Treasure Yard Score!

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Schurkey

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Showed up at my favorite Treasure Yard today.

Grabbed a 1991 9.5" semi-float rear axle with the 11.x" JB6 rear drum brakes and six-lug axle shafts. Actually saved what appear to be rear shocks in good condition (still have gas pressure, anyway) and one emergency brake cable that isn't seized. Retained all the axle-mounting hardware except the U-bolts which got blown-out with Mister Torch. God bless Oxy-Acetylene. Even saved the vent and vent hose, and the stock rubber brake hose. Haven't pulled the wheels off yet; I don't know about brake drums/shoes; axle seals, or what the internal differential parts look like...yet. This axle is a GT4/3.73 without G80 (darn) according to the glovebox decal. The gears aren't right for my truck (3.42) unless I also swap the front diff; and I have no plans to do that.

The big deal here is that I just figured out that I have one axle shaft (left side) under my '88 K1500 that has some minor etching/pitting right at the seal area--and I just can't stop it from seeping. I gotta clean the grease or replace the shoes every few years, and that's getting old. I expect that at least one of the axle shafts in this axle (they're the same L--R) will be usable as-is, so I can swap the "good" axle shaft with the etched/pitted axle shaft under my truck.

As a bonus--and I'm not certain it fits, but I'll compare to what I have now--this Diesel truck had a ginormous, composite driveshaft. My '88 thin, steel driveshaft is original to the 8.5" axle, it's really about an inch too long but "fits"; it just slides almost all the way into the transfer case output. I'm thinking this composite shaft will be the correct length, lighter, stronger. Does an extended-cab/short box truck have the same wheelbase (and therefore take the same driveshaft length) as a standard-cab, long box? I think they do. If so, I'll pop a new rear U-joint into the composite shaft before installation.

Took a Kelsey-Hayes EBC310 ABS unit off the truck next to the one I got the axle from. I don't know if it works, but I'm told there's no aftermarket support--no rebuilts, no "new" replacements for the '310. Worse case is that I have one to pull apart and play with. The ABS on my '97 K2500 hasn't worked in the nearly 3 years I've had the truck--but I know the LF wheel sensor is dead. I just haven't gotten around to beating the hub, and then the lug studs out so I can remove the rotor to access the sensor. If replacing the sensor doesn't fix the ABS, I can try this controller.

Grabbed the RF caliper, hose, and caliper bracket from a Trailblazer. Would have grabbed the rotor, but it was sunk into the dirt too far. I got the LF caliper the last time I was at this Yard; I used it for "practice" before I rebuilt the existing calipers on SWMBO's '03 Trailblazer. I figure I might as well rebuild this one, too, and then seal it up and put it on the shelf with the other one "for later".

In the process of all this, I lost my 1/4" combo wrench, and needed to borrow a 10" 3/8 drive extension for my ratchet. The guy gave me both tools from his "stash", AND took me to lunch at the cafe in the town near his place, AND I burned his Oxy-Acetylene to pop the U-bolts on the axle.

I tried to give him $350, but he wouldn't take it. I paid $320 instead. Had a dang good day today. Record heat (~80F) for this time of year, no ticks, no mosquitoes. Today was (according to the National Weather Guessing Service) the last "beautiful" day of this summer season. Temps drop ~20 degrees starting tomorrow, and unlikely to recover. Snow for Halloween is not uncommon--used to be about one year in three or four, with at least overnight frost just about guaranteed. God bless Global Warming.

Going back for a pair of rear bumpers--the ones on his scrapped trucks are better than the ones on my drivers.

Just had to gloat a little...forgive me. Updates later, when I get the axle shafts and maybe the driveshaft swapped.
 
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df2x4

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Supercharged111

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If you want a score that doesn't involve stuff that looks like it came off the Titanic, go west young man. You gonna put a coat on and go for that front diff too? Decades ago I snagged my 3.73 open 14 bolt from the pull and pay. Less than a year later, I stumbled on a 4.10 truck so I relieved it of both front and rear assemblies, sold my 3.73 crap for same/more than what I paid for the 4.10 stuff. Also got the front hitch for the dually from there as well as the goose neck I have yet to bolt into it. The more you go, the more likely you are to find something awesome.
 

Schurkey

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MrPink

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141.5" for ext cab short compared to the 131.5 for reg cab long.

Oh and i guess i should pull my Kelsey Hayes 310 from the scrap pile then eh?
 
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BNielsen

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Love a good run of scores at the junkyard. There hasn't been anything decent enough for me to run to Charlotte or any local yards, I'm hoping they'll get some good stuff soon; I'm itching for a junkyard run.
 

kennythewelder

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I ran out of Composite welding wire, and there's a worldwide shortage of that due to the Communist Clap.

I'm running low on wood welding wire, too.
Yeah, I still have some cement welding rods stashed from years ago.
 

Schurkey

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Didn't get as far as I'd hoped. Figured I'd have the axle shafts changed already, and therefore the drums, shoes, differential inspected. Nope, not there yet. I did verify that the driveshaft is too long. I don't think these can be shortened; at least not locally. One wheel is a nice aluminum job with a poor tire, the other is a steelie with a crap tire.


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The non-axle items.


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Why we don't re-use U-bolts. GM says they have to be replaced no matter what; I can't say I understand that at least when they're in good condition. But around here, they're never in good condition. The bracket it bolts through holds dreck that rots 'em near the ends of the U-bolts.
 
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