Some words of wisdom before my lift please

[Slim]

Okay, so next week i'm off work and on vacation. I'm doing my lift install then. I may or may not start early. Below is a list of what I have and what i'm doing. Please take a moment to review and let me know if there's anything obvious missing.

Two car garage
air compressor
power tools (air gun, ratchet, blow gun, spray gun)
plenty of hand tools, including 1 1/8" socket and wrench
small propane torch kit (Father in law has oxy/acet set up)
3.5 ton jack and 4 x 2.5 ton stands
pair of 6" c-clamps
loving gf that will bring me beer

SJ 2" coil/AAL kit
adjustable upper eccentric bushings
PA 3" body lift
Prothane body mounts
5/8" shoulder bolts (to replace the broken front lower shock mounts)
new rubber (don't ask because I still don't know what i'm doing here)

The plan right now is to deal with the spring install and lower shock mounts only. I'd love to do it all, but I don't see it happening. *IF* the spring install goes super smooth I *might* do the body lift, but not planning on it right now.


So the plan is to get the frame up on jack stands. The front coils will be tackled first. Remove the front anti-sway bar end links, get the impossible nuts off, remove the coils, remove the impossible radius arm bolts, remove the radius arms. The radius arms go to the Father-in-law and we use his oxy-ace rig to remove the original broken lower shock mounts and get the new ones in (I already have new Rancho 5000 series shocks installed regardless). Everything gets painted (beams, arms, the frame in that area). Install the adjustable eccentrics (just did my ball joints, so that'll be easy) and slap it all together.

For the rear, get the wheels/axle on the ground, beware the brake lines, release the leafs as per SJ's instructions (kinda nervous about this - never played with leafs before), insert the AALs and put it back together. At this point I don't want to touch the leafs other than separating them to insert the AAL - I will install new leaf bushings later on (no choice as I don't have the bushings now).

Final step will be to get new tires and have it professionally aligned, followed with posting pics.

Sounds good, yeah?

I've been searching and reading up on stuff and feel confident. I'm hoping that the install does go smooth enough that I can do the body lift too, because then I get it all done in one shot. Dunno, gotta see.

Let me know. Thanks!

 

[flyingbrick]

That sounds fine, but let me tell you leaf springs are nothing to be scared of, as long as all parts of YOU are not under the spring you'll be fine, now the coils in a double A-arm suspension you need to be more causes around.

 

[Slim]

That sounds fine, but let me tell you leaf springs are nothing to be scared of, as long as all parts of YOU are not under the spring you'll be fine, now the coils in a double A-arm suspension you need to be more causes around.

Luckily I don't need to worry about that with my '97. Thanks.

 

[Sprag-O]

Most useful tools on my lift....

Angle grinder... for rivets... air chisel... for rivets... and a drill... for rivets...

I also replaced all the hangers etc... You may find you need to when you start pulling those leafs.

Sounds like an alright list of tools, once its in the air, you can do almost all of it with basic hand tools.

 

[timpat92855]

Most useful tools on my lift....

Angle grinder... for rivets... air chisel... for rivets... and a drill... for rivets...

I also replaced all the hangers etc... You may find you need to when you start pulling those leafs.

Sounds like an alright list of tools, once its in the air, you can do almost all of it with basic hand tools.

Everything he said. Get ready, the rivets can be a pain.

 

[Slim]

Okay, now i'm lost .....

First - actually, i'm waiting to see if angle grinders and air chisels will be on sale this weekend. If not then i'm buying them anyway. Thanks for bringing that up regardless!

Okay, so, rivets. Huh? My understanding is that I should not even have to remove the leafs from the truck, but only the rear end from the leafs. Yes, no? PLEASE fill me in here.

 

[timpat92855]

You wont have to worry about rivets. I didnt read your first post. Sorry for the scare. Its a simple lift, coils is just un bolting everything and stepping on the beam. I did coil spacers on my 97. Its simple.

 

[Sprag-O]

Alright, ya... You just need a 1 1/8" socket to pull the coil clamp in the front... I misread and thought you were doing a full TIB lift.

 

[Slim]

OMMFG these two i-beam-to-radius arm bolts are a PITMFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (deep breath) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other then that it's going just fine, thanks.

 

[Sprag-O]

Why are you removing the I-beam to rad arm bolts? Those only need to come off for rad arm / beam replacement.

 

[Slim]

Why are you removing the I-beam to rad arm bolts? Those only need to come off for rad arm / beam replacement.

The idea was to take just the rad arms to the gf's Dad to remove the broken lower shock mounts and replace with shoulder bolts. I couldn't get the arms out though, so i'm going to have to drive the truck the way it is and torch them off there (the unit he has isn't easily transportable).

The front is almost done. The adjustable eccentrics I have don't fit, so i'm just going to modify the stock units like I thought I should have and get my alignment done with that.

If everything continues to go the way it is then tomorrow i'll finish the front, tackle the rear (yeah, there's a rivet on the end of the leafs - **** me!) and be gettin' new tires this Wednesday.