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New guy from Oklahoma

Beandip

New member
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23
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Location
Cache, ok
been lurking here for a little bit, figured i'd post and say thanks for all the information!

Got the truck on craigslist and the previous owner would frequent this site too. so had the starter relay mod and a few other things done to it.

pic when i borrowed a trailer and brought it home.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

got pretty busy with it and did a 6" lift, modded the frame a little bit to account for the shackle, and got my wheels to weld up. basically this truck is perfect to build a rock crawler.

Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

basically the shackle would hit the frame, and for me it was easier to cut and notch the frame than it is to mess with shims/longer shackles.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

under full flex on a ramp. it tucks up in there nicely. greatly improving ride quality without it bottoming out.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr
rock rings welded.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

Rims welded up
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

39.5 pitbull rockers bias.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

did great the first time i took it out. continued to impress me.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr
 

MWMULES

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
In Memorial
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DESOTO, KANSAS
Welcome to the site, nice truck. Hopefully you can make it up to the KAMO Rally this coming fall in Wyandotte at the D Day park
 

Beandip

New member
26
23
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Location
Cache, ok
^ Will do :smile:

and thanks. fabricating is just my thing i guess.

that last trip the stock steering really got on my nerves. plus i cant put a detroit up front. with stock steering that would be a horrible combo.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5641/31048624191_378595acee_b.jpg

whole lotta mockup.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5663/31276656296_8e63fe90f3_b.jpg

https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5347/31276679666_c6819a6c23_b.jpg

https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5451/31276680206_e8933ee3bd_b.jpg

https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5676/30490992044_6a33ce42ef_b.jpg

temp hose routing for testing.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5588/31312848415_9ced3d68d9_b.jpg

https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5617/31323139806_3928ca126d_b.jpg

power steering cooler came in today also some safety washers.
https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5671/31414054436_9c06c8dfd3_b.jpg

i should start a project thread lol.
 

Beandip

New member
26
23
3
Location
Cache, ok
^ they are the tuff country springs from ORD. 6" lift. honestly given that the stock leaf springs have no arch, the design the shackle is to move forward when you compress the spring and form a negative arch, which pulls the shackle away from the frame. Now that i installed a positive arch spring, when the spring compresses it essentially becomes a longer distance eyelet to eyelet, and moves the shackle out, hitting the frame. That picture with the spring against the frame was with the truck flexed out on a 7" tall service metal ramp. at ride height on flat ground the shackle angle is just about vertical. again it was just easier for me to notch the frame and let the spring fully flatten out than it is to mess with shackles and pinion angle shims.

the way it is now i can fully compress the shock, and the front spring is completely flat. basically using all the available travel up front, which is great.

Here i was testing out the clearance of the engine crossmember with the hydro cylinder. the shock is completely compressed, and the leaf spring is flat. being the shock is bottomed out i dont have to worry about the cylinder contacting the engine crossmember.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

It was flexed out on a 4' hill. its pretty convenient to have this close to the house to test things out. in this pic its flexed on the opposite side, but you get the idea.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr
Welcome from Macomb, OK. Nice welds. Are the wheel centers from the outfit in Wichita, KS?
You mean trailworthy fab? no i bought the wheels, rock rings, and centers from a place up here in the city. the PVC however is from trailworthy. Nothing against them, but their pre-fab H1 wheels are nice and all, but since i have the tools its a whole lot cheaper to weld them myself than to get theirs already assembled.

i had it out on a trip just after doing the hydro steer and it works amazing. the steering can get heavy at times, but generally when i have basically all my weight on the front tire. either way it still turned despite that. its one of the best mods i've done to it. that stock steering geometry is junk on a lifted truck.
Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Rios, on Flickr
 

Beandip

New member
26
23
3
Location
Cache, ok
Welcome from Reydon, OK. What did you make the good looking welds with?
I have a Miller dynasty 200 tig welder, and a fair bit of practice under my belt. I did however make a jig and basically spun the rim on a new body style 4x4 wheel bearing/hub just to speed things up. I know tig welding those wheels took a lot more time than when I mig welded my buddies. Mostly did it for fun though.
 
Last edited:

Beandip

New member
26
23
3
Location
Cache, ok
What front Springs get into the frame like that? I only ever had that happen with 52s not forward enough.
I posted a reply earlier but it shows that a mod has to approve the post first. Not sure how many posts I need to get past that.

Anyways that pic with the shackle in the frame was with the truck flexed out on a small metal service ramp. The shackle was almost vertical at ride height.


Guess I should make this a project thread since it got moved to the modding section:). That's if you guys want to see more.
 
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