Freightrain

Looks good. Big thing is you don't want the tubing to collapse. 3/8" should be plenty stiff enough and you are bolting it close to the edge.

Wow, I like it. Just curious: what is the typical life span of those old V8's? At 500K is it about used up? I know maintenance is everything, but still. Don't think there are many parts left for them if something did go wrong.

Ya, had it been a Toyota, the frame would have folded in the middle and created all kinds of havoc. We had some really bad ice last Saturday morning. As I was making my way to a buddies house I about lost it three times. Lucky with no traffic around I was able to use all the road and keep it out of the ditches and off the telephone poles!!! It was hair raising and definitely had to pry the seat out of my ass before getting out of the truck. After arriving, we decided to wait awhile before we headed off to our final destination!

If I could get rid of the SLOW, NOISY, RATTLY old truck portion I would really have something LMAO!!!! Going TO and FROM the races, my buddies all have late model pickups with all the creature comforts. I think the a/c will come in handy. Making it a bit more comfortable on hot/muggy days. The air steering will just make it easier to manuveur. Won't have to work so hard to park it.

Been a slow, very thought provoking process. Been eyeing up the possibilities and how I was going to do it. Finally bought the kit and started it a few weeks ago. The air assist steering is coming along slow also. All cleaned up: The red boot is from a Rancho shock. I had a pair laying here and it was just the right length. Still need to purchase another small tank so it has its own supply(like a 7x24 like I already have on the truck) with a check valve inline. You can see the fan for the condensor laying up on the fifth wheel.

Well, I finally took the plunge and got me an underdash A/C unit for the truck. Been spying them for a few years. I got mine from RetroAir in Texas. http://www.retroair.com/universalackits.html Been a pretty nice group to deal with. My first evaporator showed up broke on the front corner. No problem, and had a replacement within a week. Kit comes with everything, but like anything "universal" it needs finesse to work. I remade the mounting bracket for the dash unit. I was going to mount the cb below it, but just seems kinda wrong. So I used some 1 x 1/8" stock and bent me a new bracket so my CB is in the same location. All the work under the hood has been quite an undertaking. Was NEVER any room for an a/c compressor on a B model. I saw the way they mount it to an R model and since finding the OEM bracket wasn't going smoothly I just made my own. I had to remove the original fuel filter from the front of the motor: I cut the arms off the mounting plate and used them to fabricate a new mount off the frame rails: I had thoughts of converting to spin on filter, but since I had all this I figured just to reuse it all. A few new lines to get everything hooked up and that part is complete. I then started on the compressor mounting. I started with a 6x9 pc of 1/4" plate and made it all work: I will need to trim the 1" shroud from the radiator to get the clutch to clear. I will be running from the front belt only. The rear belt will not clear the accy drive on the front of the motor. On the R model, they run just off the water pump pulley, but there is NO room for another pulley groove with such a short water pump. You can't space it out because right now there is only maybe 1" clearance from the fan to the radiator. Barely get the fan bolts on/off with the tips of your fingers. I have some more pics I need to download from my phone from the brackets I made to support the plate that run down to the accy drive area where the pump bolts on. Two 1/4" plates runs down to steady it. Should not ever be an issue with anything ever breaking loose/off. Once I slot the bracket I can then figure a belt length and finish that part up. I am working on getting hose lengths and having the ends crimped on. I mounted the condensor under the bunk on the passenger side(just above my battery box). The kit comes with a nice 12" electric fan to mount on the condensor. There is NO other place to mount it. The shutters are only 1/2" away from the front of the radiator so no room there. I thought of mounting it upright behind the bunk but with the fan I figure this is out the way and won't have any chance of getting damaged. It will be probably a month before it is ready for testing and charging. Baby steps.

Found out my steering arm has a smaller hole then air assist. I'm getting the arm sent and will put it on in hopes it will be no issues. Nothing I can't handle. Just now working on trying to get my arm off. Nut came off easily but now trying to get arm to pop out. No room for puller.

I'm no economics major, but I bet the pricing for shipping will stay up for a while at least til someone starts cutting prices to get more work. Then the bidding war will start.

That was rebuilt by a fellow here on BMT. I can't say the name for the life of me. I remember that black stack and the shiny rain cap. The ebay ad says the owner moved to Colorado and then sold it.

Dangit, I knew that. See what happens when you get back to work from a week off? My brain is fried......that is what is left.

9-0-nuthin............I mean 903.

I recognize that truck.

Welcome aboard. We all enjoy pics if you can get them.

Yup. As greased up as my slacks are they will never be stuck! Just a kick in the pants what I have spent on tools compared to the parts I want to change. A friend texted me yesterday to tell me he had slack puller at work if I needed it. Just after I bought one. Oh well.

Well as they say "having the right tool for job..." I bought the OTC slack puller and 10 seconds later the pitman was off in my hands. Ugh. Put it under tension and a couple taps with a hammer was all it took. The project continues on......

What I heard about it.

My inner fenders are very nice and likely not going to cut them. I'll pull the fender if I have to. I have one spot I can get with hammer/air hammer once a puller is installed. I will continue to tinker with it.

Nope, mine does not have a pinch bolt. I've tried to strike with hammer but with inner fender in the way there is not much room to swing. Might have to pull sheet metal?

Thus I never got one myself.

Welcome. Better buy it. That is a good deal no matter what.

Tec Brake makes the jake for a mack. $1500 was the last price I remember. Don't know how well they actually work on these low compression motors.

It is a splined shaft from the steering box. The arm is solid and pressed on. Can't post picture right now.

The main box is always a slow shift just due to the rpm drop it takes. The splits are only 300 rpm and goes quickly.

Only used small propane type torch. Also whacked with bfh while under tension. I have a spare box and there is no set screw or other bolt holding it. I've done pickups without issue but this is twice as big and 20 yrs older!

Yes, taking it off steering box. The nut and lockwasher are removed. I tried some very light heat to see if I could get it to expand enough to loosen. No luck. I left the puller under tension in hopes it might work loose(I know I'm dreaming).