I'm beginning to flesh out some changes to my 97 A3 project. It's becoming a 4x4.
Thanks to all who have posted excellent workmanship before (bobbing and various suspension systems) here on SS, that have inspired me. I'll do my best to make a nice machine and tool.
The twist with this truck, is that it may run (as in be a significant power source for) a portable sawmill.
First, As you will see in the pictures I post, it is clearly marked with 4th and reverse out, so I bought it with a known tranny problem. The prior owner had bought a used tranny to replace one having that same problem...and it had burned out clutches also. I got the original transmission in a box in the bed.
Rebuilt the original Allison 1545 tranny and (locking) torque converter, now it's ready to go in. The PTO has been installed onto the tranny, but I'm changing to a different pump, so selling the one pictured.
I have a Sundstrand hydroatat pump that I'm considering for a carriage drive on the sawmill and it has a nice variable displacement on the back of that. It can work the dual purpose of a snow plow in a closed system and will be just the right HP for turning, clamping, setworks and carriage drive, from the Cat 3116 and Allison. Now to see if I can make it fit. If I go with only the snow plow, the VD pump will be sweet, direct coupled to the PTO. I bought a lot of the PTO's from GL, so have a few to work with.
I'm using an M105 bed and want 4" overhanging the frame at the rear. I plan on a step bumper with my trailer connections, but the pintle is the major connection. Bumperets get removed.
The M105 is 50" to the center of the wheel well from the rear. That makes the single rear axle at 12" further forward from the present rear most position. Being that I have a donor M105, I have considered using the trailer springs and perches...but...I like the idea of a smoother ride with air springs and four link.
So here is the plan. I'm going to remove the intermediate axle and use the present link system on the rear axle...dog bones... but add a fourth link at the top and move the top two, to outside the frame.
The entire frame mount assembly that the rear axle dogbones mount to, will be moved forward and kept. I'm not changing the original geometry of the rear, but I will install the top links, one on each side, on the outside of the frame and above the bottom link. That makes a true four link, using one of the dogbones and axle bracket from the removed axle. Then I fab the air bag mount, shock mounts and probably a watts link.
I recovered the 105 from it's mud and towed it 40 miles home today. And (5) Michelin XZL 395's came. Wow...what shoes?
The deuce bed becomes a dump bed trailer on it's own, on tandem 7k Dexters with hummer wheels...and much lower to the ground.
I'll go take some pictures.
Please address my suspension idea. I have not seen this exact method...and I have done several searches.
Thanks to all who have posted excellent workmanship before (bobbing and various suspension systems) here on SS, that have inspired me. I'll do my best to make a nice machine and tool.
The twist with this truck, is that it may run (as in be a significant power source for) a portable sawmill.
First, As you will see in the pictures I post, it is clearly marked with 4th and reverse out, so I bought it with a known tranny problem. The prior owner had bought a used tranny to replace one having that same problem...and it had burned out clutches also. I got the original transmission in a box in the bed.
Rebuilt the original Allison 1545 tranny and (locking) torque converter, now it's ready to go in. The PTO has been installed onto the tranny, but I'm changing to a different pump, so selling the one pictured.
I have a Sundstrand hydroatat pump that I'm considering for a carriage drive on the sawmill and it has a nice variable displacement on the back of that. It can work the dual purpose of a snow plow in a closed system and will be just the right HP for turning, clamping, setworks and carriage drive, from the Cat 3116 and Allison. Now to see if I can make it fit. If I go with only the snow plow, the VD pump will be sweet, direct coupled to the PTO. I bought a lot of the PTO's from GL, so have a few to work with.
I'm using an M105 bed and want 4" overhanging the frame at the rear. I plan on a step bumper with my trailer connections, but the pintle is the major connection. Bumperets get removed.
The M105 is 50" to the center of the wheel well from the rear. That makes the single rear axle at 12" further forward from the present rear most position. Being that I have a donor M105, I have considered using the trailer springs and perches...but...I like the idea of a smoother ride with air springs and four link.
So here is the plan. I'm going to remove the intermediate axle and use the present link system on the rear axle...dog bones... but add a fourth link at the top and move the top two, to outside the frame.
The entire frame mount assembly that the rear axle dogbones mount to, will be moved forward and kept. I'm not changing the original geometry of the rear, but I will install the top links, one on each side, on the outside of the frame and above the bottom link. That makes a true four link, using one of the dogbones and axle bracket from the removed axle. Then I fab the air bag mount, shock mounts and probably a watts link.
I recovered the 105 from it's mud and towed it 40 miles home today. And (5) Michelin XZL 395's came. Wow...what shoes?
The deuce bed becomes a dump bed trailer on it's own, on tandem 7k Dexters with hummer wheels...and much lower to the ground.
I'll go take some pictures.
Please address my suspension idea. I have not seen this exact method...and I have done several searches.
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