AmboVan Restarted

I wouldn't swap the axle. There are several places that have Dana 70 rear disc brake conversions.

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/BoltOn.html
http://www.greatlakeoffroad.com/GLO-Dana-60-and-70-Disc-Conversion-Kit.html

I thought about swapping to rear disc's on VanDOOM as it has the 70 in it, but frankly the drums have more initial stopping power and bite than discs, but discs are much more resistant to water etc.

Kind of a crap shoot really.

Use Cadillac Eldorado rear calipers if you want parking brakes. If your going to convert your current axle to disks, they will work with the brackets with a little work.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/chevy/1081186-14-bolt-disk-brake-conversion-e-brake.html

I personally believe they are useless but just want to pass along my knowledge.
 

hobietony

Explorer
T case E brake, for a toyota, but it might be easy to adapt. Or make your own... https://www.allprooffroad.com/9095brakeupgrades/33

I used a line lock in the past on one if my old trucks. Worked very well. (all 4 locked) It was off of summit racing. I also used a wilwood proportioning valve. On the same truck.

IMO im not sure its really worth the trouble for disks. They stay cooler and thats about the only advantage I see to them on the rear of a heavy truck. (all the OTR semis are still running drums)

Good info about the Line-lock and the proportioning valve, and the 'is it worth it' question is really the main one - The only way it would be worth it, is if the new axle I have is easily swappable (and I don't have to sell/trade/etc to get a more appropriate one). From the info I got off Pirate, the 99-04 F-350s were Dana 80s with the 170 bolt pattern - This seems to indicate that I should be able to easily swap my outer hubs to the 170 pattern, which means I need no adapter, which means that I have the width I need with no spacers, which means that I could run a spacer between the wheels to run bigger tires (or even just get some more space between them - they nearly touch at the bottom bulge at street pressure!). The gearing I want is also already in the new axle I have. All other options require me to run the adaptors/spacers directly on the flange, so no spacer between the wheels, so no ability to run something wider, and I would still have to regear - Which puts it in the 'not worth it' category. Yet, I don't really want to put the dollars for a locker and a regear into the current axle into the one I have, since I would be stuck with drums and no ability to increase tire size.

Whatever, not keeping me from using it right now
 
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java

Expedition Leader
Sounds to me like you have sold yourself on it! If its the gearing your after more than anything, its probably just as easy (or maybe cost effective) to swap in the new axle and find the correct outers. The disks are just a bonus that way.
 

tgreening

Expedition Leader
I thinnk what I would do. Pull one of those hubs and take it to a GOOD machine shop, and investigate having the correct pattern drilled. I know this has been done before, though in this exact axle I wouldnt swear. Your bolt pattern diameter is only goinng to grow .096 per side, so your lugs are spacing out less than a 1/10 of an inch. I'm guessing there is enough meat there to support it. The leftover lugs are just knocked out. Some folks weld those holes shut, others have just left them as is.

New lugs, reinstall hubs, do the happy dance. :) As long as the machiing turns out to be cost effective, but at least you don't have to worry about compatibility when trying to swap in JY sourced hubs in the correct pattern.


Naturally theres going to be some reason this wont work. Damn my dually inexperience! :)
 

hobietony

Explorer
Two month since an update? Expo is coming, better get caught up...
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Committed to using the Dana 80 out of the doner Minnie Winnie, turns out the hubs off of an F-350 4x4 DRW swap right over - but the boat pattern for the Discs is different. Lots of space to drill a new bolt pattern into the discs, however, turned out easier than I thought.
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Room for a spacer between the duallys now...
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Bigger springs - again.
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A little lower profile spring plate/air bag support
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Wheels stick out just a bit, I like it
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Biggest Ranchos I could find
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Regear and Lockers to finish - 4.88s, Detroit Tru-Trak in the rear to match the one in front - Pimpy Mag-Hytech diff covers to match the Tranny pan
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hobietony

Explorer
Needed to work out a parking brake, tried one of those push-button line locks, I couldn't get it to work, ordered an Afco Lever Lock, along with an adjustable proportioning valve to balance out the brake system. I made an aluminum plate/mount that bolted in to the original location of the foot brake, and the first time I installed it, it looked awesome. By about the 5th time I disassembled it to chase down brake fluid leaks and install the valve so it flowed in the CORRECT direction, I managed to scratch it up, and break off the ball on the end of the handle. Good thing it is mostly hidden from view.
m_DSCN1016_zps2b212875.jpg

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Finally got the stereo installed that I have had sitting in my office for the last year. Nav, Satellite radio, backup camera, Bluetooth, the whole deal. Makes a pretty good racket now.
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Removed seats/carpet from the cab, fixed the rusty spots, coated with POR 15, and covered the whole interior with FatMat
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Wires, wires, wires
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"Tap into the vehicle speed sensor wire". Uh, where is that?
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Pioneer deck
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Center console/JL Subwoofer
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Focal speakers in the doors
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JL amps and the crossovers for the Focal speakers under the passenger seat
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And, last of the trim pieces at the transition from the cab to the box
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Going to Expo? Stop by and say hi, I'll be set up in the Featured Vehicle section!
 

rebar

Adventurer
Damn.. Sweet!

I need to insulate the inside of the engine tunnel my E350's dog house mates with.. What type of sound/heat insulation would be the best in your opinion?
 

hobietony

Explorer
Damn.. Sweet!

I need to insulate the inside of the engine tunnel my E350's dog house mates with.. What type of sound/heat insulation would be the best in your opinion?

"Inside" - you mean the engine side? I didn't do anything there - put FatMat on the cab side, plus the padding that is on the back of the plastic trim pieces
 

rebar

Adventurer
"Inside" - you mean the engine side? I didn't do anything there - put FatMat on the cab side, plus the padding that is on the back of the plastic trim pieces

Yea.. Under/inside.. I figured since what was there caught fire I should replace it..

19B4F3B5-95FC-4FE0-94E3-6B91C6F158ED-186-00000020BBCC2E56_zps61e18f94.jpg
 

Abitibi

Explorer
No wonder there were no updates for the last few months, too busy working on those projects weren't you? ;D

Looking right with that new axle and really like the finishing touch on the interior.

Have fun at Expo, I'm skipping it this year so I can get further ahead on house projects and a Euro trip.

Cheers
Mr. D


Sent from my iPorn using Tapachat HD
 

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