Black Smoke Donkey
- Jesus_man
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Glad it works and there is enough movement. If I build one, it'll have a shackle at the frame end turned up with a twisty joint at the axle end. That will allow all the movement it needs, but controlled axle wrap.
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
http://www.ucora.org
- landshark
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Jesus_man wrote:Glad it works and there is enough movement. If I build one, it'll have a shackle at the frame end turned up with a twisty joint at the axle end. That will allow all the movement it needs, but controlled axle wrap.
For sure, i have seen people who have built those.
I have wondered what kind of forces the wrap trap was putting on my centering pins as I broke 2 sets in under a month - i removed and rotated the spring perches and got rid of the wedge I had and haven't had an issue since. it would seem to be the force at the top of the axle from the wrap trap moved the weakest link to the spring perches but I gave up trying to be a engineer once i stopped breaking stuff!
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
- Jesus_man
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Yeah, I'm not quite sure why leaf spring centering pins are made from fairly soft steel. I've sheered a couple off myself and had a hard time removing others which were bent like a worm!
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
http://www.ucora.org
- Kinder
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
All good input, I considered building my own anti-wrap device, but picked this up second hand so I'll try it. I've broken enough leafs, centering pins and pinion seals, I need to control the axle rolling on its axis somehow. Once installed I think I'll mount a camera and watch the actual movements. I've been thinking of a way to justify a GoPro.
Best to Date MPG: 26.6
- Kinder
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Getting my shaft sorted!
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Best to Date MPG: 26.6
- Kinder
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Black Smoke Donkey
1st the good news, I have a rear driveshaft back in my truck. Now the bad, my driveshaft tube has a candy cane swirl. I guess it absorbed some of the dreaded 4bt torque. I'm designing my new driveshaft now. Flanged on both ends, 350 or 410 U joints throughout, 3" or so tube with greater than .120 wall and possibly chrome-moly. I wonder where my driveline weakness will be pushed to now?
Best to Date MPG: 26.6
- Jesus_man
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
With just normal driving the drive shaft twisted?? This was brand new tube? Surely there was another factor in there. I know the 4BT is a torque monster, but a tube in good shape should have been able to handle normal driving.
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
http://www.ucora.org
- Kinder
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Jesus_man wrote:With just normal driving the drive shaft twisted?? This was brand new tube? Surely there was another factor in there. I know the 4BT is a torque monster, but a tube in good shape should have been able to handle normal driving.
I think normal driving is subjective in my case. Yes the tube was new'ish, about 3 yrs old, built when I finished my re-power. But my normal with BSD is probably a little out there. I've pulled or trailered 5-6k plus multiple times, I've been off road in axle deep conditions with over 1k loaded in the back. Etc etc. I wouldn't have suspected the tube twisted except I saw it 1st hand.
Best to Date MPG: 26.6
- Jesus_man
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
kinder wrote:I think normal driving is subjective in my case. Yes the tube was new'ish, about 3 yrs old, built when I finished my re-power. But my normal with BSD is probably a little out there. I've pulled or trailered 5-6k plus multiple times, I've been off road in axle deep conditions with over 1k loaded in the back. Etc etc. I wouldn't have suspected the tube twisted except I saw it 1st hand.
That's
stuff there buddy! Perhaps you had some rusting from the inside. I've seen driveshaft ensure some nasty assaults on hill climbs, or even sled pulling, only to fail when one small ding got put in it. I wonder if you could pull something off an HD truck in the junkyard that would only need shortened after you replaced the u-joint flanges on the axles and T-case?? Think new-ish superduty?
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
http://www.ucora.org
- Kinder
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
I've put a little more thought into my driveshaft twisting, I may even do a little research, but eh winging it is good also, haha. I'm pretty sure that I don't have enough torque on tap to twist it without other factors. First is my axle wrap, it forces the diff end U joint into a binding situation and loads the tube with additional torsional forces. Second, I'm running a standard transmission vs an automatic, therefore torque is transferred more abruptly. Third is my automatic locker in the diff, BSD almost always has traction and "keeps" the driveline loaded under all driving situations.
Best to Date MPG: 26.6
- Justin
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
The way a 4 banger diesel make torque is different than. A v8 gasser as well. It's a series of big torque spikes rather than a set of smaller combined thumps. Think of it as one big hammer instead of a few smaller ones.
- Digger
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
kinder wrote:I've put a little more thought into my driveshaft twisting, I may even do a little research, but eh winging it is good also, haha. I'm pretty sure that I don't have enough torque on tap to twist it without other factors. First is my axle wrap, it forces the diff end U joint into a binding situation and loads the tube with additional torsional forces. Second, I'm running a standard transmission vs an automatic, therefore torque is transferred more abruptly. Third is my automatic locker in the diff, BSD almost always has traction and "keeps" the driveline loaded under all driving situations.
Good points. Torque alone shouldn't destroy driveshafts. Pure torque loading with equal traction on the rear tires should shear the pinion off.
Out of curiosity, what diameter is your driveshaft? Standard wall thickness?
Cummins R2.8 diesel, ZF5, AtlasII, HP44/BB9, ARBs, coiled / linked suspension, 37" KO2s, full cage, bumpers, etc.
Build Thread: http://www.coloradoclassicbroncos.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5420
Average 23.5 mpg, Best tank: 26.3 mpg
Build Thread: http://www.coloradoclassicbroncos.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5420
Average 23.5 mpg, Best tank: 26.3 mpg
- Kinder
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- Kinder
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- rt9
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
kinder wrote:Do these fenders make my bronco butt look big, haha!
I saw that big butt today in Parker. Looking good![emoji2]
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- Eck
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
I think your big butt trailer makes your butt look big. You're starting to look like a utilitarian highway patrol!
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69 Wagon, 351W, Explorer EFI & Serpentine, ZF5, 35" tires, 3.5 SL, 2 BL, WARN 8274
- Kinder
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Eck wrote:I think your big butt trailer makes your butt look big. You're starting to look like a utilitarian highway patrol!
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I need some red & blue to go with my black & white!
Best to Date MPG: 26.6
- Rox Crusher
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
those look great !
1977 Sport, 351w OBDII EFI motor, 4R70W auto, 4:88 gears, ARB lockers, 3.5" suspension, 33" tires.
- landshark
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
I like it! now you just need that extra tall hood
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
- Digger
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
I was curious where you bought those from? They look great!
Cummins R2.8 diesel, ZF5, AtlasII, HP44/BB9, ARBs, coiled / linked suspension, 37" KO2s, full cage, bumpers, etc.
Build Thread: http://www.coloradoclassicbroncos.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5420
Average 23.5 mpg, Best tank: 26.3 mpg
Build Thread: http://www.coloradoclassicbroncos.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5420
Average 23.5 mpg, Best tank: 26.3 mpg
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cravenbronco
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Looks good Kirk
- TOOLMAN
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Wilma - 71 1/2 Wagon; 3 1/2" WH lift, 1" BL, NP435, Chebby disc front, WH twin stick D20, EFI 302, Cool hood scoop, mucho cancer; purchased in 1990.
- Kinder
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
Digger wrote:I was curious where you bought those from? They look great!
West Coast Broncos
http://www.wcb4x4.com/mm5/merchant.mvc? ... y_Code=EXT
They are lacking refinement, but were meant for Baja style trucks. If I were a body man I bet they'd be hard to live with.
Best to Date MPG: 26.6
- Strike2
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Re: Black Smoke Donkey
I really like the look of the pre-runner fenders, Looks Great !

