On convincing your wife this is a good idea theme... Yes this is a big purchase and time investment now. BUT you have proven your family will use it and spending the time and money now will make sure you dont have to do so much work later. and you can just go enjoy your family. The older they get the more stuff is going on and the more you will be running to events and practices etc. All worthwhile things that you dont want to miss or be absent from because your fixing something on the rig you half assed 5 years ago.
2007 Silverado - Buy Once, Cry Once: 1-tons, 40's & a Custom Camper
- Thread starter Andrew_S
- Start date
Andrew_S
Observer
yamaha225 - Thanks, always great to hear.
Jeffer949 -Beautiful sales pitch, I will 100% use that. Thank you.
Quick update, not as much progress as I was hoping for but crossing a few things off the list.Got the driver side frame completely cleaned up and started stitch welding the frame plate.
Both sides are completely welded out, shock towers and track bar mount as well.
Time to tackle a few small items, new lower oil pan.
The easiest time to get all of the new stainless brake lines installed was now. These lines2togo kits are super nice. It helps that I picked this one up second-hand new in box for half price.
Next up was a trans service, filters and new pan.
Cross-member radius arm mounts positioned, holes drilled in the frame and completely bolted up.
transfer case prepped with clocking ring and ready to
go up
After 3 attempts, 2 of which I tried benchpressing it up into place, both times I almost dropped this 150lb behemoth on my face, and the 3rd, with the assistance of a floor jack I gave up and bought a new tool.
Now it's ready for final install, hopefully Friday I can button up this stuff and slide the front axle underneath this weekend
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Mekcanix
Camper
I have had one of those Princess auto Tranny jacks for at least 25 years and it has saved me more times than I can remember. In my younger days I was bench pressing in a 203 T case and dropped it on my chest and thought I was going to die under the chevy and thus got the jack excellent investment especially with the amount of work your doing
The new ones are much nicer then what I have
The new ones are much nicer then what I have
TexasSixSeven
Observer
I’m still in that stage where I’m too young to think I’ll hurt myself, but too old to be doing the stupid ******** (bench pressing heavy parts into place) I do. Hopefully I don’t learn tbe hard way. lol
This is an amazing build!
This is an amazing build!
ITTOG
Well-known member
One should be careful when searching for "princess auto tranny jack".
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frojoe
Adventurer
It funny because the name Princess Auto seems pretty non-serious, but it's a healthy chain/franchise store for budget every-category-known-to-man tools up here in Canada, essentially the northern version of Harbour Freight in every way.
The cheapest tools are still what you'd expect and kinda junky, but like HF's Icon tools, the not-cheapest tools up here are actually getting pretty strong and reliable.
However Princess Auto's house-tool branding is named.... Power Fist. So yeah haha.
ITTOG
Well-known member
Yes I am familiar with princess Auto so I was shocked when I got the distasteful results. But there is no way I'm going to search for power fist. That is definitely going to be bad.
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Andrew_S
Observer
LOL at the power fist follow up - Canadian Inuendo's.
Next up was trans service,
273 installed finally.
This thing takes a lot more space than the 263 - slight adjustment to the abs module bracket, and it's good.
If you install a 3" down pipe on these trucks, you either bend your trans dipstick tube and abandon a hold down or swap to a driver's side LML tube. I wish I had done this originally because it was a fair bit of redoing work I've already done. I moved the GPCM and got rid of the massive bracketry that held it in place. Pleased with how this turned out.
You have to trim 8 1/2" off the LML fill tube and it works perfect. The trans even has a stud to pick up on the hold-down.
Ignore the dust, this is where it lands in the engine bay.
Everything all back together below.
Next up is the LML hydro boost.
Drilling out the rod to 41/64"
Test fitting everything
Steering box brace installed. This is a nice design, it retains the stock front diff shift motor, so you won't have a CEL on the dash.
This one is super nice, and it's definitely a great tool to own if you don't have a hoist.
Man, this sums it up perfectly, and I learn the hard way...
Next up was trans service,
273 installed finally.
This thing takes a lot more space than the 263 - slight adjustment to the abs module bracket, and it's good.
If you install a 3" down pipe on these trucks, you either bend your trans dipstick tube and abandon a hold down or swap to a driver's side LML tube. I wish I had done this originally because it was a fair bit of redoing work I've already done. I moved the GPCM and got rid of the massive bracketry that held it in place. Pleased with how this turned out.
