The Pickle LJ

[Abendage]

You know MEN can't follow directions...

I occasionally glance at them after a failure from not reading the directions.

 

[PickleLJ]

Thats a wrap on the Sterling Regear, a couple adjustments on the pattern, the crush sleeve eliminator showed up so got the preload set correct, re-checked pattern, everything was in spec. Backlash is at 13 thousandths, preload at 28 inch-lbs, and all is well. Fresh cover, fresh yoke, and a fresh set of gears. Started cleaning up the axle tubes as well, but thats going to be a job for when i can have the door open and im a softy when it gets below about 20 degrees too much dust in the air with the door shut.

Side note, some of my suspension components arrived today so I know what ill be aiming to get tackled all week!

 

[PickleLJ]

Made a little bit of headway this evening, got the rest of the axle tubes on the sterling cleaned up, got the Mercedes power steering box out of the jeep, and dug out the plasma to start cutting off the factory brackets off the front 60. Anybody have a picture of their 97-02 gearbox? Mine has a nub that makes contact on the frame and I wanna make sure there’s no holes there before I lop it off with a grinder.

 

[Wildman]

What nub are you talking about on the steering gear box?

This one on the front?

 

[PickleLJ]

What nub are you talking about on the steering gear box?

View attachment 666486

This one on the front?

View attachment 666487

Yessir the one on the front. Looks like it it is about 1/4-1/2” too tall and making contact with the round crossmember/brace (whatever you’d like to call it. Your psc nub looks smaller. Thinking about it now I guess I could have sent one of the old pictures with it circled . Got the old axles sold today, guy is coming down from Moab to get em, so I’ll take a closer look when I get out there and make sure that’s where it’s making contact.

 

[Lanzg]

Yessir the one on the front. Looks like it it is about 1/4-1/2” too tall and making contact with the round crossmember/brace (whatever you’d like to call it. Your psc nub looks smaller. Thinking about it now I guess I could have sent one of the old pictures with it circled . Got the old axles sold today, guy is coming down from Moab to get em, so I’ll take a closer look when I get out there and make sure that’s where it’s making contact.
View attachment 666557

You can shave a little off that nubbin but don't go nuts. I heat that tube up just where it makes contact and give it one good strike with a ball peen and it usually clears.

Dealers Choice.

LG

 

[PickleLJ]

Update on El Picklé. Got 90% of the factory bracketry cut off of the front Dana 60, ordered some balljoint eliminators for the uppers, and new lower balljoints. Also ordered my lower shock mounts, and a couple other goodies to help get the axles cleaned up and tidy. Havent had a chance to take care of the powersteering clearance issue yet, appreciate the info though Lanzg, ill probably go with the torch and hammer method . Got the old axles and tires sold, so we are halfway to a set of beadlocks and tires lol. Unfortunately, even with safety glasses on a piece of metal managed to get into my eye and lodged itself so I had a visit to the eye doctor this morning to get some dremmeling done on the ole eyeball. 10/10 don't recommend getting metal shavings in your eye, i guess its goggles and face shield from here on. All that is left as far as cleaning up the axles go is to cut 2" off the driver side diff housing for mounting area, fill where i cut a little too deep, and polish up the tubes with my hand belt sander. After that I will start getting the truss, high steer and bracketry setup and the remaining parts cleaned and ready for welding.