1973 GMC 26' Glacier Build

[ScottC]

I was lucky enough to befriend someone who was in the business for a long time and still has some parts so I picked up what I could last trip. His knowledge and advice has also been great. The front end, not going to have time to pull the knuckles until next week after Convention.

 

[uprooted]

Scott,

I'm late to the party here but welcome to the community. Your story sounds familiar except I live south of Delaware Ohio and picked up my '74 Glacier from an estate in Indiana. I was just in your neck of the woods in Northern Indiana picking up a fridge for the GMC this weekend. Over the last two years I've been through a lot of what you're going through. Brakes, fuel, trailer hitch, front end, bogie pins, and the list goes on. I installed a 3.70 FD because my pinion bearing was shot. I don't have the LSD, not because a chose against it but because the 3.70 I got was available locally (used) for less than half the cost of a new one. I wasn't so sure about the 3.70 because it was such a far departure from the factory gears. It turns out to be great for my needs because we're usually towing either a 3,500 lb jeep or a 4,000 lb boat. I've camped on grass a few times and haven't gotten stuck yet. In fact, here I am successfully climbing a wet, muddy hill on our way out of the off-road park a few weeks ago:

Not saying the LSD isn't a good idea it probably is. I know I'm surviving without it. I know I am NOT attempting a boat ramp without it!

 

[ScottC]

Scott,

I'm late to the party here but welcome to the community. Your story sounds familiar except I live south of Delaware Ohio and picked up my '74 Glacier from an estate in Indiana. I was just in your neck of the woods in Northern Indiana picking up a fridge for the GMC this weekend. Over the last two years I've been through a lot of what you're going through. Brakes, fuel, trailer hitch, front end, bogie pins, and the list goes on. I installed a 3.70 FD because my pinion bearing was shot. I don't have the LSD, not because a chose against it but because the 3.70 I got was available locally (used) for less than half the cost of a new one. I wasn't so sure about the 3.70 because it was such a far departure from the factory gears. It turns out to be great for my needs because we're usually towing either a 3,500 lb jeep or a 4,000 lb boat. I've camped on grass a few times and haven't gotten stuck yet. In fact, here I am successfully climbing a wet, muddy hill on our way out of the off-road park a few weeks ago:

Not saying the LSD isn't a good idea it probably is. I know I'm surviving without it. I know I am NOT attempting a boat ramp without it!

Cory, wow your coach looks good, very similar and you live very close to where we bought ours. At this point I am not doing the LSD (it's been 30yrs and I am too old now, lol), I already have the 3.70 so I am just installing it so I can keep moving forward, I need to get it back on the ground before snow flies!
Next time you are in town, get a hold of me! I was out your way last weekend.

 

[ScottC]

Rolling down the highway on my way to Chippewa Falls see everybody in about 8 hours

 

[kidjedi]

I'm jealous you found louvered cabinet doors and a Zip Dee to boot!

Do you need some (louvered cabinet doors)? I've got some extras at the moment, and will probably have more at some point in the future.

 

[ScottC]

Sorry it has been a few weeks! I had a good time at the GMCMI Convention in Chippewa Falls met a lot of good people (Good People, Good Times) learned a lot and picked up some parts, left at 5am on Monday stopped in Chicago to pick up Zip Dee parts, hit 5 junkyards (men's mall) and picked up leather odyssey seats (grey).

I am currently working on final drive, front end and exhaust. Hope to get those items finished up this week (weekend), still waiting on some parts. I ordered MOOG K5253 sway bar bushings which are NOT correct, my sway bar is 1 1/16" does anybody know the correct part # for rubber sway bar bushings?

 

[tmsnyder]

Sorry it has been a few weeks! I had a good time at the GMCMI Convention in Chippewa Falls met a lot of good people (Good People, Good Times) learned a lot and picked up some parts, left at 5am on Monday stopped in Chicago to pick up Zip Dee parts, hit 5 junkyards (men's mall) and picked up leather odyssey seats (grey).

I am currently working on final drive, front end and exhaust. Hope to get those items finished up this week (weekend), still waiting on some parts. I ordered MOOG K5253 sway bar bushings which are NOT correct, my sway bar is 1 1/16" does anybody know the correct part # for rubber sway bar bushings?

