83/09 4bt K5 (BB2016)

[campfire]

that's no fun.

 

[campfire]

Holy shit, that many replies over steering and i got like 3 replies when i swapped out the whole drivetrain to a cummins. LOL

Well...you didn't exactly share many of the details for the 4BT swap.

A long write-up with lots of pictures would undoubtedly increase that number of replies.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

See my ram? Its up above the tie rod a bit so I wont hit it. Works awesome. I didnt have to cut the end off the rod and reweld it, which is commonly done to avoid hitting the fittings. By mounting it a little above the tie rod with the right angle I cleared them.

 

[85k5witha6.2]

Well...you didn't exactly share many of the details for the 4BT swap.

A long write-up with lots of pictures would undoubtedly increase that number of replies.

well the swap was kind of a surprise to me anyway, and i had 2 days to get it done hahaha

 

[85k5witha6.2]

See my ram? Its up above the tie rod a bit so I wont hit it. Works awesome. I didnt have to cut the end off the rod and reweld it, which is commonly done to avoid hitting the fittings. By mounting it a little above the tie rod with the right angle I cleared them.

Thanks for the picture! probably how i'll do mine

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Thanks for the picture! probably how i'll do mine

No problem! I made my own clamp for the tie rod. I can post pics of that if you want or you can buy one or just use tabs to weld on. The beotch of the tabs is it needs to be dialed before you weld the tabs.

I also can post the parts list from my order at surplus center. It was roughly 130 bucks.

 

[85k5witha6.2]

No problem! I made my own clamp for the tie rod. I can post pics of that if you want or you can buy one or just use tabs to weld on. The beotch of the tabs is it needs to be dialed before you weld the tabs.

I also can post the parts list from my order at surplus center. It was roughly 130 bucks.

that would be great! which ram did you go with?

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

that would be great! which ram did you go with?

I think it was 1.5x8 with the swivel eyes. It was about 90 bucks. I'll post some more pics shortly.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

All parts are from surplus center

Ram: $99
9-7258-8

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...s/1-5X8X1-DA-HYD-CYL-SWIVEL-EYES-9-7258-8.axd

sae 6M x 3/8"nptf 90 degree fittings: $4.80x2 <---this goes in ram
9-6901-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...SAE-6M-x-3-8-NPTF-90-SWIVEL-9-6901-6-6.axd3/8"nptm x 3/8"nptf 90 degree swivel fitting: $2.95x1 <---this goes in end of steering box
9-1501-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau.../3-8-NPTM-x-3-8-NPTF-90-SWIVEL-9-1501-6-6.axd

3/8"nptm x 3/8"nptf 45 degree swivel fitting: $3.25x1 <---this goes in sector shaft cap
9-1503-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau.../3-8-NPTM-x-3-8-NPTF-45-SWIVEL-9-1503-6-6.axd

48" 3/8" hose 3000psi nptm both sides (could use 36" on trucks that dont flex a lot): $10.95x3 (1 trail spare)
903-3848

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...PTM-X-3-8-NPTM-3000-PSI-HYD-HOSE-903-3848.axd

Heres the heatsink i used:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-331000/overview/

It goes on the return side between the steering box and pump. Its a must have and its a true thru and thru not just a open area inside of it!

I got my end cap from DIY4X which was a nice piece. Drilled and tapped sector shaft cap. I did it with the box still on the frame

The end cap hose goes to the fixed side of the ram and the sector cap hose goes to the moving side of the ram....onapassenger drop axle.

 

[85k5witha6.2]

All parts are from surplus center

Ram: $99
9-7258-8

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...s/1-5X8X1-DA-HYD-CYL-SWIVEL-EYES-9-7258-8.axd

sae 6M x 3/8"nptf 90 degree fittings: $4.80x2 <---this goes in ram
9-6901-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...SAE-6M-x-3-8-NPTF-90-SWIVEL-9-6901-6-6.axd3/8"nptm x 3/8"nptf 90 degree swivel fitting: $2.95x1 <---this goes in end of steering box
9-1501-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau.../3-8-NPTM-x-3-8-NPTF-90-SWIVEL-9-1501-6-6.axd

3/8"nptm x 3/8"nptf 45 degree swivel fitting: $3.25x1 <---this goes in sector shaft cap
9-1503-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau.../3-8-NPTM-x-3-8-NPTF-45-SWIVEL-9-1503-6-6.axd

48" 3/8" hose 3000psi nptm both sides (could use 36" on trucks that dont flex a lot): $10.95x3 (1 trail spare)
903-3848

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...PTM-X-3-8-NPTM-3000-PSI-HYD-HOSE-903-3848.axd

Heres the heatsink i used:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-331000/overview/

It goes on the return side between the steering box and pump. Its a must have and its a true thru and thru not just a open area inside of it!

