tomford
1/2 ton status
Lookin Good, im startin to like the look of a long bed... plus it so happens that i am pickup up a 70somethin longbed...
CK5
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1980 gmc.. build thread.. im back.. post 438. :/
- Thread starter Xtremegmc80
- Start date
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
yeah i like long beds too.. i owned like 5 different long beds. and one short bed.. they are a bit harder to find tho..tomford said:
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
dang before pics is stock susp with new hd rear springs and 31s. after is 6 inch lift in front, 4 in shackle flip hd spring and 2 in blocks with 36s i like the new version better
i should have changed my cab mounts but never did dohh see the cab n the box doesnt line up good. thats next on my list. BUT its on the road next week, aswell inspection time.. will let u know the result.
i should have changed my cab mounts but never did dohh see the cab n the box doesnt line up good. thats next on my list. BUT its on the road next week, aswell inspection time.. will let u know the result.
54inches
1/2 ton status
That really looks good!
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
thanks!54inches said:
i love it! lets see what tomorrow brings
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
the steering arm arrived today! so i finally test drove the truck today! runs good! dang felt like i picked up 100 hp due to gear change and my worn out tire only measure to be 34 inch. but i dont think its road friendly yet! driving with out shocks, and right alignment, sure bring the suck!
so tomorrow im gonna go to pep boys and get a set of shocks for it, play with the alignment a bit til its abt 1/8 to 1/4 toe in. my steering wheel is wayy off, it turns sharp on the left, but on the right it doesnt turn sharp. got to adjust the tierods for steering arm til its centered again n see what happens. will post up some new pics tomorrow. gotta make rear n front bumper for it, temp ones out of c channel steel. and inspection.. i cancelled my inspection for the truck cause it scary to drive it on the road, 45 mph im all over the road.. so gotta work on that.
so tomorrow im gonna go to pep boys and get a set of shocks for it, play with the alignment a bit til its abt 1/8 to 1/4 toe in. my steering wheel is wayy off, it turns sharp on the left, but on the right it doesnt turn sharp. got to adjust the tierods for steering arm til its centered again n see what happens. will post up some new pics tomorrow. gotta make rear n front bumper for it, temp ones out of c channel steel. and inspection.. i cancelled my inspection for the truck cause it scary to drive it on the road, 45 mph im all over the road.. so gotta work on that.
original balzer
1/2 ton status
I like it reminds me of my 77 k20.
Balzer
Balzer
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
been a while since my last post. the story with my 80 gmc, i have driven her everyday from my apt to bus stop to pick up my daughter, back n forth. total of 1.2 mile a day aha. shocks arrived, got skyjacker softrides 7000 model for now, and new steering tierods. got the trailer hitch on, it steers alot better for now, but still like 10 inch of play on each side. im thinking the steering box is twisting, and the balljoint i shot. so i drove all the way to my dads house, abt 10 miles with no inspection but its legal. never took it off insurance in 1st place. the ride sucked big time, but i liked it when it can spin 36 inch tires on 2nd gear pretty good (built engine) i dropped it to 1st gear on straight road, floored it til 5 k rpm and shift it to 2nd then it spun like another 3 feet and im gone. will post new pics of it tonight.
Lookin' good! Told ya that 6" was the way to go! I'm going to try to pick up new axels for Roadkill tomorrow, then I'll have to catch up to you again. That day I told you about CK5, did you think you would take your truck this far? Told you to be careful, LOL.
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
i didnt know my truck would be this far! and thanks for tellin me abt this site! i love it here! how u been? same axles u told me abt a while back?? roadkill is easy to catch up to mine. and yep 6" is good!skyyk5 said:
I might have to lower the back like half a inch to an inch since its higher in back than the front. like 6 inch front, 8 inch rear. so i might move the rear shackle foward half an inch to an inch to bring it down a bit, just thought i am putting a d 60 in front of it, so im gonna leave it alone since the d 60 will pick the front end up like 3/4 to an inch more. heres the pics i promised not much changed.. .. sorry it took me all night to get here.. i got busy at my friends playing Wii
that game is awsome! good workout! i played for 7 hours...
gotta sleep.. its 3 am..
a truck should sit slightly higher in the rear. that way its not saggin when you put weight in it and actually use it like a truck.
and you are right, a 60 will boost the front a little. so you should definitely get one.
and you are right, a 60 will boost the front a little. so you should definitely get one.
