New truck in the drive

[Dr_Snooz]

Got the diff all situated, installed the hubs, axle shafts, rotor backing plates, and then grabbed my new spindle hub. I realized that there are some parts of it exposed to the elements, so I painted it.



Then I cleaned up the other spindle hub and found the sealing surface all pitted and trashed.



The new one should be here Monday.

[Dr_Snooz]

I'm still waiting on the spindle, but was still able to assemble one side tonight.



I would have added the brake but I got the wrong pads. So more waiting.

[Shifty]

Looking good man! 

[Dr_Snooz]

How do I rekey the tailgate? Or the doors. I'm not picky.

[JohnnyPopper]

Doctor Doctor gimme the news...but are those wheels lugs extra long? Planning on deeeeep mags?

[Dr_Snooz]

They're 3 inches long, vs. the factory length of just under 2-1/2 inches. The rims I have are fairly thick, and I don't think I was getting even a half inch of thread engagement with the old studs. I would have preferred 2-3/4", but that wasn't an option. Fortunately, my acorn lug nuts are extra long.

We got the axle completely assembled last night. Or at least, assembled enough for installation.



Wrestling that heavy beast into the bed of the truck is going to be fun.

I still have some work to do on the Suburban itself. The leaf spring shackle bushing that I destroyed is still in place, and still mocking my attempts to remove it. It's been tricky, but I think I'm in the home stretch now.

Hopefully, I'll be installing the axle this weekend.

Yay!

[Dr_Snooz]

Yes!



The war wagon rolls once more! We got everything back in today, then put it in 4H and went for the break in run. It was weird because there's nothing to report. The new front diff never made a sound. I couldn't even tell 4WD was engaged until we went around a hairpin turn and the front wheels started hopping. Wow. This is sweet!

[Dr_Snooz]

My nephew gave me this. I had to put it on the truck.



It's made from 1/4" steel. I used a lot of sticky tape, but I still fear it will end up at the bottom of the car wash.

I used this tool to get the leaf spring shackle bushings installed in the frame.



It's just 7/16" threaded rod cut to 9-1/4" long. It worked really well, but definitely install the bushings before you try to install the steel sleeve, unless you want to be digging it all back out like me. You can use the tool as an uninstaller too if you cut the mushroom tops off the bushings. I used a fine-cut pull-saw blade for that. You can see the rod is kinda tweaked from installing the first set of bushings, which is why I'd recommend having a 2nd tool on hand.

[Dr_Snooz]

The truck has been running really well. I bombed to the Bay Area and back the other day at 70-75 the whole way with no issues. Got over 13 MPG on the trip. That ties my '09 Silverado with a 4.8 and 4L60. The front diff is broken in and I need to replace the fluid in it now. Either it had a whine and I didn't hear it on the first drive, or it developed a whine during break-in. Anyway, that's quieted down.

I think my tank is leaking again because I keep smelling fresh gas back there, though I don't see it. If I replace that 31 gallon tank with the 40 gallon tank, what all do I need? Aside from the tank and straps, of course.

[JohnnyPopper]

LOOKING GOOD!

[Dr_Snooz]

Nobody knows about the gas tank?

[Captkaos]

Missed the gas tank question... 
If the gas smell was there before the swap and then after I would suspect something other than the tank (without reading this whole post again)
But yes tank (and internal components) and straps should be cover it.  The lines should work and the filler definitely should.

[Dr_Snooz]

Thanks, Chris. It's the poor-quality Dorman tank, splitting open in random places for no reason.

I need to get under there and take stock of what I have. It's probably a good time to replace the filler and breather hoses, inspect hard lines, paint the undercarriage, etc. So, another project.

[mp76k10]

What did you use for paint on the diff cover and backing plates?  I really like the look.

[Dr_Snooz]

I used Krylon ColorMaxx spray paint in Gloss Machinery Gray.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/colormaxx/krylon-colormaxx-12-ounce-machinery-gray-spray-paint/kry8/5599?q=machinery+gloss+gray&pos=0

It was kind of an impulse buy, but yeah, it makes a nice contrast.

I got a bad gas smell in the cabin while driving last week. I did an emergency roadside inspection and discovered that one of the fuel filter flare nuts had come completely loose and was rattling around on the hard line while fuel dripped on the ground. Thank Heaven the system is only 13 PSI.

If you honk down on those nuts, the orings get destroyed. If you don't, then this happens. Anyway, I tightened it up and the gas smell is fixed. No need for a new tank! (yet)