Then I got both front spring mounts drilled and bolted up
CK5
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Then this is when it got interesting. I learned, apparently there is a difference in the tranny shifter designs for the automatics of the earlier GMT400’s vs the later years of GMT400’s. Mine has a standard mechanical linkage setup (very similar to the square body auto shift linkages) that has a rod coming down off the column, then it has a “pivot” mount off the frame, then a rod that goes over to the tranny. Apparently later GMT400’s have a factory cable shifter setup. Its obvious ORD designed these brackets around later years cause as you can see from the pic below, there was a clearance issue with the rear driver side bracket and that shifter mount. In that picture the bracket still needed to slide back almost 2” to be where the instructions said it needed to locate.
After being a little pissed for a while, and talking it through with my brother, I decided it wasn’t worth my time dealing with trying to make something work to keep the factory shifter, or try and adapt a later factory cable shifter to my earlier version column. So I said screw it and just removed the factory linkage and will get an aftermarket cable shifter (probably the same one I have on my blazer) and install it on this burb. I think i was more annoyed I hadnt heard of this issue on the interweb before. I wasnt planning on redoing the tranny shifter, but this issue has forced me to do it. Oh well i guess.
After being a little pissed for a while, and talking it through with my brother, I decided it wasn’t worth my time dealing with trying to make something work to keep the factory shifter, or try and adapt a later factory cable shifter to my earlier version column. So I said screw it and just removed the factory linkage and will get an aftermarket cable shifter (probably the same one I have on my blazer) and install it on this burb. I think i was more annoyed I hadnt heard of this issue on the interweb before. I wasnt planning on redoing the tranny shifter, but this issue has forced me to do it. Oh well i guess.
So after dealing with that, I then drilled all the holes for the rear brackets, and installed them with the shackles on there. So all brackets are now installed on this thing
I also threw a little paint on the frame. I think I’m gonna go with a small tube shock hoop design for the shocks on the front. Will be pretty easy to install those and weld them on when the time comes
So now I’m just waiting for a box to show up in the mail with my bushings and ubolts and then i can hang the springs and slide the axle under the truck.
That was a crazy amount of grinding, cutting, and drilling to get to this point
That was a crazy amount of grinding, cutting, and drilling to get to this point
Looks good
Sucks about the bracket interference, that’s annoying and I’ve never read about the issue either.
Sucks about the bracket interference, that’s annoying and I’ve never read about the issue either.
The bracket interference is a great example of what irritates about products today. As nice as products are and as much as we have internet and world communication why is it that we still run into problems like this. Plus if we are working on a "budget" it just ads the unknown factor when doing builds. Keep up the good work. Out of curiosity how is the OEM front bumper bracket going to fit with that front spring mount, it appears it uses the same holes.
Yeah, kinda sucks, but what are ya gonna do, ya know?
The reality is GM has done so many goofy things over the years and had so many little differences between vehicles, it becomes nearly impossible for companies the size of ORD or DIY to make a specific product for each specific frame or body combination. Its not like Jeeps where they’re millions of people buying and bolting on parts. In those cases it makes fiscal sense for companies to have many different part options cause there is a market for it. In perspective, there really isnt that many people building older GM trucks, so it makes no fiscal sense for companies like ORD or DIY to put the R&D to create all these little specific parts. With this being my 3rd build of a GM truck, I’ve just learned nothing is truly a bolt on with these things, and everything needs a little fab work to get them on how I want. Its just part of the game and I always factor in a little extra into my build budgets for crap like this. The only thing I was annoyed about is how I had never heard of it before. I guess most people doing the SAS are doing them on later Vortec trucks where its not a problem, oh well.
The factory bumper brackets could be made to bolt on with the sas brackets. Wouldn’t be too hard to get them on. But I’m not gonna put the factory bumper back on. I will most likely build my own front bumper and mount it how I want
greatwhitez71
1/2 ton status
That's rough. BUT be assured it's greatly appreciated you shared that with us... because I'll probably run into the exact same issue on my 94 when the time comes.
ORD has great products, I wouldn't really be able to hold it against them for design variations between all of Gm's trucks
Ready to see your burb on its own weight
ORD has great products, I wouldn't really be able to hold it against them for design variations between all of Gm's trucks
Ready to see your burb on its own weight
Hmmmmmm 
Bitchin dude!
Soooo hot, want to touch the hinny!!!
yessssss
Got the crossover steering installed
Installed the 4” shackle flip (i was able to do it without dropping the tank...so that was awesome). And installed the 5” UDSR shackles from DIY4x. And I also installed an EZ inch and moved the rear axle back 1” to try and center the rear wheel in the wheel well after the shackle flip
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And sitting on its own weight on my pee-pee roller tires. I think the stance turned out perfect. For some reason ORD sent me u bolts that are crazy short for the rear. They are only on by a couple threads in the pics. So I’ll call them Monday and figure out why they sent me some so short.
Moving the rear axle back 1” was a good move 
Man that was a lot of crap I cut off this thing 
Still need to do brakes, shocks, drive shafts, tranny shifter, and a few more things, but getting there
