Ode to FGT; a refresh story

Just filled up, 15.2mpg with mixed driving. Towed a trailer to the metal place about 60 miles round trip on this tank. Not too shabby.

 

I was admiring that res too haha!
Mine never came clear when I flushed it.

 

That's awesome! And nice work your doing like new again...
Enjoying the thread.

 

Used the Haynes manual for the torque specs tables. Most of the steps are self explanatory so I didn’t need any info for the tear down. Watched Sue do the bearings 3-4 times for reference.

 

Shakedown run today. Performed well. 2 hours of highway driving was smooth and quiet. Transmission temps are running 175 or so on the highway. 17+mpg. Ran some service roads out to one of the Lock and Dams on the Arkansas river. 12 miles of gravel and dirt and washboards. Got to put my 4wd time in for the month. Cycles in and out like butter. Never even blinks or clunks. Some pics from the adventure.

 

How'd you get the reservoir so clean?

 

I change the fluid every 50k miles or so

 

You noticing any squeaking coming from the Husky HD leafs? I'm getting squeaking, not sure if from the bushings or the leaves themselves, or if it's some completely different parts... But it sounds very much leaf spring related.

 

Late reply, I haven’t had any audible squeaking from the rear leafs. Typically this is related to the shims on the leaf ends. I noticed my factory leafs also had shims in between the leafs at the center pin bolt.

 

I have the ATS HDs (same manufacturer as Husky) and experience intermittent squeaking also. I spray them in misc. lubricants that I have on hand when I'm changing the oil every 5k and that seems to keep them quiet. I've used Kroil, wax-based lube, etc. at various times. I haven't pinpointed the sound but just drench the leafs and it seems to help.

 

Rattles or clanks. Sounds like metal on metal to me, almost like the leaf pack could be shifting and smacking the side of the rebound clip or something. It's the weirdest thing. I have a clunk on the driver's side also, sent them video, they couldn't figure it out, so they sent me a new pack for the driver side. I still haven't gotten around to installing it, but I'm looking forward to doing so. I really should toss my gopro-type camera up under there and go hit some speed tables to record it pointing at the leaf packs but I've had too much other shit going on.

 

I haven’t noticed any clunks or squeaks. But the Magnaflow and the JL 12s may be covering it up

 

It do be like that.

 

Loaded the truck and took the new camper to the lake for the weekend. HD leafs are settling some. A bit disappointed in the overall ride height now. It’s level or still slightly lower in the rear. Guess I’ll stab my leaf I stole from the OE pack in there.

 

At least you were prepared for this eventuality.

My custom Alcans sit about an inch lower than I wanted em to and don't hold weight for shit. But they do flex really nice off-road.
So I plan to add a leaf or two in the future. I might even add a 1" block + leaves, once I get a hard topper.

 

Looks great.

 

Very weird, I haven't seen any sag/drop in my ATS leafs. Maybe ATS and Husky aren't the same after all?

 

What’s your hub to fender measurement?

 

Actually just measured my fender height and looked back at my original measurement. Both 37 3/4” from ground to fender. About 23” hub to fender. Zero drop from my original measurement. Weird.

 

Currently with cap on (whatever that weighs) and all 4 new wheels and tires in the rear (~400lb) I'm sitting at 23-7/8 center to flare, and 38 floor to flare.

So it's actually possible I've dropped 1/2" or so, I only measured passenger side though, b/c it's farthest from gas tank (which is 1/4 full). Or it's just that I've got about 600lb on the bed.

Front hasn't budged since install. I guess I could crank it down but I really think I'm just gonna swap in the 6112s. The more I mull over it, the more I think I want some ride quality back. Coilovers have always been notoriously stiff. Will see what C rated tires do first. Then maybe yoink the Toytecs.

I'm sitting high up front by half inch or so now. Which makes me think my measurements were wrong prior, or I settled more in the rear after measuring. I'm trusting the ground to flare measure more than center to flare, only because w/o a level it's hard to get perfect center on hub.

 

Wait, I think I misread my old numbers in the measure up thread. It may be the rear is down more than an inch. Hmm....

 

I would like u to install the 6112's just for a comparison thread lol.

 

Really wanna follow a process. Want to see how much better the larger c-rated tires are for "comfort". If not much change, the 6112s are getting assembled and going in. If no improvement, I'll mull over whether I want to go back to the Alumas or not.

 

Are the 6112’s new that you have? If you don’t install them I’ll buy them.

 

Brand new. I need tophats and isolators eventually to be able to assemble. I’ve got part of that hammered out right now, I just haven’t had time to deal with any of it. They’re definitely getting installed. Even if it’s only for curiosity’s sake. It only takes 30mins per side for me to swap in struts if I’m keeping good pace.

 

More fun to come when I get back stateside

 

He's got one of them 3 wheelers

 

4th tire showed up today

 

What size did you go with @KNABORES I have those tires on my watch list from when you posted them in one of the sticky threads

 

285/75/16