60Patrol

Brilliant fix! Can't wait to hear the report of how well the Patrol handles after these upgrades! Did I mention that you're acting as my guinea pig? If it goes well for you, I'll probably follow suit! So then, thanks a bunch! (and I'm really enjoying following your updates!)

faux40 wrote: Can't wait to hear the report of how well the Patrol handles after these upgrades!

I can't wait, either... It's getting close.

I Need to set that rear driveshaft angle, put the brakes together, and throw a seat in it; and then I'll be ready for a test drive.

that is looking really good. i went back and read but never found if you listed what year Dodge ram charger those springs came from. Also, you state that they are softer, will that have your Patrol bouncing off the bump stops ?

if these springs work out, you may have saved all of us lots of money not having to use the other brand that most have gone to.

sleepyzzz wrote:that is looking really good. i went back and read but never found if you listed what year Dodge ram charger those springs came from. Also, you state that they are softer, will that have your Patrol bouncing off the bump stops ?

if these springs work out, you may have saved all of us lots of money not having to use the other brand that most have gone to.

I think they are front springs from a 74-93 Dodge Ramcharger- It appears that the short wheelbase Power Wagons also used the same front springs as well. Originally I thought they were rear springs, but now I am convinced they are fronts...

They are about an inch shorter eye to eye than the patrol springs, and the center pin sits behind the centerline of the Patrol axle, so a hole would have to be drilled in the spring pad about 1 inch behind the factory center hole.

Also, these springs are almost perfectly flat with the weight of the vehicle on them, so you would want to get a set that were 2 inch over stock if you planned to use them on a Patrol in the stock spring-under axle configuration.


Tuff Country manufactures lifted springs for these Dodges:

http://www.tuffcountry.com/dodge-lift-k ... -kits.html

(mine have the reversed eye setup like the fronts in the kit at the top )

softness-wise - they are not really that much softer than the Patrol's springs - just a little bit- I think my bumpstops will be safe

Time for another update-

This past weekend I was planning to work on that rear driveline angle and get the driveshaft hooked up, but looking over the Patrol, I realized I had a serious backlog of "ticky-tack" stuff that I needed to address - you know, the laundry list of little 5 minute things that actually end up becoming an entire weekend of work....

So, This past weekend I finished installing brake cylinders, hooked up brake lines, installed front shocks, opened up and cleaned/greased/adjusted the steering draglink ball joints, and installed brakes and wheels/tires.

I also changed the gear oil in both diffs and the old oil came out pretty gooey and nasty, so I pulled off the diff covers so I could get in there and really clean the diffs out, and give everything a good inspection -

Both diffs looked untouched- the factory tie wires were still on the bearing cap bolts, and everything spun freely and the gears showed no significant wear.

Since I had the covers off, I decided that the drivetrain color scheme needed some contrast, so I painted the diff covers silver before bolting them back on.

Here are some shots showing the progress:

Front, and brake internals:


Brakes all buttoned up:


Rear, and ready for some serious work on that rear driveshaft:

It looks really good!

Wow! Complete brakes! That lucky Patrol is getting some much needed love. Your going to get too attached to it and won't be able to let it go.

the differential covers look sweet with the contrasting color. you are going to have one very nice patrol when you're done.

RiverPatrol wrote:Your going to get too attached to it and won't be able to let it go.

Don't bet on it, sister... :

My track record with project vehicles (any vehicle, actually) is pretty well established.

I spent 4 years restoring my 69 Corvette, and building it exactly the way I saw it in my head... after it was done, I drove it for 4 months before I got bored and shipped it off to someone else.

In fairness, I do plan to keep, drive, and play with this one, at least until the red one is finished.... That's the PLAN.

Now, if a bid happens to come along that looks too tempting to pass up...? Cha Ching -

LOL, I am a shamefully transparent capitalist

Nutin wrong wit dat. Which means the Patrol community will, at some point in the future, be missing your valuable input.