pictures for tlbrewer

[hugeredford]

I was to stupid to email tlbrewer these pictures in a pm, hope this is what you wanted
http://www.oilburners.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12749&stc=1
http://www.oilburners.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12748&stc=1
http://www.oilburners.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12750&stc=1
http://www.oilburners.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12752&stc=1
http://www.oilburners.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12751&stc=1

 

[seanpistol]

do you have 8" rear blocks?

 

[hugeredford]

No I do not have 8" rear blocks I have 12" rear blocks. the ride quality of my truck compared to a truck with v-shaped springs is superior I run traction bars absolutely no axle wrap I recomend blocks with bars to anyone lifting a truck this high.

 

[EvergreenRanch]

where did you find U bolts that large? i had trouble finding U's for my modest lift.

 

[hugeredford]

I bought them at a heavy truck shop springride trucks have a stack of 15 or more leafsprings so the u-bolts are almost 24" long end to end and they are I think 3/4" instead of the 9/16" stock and the bottom plates that ride on the axle are off of a stock f450 only paid about $70 for all 4

 

[Agnem]

Great looking truck, but I was definitely wondering about the lift. Glad to hear it's working out for you. Looks like you did a reverse shackle to accomplish the front lift as well?

 

[hugeredford]

On the front I re-ached a rear f450 top spring into about 6" of lift and bent 3 more leafs to make a pack. and I just extended the shackles and hangers 2" the springs lost about 1/2" after a few months time but have taken their final shape. Total cost of the lift-$70 ubolts $115 extended brake lines and the rest i had or made from scratch but the tires were $750 and I'm borrowing the wheels.

 

[Agnem]

OK. That front steering scares me a little, as does that front drive shaft angle, but you go er' done!

 

[hugeredford]

Here are some better pictures of the suspension. agnem your absolutely right about the driveshaft I need to rig up a double cv joint hint: someone please send me a free one

 

[hugeredford]

Heres my spring bender works pretty good for the job you just have to find the right length top spring to fit between the shackles when its finally bent. if anyone wants to bend some springs you know where to go

 

[Agnem]

Interesting how you have that drag link going to the top of the steering knuckle. Never seen anybody do it that way.

 

[reklund]

That's actually pretty common in the off-road world. Folks move the drag link and tie rod to the topside of the knuckle to keep 'em outta the rocks. There's companies that make just the arms, and others that make entirely new forged knuckles.

What's not common is the *****-fabbed front shock extensions. I'm not ******* your truck or anything HugeRedFord, but jeez, get some longer shocks. I also know that he wanted to retain the ride quality of the stock springs, which is why he's got huge blocks in the rear, but that is NOT the right way to lift a truck. The right way would have been some expensive custom made longer rear leaf springs, with the necessary arch to get the lift. Either that, or a custom coil sprung 4-link. At that amount of lift, the truck is pretty much useless for hauling anyway...

Edit: I'm not trying to be condescending in any way, just shedding some light on the ins and outs of 4x4 fabrication... I'm into rockcrawling, and build custom 4x4's all the time. Please don't think of my comments as rude! HugeRedFord did state in his opening post that the blocks were just for the altitude- and that the V shaped springs that would bolt in AND give that much lift rode like crap. I totally agree, properly sized springs would have to be like 12" Longer as well as provide 12" lift, which would necessitate relocating the spring hangar and shackle mounts in the rear...

Ryan

 

[hugeredford]

It's supposed to be a 20 footer, anything thats wrong with it can only be seen from 20 foot or less I have a neighbor, rich farmer, who has a 1981 f350 gas 350 full on show truck that probably has at least 16" of lift coils front and back rear steer all custom flag paint and interior someone has probably seen it at a truck show but It the lift on it was "done right" and now It can't be driven more than 40 mph becuase it is in all reality a pile. My front shocks are getting replaced with duals this weekend if money permits, I totally agree they were ***** rigged with cheapness in mind the best impovement on this truck was the addition of a drop pitman and my homemade steering arm I put 50 miles a day on the truck going back and forth to school on the interstate at 75 miles an hour. I also use it to haul 26000 pound grain wagons with it, it turns some heads at the elevator.

 

[TLBREWER]

Thanks. I think I got one I can use.

Tom

 

[apextrans]

I hope these will work for you.

Hey....

I'm running out of time to get everything done I need to do b4 leaving. Something is up with the digi though. Couldn't get it to lock on highest resolution. If these won't work, I'm taking my camera with me & will figure it out on the road & snap some better shots.