So Biglow asked if I'd install a artec truss for him after ripping his tracbar bracket of last week wheeling and of course won't turn down work or doing cool stuff and helping a friend out works too....

So we plasma cut off all the old stuff scott ground it down then I prepped all the surfaces and proceeded to make small modifications to the truss to get a perfect fit....
Went in in about 5 hours with slow welding , heating, new track bar bracket and sway bar ends along with cutting and prepping the axle of the stuff that's been hanging on there for a while...

It looks good I should be doing mine next week and we are doing new outer press in axle seals in Biglows rig as well....

I'll post pics as soon as I'm done cleaning up, I'm covered in metal grindings and slag burns....lol


Sorry pics don't do it justice its bad @$$ looking and better than I figured on...can't wait to do mine now....

Super solid






I did my rear today and my front will be on this week or early next week....


Attachment 478899

Doing rear artec on mine tomorrow...

Attachment 478910

Attachment 478917

Did the rear artec truss and working on winch fair lead plate custom for the front end...I'll link off this eventually when I stretch...

Be doing the front truss hopefully this week if not begining of next.

 

Very stout. Looks great!

 

Yeah the front has sleeves already so it should be as solid as its gonna get when trussed....

 

Did you take anything off/out of the axles before welding? Just curious as I'm looking at doing trusses and gussets on mine but didn't want to destroy the ball joints or seals from the heat.

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Definitely drain the diff fluid and remove cover if you plan on welding to the tubes with good penetration. I welded brackets to tubes on an empty 8.8 and blew fire balls out both ends. This was from residual wiped out oil left on tube walls. The 8.8 was .375 wall tubes. Jks, I beleive are both .250.

 

Looks nice!

What is the preferred method for painting the bare metal?

 

Man! That job turned out nice. Looks very heavy duty.

 

Ņo need to drain just take it slow. Penatration is heat and since slow welding or stitching is what's required and let cool it never gets blistering hot like a long bead would....
Done several trusses over the years and on my old race truck never had a issue as long as you take a deep breath and just go slow relax and doing get anxious...lol

As far as painting I hit it with a wire brush and cleared the truss on mine to show the hez and colors....

Just did 1/4" plates and boxxer in with skid plate on rear track bar ....

 

Thanks. Makes me want to do the truss that much more. Guess ill have to just break out the check book and do it!

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My kit will be in this week and I wanted to know if you preheated the diff housing and if you did how?

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