CK5
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2004 Colorado Mid-travel IFS wheeler(preparing for dunefest)
- Thread starter Cili
- Start date
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Yeah that shouldnt be hard mounted...
Ive heard of nickel wire but never seen it. Also heard its crazy expensive.
So I still haven't got a front diff. Haven't had the extra time or money lately.
But I'm supposed to go to the dunes next weekend so I'm going to try and get it ready, worst case I go with 2 wheel drive.
I figured I'd do some free stuff for now, so I pulled the rear bed cage to just clean it up and paint it and add lock nuts... That turned into new spring perches, actual u bolts, new u bolt plates, new shock mounts, and adding limit straps haha
This is where I left off for the night. Spring perches are in but not welded yet and still need to do shock mounts and limit straps but I like it a lot more. Also raised the rear an inch which it badly needed.
But I'm supposed to go to the dunes next weekend so I'm going to try and get it ready, worst case I go with 2 wheel drive.
I figured I'd do some free stuff for now, so I pulled the rear bed cage to just clean it up and paint it and add lock nuts... That turned into new spring perches, actual u bolts, new u bolt plates, new shock mounts, and adding limit straps haha
This is where I left off for the night. Spring perches are in but not welded yet and still need to do shock mounts and limit straps but I like it a lot more. Also raised the rear an inch which it badly needed.
What day are you going? Nate, Brett, I and a few others will be up sunday all day.
Well I guess I'll update this. Haven't had it out since the ck5 get together at bundy hill last fall, where I broke the front end again. Got pretty frustrated and just parked it in the trees.
Started working on it again this spring and then ended up buying a house with a nice shop, which is awesome, but hasn't left me with any time to fix it.
Need to get it ready for the dunefest though do got it in the shop and on stands, not a lot to do but a few things.
Build bottom front diff mount
Brace passenger side front diff mount
Build new front bump stop pads
Change oil
Go over all bolts
Put front skid plate back on
I don't think I ever showed how I mounted the air bumps either, I'll have to take some pictures tonight
Started working on it again this spring and then ended up buying a house with a nice shop, which is awesome, but hasn't left me with any time to fix it.
Need to get it ready for the dunefest though do got it in the shop and on stands, not a lot to do but a few things.
Build bottom front diff mount
Brace passenger side front diff mount
Build new front bump stop pads
Change oil
Go over all bolts
Put front skid plate back on
I don't think I ever showed how I mounted the air bumps either, I'll have to take some pictures tonight
See yah in a few days 
See yah in a few days
Yeah I have all week except Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday lol
Yah
my junks not perfect but it should go up the hills okay.
You can check bolts while its on the trailer at nates, with a beer in the 2nd hand 
It broke before it flew lol
Decided it's time to tear the front end apart and make some changes.
Keep us posted on your front end changes 
OffRoadney
Registered Member
Great progress on your build. any new updates about it?
I've made very little progress unfortunately. Been busy remodeling my house. I have gotten a few things done and hopefully in the next couple months I'll have some time to work on it. I have a few pictures of what I've done.
So basically the front suspension geometry was all whack, so I started cutting it all out except the lower control arms. I also cut out the factory inner fender to make room for an engine cage.
Here it is mostly cleaned up. Since then I've cut the coil over mount off the lower control arm and got that cleaned up. Also I've plated over the frame with 1/8.
With the frame plating tacked into place I started on the new upper control arm and mounts that will correct the geometry. I also change the upper joint to an actual ball joint instead of a heim joint.
I've got the control arm mostly welded up now. It is 1.5 inch .250 wall tube and all tig welded. I only went this heavy because it will have the air bump pad mounted to it and it was the easiest to adapt to the heims I already had.
Next step is to bend up a tube from the firewall to the front of the frame to start the engine cage and use as a coilover mount. And then I need to do a bunch more cycling and probably move some things around to make these huge tires fit. And then do it all over on the other side...
So basically the front suspension geometry was all whack, so I started cutting it all out except the lower control arms. I also cut out the factory inner fender to make room for an engine cage.
Here it is mostly cleaned up. Since then I've cut the coil over mount off the lower control arm and got that cleaned up. Also I've plated over the frame with 1/8.
With the frame plating tacked into place I started on the new upper control arm and mounts that will correct the geometry. I also change the upper joint to an actual ball joint instead of a heim joint.
I've got the control arm mostly welded up now. It is 1.5 inch .250 wall tube and all tig welded. I only went this heavy because it will have the air bump pad mounted to it and it was the easiest to adapt to the heims I already had.
Next step is to bend up a tube from the firewall to the front of the frame to start the engine cage and use as a coilover mount. And then I need to do a bunch more cycling and probably move some things around to make these huge tires fit. And then do it all over on the other side...
Nice! Looks like a lot of travel for a ball joint.
Good work dude..
I didn't do any measuring there, but because of the front axle shafts it will be bumped and strapped at about 9 inches anyway. It should handle that no problem
I've always wanted to build a straight axle Colorado. They're good looking trucks.
This thing is neat man, it would be super bitchin with a 5.3l and some fiberglass fenders.
This thing is neat man, it would be super bitchin with a 5.3l and some fiberglass fenders.
