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Post by Sd.Kfz. 400 on Oct 19, 2012 1:31:20 GMT -5
Installed the axle shafts, one was reused and the other was a recent eBay score. It came out of a late 70's early 80's pickup and matched exactly. Nice to know that the truck rear is the same width as the c-body. I'm not sure about the leaf spring mounting bits though( have to measure them) and that brake line's t-joint is on the other side in a van.
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Post by spanks79 on Oct 19, 2012 6:36:51 GMT -5
Installed the axle shafts, one was reused and the other was a recent eBay score. It came out of a late 70's early 80's pickup and matched exactly. Nice to know that the truck rear is the same width as the c-body. I'm not sure about the leaf spring mounting bits though( have to measure them) and that brake line's t-joint is on the other side in a van. Yes, I am not sure about the housing itself, you would have to check that. Even if the leaf spring mounting perches were in the wrong spot, cutting off and relocating those would be some rather simple fab work. At least easier than turning Royal fenders into base Monaco fenders. Lol! I think the key to the axle shafts is they have to be older than a 1984 or so. I orderd one up from the local wrecking yard a few months back and it was just a little different, like 1/8 - 1/4 inch longer. Otherwise it was the same. As for the brake line, that would be simple too. The brake lines on a 8.25 and a 9.25 are the same. So all of your existing lines and e brake cable will swap over. The mounting bolt for the brake hose is just tapped directly into the axle tube. You could simply drill and tap the tube right where you need it, then plug the unused hole with a bolt. You can see the brake line bolt poking into the axle housing in the picture I have looking into the tube.
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Post by sigmfsk on Oct 19, 2012 7:33:11 GMT -5
Those pictures are beautiful. Great to see such a nice job; it's inspiring!
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Post by Sd.Kfz. 400 on Oct 19, 2012 7:49:07 GMT -5
I think the key to the axle shafts is they have to be older than a 1984 or so. I orderd one up from the local wrecking yard a few months back and it was just a little different, like 1/8 - 1/4 inch longer. Otherwise it was the same. The truck bolt pattern changed from 4,5 to 5,5 in '85 models(in 2wd, the 4x4 was earlier I think + then there's the heavier 300/350 series with 8 bolt pattern), so naturally '84 is the last year possible with original Monaco wheels anyway. If one doesn't play with spacers that is.
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Post by countrybunker on Oct 19, 2012 19:51:22 GMT -5
Man spanks, you didn't have to go through all that trouble getting that rear end ready for my car! Hell I'll finish the body up, and bring her by so you can install it. haha
Looking great man! I'm jelous!
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Post by spanks79 on Oct 19, 2012 23:34:42 GMT -5
Those pictures are beautiful. Great to see such a nice job; it's inspiring! Thanks Arthur. It's coming together piece by piece. Man spanks, you didn't have to go through all that trouble getting that rear end ready for my car! Hell I'll finish the body up, and bring her by so you can install it. haha Looking great man! I'm jelous! Haha Country, funny you say that. Just this morning I was trying to think what I would have to charge someone if they wanted me to rebuild and detail a rear axle like this for them. Basically I decided that it would be cost prohibited for most to pay for this kind of work. But then again that goes for a lot of the work we all do on these cars. If you ever want to build one, I can help you set up the ring and pinion and install new bearings. You can do all the wire brushing and painting yourself!
