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Supercharged VG30 ,stretched 720 Pickup


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Thanks guys , today I am going to try to the new axle under the doner chassis to see where I am with the clearance , I think I might have to narrow the frame where the wheels are , its going to be tight .

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How I read it was that he was going to use a short side axle from another rear axle, so now he has two short axles instead of one long side and one short side, I thought that was a great solution without having to make an axle.

I wondered why he didn't just use the short axle housing also, but maybe there is a reason that he couldn't, I don't know shit about Ford axles.

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Hi yes I pressed out the long axle side tube from the center housing and cut 3 inches off the tube , and picked up another short side axle , I looked for another diff with a damaged long side to get a another short side tube , but no luck ,so I had to cut the long tube down and grind it down to the right size to press back into the housing , so no machining splines or cutting axles , just cutting the axle tube and installing another short axle , the inexpensive do it yourself way chop a Ford 8.8 rear diff down 3 inches !!!!!.

So Update , as I expected the chassis on the D21 is way wider than that of the 720 , so I am going to have to narrow the back section of the frame. and move the leaf springs in a bit also .

here is where are at so far today.

modified the rear rotors to fit the Ford axle flanges and got the discs and wheels mounted

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dragged the doner chassis in and pulled the stock D21 diff out

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got the Ford 8.8 in for a test fit

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My calculations said I was going to have 1/8 inch of clearance per side , well ether way I have to narrow the back ......Dam

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I ordered some 2 inch Bell-Teck drop spindles for the front , they should be here on Thursday with any luck .

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Update , Rear frame section gets narrowed , I decided to do one side at a time , keeping one side together to have something to measure from and know its correct. so here is side one !!!

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I am narrowing the rear 3 inches , this will be the same width as the stock 720 frame rails , it will help to install the box later.

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On the cross bar behind the fuel tank , I took out 1 1/2 inches from the middle and next will shorten the other end ( close to the passenger frame rail ) so it doesn't affect the fuel tank mount.

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Still another inside box section to go on , I will bump up a piece for both once I am into the other side.

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Drop spindles come tomorrow , so should be assembling the front end on Friday and with any luck start transplanting Blue Thunder on the weekend

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Ya Charlie me too , yet again I am the pioneer ...............why me , stay tuned this week , 2 inch bell tech drop spindles and my machined front hubs , Z32 brakes and the 19 inch wheels , along with the 300ZX (Z31) engine and trans with the blower are going in and the cab is going to get a test fit.

Going to be interesting ..................I hope the front isn't going to be too frigin wide .....

thanks guys for following along , it can get overwhelming sometimes ......

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I installed the Belltech drop spindles on my 66 520 that has the 1980 720 chassis under it.  When I added the spindles I had to upgrade the non vented rotors to the later model 720 vented rotors, calipers, and dust shields.  I also had to have my brother shave my lower control arms in order to run the 1978 620 stock 14" wheels.

 

Shaved LCAs

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Stock LCAs

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interesting ,I should have enough room for the end of the LCA in a 19 inch wheel , I was wondering with the drop spindles if the Radius rod would run into the wheel at full lock ? I might have to make the LCA's A arms and ditch the Radius rods . we will see tomorrow as soon as the get here they are going on , also are the tie rod ends are different sizes between 720 and D21 ?

Cheers

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The radius rod question is completely dependent on wheel and tire choice.  With the 14's I do not have a problem.  On the Belltech spindles there is a place for turn stop bolts.  This would allow you to adjust the stops to keep the tires from hitting the radius rods.  It might affect your turning radius.

 

After I get the front end back together I will set the torsion bars to stock factory height setting and at that time I might choose to go to "Z" ed lower control arms.  This will give me an additional 2" drop on the front.  When I get the front where I want it I will take the truck to a local spring shop and have them make a set of custom leaf springs to lower the rear so I have a 1" rake with the rear being higher.  I like this rake and for the Nissan leveling valve (proportioning valve) to work properly the 1" rake is required.

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Measure where the LCA is before you cut the LCA, having a drop arm with a drop spindle might get you too low, I can't do it on mine, inner arm drop arm and cross member would be almost resting on the ground, it would not be safe to have both drop spindle and drop arms.

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The radius rod question is completely dependent on wheel and tire choice.  With the 14's I do not have a problem.  On the Belltech spindles there is a place for turn stop bolts.  This would alloy you to adjust the stops to keep the tires from hitting the radius rods.  It might affect your turning radius.

 

After I get the front end back together I will set the torsion bars to stock factory height setting and at that time I might choose to go to "Z" ed lower control arms.  This will give me an additional 2" drop on the front.  When I get the front where I want it I will take the truck to a local spring shop and have them make a set of custom leaf springs to lower the rear so I have a 1" rake with the rear being higher.  I like this rake and for the Nissan leveling valve (proportioning valve) to work properly the 1" rake is required.

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Hi ,Yes they are Bessey Clamps super clamps , unbelievable they can pull 660 Lbs , don't know how I could work with out them .

Xmass in August !!!! got my drop spindles today ,mocked it up and looks like I am going to have to trim the inner tie rod ends a bit , toed out a country mile ,I will set the toe and then laser it to see how much the front sticks out , god I hope it's going to fit under the fenders !!!!.

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Had to back the torsion bars way off to get the spindles in and the thing is almost sitting on the floor .

Hope to get the engine and trans swapped tomorrow , I have to stay on this thing like crazy right now , must get it back on the road !!!!

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Measure where the LCA is before you cut the LCA, having a drop arm with a drop spindle might get you too low, I can't do it on mine, inner arm drop arm and cross member would be almost resting on the ground, it would not be safe to have both drop spindle and drop arms.

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Wayno those lower control arms are crazy !!!

I was thinking the same thing!

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