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
no updates at all.. been busy working. and gettin my snowmobiles ready for the season. im thinkin abt ordering the steering brace next week, then its off to the shop for complete frontend rebuild. i gotta get the swaybar for it, cause i seem to have a problem with the front springs on drivers side. maybe u guys know whats up. when my dad was playing with the steering i watched the front axle move back n forth then finally the tire turned. somethings funny cause im looking at the front spring front eye. it moves the spring leaf itself move back n forth like 1/2 inch. so ill add swaybar n see if it changes anything. if not, i dont know what to do. what u guys think?? 
everything is torqued down, and i rechecked everything 3 times, its all good. i dont know whatelse to look at. thanks.
everything is torqued down, and i rechecked everything 3 times, its all good. i dont know whatelse to look at. thanks.
the swaybar will not help that.
So the front mounting point on the front driver's side spring shifts around 1/2" or so when you steer? Does it move towards the front of the truck then towards the back...or does it move from side to side?
Or did I completely mis-interpret what you were saying?
Or did I completely mis-interpret what you were saying?
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
it shifts half inch under steering while sitting, i cant check while driving, just like 8 inch of play each side of steering, and the box is good, my dad steer and i watch, everything seems solid, except the very top spring leaf moves foward n back half a inch each side.
i dont think thats normal but i wouldnt know since this is my first problem with 6 inch lift, my previous truck w 4 inch lift didnt have this problem, and steers great. this one im too scared to go over 45 mph. got to go slow all of the time so i parked her and havent driven it since. i just want the steering fixed before it snows. my list for next week is,
1)order steering brace
2)complete front end rebuild at shop by friend for 150.00 good deal!
3)recheck all bolts to make sure its torqued correctly.
4)test drive her again and hope its better.
will update once stuff arrives.
anyone else know whats up w my steering?? top spring moves a little normal??
54inches
1/2 ton status
I am confused as well. Can you take a picture of what actually is moving or possibly a video?
Is it the drivers spring in the front hanger or is it where the spring pack mounts to the axle?
If not, get the front end rebuilt, as you said and then let's see how it is acting?
There may just be slop in your steering. It is old, right?
I mean I think there would be some movement in the aprings due to the fact that they are NOT hard mounted, there is a bushing that will let them deflect some, hence articulation.
I noticed you said that the steering moves 8 inches to either side. Now are you meaning normal movement or what? I do not follow.
You may have a cracked frame, so I think the frame brace is a must as well as the patch that goes behind the box. (I can't remember if you have already done this.)
This is all that I could think of!
I hope it helps!
Is it the drivers spring in the front hanger or is it where the spring pack mounts to the axle?
If not, get the front end rebuilt, as you said and then let's see how it is acting?
There may just be slop in your steering. It is old, right?
I mean I think there would be some movement in the aprings due to the fact that they are NOT hard mounted, there is a bushing that will let them deflect some, hence articulation.
I noticed you said that the steering moves 8 inches to either side. Now are you meaning normal movement or what? I do not follow.
You may have a cracked frame, so I think the frame brace is a must as well as the patch that goes behind the box. (I can't remember if you have already done this.)
This is all that I could think of!
I hope it helps!
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
i will post a pic tonight of where its moving. maybe its normal just my front end is shot.. will update tonight .. thanks again!
54inches
1/2 ton status
Sounds good! No problem. I try to jump in on as many of these as I can, so maybe I can fix the problem before ?I have to put mine back together!
Xtremegmc80
1/2 ton status
i didnt get the pic today.. didnt even look at it today, will take it tmrw... sorry
