96 s10 blazer, getting a 5.3L

[ssyork]

Haven't bolted amy tires on yet. Took these pics about 130am thursday morning. Had a meeting last night and had to pack to leave a little before 8 this morning. Hopefully build cross over bar sunday night, track everything in a little better and bolt some tires on for more fun with my new friend cycle.

 

[Greg72]

A 4-link front suspension with mechanical (non-hydro) steering makes you my hero!!

I can't begin to imaging the packaging nightmares you've already been through, but I applaud the effort and will be watching this closely for my own selfish benefit later on!

EDIT:

Just noticed the 16" ORI Struts hiding under a mountain of blue 3M tape also!!!

 

[folkenheath]

You've done a lot of work, you are getting close! Looks good. What are you doing for steering by the way? I see the high steer arm, but can't see a drag link or steering box yet? And I see you are a little triangulated but I expect there might still be a track bar? Keep in mind a trackbar will effect your clearances for shocks/steering, etc., because it swings in a sideways arc, not straight vertical.

Nice work, it looks pretty good.

 

[ssyork]

A 4-link front suspension with mechanical (non-hydro) steering makes you my hero!!

I can't begin to imaging the packaging nightmares you've already been through, but I applaud the effort and will be watching this closely for my own selfish benefit later on!

EDIT:

Just noticed the 16" ORI Struts hiding under a mountain of blue 3M tape also!!!

Thanks! I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am full hydro, it is a single ended psc set up. I just could not figure out how to fit the steering box with my axle that far forward. The orbital, cooler and reservoir will all be mounted off of the drivers side shock hoop deal.
Those are ORI's though, pretty excited to see how they work!

 

[Greg72]

No SOUP for you.....1 YEAR!!!

The build is still cool, and I will stay subscribed to see more about the ORIs.

I've been speaking with blacksheep10 about using them in a full-size application and he seems pretty confident that they will do fine. Shawn (Supersize75K5) had a set on his truck and liked them......until he blew them apart in spectacular fashion like he does with almost every part on his truck.

 

[ssyork]

You've done a lot of work, you are getting close! Looks good. And I see you are a little triangulated but I expect there might still be a track bar? Keep in mind a trackbar will effect your clearances for shocks/steering, etc., because it swings in a sideways arc, not straight vertical.

Nice work, it looks pretty good.

Thanks! It has been quite the learning process for me. According to the 4 link calculator I should have enough triangulation with the links. The lowers are 13" ctc on the frame and are out at the knuckles on the axle (43.50" ctc). I have seen some pics of guys running straight uppers and triangulated lowers. My uppers have a little bit to them, I'm hoping I can move them in another 1/2" after flexing everything. The uppers are 35.50" at the frame, and I'm hoping to get them to around 30" at the axle. I really don't have room for a trac bar. It would raise my ride height probably another 1 1/2" -2". I'm already 1" above where I used to be, plus the new tires. I'm really hoping this package will work. Hoping it will be able to crawl well and still be able to run down dirt roads, like coming out of behind the rocks/Prichette in Moab, at a good speed (55-65mph) and soak up the bumps.

 

[folkenheath]

Thanks! It has been quite the learning process for me. According to the 4 link calculator I should have enough triangulation with the links. The lowers are 13" ctc on the frame and are out at the knuckles on the axle (43.50" ctc). I have seen some pics of guys running straight uppers and triangulated lowers. My uppers have a little bit to them, I'm hoping I can move them in another 1/2" after flexing everything. The uppers are 35.50" at the frame, and I'm hoping to get them to around 30" at the axle. I really don't have room for a trac bar. It would raise my ride height probably another 1 1/2" -2". I'm already 1" above where I used to be, plus the new tires. I'm really hoping this package will work. Hoping it will be able to crawl well and still be able to run down dirt roads, like coming out of behind the rocks/Prichette in Moab, at a good speed (55-65mph) and soak up the bumps.

OK, sounds good as long as you think you have enough triangulation. I was wondering about that anyway because dual triangulation AND a track bar is going to have some binding. Have you calculated the total angles? They say the rule of thumb is, a combined angle of 40 deg is sufficient. I modified the 4 link calculated to have the link angle in it.

 

[ssyork]

OK, sounds good as long as you think you have enough triangulation. I was wondering about that anyway because dual triangulation AND a track bar is going to have some binding. Have you calculated the total angles? They say the rule of thumb is, a combined angle of 40 deg is sufficient. I modified the 4 link calculated to have the link angle in it.

