I may have made a significant miscalculation!

Exhaust, triple stick shifter, hydro boost, drivelines, braking and more! This week has been successful, but it hasn't been without drama.
My rear shaft angle is off center and I can't seem to figure out why. Check out todays video for all the details!
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Link to the seat bracket mounts for late model GM third row for your Blazer!
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[@danielmeeks1403]

I like the videos and you are doing a good job. You did say everyone can’t know everything so… A Diesel engine has the potential to create way more vacuum than gasoline but a diesel doesn’t have a throttle body. Vacuum comes when you limit the amount of air going into the engine. Diesel is controlled by fuel not air. My 2 cents keep up the great work I love full size trucks going into crazy places.

[@MerricksGarage]

That’s killer information. I knew it did but I don’t know why. Throttle body duh! Thanks man. I love people contributing and adding to the collective knowledge pool!!

[@joshpeterson7216]

I needed the visual on the hydroboost, Thank you

[@MerricksGarage]

No worries man! Glad it helped

[@kirks22m]

I know its a lot of work and some cost of doing it. But just an idea remove rear axle and relocate the center section to line up with the transfer case to get it located properly. then get new axle tubes and axle shafts.

[@johnjr3870]

I got a vacuum pump for my burb, the 6.2 system sucks. They do have a PS pump with vacuum for the cummins, I have one. I would look a little more into the engine mount being straight. Centerline is centerline, off that much in the back means it is cocked and it is a long assembly. Wish I was doing a body off, not get that body coated!!

[@easyjerryl69]

It is looking better every day/time i watch a new video !

[@oldmechanic9696]

Just in case anyone hasn't said the aam axle out of newer trucks the pinion is not centered the drivetrain on newer trucks is offset to passenger side to make room for front drive line because of larger t case and more so on its trucks for the front diff. I have run into this issue before on squarebody axle swaps

[@oldmechanic9696]

Ment to say i.f.s. trucks! Keep up the awesome content!

[@lanceroark6386]

You have no idea how much I appreciate the fact that you say much when talking about vacuum. There’s a lot of vacuum before the turbo, but there’s none when the turbo isn’t spoiling.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Great video. Tons of progress in such a short amount of time nicely done

[@MerricksGarage]

Thanks Homey! Can you believe the burb is almost done!!

[@zoomad75]

As far as the angle on the rear driveshaft, the pinion on the 14bolt is not centered. If the axle is centered side to side on the springs the pinion may not be dead center to the truck. If the axle isn't centered it could be adding to the offset. Fixing that would be cutting the spring perches off and sliding it over and rewelding. No body removal or moving the drivetrain.

[@MerricksGarage]

Well yea but the axle is centered side to side

[@zoomad75]

@@MerricksGarage I've looked all over for the 11.5 aam axle dimensions. Can't find any. Did you confirm the axle centerline to the pinion centerline. My feeling is they are not the same. I'd be curious to know what the offset is. If the guys at Tom Woods was ok with it I suspect it should be ok. According to the GM parts catalog for the 11.5 it uses the same axle shaft part number for each side so the offset is probably not huge.

[@MerricksGarage]

I didn’t worry as much about pinion centerline as I did wheel spacing. I wanted them to be equal! I will measure pinion because that prob has something to do with it

[@brokenwrench404]

Looking good. 👍

[@elchingonracinggarage4649]

Looking good James

[@danielfiske9849]

PUMPED!! Saving the weekend 🙌

[@danielfiske9849]

Looking beautiful 😇

[@CraftwerksMC]

Great build and info so far. I'm just curious if you are going to be using OEM body mounts or poly? Trying to make up my mind which ones to go with on my K5. Seems like Poly is going to be my approach but just a pain in the ass having to buy the kit and then the bolts separate!

[@MerricksGarage]

I went with poly bushings.

