New to the forum, looking for stuff

[dirtdog]

Hello!
I have a 85 4X4 KC. I'm looking for heavy duty torsion bars. I bought a 84 new and back them I got a pair from Rancho. I haven't been to lucky in finding some now. Any suggestions?
Other than that, for tonight, I just want to say "I love my truck" I loved my 84, and am still kicking myself for trading it in for a car for the wife (not her fault, we just got married and I wanted her to have safe decent ride). Took a year to find my current truck, and it was worth the hunting!!!
Any way, if someone can help me, THANKS

[dirtdog]

Well, I'm checking in. I have been working on my truck a lot. I am going to post up some pics as soon as I get them downloaded. I put some 31-10.5-15s on, and they were rubbing a bit when I hit a bump with the wheels turned. I cranked up the torsion bars to raise the front end approximately 2", and installed add-a-leafs to the back (raised up 2.5 inches). I have been reworking the front wheel wells to make more room. I still need another inch I think. I'm looking for some heavy duty torsion bars which will stiffen the front end and eliminate most of the rest of the rubbing. I had a 84 4X4 and did all of this to it. Worked well back then. It was much easier to find parts then! I have also been working on the interior some. I have stripped out all but the drivers seat and fixed a couple of rust spots. Now I am painting and changing every thing below the dash to black. Looks like I will have to replace an expansion plug in the block soon. I found some anti-freeze on the floor of my garage, and when I started looking for the culprit...not exactly what I want to do any time soon. It looks like it might not be to hard to do, but with my girl aging like she is, it's never easy.
If you have any suggestions, drop a note. I'm always looking for the easiest way to do things.
Thank
DD

[radracer]

cant wait to see your pics, DD!

[dirtdog]

This is my truck! (I hope the photos work)

Obviously not!!!
And then again... 3rd times a charm.

[dirtdog]

Here are a couple more from when I bought it. This is what I saw on the internet that got me from Maine to North Carolina to purchase (and the price, of course!).



I will post up some after pics when I get a bit more done.

[radracer]

damn, she looks clean as hell. how old are those pics? got any recent ones? also, do you plan on doing any major work to her? it seems like you want her to be a crawler or mudder; is that the case?

[dirtdog]

Thanks!!
Clean is why I traveled so far to purchase. It was hard to find a clean and pretty truck. I have been doing some work on her.
I pulled the interior out and cleaned up a tiny (compared to yours) spot of rust and painted the floor with bed liner.

You should think about that. Inhibits rust and is very durable. I removed both front fenders, and did some modifications to the wheel wells for clearance.

She now has 31-10.5-15s on her. I cranked up the torsion bars as far as possible until I can find some heavy duty bars. I cleaned up some more rust from under the fenders. and painted the front valance with the bed liner also (satin black finish) I put some larger mud flaps on the front. I am refinishing the brush guard that was on her, and bought a roll bar that I am refinishing also.
I will post more pics when I get the cowl on and the brush guard (should be this weekend)
Radracer posts have been very helpful, and I'm sure not just to me, so keep up the good work!!!!
DD

[radracer]

Thats actually a damn fine idea, using bedliner for on the floorboards. I want to be able to get some carpeting on there, but bedliner would not only inhibit rust, but also give more of a friction point to reduce carpet migration once installed. I'm gonna do that! Thanks for the shout out (aw shucks) I think I mentioned that Ive done some builds of varying complexity in the past, but this is my very first resto, so I am learning a lot as I go along. This site has been a huge tool for me in learning, so anything I can do to help others is the very least I can repay the community.

[jgauspohl]

Not sure if d21 and 720 torsions are the same ...if so send me a pm because i have some HD ones.

[dirtdog]

I have measured the torsion bars on my truck. They are approx. 38" long and 7\8" thick (standard bar on 4X4) I checked with a friend at the dealership, and the part numbers for D21 and 720 are completely different. If the bars you (jgauspohl) have are approx 38" and something thicker the 7\8" let me know and we will deal.
I will PM you my e-mail address.
Thanks
DD

[crackbaby69]

truck looks great.

[dirtdog]

OK, so today I started the hunt for the mystery leak. When ever it rains or I wash my truck I have a small leak on the passenger side under the dash. Since I had the cowl off I thought it a good time to do some investigating. I learned quite alot about how the truck gets air from outside. This first picture shows the stack that air flows into, and keeps the rain (or wash water) out. You will notice there is a problem here!

Here's a look at the other side. Those are wholes there, yes!

I used a product from 'Locktite' I hope works as well as they say it does. It is called "Extends" and is a rust neutralizer. (I knocked off the big stuff first) This is a spray on product that is supposed to stop rust from continuing to form. After it dries you can paint over it and "Poof" no more rust! That's what they claim. We will see.
After it dried I used a product called "Dyna-Mat" to seal the wholes the rust made. Some of you might know this product as a noise dampening material used around speakers. I thought it looks like it will seal nicely. it is pliable and forms to what ever you stick it on. It also will not completely harden for a long time.


I applied a bit of black silicon to the edges just for fun.
Before I reinstalled the cowl, I noticed this little jewel. This is the wipe assembly support bracket.

It was painted rather poorly when they painted the truck. I sanded it down and repainted it flat black (no glare)
That's all I had time for today. Had to pay some attention to my wife. She lets me play with my truck, and I appreciate that so I try to give her some time back. Just a tip for you married guys out there.
Good luck with your leaks!
DD

[dirtdog]

Today I think I have finished painting my brushguard. It was getting dark when I quit, so tomorrow I will be sure all looks good and reinstall it. I a m going to try and get the rear mud flaps on as well. If all that goes as planned (and we all know that's not usually the case with these elderly vehicles) I am going to attempt to install my roll bar. I am finishing the paint on the roll bar while I do the work on everything else tomorrow. Once all that's done I am going to take some pictures. I will be done with most of the stuff that is visible from outside.
Wish me luck, I have been whittling away at this for a while and really want to get done.
I noticed a bit of antifreeze on the floor this morning. When I checked it out I found one of the freeze-plugs is rotting out and dribbling.
I'm hoping I can put this off for a couple of weeks, as summer in Maine is the very best time to be here living. It is the reason Maine is called "Vacation Land" If you get a chance come visit, It's beautiful here.

[dirtdog]

This is where we are at so far.
This is Kathleen.

I have a few more things to do. I discovered the right torsion bar is bent so I am acquiring a new(to me) set.
Still have to put on the rear mud flaps, and figure out how to pretty up the gap between the frame and the bed.
Mostly minor stuff.
I'm driving proud now. She's looking good to me, and I love my truck!

[Midnighttouring]

Looks great!

[luistone]

Hello
Nice truck you have, I'm looking also for some heavy duty torsion bars to stiff the front suspension been looking and found this:
http://eshocks.com/sway_mult.asp?SubGro ... &SubChar=Q
But went to: http://www.swayaway.com
And didn’t find the product

[Davezilla]

Thanks for that link!! I've been needing some new torsion bars for mine ever since I got it running.