1990 5.3 Jimmy

[rderosier]

Did you cut your panhard bracket back some? (Shorten it) I wanted my axle more forward but I was running in to clearance issues with pandhard bracket and steering arms at bump and turned and parnhard tube with diff cover. So I moved the axle back just enough to clear. I seen a few people on YouTube build a standoff on the frame for the tube to land. I'm not a fan I wanted the shock hoops over top the frame. Yes the steering shaft is an issue. I did have to notch the shock hoop tube to clear the steering shaft, not a fan of that choice but I did it.

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Yeah, I shortened the panhard bracket about 3" or so, it clears the steering arms and the link axle link mounts (barely). I was also hitting the panhard on the diff cover so I ground down a ton of the cover up top. I was literally wondering if I could notch the shock hoop, so good to know I wouldn't be the only person using this solution.

 

[rderosier]

I did one of those half on half off for my hoops. And added in gussets.

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I was considering this also, stupid driver side has all the stuff in the way. It looks like your panhard mount is also modified.

 

[Babaganoosh]

I was considering this also, stupid driver side has all the stuff in the way. It looks like your panhard mount is also modified.

Yes I took a bit out of it, it’s the same length as the drag link.

 

[Tnsejed]

The shock hoops land pretty far forward on that frame. I made my own hoops when I did mine and they land way under the firewall. so the linkage is not an issue.

BUT, if I needed to notch hoops I think I'd do it with another tube. Take the notch out of the hoop for clearance, and then weld in a 2 or 2.5" tube section to the notch (think driveshaft loop style). You can then fillet from the loop tube to the shock hoop tube. This would retain alot of the strength of that notched section.

 

[rderosier]

The shock hoops land pretty far forward on that frame. I made my own hoops when I did mine and they land way under the firewall. so the linkage is not an issue.

BUT, if I needed to notch hoops I think I'd do it with another tube. Take the notch out of the hoop for clearance, and then weld in a 2 or 2.5" tube section to the notch (think driveshaft loop style). You can then fillet from the loop tube to the shock hoop tube. This would retain alot of the strength of that notched section.

Hmm bending a drivers side tube longer is certainly an option too

 

[Babaganoosh]

For me I wanted mine symmetrical, so it looked even.

Because of the way mine are shaped they had to be sleeved because of the tight bends.

Hopefully these pictures of mine are helping and just not me whoring around my hoopty.

 

[rderosier]

For me I wanted mine symmetrical, so it looked even.

Because of the way mine are shaped they had to be sleeved because of the tight bends.

Hopefully these pictures of mine are helping and just not me whoring around my hoopty.

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I love seeing pics, I look at others with coilovers for reference pretty constantly, so I appreciate it. And let's be real, we're all just whoring around our shitboxes.

 

[Fastereddie]

For me I wanted mine symmetrical, so it looked even.

Because of the way mine are shaped they had to be sleeved because of the tight bends.

Hopefully these pictures of mine are helping and just not me whoring around my hoopty.

View attachment 467314

Look how beautiful that blue is!

 

[Raggedy_Ann]

Yeah, I shortened the panhard bracket about 3" or so, it clears the steering arms and the link axle link mounts (barely). I was also hitting the panhard on the diff cover so I ground down a ton of the cover up top. I was literally wondering if I could notch the shock hoop, so good to know I wouldn't be the only person using this solution.

I didn't think of shortening the bracket. That would of helped a lot for clearing the steering arm. I cut the crap out of my steering arm

 

[Fastereddie]

I started out with ruff-stuff hoops when it was leafsprung. I built off of those out to the perimeter tube for the mounts.

 

[Raggedy_Ann]

The shock hoops land pretty far forward on that frame. I made my own hoops when I did mine and they land way under the firewall. so the linkage is not an issue.

BUT, if I needed to notch hoops I think I'd do it with another tube. Take the notch out of the hoop for clearance, and then weld in a 2 or 2.5" tube section to the notch (think driveshaft loop style). You can then fillet from the loop tube to the shock hoop tube. This would retain alot of the strength of that notched section.

I was thinking of doing this idea. Luckly it's not downward pressure because I can see it folding over. I do have the shock hoops tied in to the rest of my cage, hoping this is strong enough.

 

[rderosier]

I started out with ruff-stuff hoops when it was leafsprung. I built off of those out to the perimeter tube for the mounts. View attachment 467327

I think a narrower hoop would solve a lot of issues on my divers side.
And now I am shopping for different shock hoops. Hmm.
Nevermind, I can bend my own for less... maybe.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Look how beautiful that blue is!

I still want to paint the entire truck that color. @ktmoutfront shot it for me.

 

[Fastereddie]

I think a narrower hoop would solve a lot of issues on my divers side.
And now I am shopping for different shock hoops. Hmm.
Nevermind, I can bend my own for less... maybe.

If you have a 120* die, for sure. I only have 90* dies.

 

[Raggedy_Ann]

I think a narrower hoop would solve a lot of issues on my divers side.
And now I am shopping for different shock hoops. Hmm.
Nevermind, I can bend my own for less... maybe.

I like how @Babaganoosh worked his drivers side shock hoop. Shoulda put a little bend in the tube to go around the steering shaft. I do have a bender I just hate adding more to the tuition pile because I'm really good at it

 

[rderosier]

I like how @Babaganoosh worked his drivers side shock hoop. Shoulda put a little bend in the tube to go around the steering shaft. I do have a bender I just hate adding more to the tuition pile because I'm really good at it

I feel this, I've made exactly one bend on my bender, and it's the panhard bar. The shock hoops from ORD are too short to get a band in it, I'm gonna try @Tnsejed method that he illustrated below for me.

 

[mrk5]

I started out with ruff-stuff hoops when it was leafsprung. I built off of those out to the perimeter tube for the mounts. View attachment 467327

Man, I gotta look back thru @Fastereddie build, an engine compartment cage like that is something I've been pondering.

 

[Babaganoosh]

I like how @Babaganoosh worked his drivers side shock hoop. Shoulda put a little bend in the tube to go around the steering shaft. I do have a bender I just hate adding more to the tuition pile because I'm really good at it

I ruined every piece of dom in the ord kit, I had to get new stuff from a local yard.

 

[Tnsejed]

For Reference here is what I did. My hoops are on the outside of the shaft, but they go way down below the firewall. This was before I moved the reservoirs as that position sucks for heat. I didn't think it'd be that bad without inner fenders, but it still was.

 

[Raggedy_Ann]

I feel this, I've made exactly one bend on my bender, and it's the panhard bar. The shock hoops from ORD are too short to get a band in it, I'm gonna try @Tnsejed method that he illustrated below for me.
View attachment 467346

I feel this, I've made exactly one bend on my bender, and it's the panhard bar. The shock hoops from ORD are too short to get a band in it, I'm gonna try @Tnsejed method that he illustrated below for me.
View attachment 467346

I really don't see the sketch. All I'm seeing is a 1 eyed monster