xBLAKEx's 1988 Supercab Build

[xBLAKEx]

Thanks. I was thinking about keeping all the stock parts together, but i dont know. You need them?

 

[xBLAKEx]

Almost ready to put the axle back up, and all the other new lift stuff. The new drop brackets are in along with the Skyjacker Pitman Arm, just need to drill a few more holes [ Drivers side Drop Bracket, and Radius Arm Drop Brackets ]

I had some problems with the holes lining up with the passenger side drop bracket.. Don't know why.. Has anyone had any problems with the holes lining up?

It's amazing how much bigger these brackets are compared to the original ones. Took a few shots of them in.

Front of the two drop brackets

Rear of the two drop brackets

Drivers Side Drop Bracket

Front View:

Rear View:

You can still see the hole that needs to be drilled i the cross member.

Passenger Side Drop Bracket

Front View:

Rear View:

Skyjacker FA600 Pitman Arm

I don't know if it's suppose to be kinda twisted, but it looks like it is to me..

The Radius Arm Drop Brackets

Drivers Side:

Passenger Side:

It's getting there. Not sure when the front will be all put together because i go to school, and work after that 6 days this week.. So we'll see what happens.

Once everything is all installed the fun of getting it all aligned will be next.. Anyone ever use those Camber/ Caster bushings from Napa i posted earlier?

 

[jesse93]

looks really good

 

[xBLAKEx]

Thanks, it's getting there slowly!

I have no idea what happened to the picture on the first page.. And why some are sideways even though i flipped them, and it shows them flipped on photobucket..?

 

[xBLAKEx]

Little bit done tonight. My Axle pivot bushing were cracked and deteriorating, so i bough some from Napa Auto Parts. I also picked up the camber/caster bushings there, I'll see how they work out later.

Used an air chisel to lift up one of the sides that was coned over, then heated it up with a torch, and pushed it through. I was surprised to find that the axle wasn't solid where the bushing goes.. kinda weird.

It was to late to do the other bushing, get it done tomorrow. I went to a local muffler shop and picked up some scrap pieces for free, so I'll finish my exhaust tomorrow, and pick up some bolts for the radius cross member. Hoping to have the front end some what together tomorrow night.


One of the old Axle Pivots Bushings.

Here's the contraption my dad came up with to put the new bushing in, It worked really well.

New bushing installed.

 

[xBLAKEx]

The front end is almost all put together! Made some real good progress on the front tonight and last night. Ran into only a couple problems, well really only one. The stock shock mounts on the radius arms hit the shock, and there was no sleeve in the bushing on the shock.. so the bolts are loose in the bushing. Does anyone know where to get like a universal shock mount, so i can just slide the shock on and bolt it down from the outside?


Installed the old Radius Arm Cross Member [ super flimsy..]

Front Shot:

Side Shot:

Drivers Side:

Passenger Side:

Then it was all ready to go back in. I went ahead and put in new radius arm bushings, even though the ones i had weren't to bad. We put in the drivers side, and passenger side separately [ a lot easier to handle..] First was the drivers side to go back in. Jacked it up, put the radius arm and the axle in at once. Then the passenger side was a little bit more tricky, had to line up the radius arm, axle in the bracket, and the slip joint to put it back in.

Drivers Side:

Coil In.

There was already one washer on the drivers side with the stock setup.. So I just put it back in there..

And the Shock.

Passenger Side:

Coil In.

And the Shock.

Both Sides with coils and shocks.

New Radius Arm Bushings.

Shock is hitting the old mount..

Steering Linkage In.

Hooked up the drive shaft again.

Here's the end of the exhaust without the tip cut yet. The scrap pieces worked out perfectly.

Went and bough and Angle Finder from Ace Hardware.

So the main things that still need to be done..

-install new skyjacker brake lines,
-camber/caster bushing,
-and burn in the exhaust.

I'm starting to think my 31's are going to look small!!

 

[xBLAKEx]

She is a roller! Skyjacker brake lines installed in the front[ without zip ties yet], switched out the old shock mounts for a stud type, and bled the front brakes.

