Gary Lewis Posted June 19, 2023 Share Posted June 19, 2023 Thanks for the info, I picked up some Ospho this week to try out on the frame, It did turn black and gooey so im going to clean it as much as possible, However haven't ordered my Chasis saver paint yet. On an unrelated note, does anyone know if a steering stabilizer was standard on the dana 44hds? I just noticed it had one while ive been removing the front end over the last few days. will have some more updated pictures once I get this last pesky core support bolt out tonight after work. steering stabilizers were not standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd121 Posted June 19, 2023 Author Share Posted June 19, 2023 steering stabilizers were not standard. Interesting, By the looks of this thing you never would've thought someone took the time to have that put in/ installed it. But it was new at one time. With all the rusted hardware Im leaning towards the master hardware kit for the body panels. My update for today is getting the front clip off less the passenger side inner wheel well because I want to document in photos how the vacuum system is plumbed ( I know there are schematics but if I can see it in person on what im working on putting it back together I find is easier.) Thats going to do it for the front end for now until I find a deal on an engine stand I trust to hold the old 4.9. Gonna drop the fuel tank this week and clean up the skid plate. next before really digging into cleaning the frame rails full force. Looks like it's been hit in the front end and theres a cracked core support mount however it looks like everything else is good as far at the frame goes. I'm hopeful the core support doesn't have to be replaced but there is a ton of rust around the passengers side mount on the core support itself so once I can get it disassembled well see. Thankfully all the trim looks to be good around the grill just needs to be polished up. The grill is in good shape too. The drivers side headlight bezel seems to be cracked in half and I think im better off replacing it rather than fixing the broken plastic. The more I get into this truck though the more im leaning towards rewiring the whole thing because all the old wiring is so brittle and dry rotted. Im not sure ive notated it here but im strongly considering doing a disk brake swap in the back since the brakes need a complete over haul but like ive been telling my dad who's been helping out some "its gotta run right before it needs to stop" Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted June 19, 2023 Share Posted June 19, 2023 Interesting, By the looks of this thing you never would've thought someone took the time to have that put in/ installed it. But it was new at one time. With all the rusted hardware Im leaning towards the master hardware kit for the body panels. My update for today is getting the front clip off less the passenger side inner wheel well because I want to document in photos how the vacuum system is plumbed ( I know there are schematics but if I can see it in person on what im working on putting it back together I find is easier.) Thats going to do it for the front end for now until I find a deal on an engine stand I trust to hold the old 4.9. Gonna drop the fuel tank this week and clean up the skid plate. next before really digging into cleaning the frame rails full force. Looks like it's been hit in the front end and theres a cracked core support mount however it looks like everything else is good as far at the frame goes. I'm hopeful the core support doesn't have to be replaced but there is a ton of rust around the passengers side mount on the core support itself so once I can get it disassembled well see. Thankfully all the trim looks to be good around the grill just needs to be polished up. The grill is in good shape too. The drivers side headlight bezel seems to be cracked in half and I think im better off replacing it rather than fixing the broken plastic. The more I get into this truck though the more im leaning towards rewiring the whole thing because all the old wiring is so brittle and dry rotted. Im not sure ive notated it here but im strongly considering doing a disk brake swap in the back since the brakes need a complete over haul but like ive been telling my dad who's been helping out some "its gotta run right before it needs to stop" Depending on what's wrong with your radiator support frame 'horn' , JBG offer what they call frame savers. Basically a big washer with a hex cut out that you can weld in where they usually rot out under the bushing. I'm sure LMC have the whole mount that you can bolt on after punching the rivets out. Be mindful that later disc brake rear ends have a different (metric) bolt pattern. E series van disc rear ends have the right pattern but are different width and spring perches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd121 Posted June 19, 2023 Author Share Posted June 19, 2023 Depending on what's wrong with your radiator support frame 'horn' , JBG offer what they call frame savers. Basically a big washer with a hex cut out that you can weld in where they usually rot out under the bushing. I'm sure LMC have the whole mount that you can bolt on after punching the rivets out. Be mindful that later disc brake rear ends have a different (metric) bolt pattern. E series van disc rear ends have the right pattern but are different width and spring perches. I was looking at this conversion kit, https://lugnut4x4.com/product/dana-60-single-rear-wheel-brake-kit/#choose-your-rotors The Dana 60 HD is still solid under the truck so I don't think I want to go with a rear end swap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted June 19, 2023 Share Posted June 19, 2023 I was looking at this conversion kit, https://lugnut4x4.com/product/dana-60-single-rear-wheel-brake-kit/#choose-your-rotors The Dana 60 HD is still solid under the truck so I don't think I want to go with a rear end swap. Interesting! I suppose that solves the problems with LH lugnuts and having to pull the whole damn axle apart to get at the brake shoes. Does this kit work with the standard master cylinder? Do you have to remove the brake proportioning (multifunction) valve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd121 Posted June 19, 2023 Author Share Posted June 19, 2023 Interesting! I suppose that solves the problems with LH lugnuts and having to pull the whole damn axle apart to get at the brake shoes. Does this kit work with the standard master cylinder? Do you have to remove the brake proportioning (multifunction) valve? See thats the thing it doesn't mention but I was watching stacey davids show on YouTube where he did a general talk about converting from drum to disk and he mentioned you would use a different master cylinder as well as a different proportioning valve, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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