Salan's 1980 Something

[FuzzFace2]

When you lower the holes will that not raise the frame & truck some more?
I know its not much but it is some.
Dave ----

[salans7]

I only need to make up maybe a 1/4". It won't be enough to notice. Right now it would be sitting too low.

[salans7]

Drilled another hole below the existing ones and then filed the difference to make them oval. That allowed me to drop the crossmember and really dial in the adjustment. Still playing with it, but I'm hoping to have it dialed in by the end of the day and at the very least have my holes marked for drilling next week.

[Gary Lewis]

Interesting how much work there is to get some of these things sorted.  But you are getting there.  

[salans7]

Yep, and my perfectionist tendencies aren't helping me either. But I think I have it dialed where I need it, and all of my holes are marked. I will start work with that next week, although the weather isn't looking too promising so we will see.

[salans7]

Well, it is officially too late to go back. All holes have been drilled with exception to the two behind the front cab mounts, I'll drill those tomorrow. RSK measures 54" eye to eye so I am calling it good enough. Whole setup is square as well. I don't like how I had to angle the front hanger so close to the radiator mounts because it looks different than the pictures on Sky's website and Gary's pics, but this was the only way I could get to 54". I put the rear hangers in place based off of measurements Gary took, and they're right where they should be. I know I'm worrying over nothing, I'll feel better when I bolt the springs up and the wheels are centered in the wheel wells.

Tomorrow I'll start prepping things for paint. Gonna try to find some cheap front leaf packs on Marketplace to hold me over until I can figure out whether I want to throw in stock height or 2"  lift springs.

 

[Gary Lewis]

Looks good, Shaun.  Isn't yours about where mine is?  Hadn't thought about where my radiator support will go.

As for the springs, how much lift do you expect to get with the RSK?

[salans7]

Gary Lewis wrote

Looks good, Shaun.  Isn't yours about where mine is?  Hadn't thought about where my radiator support will go.

As for the springs, how much lift do you expect to get with the RSK?

Thanks! Your radiator support should clear the RSK, but two of the bolts come pretty close to it. I loosened the radiator support so I could slide it around and let it settle after the RSK is installed. Then I'll tighten it back up.

The RSK should give me a 2" lift over stock. I don't want the truck to be a monster truck, but I want it to sit at a respectable height that will still allow me to pull goosenecks if so desired. So I'd like to see where it sits with stock SD springs, that way I can gauge which springs to buy. If I were to go with 2" lift springs, that would theoretically give me a 4" lift, and that's about as high as I'm willing to go. I've always loved the height that brush trucks sit. Below would be my max height.

[Gary Lewis]

I'm with you on all that.  I want mine to set pretty much level, and that's after I soften the rear springs by pulling leafs out.  But you are ahead of me so I'm awaiting what you find.

[salans7]

Sure doesn't feel like I'm ahead of you. Your truck has a drivetrain.

If I go the stock route, I'll probably order them from ATS. If I decide to do lift springs, I'll have to do my research because we all know how lift springs ride.

[Gary Lewis]

salans7 wrote

Sure doesn't feel like I'm ahead of you. Your truck has a drivetrain.

Yes, it does.  

The engine is on the stand.  The transmission is in the corner where it has been waiting for two years.  And the t-case is in the storm shelter with a box of replacement parts sitting on it awaiting a rebuild.

The seal for the right axle just came in, so I can get the front axle together.  Then the engine & tranny in and I can see what the springs look like.

[salans7]

You'll get that done long before I do. lol.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Gary Lewis wrote

The t-case is in the storm shelter with a box of replacement parts sitting on it awaiting a rebuild.

A man's got to have his priorities, amirite?

I hope Janey has some knitting notions in there to keep her busy when the sirens go off!

[Gary Lewis]

Nah.  We don't go in there very often.  One time last year we had the whole neighborhood over and the gals and kids did go in.  Video and storm trackers later showed that it went over the house, but didn't come down.

[salans7]

[salans7]

Awful picture, but the bumper fits!

Had to basically enlarge the factory recesses for the leaf springs, and cut all the tabs off of the center section so that the bumper was flush. All of the tabs hit the bar on the front crossmember, hence why they needed to go. Otherwise, nothing else was done to the bumper and I don't feel that the modifications made the bumper any weaker than it already was.

After seeing the RSK mounted, it's becoming clear that I'll need to run lift springs to keep the truck where it's at. I like the height I have it at now, and don't want to go much lower than what the drivetrain and bed will set it at.

[Gary Lewis]

Congrat's!!!

But, that seems a bit high.  You're going to lift it from there?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I think he wants it right where it is.
But it's going to sag when the jack stands come out and the engine is in, so he needs more spring.

[salans7]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I think he wants it right where it is.
But it's going to sag when the jack stands come out and the engine is in, so he needs more spring.

Exactly. I have a weird mindset where my trucks have to be taller than me. I hate getting into short vehicles. As you can see, both of my trucks meet that requirement right where they are.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Looks great Shaun!

This is going to be a productive vacation.
You're making a lot of progress.

And pride in accomplishment is not a bad thing.
You'll certainly have something to show for your effort.