Still need to:

-Bleed back brakes
-Dial in the e-brake
-Burn in the exhaust
-Put on the bed


Here's the Skyjacker Brake Lines In

Drivers Side:

Passenger Side:

Front End Done:

Put on the tires and dropped it

Rolled it back and forth a few times after the brakes were bled, and stopped fast to somewhat settle the front end. I didn't replace the camber/caster bushing.. one they were the newer pinch type.. and the camber looked really good with out even adjusting the old ones.

I guess I have a little bumpsteer..

Went to a local alignment shop and asked if they had any stud type shock brackets. And they did, he just gave them to me for free [went back and tipped him anyway hah]. Before with the stock brackets there was a weird angle for the shock, also it was rubbing. With the new stud type the corrected the angle with no rubbing.


Installed without shock:

With shock:

And how she sits as of tonight. I'm super happy with how it all worked out. Thinking the 31's will work after all.

 

[xBLAKEx]

Pretty much the lift if now done! Finished up the exhaust and put the bed back on.
Gonna start gathering material for bumpers and what not.


The Exhaust Done: Decided to not cut the tip..

New Mount: Used the old rubber part off the old exhaust mount. There is plenty of movement, and it's rubber so it should absorb the vibrations better.
Very good suggestion, thanks "RangerSVT"

Painted:

Painted the ubolts, zip tied the brake lines, and checked the tire pressure. Then it was all ready for the bed.

Bed On: Ready for the first long drive to work.

Noticed that I'm toed out and have positive camber after the drive to, and from work. I have lots of binding in the rear when i first accelerate, going to have to get a one piece drive shaft here soon..

 

[xBLAKEx]

Truck drives great! Still need an alignment, but it's $56 just to put it on the rack and see where the camber/cater is at.. and another $100 for them to install the bushings. So I'll prpbably just try to use the angle finder and see where it's at, then buy the correct bushings. The ones i bought were the pinch type for a newer axle i guess. So I returned them. But it's kinda expensive to me, just for some stats..

comments or suggestions?

 

[jesse93]

the one piece drive shaft is a great mod. as far as the camber/caster bushings i would do what you said and install them yourself to save you some cash to put bigger tires on it

just messin with ya, truck looks awesome

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

Yeah dude, looks great. How much lift did you gain with everything all installed and settled?

 

[xBLAKEx]

the one piece drive shaft is a great mod.
as far as the camber/caster bushings i would do what you said and install them yourself to save you some cash to put bigger tires on it
just messin with ya, truck looks awesome

It's form 97 or 98 and up on a supercab right?

I'm kinda in between on liking the way it looks now, or save up for bigger tires.. Ha I actually could have had 5 33's with like 60% tread left on American Racing wheels for $200.. but at the time i wasn't planning on doing what i did for a lift.. Really wish i would had taken them when i had a chance. Lesson learned i guess. I'll probably get 33's once these wear out or something.

Yeah dude, looks great. How much lift did you gain with everything all installed and settled?

I have probably


4.5" in the Front [ 6" coils with weight of the supercab + 4.5" bracket holes = Roughly 4.5" ]

5" in the Rear [ factory blocks= 2" + chevy 63" leafs/ Bellteck shackle combo= 3" = Roughly 5" ] just as planned.

But the suspension isn't quite settled yet, I'll have to take her out soon, super excited to see what i can do now I'm planning on having a pretty beefy front and back bumper[Along with the headache rack, sliders, toolbox..], so that'll weight it down some.

Really going to need some gears..

 

[Grey_04]

Just got done reading and i must say awesome job so far. The gen 1's have to be my favorite body styles when lifted. can't wait to see what you do next..

 

[RangerBoy94]

This truck looks awesome good work man keep it up!!!

 

[xBLAKEx]

This truck looks awesome good work man keep it up!!!

Thanks man, it's been a lot of work but it's so worth it. Have some cool plans for some fab parts.

Just got done reading and i must say awesome job so far. The gen 1's have to be my favorite body styles when lifted. can't wait to see what you do next..

Thanks, I am new to all this so i actually tried to make it pretty detailed and informative about what was happening [ whats better then pictures! ]
I had to search and search for answers before i stated my build. So maybe this build will help out someone.

I agree! Even stock, i think they just look mean compared to the 2nd and 3rd gens. I personally have never really liked the round look for trucks, nor do i like the head lamps and blinkers and in one unit.