As I'm returning from my every morning ride in Howard (32 Pickup) I realize it's in need of a top to bottom redo. The local roads and brick streets are shaking it apart. Seems like everything is getting loose although I go over it on the lift often. I wonder how many hours to totally dissemble the truck down to the last nut and bolt, repair anything that needs attention and re***emble it. No paint or body work needed, I want the appearance to stay the same. Maybe under coat the fenders, clean up the wiring, just tighten everything up and make it good for another 75K miles. That will outlast me. My health won't let me do the job myself.
Hi Gary, it would be of interest to know what you use to rock guard your fenders if that is your intent, I'm with you being limited on what our 80 plus years enable us to do, I can barely believe it has been 10 months since my 32 accident & didn't do myself any favors tackling the repairs myself, since neck/shoulder & knee/ankle ailments & everything in between plague me constantly. Ron
I drive it everywhere and all the time. Just got back from the car wash, it was filthy. Is it me or do they seem to run a little better after a good wash?
Just keep driving it, no good reason to tear it all apart. Keep enjoying Howard everyday God allows us to.
I'm with the crowd that says just keep driving it and maintain as needed. You really don't need to manage another project.
Take your best guess what you think it would take then times by 2-1/2. Then take that number and add 20% for the unknown things you'll find, at that point you should be in the ballpark give or take 20 to 25%... ...
Man I wish you were closer that would be fun to lend a hand on! I think the best plan is to pick a “section” of the car to work through and complete it before moving to the next. That way you’re never more than finishing one project away from taking it on a cruise. letting you intentionally go through the whole truck and not letting it turn into a shop fixture or burden. that’s probably a good balance. I get the want to just tear it apart and get it good and tight instead of regularly tightening it all, but I know I’m a ****er for the “while it’s apart I may as a well” and next ya know it’s been three years
The growing number of rattles and bangs are becoming increasingly announcing. Seems like I have it on the lift every other day and find nothing loose. I've been inside the doors and the same thing. I'm probably a little more aware of this than most after building so many cars & trucks. Can't stand Rattles!
I agree with others, if you tear it apart while it's still a driver you will probably end up regretting it. Other stuff will take you away from it and before you know it the months and years will go by. I tend to also get deeper and deeper into things when they are apart, always doing just one more thing. Just drive it and make small repairs as needed. That shouldn't be to bad, especially having a lift. Or bring it to me and I will work on it and drive it in between upgrades.
Why not start on the front suspension. Check the shackles and all the steering, king pins etc. then put that back together. Then check the front fenders and braces. Do one thing at a time, and always put it back in driving condition. That way if you are not up to the next task, you still have a truck to drive.
BJR: Front suspension is fresh, New forged axle, Fresh rebushed 37-41 spindles, monleaf spring, bronze bushed shackles, new tie rod and draglink ends, new hairpins with tie rod end adjusters, 6 month old Ride Tech shocks. Front fenders and braces are tight. Trust me I've been thru this over & over. Dam noises started after we replaced the axle and spring. I've built many 100's of ch***is with this setup (mostly with a Posie spring) and never had 1 customer complain about strange noises. I'm stumped?
Welting pad between the spring and crossmember? Might have been forgotten upon install. Or maybe the spring clamp is bottoming on the crossmember before it’s tight? Ran into that a month ago on my Dad’s 32.
Bronze bushings were installed a couple 1000 miles ago. Pad on top, added spacer to spring clamp so it would tighten properly. Dam noisy front end is the big problem that a solution to is eluding me. I'm reasonably sure I know how it's done???
You replaced the axle ? Is the axle lose in the spring perches were the hair pins or wish bones attach ? Up and down play between the axle and the wish bones or bat wings for hair pins . I ran into that once were the axle was much thinner than the spit wishbones . is the king pin cross bolt loose and the kink pin is moving up and down in the axle or some thing weird ?
Everything is right. I suspect the problem is the spring? I'd like to find a Posie 29 inch Super Low with Rolled & Tapered ends. I'd **** can this P&J's mono leaf even though it's almost new.. Also might be the bat wings?
Are you looking for Posies 1005RT ? https://posiesrodsandcustoms.com/pages/28-48-spring See chart near bottom of page for 29"
I agree doing one thing at a time and keeping it drivable. My 57 Chevy pickup needs attention to eliminate noise. I found the seat springs are one of the issues and I need suggestions short of new seat. Most of my issues relate to cab noise.
Do you have another pair of shocks? I've chased many a annoying front end rattle to supposedly new shocks and/or a tiny bit of looseness in the shock brackets we weren't able to find till shocks were removed
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