Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

I think a new set of leafs might be in order. And an anti-wrap bar, although I'm a little worried about welding that to the stock housing. Might need to see about a stock replacement diamond.

https://youtu.be/S5hh6_uCUg8?si=4B-JGwC5DfiE-eBG

 

Makes me wonder how much wrap a stock leaf pack has on an unmolested truck. also the diamond housing is nice peace of mine. Otherwise you could just plate or sleeve where you're mounting to the OEM housing for an anti-wrap bar.

 

The Bud built one bolts on.

 

Cut a pipe in half similar to how I did my leaf perches if you are worried. I don't think it's needed though.

 

A new set of J59s and an anti-wrap kit from Ruff Stuff are en route. Also have a new flywheel to put in to replace the Exedy one that's still causing me intermittent issues. Thought I was done working on this shitbox for the year!

No surprise, but I've not been able to get ahold of Diamond. I'll just weld it up to the stock housing and see how it works.

I'll have to do some reading on how to setup the anti-wrap bar. Planning on pulling the new leaf pack apart and cycling everything anyways.

 

Zero surprise about not hearing from Diamond. I love the idea of their stuff, and have their keyed arms but it was a slow process.

I bet you're spring wrapping as much as stock (or any other leaf pack for that matter) and a new leaf pack probably won't help with that specifically. Anti-wrap bar is the only way to control the axle movement.

Do what @Reh5108 said and cut some tube in half to plate the stock housing. I had issues with the stock one tearing on my truck.

 

I got my current leafs from @TMFF, and he said they're pushing 20 years old, so I assume the new springs will help quite a bit.

Watching it go up a super steep ledge in double low got me worried! I think the rear ujoint must have been at a 30+degree angle.

 

They may help some but I definitely think most folks would be shocked to see how much an axle wraps on leaves that aren't HD truck style springs. Even on a new spring pack, the anti-wrap makes a huge difference for me.

I actually have a working theory that spring wrap actually helps keep R&P's together on old Toyota's under shock loading since it acts like a big rubber band in the drivetrain compared to linked setups with no deflection.

 

Interesting. Hopefully I don't start blowing up rear diffs.

 

You should know by now that when you make one component stronger, something downstream will eventually let you know how it feels about it.

 

I definitely know that.

I just assumed that the axle wrap and related hopping would be worse from the diff.

 

Harder on u-joints for sure but the diff appreciates the cushion.

There's some math to getting the anti-squat % right on leaves but I don't remember what that math is at the moment. Too much AS and the rear will actually lift under load, which isn't good. I went with make the bar long and have good vertical separation on the axle and its fine. Leaves are messy trying to find instant centers and whatnot.

 

The only way to get ahold of them is via email. Only time I talked on the phone with them was when I was placing the order and giving them the cc info lol

 

Know where I can read up on the anti-wrap bar geo and setup?

Yeah, phone went straight to VM saying to email. Email has been a week with no response.

 

It’s been a long time since I’ve been down that rabbit hole so I’ve got no good direct reading. I’d cruise around old Pirate threads that are leaf spring heavy on tech. Race Dezert probably has some good info too. Irate4x4 may have some stuff too but it’s more link tech heavy.

 

@El Taco Diablo

 

Here's where the traction bar started.

You gotta wade through an axle build, raising the fuel tank, I think mounting the rear winch, doing Chevy 63s... and a bunch of other crap that was all going on at the same time.

 

Gotta love doing very labor-intensive jobs twice. Hopefully the Luk doesn't give me any issues like the Exedy.

 

Lmao... A week? Try 6 months... While I was, literally, asking him how I should send him 1200 bucks.




I heard nothing from him after that email. Even with multiple follow up attempts after the lower email.

I made it to Hammers... ONLY because Dutchman axles is awesome, and they made me a set in about a week, then shipped them overnight.



Dude straight up ghosted even after I told him I had a deadline (a realistic deadline that would even work for him).

At least he didn't Pelrybuilt me and ghost me AFTER he had my money

But seriously... dude is a tool bag.

 

Damn, so it was doing exactly what you thought. Is that old different dimensions somehow? Or was it not engaging the starter correctly and not plunging into the teeth?