'73 1ton K5- NorCal Budget Build. My first trail Break

[andyblack]

Okay, I see how they work now. I guess the longer spring just does a little different than the regular length. Looks like it's working quite well.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

SInce i have almost all my parts for x over i went and did the 52 swap.

Well almost the whole swap. I didnt have a holesaw so i kept the stock rear shackle location and stock length shackle.

They ride so much better than wahtever i had before in the 4" lift variety. Nice and smooth over bumps. They do roll a little in the corners, but thats fine with me. I had a longer slip yoke before that almost bottomed out on my front shaft wich i think is helping now. I could still use a lenthen but i took it to my spot and got it to max out the shocks i have and i was just barely showing splines on the shaft so i may be good till i relocate shackles and add longer shocks. They compress so much better and nicer than before.

I need to trim a little more off the front of my fenders as it rubs there now, but it is nice and clear on the firewall now.

Overall happy with the mod. Grinding rivets sucked, and its gonna suck to do it to the rear now too, but eh.

 

[andyblack]

Sounds great. Did you use stock height 52s or lift spring 52s? What brand of front spring hanger did you use? Good to hear that it's drivable on the street. That's one thing I would be worried about if I ever do the swap. You need to post some pics of how the ride height looks now. I've seen a lot of trucks that were lower in the front after the swap. Where did you get the longer slip yoke from?

I'm thinking that with a few more unique mods, your Blazer could get nominated for GM of the month!

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Sounds great. Did you use stock height 52s or lift spring 52s? What brand of front spring hanger did you use? Good to hear that it's drivable on the street. That's one thing I would be worried about if I ever do the swap. You need to post some pics of how the ride height looks now. I've seen a lot of trucks that were lower in the front after the swap. Where did you get the longer slip yoke from?

I'm thinking that with a few more unique mods, your Blazer could get nominated for GM of the month!

I used my stock rear 52s for the front. They were fairly dilapitated so i didnt get much lift out of them. I had another leave i was gonna throw in that i took out of my 56 pack to give them a boost, but my u bolts were not long enough. So once i get some new u bolts i will stick another leaf in and it should level it out.
Im also thinking when i move the rear hangar up and run a longer shackle it may give me a little lift as well.... so we will see what happens.

I just reused the stock stuff on the front hangar. I was originally going to make a front hangar with a piece of box tubing with a side cut off with some different holes for adjustment, and i may end up doing that eventually. Kinda like the one Kurt sells.

As far as the yoke. Im not sure what it is from. I was rummaging around were the chevy stuff ends and the fords began and saw a shaft on the ground. It was long and not necked down like most are, and had a boot instead of a screw cap like my original one did. So i checked the splines and it was the same so im runnin it. I couldnt fit the boot on before since it was too colapsed but i will have to stick it on now since its got the room.

Im hoping when i move the rear hangars and run longer shackles i wont have to use shims to get caster back. I may run a little shorter than usual shackle to elimanate that issue.


And GM of the month would be SICKKKKKKKK

 

[NorCal_Chris]

I also had to trim a good amount off the front of my fenders, right up to and a small part of the core support. I think it came out pretty good,

 

[andyblack]

Cool. I bet that will make a huge difference on the trail. I couldn't tell from the pic, but it looks like you don't have a zero rate on there. When you do your crossover, you could use one to move the axle forward even more since you have a slip yoke with enough travel to handle it.

This spring could be the right time for you to hit the Rubicon trail and show those boring Jeeps what's up.

 

[andyblack]

We need to see some flex shots dude!! Also, you may want to put a cover on that flywheel/torque converter.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

I will hopefully be going out on sat wheelin. I will def bring the camera and report back.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Have you drooped the pass front tire out yet? That shaft doesnt look like it has much extension left.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Have you drooped the pass front tire out yet? That shaft doesnt look like it has much extension left.

Yeah I went to my usual test spot and got it flexed. With the stock shackles and the short shocks it just barely shows splines on the shaft.

I am def gonna have to adress tge shaft when I relocate shackles and get longer shocks Oi

 

[NorCal_Chris]

went to Prairie city today.


Wheeled with some cherokees. Had a blast. Didnt get any action shots and missed the shot were i almost flopped it. They have a bunch more rock gardens out wich is nice.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

 

[NorCal_Chris]

def need longer shocks in the front and rear. And i cant wait to relocate shackles on the 52s up front. they flex awesome but droop is waayyyy limited.

I was also suprised on how well i was able to go up stuff with and open front diff. I walked right up those 2 rocks

 

[dfl701]

all that flex makes your tires look small lol

 

[NorCal_Chris]

all that flex makes your tires look small lol

I know. I was noticing that as well lol. Who woul dhave thought 36's would look so small. I want to step my game up to 39s or 40s here pretty quick. Should be getting a sweet promotion at work netting me about an extra 900 a mo so hopefully i can pick up a 60 for the front and some bigger meats!

can a stock 60 run 38s locked? Am i gonna want to run 40s and just go straight for them? so im gonna need shafts and flanges maybe????

 

[andyblack]

I think the 38s would be fine on the stock 60 with a locker. The 40s may require stronger axle shafts and u-joints. I'm sure it's been done before though.

 

[76zimmer]

Eric runs 42's on his 60 with stock shafts/joints/hubs, and a Detroit. pedal control is key! He was breaking stuff right and left with 44's though.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Eric runs 42's on his 60 with stock shafts/joints/hubs, and a Detroit. pedal control is key! He was breaking stuff right and left with 44's though.

Looks like 40s may cut it then. Im mildly hard on the throttle, but i try and ease into it. I should find out about the job tommorow cant wait. Then its on the hunt for a 60

 

[andyblack]

Two weeks ago I found that the stock transfer case can be the weak link sometimes and not the axles. Don't forget about the rest of the drivetrain. I'm pretty easy on the throttle most of the time and my NP208 grenaded anyway.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

So i got the Job Woooo....

Meat Department Supervisor (i work at costco)

Went to the yard a few days ago and got some good scores.

another stock 80s blazer tierod setup with both tre's and the rod.
pair of newer s10 blazer bumpstops

xj cherokee pitman arm
ford van pitman arm
Gun rack with 2 hooks(gonna use it to hold shovel/maddox)


All for the grand total of 25 bucks.... man i love that junkyard.


Crossover should be gettin down here pretty soon. I just need to devote some time to pulling my box off and fixing the disaster job that the PO did welding the frame repair on and make a brace. Also need to get my pittman reamed