I bought these but have not tried to install them yet:

Amazon.com: Energy Suspension 9.5162R 1-1/16" Greasable Sway Bar Set : Automotive

Buy Energy Suspension 9.5162R 1-1/16" Greasable Sway Bar Set: Bushings - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[uprooted]

Sorry it has been a few weeks! I had a good time at the GMCMI Convention in Chippewa Falls met a lot of good people (Good People, Good Times) learned a lot and picked up some parts, left at 5am on Monday stopped in Chicago to pick up Zip Dee parts, hit 5 junkyards (men's mall) and picked up leather odyssey seats (grey).

I am currently working on final drive, front end and exhaust. Hope to get those items finished up this week (weekend), still waiting on some parts. I ordered MOOG K5253 sway bar bushings which are NOT correct, my sway bar is 1 1/16" does anybody know the correct part # for rubber sway bar bushings?

I had the same issue. I'm not sure why K5253 ended up in the parts list but I ordered them and could quickly see they weren't the right dimensions. Moog K7302 is what worked for me.

 

[ScottC]

Thanks for the replies! I ended up ordering:
Energy Suspension 9.5169R 1-1/16" Sway Bar Bushing Set
Energy Suspension 9.8122R End Link Set

These were suggested by Richard on the other forum

 

[ScottC]

Disassembled knuckles, cleaned, inspected and reinstalled bearings with a few modifications including grease zerks.

 

[pvfjr]

Great job! I'm big into DIY as well, so I may have to pick your brain about this job someday soon.

 

[tmsnyder]

Disassembled knuckles, cleaned, inspected and reinstalled bearings with a few modifications including grease zerks.

Nice job! Did you just eyeball and drill by hand?

 

[ScottC]

Nice job! Did you just eyeball and drill by hand?

Todd, no I used a jig

 

[LarryW]

Drilling the knuckle for a zirc? Check this...

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g5464-front-bearing-drill-fixture.html

 

[ScottC]

Put the 3.70 final drive in yesterday, was a bit tricky flying solo, built a little mount for jack to hold her steady.

 

[tmsnyder]

Drilling the knuckle for a zirc? Check this...

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g5464-front-bearing-drill-fixture.html

Show off! That's great you have the jig but there are no drawings for how to _make_ the jig. There's a drawing but it's not dimensioned sufficiently to actually fabricate the jig LOL

 

[ScottC]

Its a loaner that I am lucky to have, The final drive in place with a "custom wrench" for that damn nut! LOL.
I powder coated the cover with Cream Soda Blue not really close to Olds blue but better that the other blue I had on hand.

 

[tmsnyder]

I bought these but have not tried to install them yet:

Amazon.com: Energy Suspension 9.5162R 1-1/16" Greasable Sway Bar Set : Automotive

Buy Energy Suspension 9.5162R 1-1/16" Greasable Sway Bar Set: Bushings - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

This fit and worked great btw. put them on yesterday.

 

[uprooted]

Show off! That's great you have the jig but there are no drawings for how to _make_ the jig. There's a drawing but it's not dimensioned sufficiently to actually fabricate the jig LOL

I had a well respected fellow (with a jig) help me rebuild my knuckles and put in zerks it turned out to be a garbage job. The bearings were still loose and grease was leaking past the seals. I sent the knuckles off to Dave Lenzi. He got them fixed up right. Dave sent pictures showing me exactly what the previous guy did wrong. I like to DIY everything I possibly can but there's nothing better than sending the knuckles off then getting them back from the guy that knows these best, ready to install. As well as an email or two detailing everything that he found and did.

 

[ScottC]

I had a well respected fellow (with a jig) help me rebuild my knuckles and put in zerks it turned out to be a garbage job. The bearings were still loose and grease was leaking past the seals. I sent the knuckles off to Dave Lenzi. He got them fixed up right. Dave sent pictures showing me exactly what the previous guy did wrong. I like to DIY everything I possibly can but there's nothing better than sending the knuckles off then getting them back from the guy that knows these best, ready to install. As well as an email or two detailing everything that he found and did.

Corey, only time will tell for me. I have a set of new Timken Bearing for the hubs but similar to what you said about the bearings being loose I did not like the fit of the new bearings "loose" so I went ahead and put the old bearings back in, they fit nice and snug and they were fine as far as condition. I was told the 73-74 knuckles were made loose so you could pull the bearings with a slide hammer. The only difference in bearings is the used ones were Timken USA the new ones were Canada, they did mic out a couple thousandth smaller than the USA.