85 2wd C&C Dump 4x4 Conversion

[bp17oang]

I'm not following that...

[ArdWrknTrk]

A 4.10 (and up) ring gear uses a different carrier than 3.23, 3.55 3.73 ring and pinion sets.

The gear is bigger because there's not enough room to put that many teeth on a smaller diameter blank, and the teeth for a lower numerical ratio would be too wide on a 4.10 and up gear blank.
The pinion won't work then..

So, we call that the carrier break.

It's not an issue if you're not regearing.
But plenty of kids with a 150 that want big tires or a rock crawler don't realize that they won't fit.
Ooops!  

Swapping the whole chunk is not an issue.

[bp17oang]

As it's currently constituted it has 3.55. But as you can see I acquired a 4.10 assembly before I got my senses on what I should be doing.

[bp17oang]

Ahh ok. I just never heard it called that, but I was aware of that differences you describe. Anyhow, that's all water under the bridge at this point

[bp17oang]

[bp17oang]

[ArdWrknTrk]

You're up working early.

And making good progress, I see!  

I hadn't thought about having to cut the lower frame channel to clear the shackles.
Do you intend to box the front of the rails like your 250?

While you're in this deep you really should check that no frame cracks are forming between the two rear steering quadrant bolt holes.
And that the Huck bolt and forward crossmember are tight on that side.

(Ask Gary )

[bp17oang]

Yes I had to cut the bottom lip of the frame for the shackles.  I also welded shims inside that hanger. The 4wd had a "recess" on each side where that top shackle bolt goes through.  It's also relatively close to a notch on the frame so hopefully that strengthens it up.

The driver side is boxed in the same as the 4wd where the gear box mounts (Edit: upon looking closer you are correct that it is boxed in a little bit less on 2wd. Looks like a chore getting that entire section out so I might just fab some pieces in there if necessary). I did weld the piece in from the passenger side which hopefully you can see in this photo. I figure I will go ahead and put the bracket in that the TTB sway bar mounted to. Not sure that really will help hold anything together but I guess it won't hurt.

And yes, I will absolutely be checking those things out before dropping the motor in. Thanks for mentioning that!

[Gary Lewis]

Lots of work!  But you are making good progress.  

And Jim is right, check out the frame where the steering box bolts on - Dad's was cracked there in spite of having been treated kindly all of its life from what I can tell.  And on both trucks the huck bolt was loose.

[bp17oang]

The front hangers were not too bad. The three holes for the core support are used so I could use that to go off.

The rear ones were a little trickier for two reasons... One, no holes matched to work from, and two one hole is up under the cab mount. So, I measured everything based off the 4x4 cab mount from several points with a caliper etc. Then I made a jig based off the holes I could drill that I could reverse to mark and drill that particular hole from the inside of the frame.

Edit: also I think there were two but at least one huck bolt on both sides that I had to cut off and put bolts in due to having to take off the mounting system for the coils. I will double check that

[bp17oang]

So two motor mount hucks and one on the cross member bottom frame channel on driver side had to be cut and replaced. On passenger just the one on the bottom channel.

Everything else appears to be solid but I'll clean it up and check all that closer

[bp17oang]

Just thinking ahead a little bit... What would you guys do for the fuel system? The truck has an electric fuel system, the motor that's going in has a mechanical.

Any thoughts or preferences?  

[ArdWrknTrk]

Go electric if the cab and tanks are already set up that way.
a blanking plate for the engine is cheap and easy to source from the Mustang enthusiast crowd.

Cranking and cranking for minutes to catch prime if you run one tank out is a huge pita.
Take it from someone who knows all too well.

[bp17oang]

That's what I was thinking... Since the truck is electrically set up for that.

I have a blanking plate to use off the other motor! 👍

[ArdWrknTrk]

You just need to plumb the vapor separator and return on top of the donor engine.

[bp17oang]

Sort of a standstill waiting on some parts... but days like today are what really make me want to get the ol girl going... 😁

[ArdWrknTrk]

Looks a beautiful day there, with blue skies and no snow on the ground!  

Which saw have you got there?
Looks a bit older with that shape filter cover, but I can't tell on my phone.
Is that a little beech, still holding its leaves, over winter?

Sap will be up soon.
I may go to my buddy's up in VT for a week of sugaring if he needs help

[bp17oang]

Beautiful day, which are rare this time of year in Ohio.

Yes that is a beech. Saw is a 290. Little small for stuff like this but with 20" bar and big bite chain it holds it's own.

I usually tap some trees myself but didn't get around to it this year. Sounds like a good trip to Vermont. Any ruffed grouse around those parts?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Ah! I had a 029 for a house/firewood saw for a few years!

Grouse where I am in SW Connecticut, or up in the Green Mountain State Forest???

We don't have much grouse this close to NYC. Don't see any pheasant or woodcock anymore either!  
It's not at all like it was 40-50 years ago.
There's some birds around Bill's (in VT)
I see them, but I don't have an upland stamp or an out of state permit.

[bp17oang]

Yeah I meant in Vermont.

Ohio isn't any better for upland birds. My dad used to get a grouse or pheasant back in the 80s but those days are long gone. My bird trips generally take me west but at least one to the northeast would be on the bucket list.