Rocky64 's budget cabover repair thread

Well dang. You can tell this is the slow season. Every mechanic worth anything for 200 miles is booked up all month and next month too.

So I took things into my own hands. First I went to harbour freight and then to sears for the tools I would need that I didn't have yet.

Next i I went to freightliner. Got my output shaft seal and my wheel seal and the tank gasket for the radiator.

Then i went to southeast deisel for the crankshaft front seal. Didn't buy the $700 tool to install it tho. This ole dog has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Lastly I went to truck pro for brakes and kleener and hub gasket.

Now ow im heading to Knoxville to get my free drums. The trip will save me $200 bucks and I get to spend time with my teenage son.

Tommorow. We are tackling this ourselves and I'll post lots of pics tomorrow night.

 

Oh my goodness working on trucks Is hard.

Got the brakes done but not without breaking two inner lug nuts. (not pilot hubs) This made the day long.

I beat the snot out of that ujoint for 30 minutes before she would give it up. Then hadnto use a puller on the pinion. Dang!

Found out i need front brakes and drums. Yay!!!

Power steering pump is leaking at the drive. I think ive been misled about the crankshaft seal.

How do i clean the oil and grime from the under carriage without a pressure washer? I want it perfect.

I also want to swap the windshield wiper motor on tbe driver side to electric... from air... any ideas?

 

Only problem with new hubs is the wheels to go with them. But you and I feel the same way. I hate em too. If tjis truck turns out to be a money maker I can see making the upgrade to pilot hubs from a boneyard. I need that tool. Apparently the tourqe spec on the inner and outer lugs is a lot lower tgan most think and thats why they break. Need nevr seize.

 

Found the leak in the radiator tank. Talked to previous owner and he said he's been adding antifreeze for quite some time. I've got the gasket to pull that tank off and have it repaired but I don't want to pull the radiator for at least another month. However, I can pull the grill off the truck and stand in there and braze a scab on that spot in just a matter of minutes.

 

Another productive day. Front brakes and drums complete. Power steering pump gasket changed. Made up new airline pigtails out of slider hose and seven wire lead. Also got the brake light issue resolved, butt connectors always fail so we ran more new 7 wire line. Should be finishing up tomorrow.

 

Finally got this thing ready. Just about. Lol. Removed the battery box from behind the cab over the fram to a box mounted under the frame under the right box just inside the steps and infront of the right fuel tank.

Hung a new airline spring and hanger. New mudflap brackets and flaps. Right mirror got replaced. Fixed air horn. Completed the rear lights replacement.

And last but not least, was able to solder the tank on the radiator. I was going to take this out but im going to need a new radiator so I'll get one ordered in a month or two and do it at the same time that i get the overhead done.

Still need to adjust the clutch and add rubber from the old mudflap to the top of the battery box to keep the sparks down in case I go into the ditch or whatever. Also the quick connects on the airline on the hi side low side flipper started to leak as we were in there so I need some brass fittings too. Then get my inspection. Wow. Lots done and still a little more to do.