Well, I wheeled the thing IFS long enough and decided to step it up. This the truck when I got it (free) but with soft 8s and 31" BFGs.

This is after BJ spacers, 3" B.L., and rear add a leaf.

Picked up an '85 axle and Sky's hanger[IMG]http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cardsfan1980/Iphone166.jpg[/IMG
51.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cardsfan1980/Iphone175.jpg[/IMG]

Borrowed a set of torches from my buddy and went to work



Cut in the frame tubes and beefed up what was left of the IFS bracket that the motor mounts attach to.


Test fit the hanger, springs etc. and started to burn everything in. I decided to go with a set of rear springs off an '86 I picked up from a buddy. I was trying to keep the runner as low as possible and get the axle as far forward as possible.


Burned in the shock hoops and gussets. I decided to kick the gussets out on to the frame instead of in, simply to be able to get to the motor mounts easier in the future.


Moved the steering box about 3-3.5" forward for link clearance.


Moved my rear locker into the front third and welded up the rear. Welded brake line brackets to the frame and back side of steering arms. Installed some extended soft lines and made some hard lines from the caliper to the soft lines.



Bolted up the dual case cross member to replace the one I made when I put in the duals. Made/welded in some bump stop perches. Cut down a rear driveshaft for the front (for now) and made some rear shackles from steel I had laying around (6" eye to eye)




Still waiting for my bilstein 5125s and a triple drilled flange to wrap it up. I'm itching to flex this thing out!! Here is how it sits now.

 

Looks like fun.

:wabbit2:

 

So you basically used stock leaf springs with 14" bilsteins to keep it low? you still have 3" BL? or did you remove it? do you see any clearance issues happening if you were to do this without the BL?

 

You need square Ubolts under the drivers side.

These look like round.



I cant tell you how many SA's I've seen with round u bolts under there. Looks like a death trap.



http://www.marlincrawler.com/suspension/parts/u-bolts

 

dang man didnt know any one on here was so close. lookin good.
where do you where around here?

 

They are square, I think it must be the angle of the pic. Thanks for looking out though.

 

Thanks man, Fern Creek area.

 

I was about an inch and a half too low for 14" bilsteins so I went with the 12". As far as the body lift, I left it on mainly because of the clearances it gives me to access the trans, transfer case,etc. to work on things. I'm not sure what you mean by clearance but the 35s have plenty of room.

 

so you went with stock leafs, shackles and 12" bilsteins?

 

For now, yes. I may add a leaf or two depending on the way it goes when I give it a shake down.

 

Oh, and I'm running Sky's boomerang shackles ( not stock )

 

alrighty thanks... appreciate the info

 

Cool. Lookin good so far man. Can't wait to cut off my IFS.

 

Nice work man!!!
I love the height. Sits perfect.

 

Like the build looks tight. How much up travel do you have? Really like the bumpstops looks better than the typical retangle ones.

 

I'm still waiting on shocks to get delivered so I haven't had it out yet. I don't have anything to really test the flex/ up travel but I would say about 4-5". The bump stops are just cheapies ( 2 1/8"). I cut some 1"x1" bar stock, drilled and tapped them for the stud on the bump stop and welded them up.

 

Nice looking rig. Like that ride height too.

 

Thanks , I got my shocks in friday and did a little bit of fab work sunday on the rear shock hoop and mounts on the axle. I've got plans to get back in the garage through the week. I should have an update by the week end. I'm shooting for happy medium between / \ and | |. I think I'm going to wind up between 30* and 40*. We'll see.

 

Nice build. Can't wait to do my runner! I wanna see some flex.......

 

how much did it cost to do it all