Offroad S10

[NS Gearhead]

Not really. Been busy with spring stuff;
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/321659-raised-bed-veggie-garden.html

... and still a couple large projects to go before I can get back to this... I'd guess summer until I do much to it.

I had my heart set on getting the skinny michelin 9R16s. The military surplus that has them is right by where we went camping last weekend.... 1.5hrs away from home. Perfect. Bring lots of firewood down, and tires up. Nope. They had an auction, and all the tires were gone. Not sure what i'll do now, but picking up wheels for the tires I do have seems to be my best option for now.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Grooved two out of the four tires

Before and after

 

[dstig1]

What did you groove them with/how?

 

[NS Gearhead]

I've got a groover. Can't remember the website, but they sell racing stuff. About $100. I have 3/4" & 1/4" heads and blades. It heats up like a soldering gun.





I've done at least 4 or 5 sets of tires. Well worth the small investment. I even did brand new Krawlers.

 

[Buggs67]

I've seen on here where people are grooving their R4 tires and say they work much better in the snow then.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Interesting turn of events. Ordered steel wheels; $620. Very expensive for plain old wheels. I noticed a pair of one ton axles on a facebook sales page... so I searched kijiji for 8 bolt wheels and found $80 steelies same pattern as those axles! Axles were $500. Big upgrade for no money! Sweet! Well drove the 1.5hrs with cash in hand, and drove right back empty. He said the front needed bearings. When I get there the pinion moves in and out 1".... and won't turn. Cover's loose, so I pull it and gears are blown. Get home all disapointed and told my buddy. He asked what bolt pattern I needed, and said; 08-16 Dodge 1500s are 5 on 5.5 and came with 17s. $200 later on kijiji I've got 2015 wheels with nearly wore winter tires! Krawlers are currently mounted and holding air just fine! Canceled wheel order, no prob. It had barely been 24hrs.

 

[NS Gearhead]

I also did a little external check of the gears in the scout axles; 10 turns of the wheel and count the pinion turns. multiply that number by 2 and divide by 10. Mine are close to 3.07s Couldn't get much worse then that. I had in mind to re-gear later down the road once I had a chance to play with it a bit and test everything out... but with those gears I'm doughtful it would even move under it's own power. LOL At around $1,000 it's not exactly reflecting my budget for this rig.... so I think I came up with plan B; find a divorced transfer case and stick it behind the factory case. 205s are 2:1 low, so this would be the same as having 6:1 rear end gears. Case would be between $300 and $500. What do you think?

 

[GLyford]

Have you looked for doubler builds? I knew people have been making them for Rangers, a quick google shows the S10 guys have been doing it too. Basically, get a cheap aluminum transfer case similar to what came in the truck, then cut off everything but the front planetary reducer, and make an adapter so it mounts onto the front of the existing case.

 

[NS Gearhead]

That would be cool, but a little above my skill level... so then I'd be paying someone else to do it, and therefore, more money then a divorced case. I've got a line on a ford 205. Anyone know if I can flip it to pass side with little or no problems?

 

[GLyford]

Googling again...it kind of looks like late 70's Ford drops were driver's side, and Chev were passenger side...and the input shafts were different too?