awphillips93
New member
Just read your whole thread. Wow. Keep up the great work and I can't wait to see how it all comes together.
Cheers,
Alex
Cheers,
Alex
Project "Autonomous" F-350
- Thread starter pappawheely
- Start date
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
Thanks everyone. Today's setbacks were the spring plates I ordered will not work with my springs. The plates were advertised as fitting 3" springs. The inside measurement of the bolt holes was only 2.8625. Then I had to talk to two people at the company where I bought them in order to convince them they won't work. So frustrating working with people who are devoid of math and/or technical knowledge of any amount. The first guy kept telling me they were the correct parts and I was overthinking it!?! I admit, I overthink just about everything but I assured him that the 5/8 u-bolts and 3/8 thick spring plates are not overthinking anything; they don't fit. He did not even understand what I meant by the term "inside dimension." I told him I can give you center to center dimension; it still doesn't add up. I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.
https://youtu.be/hd1ciPnTGKg
https://youtu.be/hd1ciPnTGKg
IdaSHO
IDACAMPER
Are you talking about the pads/perches?
I've never been able to find the "correct" perch that fits both the axle tube diameter and the spring width.
From what I recall, the sterling has a 3.5" diameter, and the perches need to fit a 3" leaf.
Closest I've ever found were 3" wide perches for a 3" tube. And a bit of work with the plasma cutter to make them fit the 3.5" axle tube.
I've never been able to find the "correct" perch that fits both the axle tube diameter and the spring width.
From what I recall, the sterling has a 3.5" diameter, and the perches need to fit a 3" leaf.
Closest I've ever found were 3" wide perches for a 3" tube. And a bit of work with the plasma cutter to make them fit the 3.5" axle tube.
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
I am talking about the spring plates that clamp the springs down. I am guilty of trying to save a few bucks going with a different supplier. I ordered from Ruffstuff Specialties and they shipped the right parts the same day; within an hour of my purchase. The thing is, I purchased the spring pads from them a while ago but did not buy the plates. Their website has great pictures of the parts and full descriptions. Here are the pads I got, they work with the 3.5 axle. http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/SU-PERCH.html
pappa - also check out these guys --> http://wfoconcepts.com/ - one of the few to offer zinc coated spring hardware. keep up the work...wanna see the final product.:sombrero:
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
The front hangers are done. Not happy with my booger welds on the brace. They are strong enough, they just look bad. Why is it that the welds that don't show are always great and the ones that are most prominent suck? 
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
I got the rear hangers done. Waiting for the spring plates. The welding went much better today. Figured out one of the issues, mill scale.
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
The eagle has landed. Sitting on it's own suspension again. No lift blocks, everything is super heavy duty. Happy, proud, scratch one off the list. :steak:
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
It takes practice. I should be up to speed by the time I'm finished.
I better add some more gussets. :ar15:
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
Some of you know that I was a design engineer for years. With cnc mills and lathes and laser cutting machines at my disposal, I designed some very sophisticated and close tolerance parts and tooling. On my truck I am using simple steel and aluminum raw materials. Plate, tubing and angle iron are the materials I have and chop saw, horizontal band saw, welder and hand tools are what's currently available to me. It takes a different mindset to take simple materials and processes and build hand-made parts. I am getting ready to plumb the fuel system. I had to make mounts for the ball valves that I am using for emergency shut-offs. It took some head scratching but I am happy with what I came up with.
All these parts have to be mounted and plumbed. Dual AEM pumps and filters, valves, vents, and a pump station to fill the T-Dub.
The ball valves seemed tricky to mount but I came up with this. Square tube cut on a bias and round tube as a saddle. I mirrored the square tube on the other side and cut it all in half, I have two. It takes some thought to make parts on a horizontal band saw as opposed to a vertical.
The radius was not perfect so I expanded it with an impact socket and the vise.
I just need to drill holes in the square tube to mount it. The valve will have hose clamps around both ends to fix the valve into the saddle.
I feel more like a steelworker than a design engineer or fabricator. These parts are a far cry from this billet rear diff cover that mounts a steering ram. I designed this in solidworks when I worked at Fabtech :chef:
All these parts have to be mounted and plumbed. Dual AEM pumps and filters, valves, vents, and a pump station to fill the T-Dub.
The ball valves seemed tricky to mount but I came up with this. Square tube cut on a bias and round tube as a saddle. I mirrored the square tube on the other side and cut it all in half, I have two. It takes some thought to make parts on a horizontal band saw as opposed to a vertical.
The radius was not perfect so I expanded it with an impact socket and the vise.
I just need to drill holes in the square tube to mount it. The valve will have hose clamps around both ends to fix the valve into the saddle.
I feel more like a steelworker than a design engineer or fabricator. These parts are a far cry from this billet rear diff cover that mounts a steering ram. I designed this in solidworks when I worked at Fabtech :chef:
I really like how you approach things. I am guessing as your pic with all the parts has a pump handle you will have the ability to fill other things from a tank/tanks? I have wondered about doing that instead of having a simple reserve that only fuels my vehicle. Is that where you're going?