2WD X-Cab Solid axle swap. Follow my build up!

[79k20350]

So i just brought home a 2wd 93 1500 extended cab. 250,000 miles (first step is installing a new motor) Got it for 1600, and have a spare motor laying around. The one in it is really strong but burns oil. Ill refresh it and throw it back in later. The actual build up will start in the next few weeks, once i pass emissons and inspection and get it registered and insured. The plan is as follows:
1. Replace motor
2. Remove bed
3. Start on rear suspension. Move axle forward about 1-2 feet
4. Shackle flip, 7" shackles, stock 63" springs, (zero rate?) stupid duty shock mounts, 14" bilstein 5150's
5. 14 bolt, detroit, move perches/ set pinion angle.
6. Remove front ifs
7. Mock up/ install springs- 6" lift - 49" alcans(2" offset pin), stock length-maybe 6" shackles, rear spring front eye hanger for shackle mounts, and my DIY4X spring buckects (zero rate?)
8. Mock up 60/ and hack crossmember as needed then install d 60
9. Front shock mounts- again stupid duty and again 14" bilstein 5150
10. Steering- Ord crossover. measure, cut and tap draglink to correct length
11. Sort out brakes
12. Install 465/205, pedals, and hydraulic clutch setup
13. Get drivelines
14. Fuel system- most likely 40 gallon sub tank if it will fit, if not a fuel cell or something of the sort. maybe the stock tank if i can get it to work
15. set up a tank for oba in frame/ below bed
16. Build the flatbed- wood just like my last one a lil mor etire coverage than before though and in bed storage for straps/ cables/ chains etc.
17. Test That SOB!
18. Set up oba- stock compressor, inline oiler/ sepratator, tanks and pressure gauge in cab.
19. Get a 3 pod set of gauges for temp, pressure and volts
20. Interior- seats, cage , harness

While im at slow parts of the build ill do things like install my stereo, set up a cold air intake that sort of thing. If you guys see anything i missed feel free to add your 2 cents. Any info that could help the build is welcome

Nick

 

[79k20350]

 

[sweetk30]

2 big things. the burb tank will fit in the rails. and also a full size van tank is wider and shorter and still fits in there. the big thing is the 73-87 style rear 14ff is a bit to skinny. you will need disk brakes to clear the ubolts best. i would get one from a 88-up like you have and or a full size van thats wider yet.

i had the old style 14ff and just didnt like it. i found a van rear cheep. width is great.

 

[79k20350]

2 big things. the burb tank will fit in the rails. and also a full size van tank is wider and shorter and still fits in there. the big thing is the 73-87 style rear 14ff is a bit to skinny. you will need disk brakes to clear the ubolts best. i would get one from a 88-up like you have and or a full size van thats wider yet.

i had the old style 14ff and just didnt like it. i found a van rear cheep. width is great.

I was planning on disc brakes, i know its gonna be close. i woul dlove to get a van/ newer 14 bolt but i cant find one. Also i hate to get rid of mine seeing as its been rebuilt (altough i only paid 125 for axle rebuilt w/ detroit i still dont want to just not use it.)

I knew a burb tank would physicaly fit but clearance issues with drivetrain may come into play. i was thinking about the van tanks too. ill have to see once i get the rear suspension done and the bed started how its going to fall into place

 

[sweetk30]

old 73-87 1 ton rear from mill truck with disk kit . hope this helps ya.

 

[79k20350]

yeah it does. i was out taking measurements and im not sure if it will work at all. im moving the rear axle so far forward that i may be at a point on the frame where its just to wide. So its either custom mounts or new axle.