I read the 40deg thing to. I was waiting to see where my uppers ended up before I really measured. Guess I could do that to see if I even need to move them. I was just looking at the rest of the link calc numbers and everything was looking alright. So did you modify it to figure out angle off of the distance measurements, or is it a number you plug in?

 

[folkenheath]

I modified it so it calculated total link angle based on the measurements you already take anyway. If you want I can send you the file, it's basically the same exact file from Greg and triaged, plus an additional output. (link angle). I think I also put horizontal Cg in there too. If you have already put your numbers in there file, then all you would need to do is transfer the same numbers into this file and you would have link angle. Or just calculate them using trig. Send me a PM with your e-mail if you want it.

 

[ssyork]

I have all my numbers in theirs already, so it would be easy to do. I haven't done trig in years That would be great if you could send it over, PM sent.

 

[ssyork]

Thanks, that,s awesome. Says I have 48.6 right now. I will remeasure my front uppers and see what it says.

 

[folkenheath]

Glad it worked for you, so according to the guidelines(wherever they came from) you should be set.

 

[ssyork]

Right now my upper axle end links are 30" apart. That puts me at 48.3* of total angle. I think I'm going to leave them, I could squeeze another 3/8"-1/2" inward. That would start getting really close to the frame and I would like to leave some room for deflection back and forth. I'm sure their will be some with hard hits. It also only takes me to 49.9 deg, (at the 1/2") which I don't think I could tell the difference in 1.6*.
I got the cross over brace done and all tig'ed up last night. I made it as tall as I could without hitting the hood, 1/4" gap or so, to try and protect my steering res when I roll it. I should be able to mount it so the top is under the angle from the top of the cross brace to the front corner of exo. Also tied it into the front support, figured it couldn't hurt anything. I used the "fist" style disconnects at each end also so it can be removed. I did make sure to clock them correctly so it can be removed. Of coarse that is after I had to cut the tack welds and turn one 180*

 

[folkenheath]

It's a tripower!

By the way, I thought of your rig when I saw the S10 blazer in the latest 4WOR mag. Did you see that one? Had swayaways in front but it was a black S10 blazer body. It's funny how I think of rigs I've never seen now. The other month had an orange Chevy in it and it reminded me of Horton.

 

[Deuling]

This things narly man

 

[ssyork]

It's a tripower!

By the way, I thought of your rig when I saw the S10 blazer in the latest 4WOR mag. Did you see that one? Had swayaways in front but it was a black S10 blazer body. It's funny how I think of rigs I've never seen now. The other month had an orange Chevy in it and it reminded me of Horton.

Tripower, LOL. I agree I think of other rigs when I'm looking at pics. I haven't seen the latest issue of 4WOR, I always seem to get all my mags later than everyone else I know

This things narly man

Thanks!


Got the front axle fully welded up. Boxed in the strut mounts, added a gusset to the upper link tower, put the top and bottom plates on the lower link tabs and bent up a tube to protect the steering ram. Then painted it up. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. All the link mounts are 9/16" and the ORI's are 5/8" grade 8 bolts, with lock nuts and weld on washers. Hopefully it should hold up. Putting some bump stops on tonight.

 

[folkenheath]

It's looking real good, nice job! Hopefully we can see it in action soon.

And that black blazer I was thinking of wasn't a blazer, it was an extended cab S10 with the bed and rear chopped off.

 

[ssyork]

Got the bump stops put on , per some good advice. They hit 3/8" of an inch before the ORI hydraulic bumps do, on a straight up hit. So on a straight on/up hit they will be used and then the ORI hydraulic bump will kick in and hopefully not break the 5/8" grade 8's holding them in. They miss everything when flexed out so at slow speed crawling the ORI's will be utilized. Got the orbital, shaft and a few lines plumbed last night too. I got all the hard ones done, the one going to the pump and the 2 to the ram. Just need to mount the rezi and the cooler and get them plumbed. I did end up using a u joint for the steering shaft off a SAAb, (free)so I hope it holds up!

 

[ssyork]

Also, is 1 inch of slip enough in the steering shaft? Any opinions? Thanks

 

[ssyork]

Got the full hydro steering done, and the initial bleed done. Hopefully start it up this week. Everything seemed to fit pretty well. I did have to put a loop in the return line from the cooler to the reservoir, but shouldn't hurt anything. Getting excited to drive her....