Well…I am waiting for some radiator top brackets to be modified, I found that the drive shaft carrier bearing was completely shot. So, I got the new one and also since I have to take the drive shaft out I will replace the u-joints also, all three of them. Why the odd number……these trucks have two piece drive shafts, most old trucks do if they are long beds, like mine.

Here is what I have to have replaced:

This carrier bearing (round metal hoop that looks like it’s wrapped around the driveshaft), it supports the end of the front drive shaft. Mine was completely shot and wobbling badly. This pic is not mine….but mine was just as bad, but was mounted to the top. Amazing I was able to drive it at all. That just goes to show you that some thought was put into these things and even parts when completely shot will still work long enough to give you time to fix.

The rear drive shaft is connected to the front drive shaft with a u-joint. All of this is getting replaced. I would have liked to have done it myself, but these parts have to be pressed in, I do no have a press. So its at the shop getting that done.

Here are the u-joints that will also be replaced:

Kinda looks like an X.

Okay…..well while the drives shafts are out I will be replacing the rear transmission seal and looking into the funky speedo gear I have on my transmission. Someone has done something weird for some reason and I will have to research it to find out. It looks as though since the transmission is not original that a speedo gear adapter have been used to try to match up the speedo, trans and rear gearing so the speedo is right. So………I hope to be able to get original style parts to fix this and be sure the speedo will read right.

While I was under the truck also noticed that the rear shocks that someone put on were rubbing the coil springs. Ok….coil springs absorb the bumps on the road for cars and trucks. Shocks absorb sudden bumps and keep your car or truck from bouncing endlessly. But, someone put on overload shocks that are supposed to increase what a truck can carry in the back. They work….but not a good thing if they rub the coil springs. So I replaced them with stock shocks. Went though one pair that would not fit…..but after some research got the right ones ( I hope) and installed.

Here is the before and after.

Sorry about the glare. Bottom Pic is the offending shock, that is rubbing the coil spring at the bottom. The Top pic one  is the new one. As you can see it will not be rubbing.

Actually after getting the right part this job was easy and I was done in about 30 minutes. It’s been the only job so far that has been easy.