HELP lift block cracking, in need of shackle flip info!

[82Scottsdale]

Hey guys I have a 82 chevy K10 with a 6 inch lift, and a 5 inch angled block and swapped a 14bolt ff a few months back and the block in it is starting to corrode away and cracking, i have diy4x zero rates and i have custom new ubolts. Im wondering is there gonna be a problem if i use my stock shackle mount and cut the bottom out of it and plate the top till i get back from my trip to badlands this weekend and then make a custom one. I dont want the block breaking while im out there wheeling and be broken down cause im driving it there wheeling and driving it back.

Also is my pinion angle gonna stay the same as it is now if i use the stock shackle and flip it and add the zero rate to center the axle?

i leave for my trip tomorrow afternoon so any responces would be great.

Kyle

 

[82Scottsdale]

anyone?

 

[sweetk30]

there is a member here with a diy4x flip for sale that will fit your rig.

you can find it in the sale section. he just posted it within 24 hrs or so.

you can do the homebrew flip but i think thay ride stiff.

and angle will prob need to be played with on the pinion.

 

[BoondocK5]

I've got the DIY4X 1/2 ton shackle flip also, I'll make you a hell of a deal on it. but, you'll need to buy youself some shackles as It does not come with them. PM me, or Email me I'll definately make it worth your while.

 

[bp71k5]

If you are asking whether you should try doing a homebrew shackle flip the day before you leave, I'd say don't try it.

 

[82Scottsdale]

i have all the tools, i was gonna cut out the bottom, and weld plates in the top, and just plate the shackle so it doesnt collapse and i have the zero rate and gonna pick up the u bolts, i have a diyx4 spring plates, i guess if the angle doesnt line up ill grind a angle into the zero rate, i need to get those blocks out of there, they are throwing off my pinion angle and arnt all the way seated from them being cracked and a chunk missing.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Im wondering is there gonna be a problem if i use my stock shackle mount and cut the bottom out of it and plate the top till i get back from my trip to badlands this weekend and then make a custom one. I dont want the block breaking while im out there wheeling and be broken down cause im driving it there wheeling and driving it back.

If you plan on driving it to and from, you should be confident you won't need to "make a better one later". I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't make your own shackle flip, if it's done well it can be safe, but if you know it will need to be redone later then you know that it really isn't all it needs to be

 

[82Scottsdale]

If you plan on driving it to and from, you should be confident you won't need to "make a better one later". I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't make your own shackle flip, if it's done well it can be safe, but if you know it will need to be redone later then you know that it really isn't all it needs to be

My plan was to use my stock hanger for now but when i get back i would fab one up or buy one instead of using the stock one, i will reinforce the stock one pretty well, right now the bottom is already rusted threw so i can see threw it.

My question was if i use my stock springs on my shortbed (52in) and a add a leaf and my zero rate, Do the flip with the stock shackle HOW IS MY PINION ANGLE GONNA BE?

Has anyone used stock pickup springs and end up with a good angle for the pinion, right now with the block the axle is twisting and my pinion is pointing up instead of down or straight at the transfer case

 

[kicker30]

The shackle flip doesnt really move or rotate your much at all. The only movement it may do would be to rotate the pinion up a little, basically your pinion will be in almost the same spot it is now and if it changes at all will be a degree or two up toward your t-case. I say do the quick homebrew and get rid of the cracking blocks (they arent nescesarily the safest thing when in good condition, so if they are cracked they gotta go for sure), but make sure and make do it properly so that it could be a permanent. Then when you get back build/buy a true shackle flip and put it on if you want.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

My plan was to use my stock hanger for now but when i get back i would fab one up or buy one instead of using the stock one, i will reinforce the stock one pretty well, right now the bottom is already rusted threw so i can see threw it.

If the stock one will be reinforced "pretty well" why will it need to be replaced later?

Has anyone used stock pickup springs and end up with a good angle for the pinion, right now with the block the axle is twisting and my pinion is pointing up instead of down or straight at the transfer case

How loose are the u-bolts? Are you sure that the blocks are causing this or have the axle tubes spun inside the differential housing?

 

[82Scottsdale]

The shackle flip doesnt really move or rotate your much at all. The only movement it may do would be to rotate the pinion up a little, basically your pinion will be in almost the same spot it is now and if it changes at all will be a degree or two up toward your t-case. I say do the quick homebrew and get rid of the cracking blocks (they arent nescesarily the safest thing when in good condition, so if they are cracked they gotta go for sure), but make sure and make do it properly so that it could be a permanent. Then when you get back build/buy a true shackle flip and put it on if you want.

Thank you kicker30 that was exactly what i was looking for for a answer. I was gonna build it so if i wanted to i could keep it there but i dont like the idea so i was gonna fab one up or buy one if i find a good deal when i get back.

Im pretty good with welding and fabing, iv built plenty of offroad bumpers with winches and roof rack, rear bumpers with tire carriers but i hate messing with math and the rear pinion angles. if it moves it up a little then thats perfect because thats what the block did.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

this is what i did.. took just a few hours.

My pinion is slightly angled up in a pretty good angle. Got a little under 4 inches with stock rear shackle.

 

[82Scottsdale]

If the stock one will be reinforced "pretty well" why will it need to be replaced later?




How loose are the u-bolts? Are you sure that the blocks are causing this or have the axle tubes spun inside the differential housing?

They are torqued to around 120lb and its cause the way the blocks are made that there not solid and where it meets the spring perch its only about 1/4 inch thick and the way the perch is on the 14 bolt theres only the surrounding edges. That from the torque it cracked the block right around the edges towards the front of it and its rotating the pinion up and leaving a 1/16 gap at the back of the block.
Ill get pics tomorrow.

 

[kicker30]

Yea it should turn your pinion up just a hair, which shouldn't be detrimental. Another quick, tried and true method would be an echobit style flip. Ive never actually help one one in my hands, but it is basically a plate on the outsides of the rear hanger that moves your bolt hole below the hangar and then you bolt a sleeve in place of the old spring eye to keep the integrity of the hangar. There is a good pic of one here http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1117782367033211152NRXVOz. Dpending on what your were going to do to reinforce your hangers, you could probably build yourself one of these just as quick or quicker.

So many times on here people are so quick to jump to the conclusion that quick solution=poor quality, and fail to realize that this site is full of very competent fabricators and wrenchers. While poor quality sometimes does arise with quick fixes, that is not always the case and, in this case, either of these methods have been used many many times with positive results. Will the homebrew, cut and reinforce the hanger type of flip ride and perform as well as an aftermarket type, probably not, but will it be safe to ride on and hold up as long as the others or until you switch to one of the others, yes, just make sure and do it right.

 

[82Scottsdale]

Here are some pics sorry for the dark pics i just took them.

Pinion angled up

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Really looks like the center pin is already broken, anything is better than those blocks

 

[82Scottsdale]

Really looks like the center pin is already broken, anything is better than those blocks

thats what im saying, im not gonna trust that at the badlands, the center pins are there but were loose when i swapped axles. The zip tie is holding my disk brake line not block in place haha (buddy did it)

I was gonna plate it a little more then what norcal chris did.

Also is their gonna be any axlewrap?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

thats what im saying, im not gonna trust that at the badlands, the center pins are there but were loose when i swapped axles. The zip tie is holding my disk brake line not block in place haha (buddy did it)

I was gonna plate it a little more then what norcal chris did.

Also is their gonna be any axlewrap?

Axle wrap will be much less with a shackle flip than blocks.