 

[79k20350]

So my measurements show that the stock frame at its widest is 45". The stock mounts offset the springs 2.5" (to each spring center from the rail) That means at its widest the springs could be 50" center to center (52.5" outside to outside). A 14 bolt Flange to flange is 54". so take 52.5, add 3/4" for ubolts, and that puts me right at 54". Now because the frame tapers i shouldn't be that close. With the taper i should gain at least a 1/2" on each side. Looks like my 14 bolt will work but disc brakes are definetly in order. In the future i may inboard the springs though. The wider the springs are from center to center the less flex youll have. This will take custom mounts and im not ready to get that deep into it. Although by the time i get that far into ill prolly just link the back

Hmmmm. now that i think of it, a wider axle will also improve rti numbers

 

[originalspanksta]

If your 14ff has the big brakes you WILL have problems. I did, had to grind the **** out of the backing plate to get the ubolts to fit.(1/2 to 5/8") I dont like the way it turned out, but it worked for the time being, i'm definately changing to discs tho.

 

[79k20350]

the axle does have the big drums on it now but like i said it will be swapped to discs shortly

 

[79k20350]

More measurements...

So i was outside with the tape measure a little more. As it sits the wheelbase is 155.5" Looking at it now i think im going to bring the rear in 35.5" this means a wheelbase of 120" i know the front is going to be forward more than it is now so this is just a rough idea. From what i have measured though, moving the axle forward 35.5" and cutting the frame behind the shackle mounts will make the truck 4'8" shorter Well see how it all turns out cause these numbers are rough, but so far im liking what im seeing

 

[originalspanksta]

carefull shortening the wb that far you may get your tires into the back of the cab (depending on your planned tire size.) I shortened my wb to 120-ish and i dont have an extended cab. i lost about 2'4" of frame and closer to 3"5" of body, im not sure if i could fit an extended cab on mine without hitting.

three feet exactly from the cut to the nose of the trailer hitch. 63" springs.

heres a pic with 42'sits not far back, the extended cab would be really tight.

you may be better with a 125-128 type of wb.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v675/originalspanksta/gmcbuild12.jpg

 

[79k20350]

like i said, the measurments are rough. i plan on no bigger than 40's when i went out and measured, it looked like they would fit with where i planned to put the axle. Ill take better measurements once the bed is off. also that was 120 assuming the front end was in the same place. i know that the 60 is going forward so the wheel base will be longer than 120

 

[79k20350]

A little update- the new motor is in a running. ive made a descion to make this a trails rig and not street legal. so.... its going to be an all out build with no worries as to whether or not its street legal

 

[sled_dog]

I'd reconsider myself, street use sure would be nice. I forsee converting my 97 c2500 to a street/trail truck. Trail only requires towing and a tow vehicle. 2 annoying facts... ha.

 

[79k20350]

thats why i was asking about keeping a tbi motor emissons legal in the garage. it still up in the air. The man thing thats gonna be a problem for registration will be the emissons...

 

[79k20350]

Bed is off...

Got the axle, bed, gas tank, and spring mounts off today. not bad for a few hours worth of work. The new angle grinder is awsome Hopefully the weather aint to bad tomorrow and ill get the rear suspension setup. So heres some pics.

Thats my buddy kyle after he got a lil happy with the sledge hammer on the spring mounts

 

[79k20350]

Well the weather sucked today but i figured out where the front eye rear spring mounts will go, and got 1 side drilled, now i have to measure veryu carefully to get it in the same spot on the other side... also got the springs of the axle and the shackles off. know what the nice thing about working on a 93 is??? theres almost no rust and ther bolts actually unthread, the dont need a visit from Mr. sawzall or Mr. Grinder Not that they dont get one on occation just for the hell of it so heres a pic with the back of the frame cut (just a rough cut, not final) and the 14 bolt just rolled underneath. i think its gonna look really good. thats almost the exact spot where the axle will sit, maybe back just a lil more.

 

[stockk5]

wow i really like the look of that set up. cant wait to see sum updates

 

[79k20350]

Thanks man. Its coming out pretty good. when i get it done well have to go out some time. theres a few places out my way.

 

[79k20350]

got the rear suspension all set up today, all i need now are 7.25" rear shackles. heres a few pics: