Nice work so far!
CK5
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87 K5 "Cashbag"
- Thread starter wheels87k5
- Start date
You need to be done by spring so we can make some maiden voyages together!
Make sure you have your draglink hooked up when you’re checking that trackbar bracket. You can see what touches first.
+1 I smash my steering into the panhard bolt on the passenger side. It has a nice wear into the aluminum link.
Damn you Ackerman.
Took this picture before leaving for lake Havasu today. Hopefully it gives you a idea. I think ord says not to run high steer with the kit but I could be mistaken.
I had ORD make this kit for a 4"- 6" lift. So I put the frame brackets about center of the body mount. I'll have to do some fab work on the body mount, no big deal. Right now I am at 21" for the bottom link bar and still hitting the diff cover. I may need to remove about 1/2" from the link bar to finally clear it. Pics coming soon.
Got the links installed. Now ready to do the shock hoops.
I've got plenty of room on the passenger side to keep a tall hoop to get the measurement of 30 1/4" needed from eye to eye. But on the driver side, the master cylinder is in the way. Can't go the same height as the passenger. If I did, then the shock coil will hit the frame. Plus, there is no room to remove the master cylinder if needed. It looks like I would have to make the hoop shorter and go under the MC.
For those that have this kit, what did you do for the driver side shock hoop length and location? Pics would be helpful when you have the time.
I've got plenty of room on the passenger side to keep a tall hoop to get the measurement of 30 1/4" needed from eye to eye. But on the driver side, the master cylinder is in the way. Can't go the same height as the passenger. If I did, then the shock coil will hit the frame. Plus, there is no room to remove the master cylinder if needed. It looks like I would have to make the hoop shorter and go under the MC.
For those that have this kit, what did you do for the driver side shock hoop length and location? Pics would be helpful when you have the time.
This is what I did/had done.
Thank you. That helps a lot. It makes more sense seeing one already done. 
No problem, the factory a/c wouldn't work with my setup and we added in a cross bar. With the plating and guessets I can remove the cross brace and put it back in by hand without much effort at all, it's harder to remove the hardware then anything.
I made the install much harder then it needed to be, I cut and modified a bit.
I made the install much harder then it needed to be, I cut and modified a bit.
First pic is my original leaf spring setup
Then I added the rest when I converted.
I know @ktmoutfront has a sweet engine cage, but not sure how crazy you want to get.
Then I added the rest when I converted.
I know @ktmoutfront has a sweet engine cage, but not sure how crazy you want to get.
I kept my a/c intact, but I had to bend the evaporator tube forward to make it work. Everything is tight as hell.
If I could go back and redo mine I would have added a engine cage in, but then I would have needed a interior cage and then it would have just snow balled into something the truck wasn't intended for.
I need to buy a new cab and just start over before I ruin this truck.
I need to buy a new cab and just start over before I ruin this truck.
I know what you mean. I learned a hard lesson years ago.
I hacked up my baby when I got bit by the bug...
Went from this
To this
To this.
Going to keep the AC. Looks like some fab work needs to be done and a great way to get better at welding. Thanks for all the input and pics.
Retirement is looking better each day. Maybe in the next couple of months then I can spend more time on completing this beast.
Retirement is looking better each day. Maybe in the next couple of months then I can spend more time on completing this beast.
Retirement? Pssshhh, lucky! Haha.
Lucky is right. When I hired on, in 1997, they still had a pension. After 2005 they decided to do away with the pension all together and only offer 401k with 80% company match up to a set amount. A management company bought into where I work and they are wanting to clean house. Which includes sending our work to other countries and dumping a lot of benefits.....possibly including our pension. So jumping ship with a pension, before they take it back, may be the best thing to do.
We talked with our financial advisor two years ago. He said I could retire then but suggested waiting two more years. That two more years is almost up and now it looks like it may be sooner than later. No sweat off my back. I've been on vacation since Dec. 21st. and it is showing me what retirement will be like. The door won't have time to hit me in the rear when I sign the papers and leave.
We talked with our financial advisor two years ago. He said I could retire then but suggested waiting two more years. That two more years is almost up and now it looks like it may be sooner than later. No sweat off my back. I've been on vacation since Dec. 21st. and it is showing me what retirement will be like. The door won't have time to hit me in the rear when I sign the papers and leave.
That is a good possibility. I really want to get this done so I can bring it up to Tuttle Creek and get some practice runs in. It will depend on if I can get a Severance Package to retire early. I'll know more around March.
Have you looked into possibly doing towers instead of hoops or doing both with some fancy work?
I had towers before and really liked them. But I invested in the ORD front links and coilover kit. So I will use the shock hoops and do whatever modifications necessary.
Here's what I've done so far:
Here's what I've done so far:
