jimbo486

My dated Pioneer stereo has been working intermittently for the last few years. I happened to be looking around Crutchfield's website for replacements the other day. I thought it would be cool to be able to have one with a larger screen and back-up camera input. I do know that these trucks technically have a DIN and a half size radio originally and obviously, a double DIN won't fit without some modifications. Well, I stumbled upon Pioneer unit and bought it. It's part of their modular series and has a single DIN chassis with a double DIN 6.8" screen. One can even buy an extension kit which has an extended wiring harness and RGB cable for the screen for remote mounting either the chassis or the screen. Pretty cool! And it leaves many options for installation. Crutchfield says it won't fit ONLY because it's a double DIN size screen. I'm certain I can make it work in this application and maybe even have a way to "detach" the screen for security purposes. This will certainly be a huge improvement above what I currently have but also above any single DIN sized stereo. I should have it in my hands very soon and may be able to have installed this weekend.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DMC...-C2550NEX.html

nonrev

Please keep us updated on you project

Ryan Stuchly

I recently updated my Dana 70 with disks and some new shocks



I am excited to get this old thing back on the road after I’ve let it sit far too many years

oliver foster

Ryan - On a side note, I dig the rear bumper set up you have.

Welcome to DTR

Ryan Stuchly

thank you sir!
I have lurked off and on since 2007 when I bought the first gen. And I drove it daily for 4 years.
Unfortunately when I had a son it’s sat since 2012 but it’s making a comeback.

Here is the front bumper, I like it more than the rear as it fits tightly But I refused to cut up a perfect bed to make the rear how I had originally wanted it built🤘🏼

KRB

What "kit" or method did you use to convert the D70 to discs?
And yes, welcome to the Forum.

Ryan Stuchly

Thanks guys
I have had the truck since 2007 and I’ve lurked around the forums, I just never had anything worth posting 🤘🏼
I used ruffstuffspecialties kit for a Dana 70 and went with the el dorado calipers for their mechanical e brake. It’s a nice product that went together perfectly

here is my front bumper.
I like it more than the rear but I refused to cut up a perfect bed to get the look I really wanted out back.

Ryan Stuchly

I used ruffstuff specialties, https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/R2443.html. I upgraded to the Cadillac calipers and once I got these adjusted right I love them 🤘🏼.
The brackets bolted up perfect

jimbo486

Broke a headlight adjusting screw insert the other day. Found that Dorman 42188 was spec'd for our trucks. It was recommended by some to warm them up prior to installation. I took and chance and wanted to see what would happen if I didn't warm them. Of course, the first one snapped. What an absolutely horrible design these are! Another member in a Facebook group mentioned that 42185s have been made to work even though they're spec'd for Jeeps. I ordered 4 of them and installed them today. Much, much better! Very little modifications needed for them to work and the only tool you need is a utility knife/blade. I'll create a thread documenting this with pictures.

Happy adjusting!

oliver foster

Jim,
I will be checking that headlight adjuster modification out as I agree it is all to easy to bust up the OEM 30 year old adjusters.

Ryan Stuchly

I am using rough stuff specialties kit for the Dana 70 and it all came together well, I upgraded to the eldorado calipers. Once I got them properly adjusted they hold really well.

Ryan Stuchly

Thanks for the kind welcoming fellas.
here are a few more pics of the bumpers

KRB

I've heard of the Eldorado kit, does it have the E-brake? Have you been able to drive enough yet to see what the different braking experience is?
Thanks,

Ryan Stuchly

Yessir the benefit of the caddy calipers is the mechanical e-brake, otherwise you can run the regular gm caliper without a parking brake and get by a little cheaper.

To be fair, I cannot compare the disks to drums.
I am sure my drums had been shot for some time judging by how they came apart!! I also dislike anything and everything about drum setups so this had been on my list for awhile.

I will say I am very pleased with the results, the truck stops very good.

Also, if you’ve ever heard bad things about the e-brake with these calipers it’s 98% of the time due to
them being out of adjustment. It took some searching and a few minutes to tinker with mine to get them both working solid🤘🏼

Rug_Trucker

What about brake proportioning valving? And what is going on with your ABS system?