daily doubler build

[Bray D]

welp I got my hands on a pair of 63" chevy springs. I rounded up/orderred parts late last week. I'll pick em up this coming week and should have some pics next weekend of the install. its nice having your own thread and not having to start a new one lol

 

[zachis4wheeling]

STICK FOR LIFE! auto trannys just contribute to the wussification of america (I think I read that somewhere lol).

X 14837483

Just for the record bro, truck looks great. And it'll prolly bring a smile to yur face to know that after going through close to 1/2 a dozen auto. trans. rebuilds, I'm finally starting to get smart and am swappin in a manual.....

 

[Bray D]

Thanks man, I've put a lot of time and money into this truck just like everyone else. its not quite where I want it yet, but it will be.

I think you'll enjoy the manual trans. until you have that one night when its 3 in the morning and you can hardly keep your eyes open, then you'll wish you had a truck that will shift itself lol.

 

[Bray D]

Well I started on the chevy spring swap. I'm just gonna say it, leaf springs are one of the things I HATE to deal with the most. Those damn sleeved bushings...

springs from a 95 chevy c1500

new bushings installed

driver's side done

I removed the stock block so I could keep the built in caster of the lift block, that way I can drive it with one chevy spring and one ranger spring till next weekend. Probably could've got it all done today but my g/f was with me and I'm sure some of you guys know how that goes lol

as far as lift amount, I didn't measure but it's sitting pretty level now. The springs lifted it as much as the stock lift block plus got rid of my trucks 'gangsta lean' on the driver's side. I think it's safe to say I netted a solid 2.5-3". the rear is a little high now. when I get the other spring in I'll use the stock blocks instead of the lift blocks, which should drop it down an inch or so and level out the truck

 

[Explorin94]

Hey Bray those single leafs I gave you are from a 63 inch chevy packs.

 

[Bray D]

interesting haha. I guess I shouldn't say I have one chevy and one ranger leaf, its more of a mutt of a leaf pack lol. I think swapping to these springs is a good thing, I've already noticed an improvement as far as axle wrap goes. it was TERRIBLE before. I can see the markings where my u joint was binding at the driveshaft due to axle wrap, damn doubler

 

[Bray D]

I'm officially done with the spring swap, and pleased with the results. I still need a traction bar but these springs definitely helped. On with the pics:

Gotta love the midwest

Yes its a booger weld, I aint afraid to show it . The others were decent though lol.

Took it out for a test drive with the bed still off. Flex seems about as good as it was with my worn out ranger springs, but I've still got the overload leaf in too. I'm sure articulation will improve after removal (cutting) of the OL. I didn't measure but guess the rock to be ~30" tall, didn't lift a tire but was getting close.

Slung some paint on the springs and frame, then put my bed back on. Sittin pretty level now

Flex pics with bed on to come

 

[Mechanickid]

lookin good!

 

[Ranger Dave]

i like

 

[Bray D]

thanks guys

 

[metalmacguyver]

Very nice

 

[Bray D]

I've decided to kill axle wrap all together and build a traction bar. I won't be done till after the bog (Oct 25th-earthresin4x4.com) but I got a start on it today anyways. Lets just say stick welding upside down under a truck is NOT fun. Now I understand why people use migs so much, they're compact lol.

I pulled my doubler to reroute the vent line, while it was out I built the "frame side" mount for the traction bar. my welds are gettin better...

I'm goin to plate that factory crossmember as much as possible. I'm pretty sure it'll be able to do the job. It's the crossmember that runs between the 2 rear cab mounts, which I also have my sliders tied into, so it should be good. If it fails, I'll just build a new one.

I drew up the design for the axle side bracket too.

 

[JohnnyU]

TA-DA!

 

[Bray D]

$23.99? Mine costs FREE.99! I'm building all the brackets out of scrap I've got laying around.

 

[Sunk]

Looking good man. +1 on the welding upside down, even with a MIG. I have a burn on my arm from a hot spark that decided it was tougher than my Carhartt... and was right.

So I don't have to look through the last 10 pages, what springs are you running up front? I'm thinking I'll swap in some 63s in mine and am just curious what I should set it up with, i.e. OL vs. no OL, stock block or no.... I hate working with leafs too and would like to avoid pulling everything apart 2 or 3 times if I can help it.