'84 SWB build - Riverbilly Beater

[LaRue91]

Well guys I've been creeping on here for a while but finally decided to start a build thread.

Plans go as follows
305 that's already in truck
Th350 that's broke in truck, gonna take it out and have it rebuilt by a friend of mine. Got an Allison 1500rpm stall convertor for it too.
Np205
14bff in rear with 4.10's and Lincoln locked
Dana 60 front with 4.10 and a posi
high steer/crossover
Box the rear of the frame as it is broke in a couple places
52" front springs, 6" shackles
52" rear with 6" shackles and shackle flip.
Extensive saw zall cutting
And a set of 11.00r16 michelin XZL's(39")



Here is the day I got it in march of 2014







It came with the camper special wheels and 3.42 geared 3/4 ton axles and these wheels

 

[LaRue91]

Sorry for crappy cell phone pics

 

[LaRue91]

Got some 52's and a new seat



Scored some Michelin Xzl 11.00r16 for 300$ brand new,
Took a little bit of creative trading

 

[LaRue91]

Towing it to the shop

 

[LaRue91]

Removed crappy bumpers from it lol



Had my tires mounted too. Best 40$ ever spent, took 4 guys at hibdons lol

 

[LaRue91]

Pulled the turbo350 because only had 1st, took it to a guy in Moore ok that builds racing transmissions.

Started to cut out the fenders



And mocked up the tires

 

[LaRue91]

Welded in the free leather bench after gutting the interior, smelled like rats so bad inside it grossed out my gf lol.

And here is the unofficial name of the truck

 

[LaRue91]

Got a free bumper from one of my buddies. Looks alright for now



The weakling 305. Has an aluminum intake, edleybrock carb, long tubes& small cam. Hits on all 8 and starts every time so I'm just gonna leave it for now



Finally got the tires on it! Needs more cutting cause it wouldn't turn



Cut the inner fenders out with a torch from the top of frame across has plenty of clearance now.

Btw the truck as it sits now has 3" blocks front and rear(I bought it that way)
They will be removed ASAP. But it gives a good representation of what ride height will look like in my opinion

 

[LaRue91]

Here it is next to the white 84 single wheel 1 ton 4x4 that I got for a song. Set up a ford 9" for the back of a guys hot rod and I got the truck for free. Has a 4 speed 205 in it too. I added the late model wheels for good rollers

 

[LaRue91]

Time to get started on 52" spring swap









Getting ready to roll the donor in to steal the Dana 60

 

[LaRue91]

Figured out how to make my spring hangers and tacked it all together. Got the brackets from a friend of mine with a burn table



Dog wanted to help haha



Mocked up on truck

 

[LaRue91]

 

[LaRue91]

Got it all burned in. Will do more bracing eventually lol. Just trying to get up to speed on this build thread, this was a couple months ago



Dana 60



Lowered truck onto it, so glad I can use my families shop with 3 lifts haha makes everything so easy



Sitting at full droop

 

[LaRue91]

Me in a poser shot, I look retarded because I was talking about how excited I was for it

 

[LaRue91]

Major issues I found:

1)frame flex is terrible. Frame is cracked broken at back of truck in several places

2)Need brake lines/drive shaft lengthened. Will prob go with square shaft for front due to cheap lol

3) rear needs shackle flip and overloads cut. Rear shackles got in bind in brackets, could've flexed farther if not for that issue.

Here is the frame flex

On a scale of 1-10 I'd say 11, probably where all the flex on the truck come from! Haha

 

[LaRue91]

Used 6" diy4x shackles this is the angle of the raised tire that is 39" from the ground (same height as tires, not bad)

Here is full droop shackle angle

 

[LaRue91]

Got all external brackets welded on and rosette welded to frame, added some 3x3 angle iron in the middle and a tow point just for fun. Will build a recessed winch mount behind angle iron eventually.





As it sits. 52" springs in front 3" blocks in rear

 

[LaRue91]

Painted it yellow. Why not?? Haha every one goes with green. I'm guilty if it, used green as an accent color on my k5



Pulled bed off truck to fix the frame. Got on the phone with DIY4x and ordered parts.

Kert is an excellent guy to order from fast shipping too!

Ordered a frame boxing kit for SWB, 14 BFF guardsman, and 6" USDR rear shackles.

I had already ordered full Dana 60 crossover/high steer kit from DIY4x as well.


Called Off-road Design and ordered u bolts and spring plates for rear, tuff country 14" travel shocks, f250 shock towers, weld in and bolt in steering box braces. I already have a drilled tapped box from my k5 build

 

[LaRue91]

Oh yeah. Got out of order got my new trans in it before front suspension work


And that brings us to where the truck sits today till I get another weekend off work.

What do y'all think?

 

[brans87]

Cool build! Wish I had free time, seems like work work work and family! But blessed with great wife,job,roof over my head and a awesome baby girl that is above average in all areas (just turned 2 and is 3 foot tall,32 lbs,smart as can be say up there with 4yr olds!). So can't complain I guess. I will keep eye on this build.