You have to trim 8 1/2" off the LML fill tube and it works perfect. The trans even has a stud to pick up on the hold-down.
Ignore the dust, this is where it lands in the engine bay.
Everything all back together below.
Next up is the LML hydro boost.
Drilling out the rod to 41/64"
Test fitting everything
Steering box brace installed. This is a nice design, it retains the stock front diff shift motor, so you won't have a CEL on the dash.
follow Maggie
New member
Maybe it’s in here & I didn’t see it, but what transfer case did you install? I’m sick of the shift motor on mine going out & losing 4 low & would like to change to something more reliable. Cool build by the way!
Andrew_S
Observer
Maggie, WFO concepts/transfer case express sells a NP 271 or 273. It's a super duty case, so you'll need new front and rear driveshafts. 271 is the manual selection and 273 is push button.
This upgrade gets rid of the 263 that's prone to pump rub failures and is much stronger all around. Thank you!
This little lift is coming in super handy.
One last thing, swapped on a Yukon forged yoke with u-bolts.
You get what you pay for. This WFO kit is absolutely mint. It only takes about an hour to bolt it in completely.
Officially sitting on its own weight.
Still lots do up front, bump stops, limit straps, sway bar mounts, etc. Going to get a front driveshaft made up first and then start on the final touches. Once that's all done, I'll blow everything back apart for paint and final assembly.
Next up I'm planning on getting the back end sorted.
This upgrade gets rid of the 263 that's prone to pump rub failures and is much stronger all around. Thank you!
This little lift is coming in super handy.
One last thing, swapped on a Yukon forged yoke with u-bolts.
You get what you pay for. This WFO kit is absolutely mint. It only takes about an hour to bolt it in completely.
Officially sitting on its own weight.
Still lots do up front, bump stops, limit straps, sway bar mounts, etc. Going to get a front driveshaft made up first and then start on the final touches. Once that's all done, I'll blow everything back apart for paint and final assembly.
Next up I'm planning on getting the back end sorted.
I like a good deal!
Andrew_S
Observer
^ Still a stupid amount of money at half off haha
todays effort:
Probably dropped a couple hundred pounds of dirt weight from this truck so far
Sold - another $250 in the piggy bank
New 5/8" u- bolts for the rear
2015 1/2 ton washer reservoir to make these 40's fit
before
after
Finished stripping the rear
LML hydro boost upgrade was good timing as the stock unit was starting to leak
Looking forward to firmer brakes
todays effort:
Probably dropped a couple hundred pounds of dirt weight from this truck so far
Sold - another $250 in the piggy bank
New 5/8" u- bolts for the rear
2015 1/2 ton washer reservoir to make these 40's fit
before
after
Finished stripping the rear
LML hydro boost upgrade was good timing as the stock unit was starting to leak
Looking forward to firmer brakes
Andrew_S
Observer
Another day, some more forward momentum
Started mocking up the rear to see what wasn't going to work.
The second bed mount fell directly in the line with my new front leaf hanger
Fixed* need to modify these hangers a touch but they should work nicely
Same on the driver's side, and mocking up the rear hangers
Gratifying to see it with a rear axle sitting under it finally.
It looks deceivingly wide, but it's only 92"
The wheel base will be roughly 14'
One bonus of the single rear wheel conversion, can change brake pads without taking the wheel off.
Started measuring up where roughly my center bearing will live for the 2-piece rear driveshaft
Finished up by modifying the s&b fuel tank cross member. I was not a fan at all of the clamp/u-bolt style design.
I kept it low-slung, so it'll tuck nicely with a skid plate in the future.
Started mocking up the rear to see what wasn't going to work.
The second bed mount fell directly in the line with my new front leaf hanger
Fixed* need to modify these hangers a touch but they should work nicely
Same on the driver's side, and mocking up the rear hangers
Gratifying to see it with a rear axle sitting under it finally.
It looks deceivingly wide, but it's only 92"
The wheel base will be roughly 14'
One bonus of the single rear wheel conversion, can change brake pads without taking the wheel off.
Started measuring up where roughly my center bearing will live for the 2-piece rear driveshaft
Finished up by modifying the s&b fuel tank cross member. I was not a fan at all of the clamp/u-bolt style design.
I kept it low-slung, so it'll tuck nicely with a skid plate in the future.