I can't give that one a like. I've been there. Always wear your leather gloves when using a grinder. They have saved me a bunch. That one's gonna hurt for bit.
CK5
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Black Betty - Formerly Blaze the Monster Machine
- Thread starter centexk5
- Start date
1984 K5 Project for Dad and kids
Old shock fully extended. New shock at ride height.
Didn't even feel it. I'm sure I will tomorrow. That didn't scare me. The grinder bouncing off my nose and nearly cutting through my nostril when I was in college while laying under a truck. That scared me. Now I either get it as far away from my body as I can or I don't use it.
Slightly off square.
Well today was a bust. Got the old stuff easily and then ran into problems. Rear shackle hanger is bent so had to bend that back. Spring perches weren't welded on straight. The new u-bolts I got weren't bent right so had to order replacements. Realized I installed a set of bushings on the wrong springs so ordered replacements instead of tearing the front end apart. In the end I got almost nothing accomplished today and am now at a standstill. Can't wait to see what surprises the other side holds for me.
That lift block can't possibly be installed right. Looks dangerous AF....
Isn't there a centering pin that locks it into the hole on the spring perch?
-G
Isn't there a centering pin that locks it into the hole on the spring perch?
-G
There is supposed to be but I don't remember seeing one on the block when I removed it. This poor truck is just a smashed bag of parts. Hopefully I'll get that fixed.
I've decided that it'll just be easier to burn the truck to the ground and redo it from the bare frame than fight this rear end. Spent 2.5hrs today and still can't get one leaf spring in. Whole rear end is cockeyed. Kids across the street learned some new words today. Broke a ratchet strap trying to compress the u-bolts to fit. I can either get the front leaf spring bolt in or the rear but not both. **** this rear end.
Haha success!!! I got one leaf spring bolted in. Now to make the u-bolts my bitch.
Put them in a vise to squish the together if that's the problem. If no vise then that won't work. Eye bolts can be tricky if the spring won't reach. Gotta find a way to block it and basically put weight on it to flatten it out. Good luck!
Figured out how I'm going to do the u-bolts. Going to heat them up with my propane powered weed burning torch. That should get them flexible just enough to get in the holes.
The part I'm concerned with is if everything is really this far out of whack, installing the other side is going to be a nightmare. But that's a problem for later.
The part I'm concerned with is if everything is really this far out of whack, installing the other side is going to be a nightmare. But that's a problem for later.
Whoa there buddy! No heat on the u-bolts. If you are softening them at all that's bad. Rig a c-clamp or something on there to squeeze them together. Post a pic of the side you got done so I can see what's going on with this thing.
I'm not going to heat them up. Just slowly warm them by the fire until they melt in to puddles of flexible goo at which point I'll piss on em and dance on their ashes.
I just bought a bigger vice. Going to try and bend them that way. Might be easier to buy some 1/4" plate and make a new top plate.
I just bought a bigger vice. Going to try and bend them that way. Might be easier to buy some 1/4" plate and make a new top plate.
Wife has a virtual happy hour and I've gotta watch the kids. Work must go on.
I win!!!! Scary part is the axle shifted nearly an inch to the driver side as I was tightening it down. I'm sure the other side will go in nice and easy.
Got the passenger rear finished up today.
Upper shock mount on the driver side. Wonder how long it's been loose?
Found out why the drivers driver's side was crooked. Center pin was sheared off. Both spring perches were completely caked in mud. Picture was taken after cleaning it all out.
Driver side spring is bolted into the front spring mount and the axle. Shock and brace are completed. Once the bushings arrive I'll get that installed and get the rear end back on the ground and then knock out the front shock mounts and call this project done.
Upper shock mount on the driver side. Wonder how long it's been loose?
Found out why the drivers driver's side was crooked. Center pin was sheared off. Both spring perches were completely caked in mud. Picture was taken after cleaning it all out.
Driver side spring is bolted into the front spring mount and the axle. Shock and brace are completed. Once the bushings arrive I'll get that installed and get the rear end back on the ground and then knock out the front shock mounts and call this project done.
Transmission mount spacer.
Previous owner never put a washer behind the bolt head so it nearly pulled through the frame.
Got it pulled back up nice and tight with flat washers on both sides and lock washers.
Previous owner never put a washer behind the bolt head so it nearly pulled through the frame.
Got it pulled back up nice and tight with flat washers on both sides and lock washers.
Did you make sure to run long bolts with the spacers in the proper location on top of the frame flange? Like they do from the factory.
Honestly didn't know that's how it went together. I'll get that fixed this week. Thanks for that.
