Build Thread - 1-ton Chevy Swap

[c_note]

damn, your trac bar and drag link or right on the money. perfect geometry!

 

[Hahnsb2]

Nice work!

 

[odie1969]

dude what happen to the heart on the frame? Divorce? J/k the truck is looking really good.

 

[JohnnyU]

what kind of paint did u use on the frame and axle? just regular primer and gloss enamel or is it something specific?

damn, your trac bar and drag link or right on the money. perfect geometry!

I used Rustoleum Hammered Black in a spray bomb actually.

Yup, they are slightly different lengths which I'm not real happy about, but at least they are close.

 

[Bray D]

They're straight tube with adjustable joints, how the eff did you make them different lengths? lol

 

[JohnnyU]

They're straight tube with adjustable joints, how the eff did you make them different lengths? lol

Mounting and packaging constraints.

 

[Bray D]

I see. Have you put any thought (I'm sure you have) into the strength of the stock tie rod? I don't think I'd run hydro assist on a stock tie rod, full width especially. BUT this is a 60 so maybe it'll be sufficient. I don't know the physical specs on the rod either so I can't say much. I keep seeing this image haha

granted that's on a d30 but he has the stock ranger pump and a v-6 IIRC

 

[JohnnyU]

I see. Have you put any thought (I'm sure you have) into the strength of the stock tie rod? I don't think I'd run hydro assist on a stock tie rod, full width especially.

I'm not moving quite that fast. I haven't gotten the tierod installed. The factory one is just for mock-up and general assembly purposes. Besides, the factory part isn't as adjustable as I'd like, nor is it as adaptable for the hydro assist.

 

[Bray D]

Good to hear. Can't wait for the next update.

 

[Redjosh]

Just a ? why not just run full hydro? its easy and fairly cheap mine only cost me 300 bucks for the whole set up using a stock power steering pump. i can turn the truck in mud with one finger

80 for the orbital
80 for the ram
100 for the hoses
40 for steel

looks great man can't wait to see that thing go we will have to get a picture of all the trucks in a row you think someone can park on my tire for the pic

 

[JohnnyU]

Just a ? why not just run full hydro? its easy and fairly cheap mine only cost me 300 bucks for the whole set up using a stock power steering pump. i can turn the truck in mud with one finger

80 for the orbital
80 for the ram
100 for the hoses
40 for steel

looks great man can't wait to see that thing go we will have to get a picture of all the trucks in a row you think someone can park on my tire for the pic

When I first started this, I was thinking it would have been more money than I wanted to get into. Now looking back on it, I probably should have just gone full hydro from the start. I'll probably upgrade down the road sometime, depending on how well this performs. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[c_note]

full hydro is when you start to break things cuz you cant get a feel in the wheel. plus its not street legal and a horrible idea for the road. if it never sees the road then you will be ok. if you get full hydro and the motor shuts down while your driving, you wont be able to steer. my axle was set up for hydro when i got it but i cut everything away.

 

[Dishtowel]

full hydro is when you start to break things cuz you cant get a feel in the wheel.

You can still feel it, through both the steering and the chassis

plus its not street legal and a horrible idea for the road.

Really? Nobody at the Alberta DOT seems to be able to find anything prohibiting it, I know this rumor is tossed around alot, but I know it is allowed up here. Perhaps not down there thought.

if it never sees the road then you will be ok. if you get full hydro and the motor shuts down while your driving, you wont be able to steer.

O-R-B-I-T-A-L valve. They are like a underated vane pump. It would be 'interesting' but not catastrophic.

This is just what I have learned thus far, it's not the gospel, if you KNOW different please share.

 

[Redjosh]

john do you plan to drive your truck on the street besides around the block or something like that

hydro assist is legal in Mn to run on the road they use it with large rigs full hydro is not legal

 

[BIIprospector]

just throwing in my .02.
we did a SAS on my buddies 94 GMC using leafs. it was an easy way to do a SAS and resulted in tons of lift. As far as driving on the road, we are from MA where the local and state cops dont like lifted trucks. With the swap and using 6" lift leafs from an earlier model chevy he ran 40" TSLs with alot of room. he drove for a week and than the cops pulled him over and told him that if they saw it on the road again they would tow it. here is a pic of when we had the front done, and the back still has only a 6" suspension and 3" body on the whole truck.

thoes are the 40" TSLs on the front in the pic for referance