're way ahead of me on this, but make sure the frame is up to par for the next time you run into a rock. I'd hate to see your radius arms and beams come out unscathed but then twist the frame....

I'm looking forward to seeing the upgrades!

[BajaF250]

Hey Steve,
Yup, already working it. I tied the front skid plate across the frame and tied it all into the transmission mount. I've alse reinforced the frame area around the radius arm mount. So the weak points are the axle housing pivot points and the radius arm mounts.

The other part is, DON'T HIT ROCKS! I wish

[Beam Junkie]

Status update...

I'm sure you're way ahead of me on this, but make sure the frame is up to par for the next time you run into a rock. I'd hate to see your radius arms and beams come out unscathed but then twist the frame....

I'm looking forward to seeing the upgrades!

Ford was always really good about making the 3/4 and 1 ton frames very thick. I would put almost any brackett or rock up against Toms frame any day. Okay, read this in a Scottish brouge, You should see SHRECKS frame, she is a thing of beauty.

[SteveG]

The other part is, DON'T HIT ROCKS!

What fun would that be!?

Ford was always really good about making the 3/4 and 1 ton frames very thick. I would put almost any brackett or rock up against Toms frame any day. Okay, read this in a Scottish brouge, You should see SHRECKS frame, she is a thing of beauty.

Hey aren't you one of the guys that tried to talk that Tom character out of the F250 build? Ha! I didn't know the 250 frames were thicker than the 150 stuff....

[BajaF250]

The other part is, DON'T HIT ROCKS!

What fun would that be!?

Yeah, and I can't seem to follow my own advice either!

[ChaseTruck754]

I didn't know the 250 frames were thicker than the 150 stuff....

Yup - as are the leaf spring brackets, etc.

[BajaF250]

I didn't know the 250 frames were thicker than the 150 stuff....

Yup - as are the leaf spring brackets, etc.

Nice and stout! When gusseted for cage, it's bullet proof! I've always wondered why more people don't use the ¾-ton frames... they are tough! Yeah, I know... weight!

[Dust]

I've always wondered why more people don't use the ¾-ton frames... they are tough! Yeah, I know... weight!

I'll carry the weight in the frame and delete the AC every-time!

[philofab]

They aren't that much heavier. My crew is 6060 pounds with fuel and AC. Not that much more than a 1/2 truck.

[BajaF250]

Well, err, the truck is a tad more than your crew... by almost 1100 lbs!

[BajaF250]

I've been working on the radius arms all week (just a couple of hours after work in the evenings... Below is an "in work" pic of the radius arms. I've actually finished welding the all up... I just have to lay down a coat of paint.

[SteveG]

Looking good, Tom! What are you painting it with?

[BajaF250]

I was able to work my front diff housing... the tool sharpening guy got the mill bit cut to size and delivered to the shop late yesterday afternoon... great timing. So, I got to work on the mill today and cut the clearances for the bushing stock inserts. So, I got the diff case all clearanced and the bushing stock cut, faced and fit to the diff casing. They are all tacked in. I hope to get them TIG'd up tomorrow... well, at least started.