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Post by Ghostbluesman (Ghostsoldier) on Oct 26, 2012 9:18:55 GMT -5
Damn...this thing is going to be straight off the showroom floor! ;D
Rob
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Post by spanks79 on Nov 7, 2012 8:05:12 GMT -5
This must be the week to move Monacos. Like Arthur, I brought my rolling chassis home from the paint shop. Its nice to have it "home". Here are some pics of it, kind of, on its wheels again. Rear bumper and taillights all in place. Subframe in place with Delrin body bushings. This is the first time I have had this car on the lift to get any good pics of the bottom. We did not go crazy and media blast the shell or undercarrige. just a good pressure washing and scrubbing before a good coat of quality undercoat. There was some rust repair in the trunk and lower quarters but the floor pans were as is. I cleaned up the gas tank out of the NC car and fixed a big dent in it. Not perfect but looks great for a Blumo. Oh and I even fixed the sending unit as opposed to buying a new one. The contact inside the resistor for the guage broke off and I was able to resolider it. Rear axle installed. We cleaned up the springs and painted them. Used Firm Feel poly spring bushings. (the flash picked up dirt on the housing cover, I better go wipe that off right now! Firm Feel rear sway bar mounts and ISO eliminator. It is both exciting and overwhelming to have it in this condition. On one hand it looks great but on the other, there is still a ton of work to do. The next steps are running brake lines and ebrake cables. Then rear shocks, them move to the dash and wiring. I also think I am going to start puting this engine together soon. Oh and ...........................
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Post by Ghostbluesman (Ghostsoldier) on Nov 7, 2012 9:30:35 GMT -5
Bro...there ain't nothing 'shitboxey' about your Dodge! Rob
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Post by Sd.Kfz. 400 on Nov 7, 2012 12:44:42 GMT -5
Looks really good! And looking at all these pics from different angles helps me to plan my own underneath "restoration", which will happen in at least 3 different painting sessions, I think. Did you get the tank's j-bolts off without unnecessary violence?
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Post by spanks79 on Nov 7, 2012 15:29:44 GMT -5
Did you get the tank's j-bolts off without unnecessary violence? J bolts went pretty well. 2 cars = 4 J bolts, we broke one bolt out of 4. Use plenty of PB Blaster or other penetrant and you should be fine.
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Post by Steam McQueen on Nov 7, 2012 21:00:54 GMT -5
Looks great, Spanks! Like AZB mentioned a page back, it's just like looking at build pictures from a Mopar magazine. Very impressive. I love this pic ... The black and white paint is just a poppin' off the screen.
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Post by Ghostbluesman (Ghostsoldier) on Nov 7, 2012 21:08:56 GMT -5
It's glowin' like Jake in the church! Rob
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Post by spanks79 on Nov 19, 2012 8:04:05 GMT -5
Once again, thanks for the kind words. Gotten a few more things done the past couple weeks. Brakes are all on. Booster, Master cylinder and lines. The E Brake is all on. Pedal / mechanism and cables. Fuel and vent lines from the tank to the engine compartment. Bilstien rear shocks are in place. I also got some other odds and ends on, like the taillight wiring harness and rear marker lights. I also started disassembling the dash board of the NC car so I can start cleaning up all those parts and installing them. Here is a shot of the dash pad in place for encouragement. This past weekend I made a trip to a salvage yard in central Ohio that I scouted a few weeks ago to grab some parts. See the full story here bluesmobiles.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1000I ended up with a few decent parts and some not so decent parts. Short front door trims = decent, upper taillight trims = decent, ticket light assembly = decent but rough shape and finally a 140 speedo = not decent. The speedo is the only thing I have spent any time with at all at this point. The face looks really good with only a minor blemish around the washer fluid warning. Other than that is is in pretty bad shape from being exposed to the elements. The shaft for the magnet assembly, where the cable attached is seized solid. I took it all apart (completely apart) and have been soaking it in PB blaster. At least I can now turn it with a lot of force but it is unlikely it will ever come around. Only time will tell but I may either figure out a way to fix it with parts from my 12o speedo, or donate this ultra rare paperweight to Arthur to go in the Monaco Museum of Amazement! I am going to be taking a break from the car for a while over Thanksgiving. Its a good thing, I need some time away from it, although it looks like progress I am getting discouraged by the amount of work still left.
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Post by sigmfsk on Nov 19, 2012 14:49:44 GMT -5
Lookin' good, Spanks! ...although it looks like progress I am getting discouraged by the amount of work still left. Oh no, no, no. Think about how much happiness all the work left will bring you. That's what I say to myself every day when I don't get an oil pan in the mail.
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