[@GMCBURBAN]

If the front crank pulley is centered between the frame rails but the transfer case rear output yoke is not centered then you either have a bad frame or the engine and trans is not mounted square with the frame. I've a Cummins swapped 91 burban myself, great rigs, well worth the time and effort. Nice build, keep up the good work.

[@PROXIMO22]

sleeping on it is huge... i built a fantastic bumper for my square and i had it perfect, or so i thought. i slept on it, and again over a few days. each time i went and looked at the cardboard model i was making, i wanted to change it a little for the better. so happy i wasn't in a hurry because i would have never been so pleased with my creation.

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea slowing down and taking your time is massively under rated. I know there is a drive to get it done, but slow and steady is the way to go!

[@georgecerda7802]

I have a similar side angle on just about the same length drive shaft on my square. I fought a vibration at about 78 mph for a year. The shaft was balanced, but it still had trouble with u-joint brinelling. I put it on jack stands with the rear tires removed and balanced the shaft on the truck using three worm clamps. It is as smooth as silk now all the way to 120 mph. I do not, however, have a double cardan drive shaft.

[@MerricksGarage]

lol if I get a vibration at 78 mph I’ll be stoked. If I get one at 120 I’ll be more concerned about how I am gonna slow the truck down!

[@cyclicm1622]

If it does give you issues, pull the rear axle and retube it to center the yoke there. It would mean shortening one tube, longer on the other and he same with axle shafts. But I don't think it will be a problem.

[@MerricksGarage]

Hmm. That’s a damn good idea.

[@MerricksGarage]

Apart from axle shafts.

[@juanfo7307]

It's not a real project until you have to do the hardest part again

[@westn11]

Since the crank is the forward most point, can’t it be centered but pointing rearward at an angle? Personally, I think it’s a good idea to get things squared up before moving forward… don’t want to have to do it once it’s buttoned up

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea that’s what my working theory is but I can’t see any significant deviation. It’s puzzling

[@SirVarnish]

Is rear pinion centered between frame rails? That’s where I assume the difference is coming from.

[@MerricksGarage]

@@SirVarnish no, axle is perfectly centered. Output flange actually measures off.

[@SirVarnish]

@@MerricksGarage yeah that’s what I was guessing - the rear axle has a built in pinion offset to line up with original drivetrain and since new one centered you’ve got the difference. You would of had to offset new engine same which looks like would have made stuff even tighter which wouldn’t have been good. Can understand the annoyance for such a nice build but should be fine

[@Verticalpedalgarage]

Pretty crazy that was three years ago. Seems like a couple months ago. Your rig is looking mighty sweet brother.

[@MerricksGarage]

You telling me! Time flies! Apart from when you are grinding rivets off. Then time seems to slow down!

[@Verticalpedalgarage]

@@MerricksGarage 😂🤣

[@supersport1986]

Cant wait to hear this beast roar to life and see it moving under it's own power! As far as the centering of the tail housing measure at the adapter plate or even the block of the engine to the frame on each side compair measurements even a 1/4" - 1/2" in the length of the engine can afect the center point alot in the overall length of your set up. To adjust that you might have enough play in the motor mount bolt holes to realign it probably haft to modify the trans mount tho just a thought

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea that’s the way I was gonna try first. I do have some adjustment in the mounts that will translate to quite a bit of change at the output. But I don’t think it’s gonna make much difference in the end.

[@SirVarnish]

So was original drivetrain possibly offset and new isn’t? Us Jeep guys use Ford 8.8 which ends up slightly offset but even with 17” shafts is fine.

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea I heard about you jeep guys. No issues?

[@SirVarnish]

Nope, since pinion pointed straight ahead and tail shaft pointed back that horizontal offset takes care of itself. I recently had similar extreme example with a wagoneer which would be more comparable to your shaft length that had a very offset rear pumpkin due to the transfer case not being a straight through but I switched to a straight through Dana 300 and all was fine.

[@jameshall4385]

Bad ass rig. Every shaft pulls to the right or left, it’s just nature 😂 if you’re worried about the angle of the dangle, fix it now while the body is off. the Ford 8.8s in the Exploders are offset from the factory. They don’t vibrate.

[@bigrich7026]

Angles help eat felt harmonics.

[@BenLeBlanc1]

Don’t some ultra 4 cars (like Campbell) have the engine in the passenger seat? I wouldn’t think it would be an issue…

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea but the generally use an offset axle

[@roachwerks3043]

Is that a Ford 10.25/10.50 rear axle? The pinions aren’t centered on those

[@larkinkelly3754]

The angle in the driveshaft will actually case more rotation of the trunnions in the u joints and lead to more needles being engaged and make your u joint bearings last longer, bearings like to rotate, not dither.

[@MerricksGarage]

True but the joints also speed up and slow down during rotation and if not phased will fight each other. That’s my concern!

[@gomiereyes2173]

Merrick I have a 1982 gmc jimmy I just installed a Psc system but I don’t know what type of cooler I need or where to mount it I called the Psc company and the sales rep told me he didn’t know which one I needed because he only deals with Jeep’s. My reservoir gets really hot and I was told that it could damage the system can you help me out. Thanks

[@ericsugalsku1826]

I have a 79 k30 , and my rear drive shaft is slightly off as well. Not as much as your suburban , but its the original 1979 14bolt .

[@MerricksGarage]

Good to know. I don’t think it’s gonna be an issue and Tom Woods have confirmed as much but I like this to be balanced.

[@thruitallauto2538]

What size did you say that body lift was

[@MerricksGarage]

One inch aluminum puck on top of new bushings

[@lanceroark6386]

Is the pinion on the proper side of the ring gear? In a forward gear, will you go forward or backward?

[@jeromeburrasca6710]

Nice job Broseph! It needs a 100 gallon diesel fuel tank to take it to the next level, that bad boy’s going to be heavy.

[@brokenwrench404]

That’s what I was telling him. Cross country with one tank. Urban assault bug out vehicle

[@jeromeburrasca6710]

Brokenwrench Exactly!

[@alfansomendoza8556]

Hey i commented on your last vid about airbags. Ive been thinking about it. How about some airbags from like a cement truck tag axle. I work construction n ive seen those things flex out crazy and they are a 3 rib so they are tall and definitely heavy duty. Im sure you can get them pretty cheep too, call a semi junkyard for them

[@MerricksGarage]

Hmm. That’s not a bad idea. The flex on this is gonna be pretty significant. Unless the body gets in the way! Ha ha.

[@bigrich7026]

They have a rising springrate.

[@corbett218]

That exhaust tubing would have been so much better tig welded..perfect place to learn it too

[@m2003h]

You'll be good.....you didn't start this Monster to just be 0 problemo

[@aaron2847]

what is this vehicle considered with the California DMV? A Ram 2500?

[@hunter027]

A suburban. It’s based of the chassis

[@themadpants781]

Isn't the resi meant to be the highest point in that hydro system?

[@MerricksGarage]

Highest point in the steering as it is gravity to the pump. I guess for bleeding it would be easier to bleed if higher but hydroboost is pretty much as high as I can get

[@danielmeeks1403]

The reservoir on a Chevy 2500 is at the pump with the hydro boost high on the firewall.

[@jonbui1904]

No biggy on the rear drive shaft. look at your blazer. I bet its offset toward to the passenger side.i don`t think 14 bolts are centered between the spring perches.so why should this be different. hope you were able to use the hydro boost i gifted you even if only as a core. keep up the hard work.

[@MerricksGarage]

Dude! I just painted the hydroboost and threw it in! So psyched! Did you get the small block installed?

[@jonbui1904]

@@MerricksGarage Glad that worked for you.engine and trans are on stands.I`m still sorting through the K5 . Everything is a redo .I have been driving it alot.I don`t have to worry about blowing the motor or tranny. I have spares ! L.O.L.