I got my end cap from DIY4X which was a nice piece. Drilled and tapped sector shaft cap. I did it with the box still on the frame

The end cap hose goes to the fixed side of the ram and the sector cap hose goes to the moving side of the ram....onapassenger drop axle.

wow, thats very helpful! thank you!

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

wow, thats very helpful! thank you!

No problem! Make sure you get an extra line or two for trail spares. Let me know if any questions come up.

 

[Kay86K5]

All parts are from surplus center

Ram: $99
9-7258-8

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...s/1-5X8X1-DA-HYD-CYL-SWIVEL-EYES-9-7258-8.axd

sae 6M x 3/8"nptf 90 degree fittings: $4.80x2 <---this goes in ram
9-6901-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...SAE-6M-x-3-8-NPTF-90-SWIVEL-9-6901-6-6.axd3/8"nptm x 3/8"nptf 90 degree swivel fitting: $2.95x1 <---this goes in end of steering box
9-1501-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau.../3-8-NPTM-x-3-8-NPTF-90-SWIVEL-9-1501-6-6.axd

3/8"nptm x 3/8"nptf 45 degree swivel fitting: $3.25x1 <---this goes in sector shaft cap
9-1503-6-6

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau.../3-8-NPTM-x-3-8-NPTF-45-SWIVEL-9-1503-6-6.axd

48" 3/8" hose 3000psi nptm both sides (could use 36" on trucks that dont flex a lot): $10.95x3 (1 trail spare)
903-3848

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...PTM-X-3-8-NPTM-3000-PSI-HYD-HOSE-903-3848.axd

Heres the heatsink i used:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-331000/overview/

It goes on the return side between the steering box and pump. Its a must have and its a true thru and thru not just a open area inside of it!

I got my end cap from DIY4X which was a nice piece. Drilled and tapped sector shaft cap. I did it with the box still on the frame

The end cap hose goes to the fixed side of the ram and the sector cap hose goes to the moving side of the ram....onapassenger drop axle.

Pretty much the same list I used, except I used a 2"x8" ram instead of a 1.5". I think my ram was only $60 or so. Most say if you want to drive it on the street more, use a 1.5, but if it's more off-road, 2" works good. I don't think mine is as slow as everyone makes it out to be. Sure slightly slower, but nothing that's unsafe at all. And the fittings on the ram clearance issue will depend on the ram you get. Mine never had an issue with those at all

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Pretty much the same list I used, except I used a 2"x8" ram instead of a 1.5". I think my ram was only $60 or so. Most say if you want to drive it on the street more, use a 1.5, but if it's more off-road, 2" works good. I don't think mine is as slow as everyone makes it out to be. Sure slightly slower, but nothing that's unsafe at all. And the fittings on the ram clearance issue will depend on the ram you get. Mine never had an issue with those at all

Yeah I read about the 2 inch being a little bit slower but as you mentioned its not much if anything at all. I definitely like my 1.5 inch. Its gotten me through a lot of tough crawling so far. Im going to try the texas mods since I have to get a new pump but the ram doesn't leave me asking for more. Theres definitely times where I feel a bit pinned but I always get out of it rather than trying to force the ram. I think the fitting issue is only on that ram which has the swivel eyes.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Heres my clamp...

I made it all but its simple.


Then welded cheap tabs on it.


Cost me time and about 5 bucks. You can buy the clamps for around $50 from diy or psc.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

Why not just weld the tabs to the tie rod? That's how I did mine. No worry about a clamp coming lose or shifting around the rod.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Why not just weld the tabs to the tie rod? That's how I did mine. No worry about a clamp coming lose or shifting around the rod.

Yeah that works too. I wanted the option of making adjustment as I didn't know what I was doing the first time around and I wanted to clock it just right to clear the fittings. The clamp won't come loose, mainly because the hardware is locktighted but more importantly the fine threads give it a ton of clamping force. Now that I have it dialed I'll probably tac it on just extra insurance.

 

[Kay86K5]

If I remember right, this is the ram I have on mine:
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...s/2X8X1-125-DA-HYD-CYL-V200080-S-9-8534-8.axd

 

[85k5witha6.2]

took the blazer out for a drive, let her drive it, not sure how to upload videos here

 

[85k5witha6.2]

i think i need bumpstops in the front and to take some leafs out of the back, the front flexes to the max before the back barely starts

 

[Phil513]

I was on the fence about that front end, but dang, that first pic above is fantastic!