Running, finally.
 

So after about 2 months of not having my pickup running I FINALLY got it going. I put all new power and ground wires in and that got it turning over with a boost, plus it was about 5* celcius today it's never been warner than -25 while I've worked on it. It would just turn and turn but no start at all so I got my friend to cover the top of the carb with a piece of cardboard to choke it.. btw how do I know if my choke is working cause the cardboard covering the carb got it going.

One more question, what's the difference between '83 and '84 front axles. Mine has a gusset on the bottom of it is it an '84 SFA?

Now I just have to figure out the horrible noise coming from the front when it's in 4wd.

Great! I'm glad there weren't any major engine problems. Try this for checking your choke: http://www.bluebassdesign.com/boonin/carb_faq/

If the gusset only goes to the u-bolts, it's an '83. If it goes all the way to the end of the axle, it's an '84 or '85.

Front end noise...yeah. Front diff, driveshaft or axle. I think wheel bearings would grind whether you were in 4wd or not. I'm sure you've made sure there's plenty of fluid in there?

I've looked under it and the driveshaft is out of phase so I'm 99% sure that's the problem.

Cool. My front driveshaft needed rebuilding and it really hurt...I mean I expect axles & engines & tranny's to cost a lot but it was hard to lay down the money for the driveshaft. Another thing I guess I aught to learn to do myself.

Yeah I just called a dshaft place it was steep, I'm gonna get it back in phase and see if that solves the problem if not I guess I'm shelling out for that after I make sure it's not the diff or axle.

glad you got er' going .. I hope to "turn" mine over soon :)

So if it still makes the noise while the hubs are unlocked but the tcase is in 4wd does that mean it's the driveshaft?

usually .

CV most likely to blame .

Ok, might sound dumb and I think I know the answer but... I thought I had u joints with a double cardan at one end and cv joints were on ifs? What's the difference between a cv joint and a u joint?

CV's are on IFS axles, but there are cv's on driveshafts. I get messed up with the terminology too, and I'm not sure if it's just that different people call them different things, or if some driveshafts actually have cv joints on them. Anyways, looking more & more like driveshaft rebuild? Or find a good used one. On a truck that wasn't abused offroad the front d-shaft and diff should be in really really good shape. Would need to be a '79-83 though if you found a donor.

Help me out here though...with the t-case in 4wd, the d-shaft is moving, and it's turning the front diff and axles, right? Then when the hubs are locked the tires are then "connected" to the axle and diff and so are getting power? So even with the hubs unlocked, the front diff and axles are moving, so it's not necessarily narrowed down to just the d-shaft, right?

I'm pretty sure it's the driveshaft, that's right where the sound is coming from and there's a little play. I broke a bolt putting it back in yesterday so I decided no front driveshaft untill I get my lift on then I'll get a longer one if I need it. The front axle will be rebuilt too.

Even if it isn't the driveshaft it'd be the gears and I'm buying 2 complete 3rds with arb's and new gears anyways so there won't be much else. If after all that it still makes the noise, I'll drive it off a cliff.

How's the marlin L52HD? I noticed yesterday my trans was a little sloppy and the PO told me that's the only major original part on the drivetrain. I was thinking I should order one.

Let me know loc. of cliff I'll go get the lockers !!! Good luck on problem.

Nice, if you're replacing all that then you'll be good. I hear you! After replacing so much on my truck, and things were still going wrong week after week and I still didn't feel it was reliable for a road trip even with a new engine/clutch/transmission etc. I really started feeling like "what else could possibly go wrong?" but of course there are plenty of things...luckily though they're cheaper than the stuff I've already replaced. I think I'm pretty much there now. It gets frustrating but you eventually realize that really everything can be replaced and you can do pretty much all of it yourself if you're so inclined, and if you find good contacts on sites like these you can find good used parts for cheap.

The L52HD is good. My only complaint is a really stiff 2nd gear. I've realized that if I get up to 3000rpms in first it will go in pretty easy, but when it's cold it doesn't want to shift into 2nd and especially doesn't want to go if I'm downshifting. People said probably sycros still breaking in but after 10,000-ish miles...I don't know. Otherwise, it's great. Feels like a new transmission should and it's crazy to look under my truck and see what an L52 would have looked like on the dealership lot with no miles. They do a good job over there at Marlin. Probably would have been wiser (and cheaper) to upgrade to a W56 and do whatever mods it needs, but I'm happy with the HD.

I'm thinking about doing a W56 swap but I don't know if I have the skills or knowledge yet. A L52HD would be bolt on, how hard is W56 to swap?

I think I may have gone over this before in one of your posts, and unfortunately I've never done it so I don't know, but what I've read is that all the mods stem from the tranny/t-case being longer than an L52. So, the x-member will need to be moved back (some say you can just flip it 180* but I don't know). Budbuilt makes one that attaches over the frame with U-bolts for a reasonable price. Then, you'll need to cut into your floorboards to make the hole for the shifters come a little farther back (again, longer tranny). Then the rear driveshaft will need to be shortened, and the front will need to be lengthened. Some people will say all this is easy. The driveshaft cutting is the only thing beyond my abilities, the rest of the stuff seems pretty simple to me. Finding someone who's done it that can help for beer or just a small amount of money is the best way, I'd think. Otherwise, yeah, the L52HD starts sounding not so expensive anymore...