Just grind the outside of the socket down. That's what I did.CK5
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72 K5 - Project 'fixing POs ghetto fab' MAYBE IN WAY OVER MY HEAD? [PICS]
- Thread starter loren
- Start date
Just grind the outside of the socket down. That's what I did.
just saw this thread. gratz on finally getting the truck you wanted! we all go through fixing all the little bullsheet for the first few months, so don't let it get you down. eventually that will calm down and you'll be onto enjoying the topless driving and dreaming of bigger projects.
Ashman makes a good point. You can't drive a 40+ year old vehicle without expecting some oddball issues. Put some money aside in a slush fund for repairs... If you don't have space to do the work yourself, make friends quickly with other local CK5ers or you'll have to pay a mechanic to work on it for you.....
No doubt you'll be spending the first few months finding and repairing unexpected issues, but the truck should treat you well after that.
-G
No doubt you'll be spending the first few months finding and repairing unexpected issues, but the truck should treat you well after that.
-G
loren
1/2 ton status
Long time without posting, but I'm back... and a paid member now 
Came to the conclusion that I couldn't do any sort of major upgrades with my living/parking situation, and this is the stuff I live for... SO I MOVED! Looked for a place for months and finally found a rental house with a 2 car garage and a giant driveway. Plenty of space for multiple projects (at once)
Now that we're all settled in, the fun projects have begun. I'll post full details later, but here's where I'm at right now:
Came to the conclusion that I couldn't do any sort of major upgrades with my living/parking situation, and this is the stuff I live for... SO I MOVED! Looked for a place for months and finally found a rental house with a 2 car garage and a giant driveway. Plenty of space for multiple projects (at once)
Now that we're all settled in, the fun projects have begun. I'll post full details later, but here's where I'm at right now:
That's a good looking truck. Great start!
watching to see what you do with it
watching to see what you do with it
Ever do anything with the interior?
Martin
Martin
loren
1/2 ton status
loren
1/2 ton status
So, what I started with was a crappy 6 inch that rode like a brick. 5.5" blocks in the back and lift springs in the front. I got sick of the horrible ride, so I finally ordered parts to fix it: ORD shackle flip and zero rate, new spring perches, u bolts, spring plates, etc.
Worst part is when the dana 70 was installed in the rear, nobody bothered to move the spring perches, which were about 1" off on each side. I drove it like this for a while. Scary stuff.
Worst part is when the dana 70 was installed in the rear, nobody bothered to move the spring perches, which were about 1" off on each side. I drove it like this for a while. Scary stuff.
loren
1/2 ton status
When I started taking everything apart, I noticed a leaf that didn't quite fit with the rest of the pack... add-a-leaf! Turns out the 6" lift was actually an 8" lift!
Rest of the leaf springs were stock and shot (one side was sagging about 1/2in lower than the other) so I decided to replace the springs. Really wanted to get some 4" lift 56" springs for cheap (and quickly), but couldn't find anything. Scouring craigslist, found some 52" tuff country ez ride 4" lift springs that were a few years old but never installed - SCORE!
Some pics of the old springs:
Rest of the leaf springs were stock and shot (one side was sagging about 1/2in lower than the other) so I decided to replace the springs. Really wanted to get some 4" lift 56" springs for cheap (and quickly), but couldn't find anything. Scouring craigslist, found some 52" tuff country ez ride 4" lift springs that were a few years old but never installed - SCORE!
Some pics of the old springs:
loren
1/2 ton status
removed stock leaf hangers with a 4.5" cutting wheel and BFH. kinda a pain, but not as bad as i expected after hearing about how tough they are.
cleaned up the frame, removed rust and grit.
cleaned up the frame, removed rust and grit.
loren
1/2 ton status
Removed crappy spring perches with more 4.5" cutoff wheels and grinding discs. This was probably the least fun part of the whole process. Weird angles. Removed the shock mounts too - not doing much, and not planning on using them to mount the shocks.
loren
1/2 ton status
This is Marley. He likes to hang out under the truck
loren
1/2 ton status
BEEF!!!!
New spring perch vs old spring perch (that was actually twisted/tweaked from the previous sh*tty leaf spring mounting).
New spring perch vs old spring perch (that was actually twisted/tweaked from the previous sh*tty leaf spring mounting).
loren
1/2 ton status
Mocking up the new perches. Pretty nice 
loren
1/2 ton status
This is huckleberry. He loves hanging out with me.
loren
1/2 ton status
Painted frame where rear leaf hangers were. Also cleaned up front hangers a bit and painted them too.
Starting to look good:
Starting to look good:
loren
1/2 ton status
Misc cool 'workin at night' pic:
wow, those springs setting offset on those blocks look scary! glad you're able to do something about it.
loren
1/2 ton status
Started putting things back together. Bolted ORD brackets on, then leaf springs. Tried to install the zero rate per ORD instructions, but they sent the wrong bolt? The threads on this pin are suposed to go all the way to the head, but they stop at about 3/4", then smooth. Well this won't work, because the nut has to go to ~ 1/2" from the head:
On a whim I decided to try a pin from the tuff country leaf springs (since I had to replace it with a longer bolt for the zero rate anyway):
More threads!
Perfect fit, just enough threads
On a whim I decided to try a pin from the tuff country leaf springs (since I had to replace it with a longer bolt for the zero rate anyway):
More threads!
Perfect fit, just enough threads
