Mrs Gummi Bear's "Doodlebug" - A Buildup Thread

[Gummi Bear]

I got out there over the holiday weekend, did some organizing in the shop again, took care of a couple of projects for my folks, and got the axle pulled out of the 76 and torn down. I've decided that if I'm going to all the trouble of putting on Dedenbear knuckles and all the other high zoot goodies, it deserves a freshening up and a coat of paint (sorry Jerry )

I don't see me making it to OCBR again this year, unless my boss decides to give me an extra couple of weeks of vacation between now and then to work on it.

I had an epiphany, I can't concentrate on working on the Bronc when the girls are around, they're distracting, and I don't get anything done.

I did manage to wrench my back pretty good moving that damned axle however, now a chainfall has rocketed up the priority list so I don't make that bonehead mistake again.

 

[Fugly]

Looking good man! It's always that last nut or bolt that has to come off. Of course it always adds an hour or two onto the project.
My wife has finally figured out that if I tell her it should only take an hour that it will more than likely be three. I don't even have to explain why it took so long. I think its because she's heard me say this a million times, "There's always one frickin bolt or nut stripped or rusted on, that's why it took so long."

Nice looking shop by the way!

 

[coachbarnes]

I
I don't see me making it to OCBR again this year, unless my boss decides to give me an extra couple of weeks of vacation between now and then to work on it.

Save that vacation, man....it's a long way home from Cabo!;D

 

[Gummi Bear]

Thanks for the encouragement. I wish I could claim the shop as my own, it's actually my folks' place (I don't even have a garage, I was making improvements to my rig in the gravel driveway for years, that sucked)

Since my milestones are rapidly passing me by, I'm going to go ahead and do the Doodlebug up the way I always wanted, borrowing styling cues from several folks here, and having it wind up somewhere around 100" wheelbase. I'm ordering my brackets this week, so I can work on it next weekend (stretching the front 2-3") I've pretty well decided to can the leafs out back too, in favor of a link setup on coil springs and the neat-o Fox shocks I aquired last year.

 

[Gummi Bear]

SO, this past weekend was devoted to cleaning up the D44, painting, and a shave (we all like 'em shaved, right?;D )

I went ahead and scrubbed all of the hub innards in the parts washer, to get out any grit, and cruddy old grease. When it goes back together, it'll be pretty much all new.

After 3 pressure washings I managed to clear off most of the crud. A quick coat of brake cleaner to get out any oils that the pressure washer may have missed, and I was paintin!

I painted the calipers, the axle housing, and caliper brackets. I put together my knuckles. Next time I'm out there, I'll assemble it again.

I've got a list of parts for my radius arms, coil buckets and panhard bar, I just need to get them ordered.

 

[Banjer Picker]

Looks like yer' movin right along J! I'm in the middle of putting the disc conversion on mine right now. (Got tired of fightin the drums). Lets get a group up for a happy hour or somthing soon. Let me know if/when you're ready to sell those 4.88s. take it easy.

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

I like what you did witht the diff cover

 

[ShortBus]

Gummi,
I have shop envy!

Rob

 

[Gummi Bear]

I like what you did witht the diff cover

Thanks!

The diff cover is a product I bought from a good friend (and bigjhoov's employer) Baertrax, it's called the Buttface, and it works well. If you're needing work done, including some cool fab work, they're in Dallas.

www.baertrax.com

 

[ShortBus]

Thanks!

The diff cover is a product I bought from a good friend (and bigjhoov's employer) Baertrax, it's called the Buttface, and it works well. If you're needing work done, including some cool fab work, they're in Dallas.

www.baertrax.com

I am always looking for a good reason to spend time on that side of town! ;D

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

Cool, maybe I will buy one of those. Thanks

 

[Gummi Bear]

I went out and worked on the axle a little bit, mostly I needed a sanity check and some time out of town, so my work progres was a little slow. I was having an ADD weekend, couldn't seem to keep busy with one thing for very long at all. I got a lot of small things done though.

I wound up tearing the hubs apart (wasn't planning to) when I discovered grit in the bearings. Everything got a good bath, and new grease (I bought a bearing packer, it sucks, I wound up doing them the old school way anyhow) I replaced the hub seals and was ready to put on the caliper when some mud dripped out. Popped out the piston and sure enough, there was quite a lot of gunk in there (it shot out all over me making a hell of a mess) So another trip to town for a caliper rebuild kit. (expect a tech article on this soon)

All that hard work, paint, goofing off, sleeping in, visiting with neighbors, putting new tires on the scooter, fixing holes in the road and wishing the donkeys would escape, I managed to get one side completely done, and the diff back together, the other side will have to be done next time around.

 

[bronko69er]

Do you have more pics of that diff cover?
Did you make it?

 

[Gummi Bear]

Do you have more pics of that diff cover?
Did you make it?

The diff cover is a product manufactured by Baertrax, here in Dallas. They're tough as hell, I cleaned all the burrs off of mine, so it looks pretty for the first ride out. Several guys down here are running them, and they work really well.

www.baertrax.com Talk to Russ, his bride Christy (or Jerry) Tell them that I sent ya, they'll take good care of you.

 

[bronko69er]

The diff cover is a product manufactured by Baertrax, here in Dallas. They're tough as hell, I cleaned all the burrs off of mine, so it looks pretty for the first ride out. Several guys down here are running them, and they work really well.

www.baertrax.com Talk to Russ, his bride Christy (or Jerry) Tell them that I sent ya, they'll take good care of you.

I was just wondering cause it looks pretty easy to make (assuming its made out of a stock cover) with some flat plate. Gives me a good idea for my "things to fab" list.

 

[Gummi Bear]

It's been too long since I updated this...

Work on the Doodlebug has been slow at best, and Baja kind of killed it for me; most of my previous plans have been scrapped, now I want it go go fast too!

New plans have been drawn up, and the search is on for some new parts.

I'm thinking it's time to drop in a 4.9 ;D

Anyone in the market for a freshened up (according to the PO) 170, on the cheap?

The 4 link is back on the board, with a different design than before. I've decided that leaf springs suck, and I just don't want them on this rig.

 

[mp]

Are you ging to have one of them running for the Roundup?

 

[ET]

I like to know that too. Hey build me a rear 4 link when your done.

Eugene

 

[Gummi Bear]

Matt, no realistic chance of making the roundup this year. Winning the lotto would be a good head start though. I've not had any good side jobs hit in months, so the Bronco fund is nil (I think I've got $17 in that account LOL )


Eugene, the more I think of it, the more I like the Polyperformance kit. It's very complete, quality stuff, and allows me some flexibility. None of the others on the market allow me that, or leave me with a stupid tall lift to clear their junk (remember, this is staying at stock suspension height + no body lift) I'm thinking of using some TJ coils in the rear for now, I'll upgrade to coilovers when money allows.

You know I'm up for helping put one in your rig. Just let me know when you're ready.

 

[Gummi Bear]

I think I've moved on past my 4.9 idea. It seems that every dirtbag has one, and once you agree on a price, it changes by the next morning when I'm going to get it. After 3 bad deals in a row, I've thrown in the towel. I called a few salvage yards, and they want just as much for a 4.9 (which nobody seems to want) as they do for everything else. "That don't make no damn sense"

I've got a perfectly good 302, just sitting there in my 76. I'll transplant it. One of the guys in my club has a clutch and bellhousing for sale (at an affordable price), so that's settled. I'll run it with the trusty Q-jet for now, and convert it to EFI later. I'll source a different engine for the 76 when the time comes.

I've got a stupid wedding to go to, some family junk too over the next few weekends. It's looking like it'll be spring break before I make it out to the Farm again. At least the donkeys are gone. I can hunt at night, and wrench on the 68 during the day (varmints are aplenty right now)