Its Offical...Lots of Pics inside...

[k5 krawler 50]

This last weekend my dad and i completely overhauled my blazer. I had set up this weekend to borrow a guys car lift so we could convert my stock k5 sitting on its little ol 33" ssr swampers to something pretty crazy. The whole weekned basically consisted of taking out the old 10 bolts, putting in the dana 60 and 14 bolt, and also hanging the new suspension. For the suspension, i'm running 8" lift 52" long tuff country springs, DIY4X rear shackle hangers and B-52's with a 7.25" shackle. For the rear I decided to go with a DIY4X shackle flip with johnny joints, 6" shackles, 4" lift 56" long tuff country springs, and a 1.5" zero rate. I also used Kerts 1" taller spring perches for the 14 bolt. Now, i know this sounds easy, but it was actually a lot of friggin work, even with the convience of a car lift. Like everyone else has said, frame rivits absolutely suck big time. That was the most time consuming part of the whole conversion, along with cutting of the cast spring perches off the 14ff. There are a couple of adjustments that i have to make to the front suspension as you will see, but for the most part, its finally a one ton. Here are some pics, i will get more pics tomorrow with the other tires up front.

before the swap w/ 33's

One side bolted up. I have the b-52's mounted in the most forward position, and the sping in the 2nd furthest hole to the front, but i think i am either going to move the springs to the furthest hole and see if that helps my shackle angle or if i should just leave it in the hole its in now, and put the rear hanger back in the stock location. I'm going to think about it a little more and try and figure it out.

spring hanging freely,

the 60 is in..

The rear suspension all bolted up and getting ready to weld on the new perches. I have the 56" springs flipped so the long side is in the front, then i used the zero rate to move it forward another 1.5in. so i actually ended up moving the rear back about 2.5 inches..

After we welded the perches, we bolted up two of or 40 in irok rollers to the rear, and two spare rollers to the front so we could get it on the trailer and get it home. Here are a couple shots of the truck sitting at home next to my brothers truck, which has a 4" lift and 35's...

the lift is not crocked, just one of the tires on the front is about 2 inches taller then the other one, and the ground kind of slopes where its parked...

Kert at DIY4X is probably the coolest dude to do business with. Not only are his products top notch, but he came throu for me in a way that you would not normally see from businesses. When i ordered the perches from him online, paypal did not send my message saying i wanted the taller ones, so he sent the regular hight ones. Well this was on tuesday, and i talked to him about it and he said that I could keep those ones and that he would send out the right ones via two day shipping all on him. That was the best customer service i've had to date. As you can see he also put in this johnny joint in his flip for me too.

Here are a couple pics of the horiffic shackle angle up front. Like i said earlier, i'm leaning towards leaving the front of the spring where it is and just moving the rear hanger to the stock location. But if anyone thinks i should try to just move the front spring and leave the hanger where it is let me know, and if your reasoning sells me i might try that first. I'm always down to hear other peoples opinions. Anyways to the pics..

oh and if any one is wondering, i used the stock bottom hole from the orginal bracket. Some have used the top, i just ended up using the bottom...

Well there is my weekend at a glance. I cant wait to see how this thing actually works when its driving... on 47's... lastly, this could not have been done with out the help of my dad... he was a rivit drilling animal, and he kept plugging away with me both days, so a big thanks goes out to him..

 

[RockinChevy]

My rear shackle mount is in the stock location as well; the bolt is in the furthermost hole in the B52s. I screwed up when I ordered the B52s (they were for 73 to 81 models, not 87 to 91) so larger holes had to be grinded to make the larger body mounts fit. This prevented me from moving the B52s as far forward as possible. I'm sure when I get a chance, I'll order the correct B52s and mount up everything the way I wanted it to be. I'm waiting on an oppurtunity to grab a 203/205 doubler setup so I can get the correct measurements for new driveshafts. So in the meantime, my front axle stays in this location since I'm still running a stock front shaft. I don't have the long travel shocks yet, so it doesn't flex crazy mad yet, but it is still flexy over those stiff Superlift HD springs I had on before.

Great job on your swap. I know rivets are an ass to get out.

 

[Dudge]

Awesome man. That thing is gonna be sweet on 47's. Are you going to run LTB's?

 

[8_YOUR_H2]

Thank you for posting up a build thread that has a begining, middle, and end.

 

[gmc4cw]

since I'm lazy I would try all the positions on the B-52 bracket first for the spring mount. You jack the truck up and move one bolt. if you move the shackle hanger its 4 bolts and not as easy to get to.


That truck is gonna be huge. make sure to post more pics when the 47's arrive.

 

[nvrenuf]

Aahhhh... 47's are the secksy!! I want some sooooo bad but they look like they'd be brutal on parts.

 

[k5 krawler 50]

BadAss90K5: Thanks man. as for your shackle in the stock location and your front mount all the way forward, how is your shackle looking? I was looking at muddybuddy's post on here and he has his set up like your describing, and he shackle angle is not optimum, but it works. I was hoping for a little kickback with the shackle so that is why i was thinking about leaving the front mount were it is and just moving the rear mount back to stock.

Dudge: Yep, i'm looking at buying the Swamper LTB's for a 15" wheel..

gmc4cw: I agree with what your saying, i think i'm going to try moving the front bolt first, if i'm still not satisfied with the shackle angle, then i'll move the rear mount back.

nvrenuf: i think the 47's mite push the 60 to the limits, but i have plans for the longfield cv shafts, and possibly cyro treatment for the gears...we will see thou. it just takes time and money..haha

Thanks to everyone for the complements

 

[k5 krawler 50]

here are a couple more pics from this morning, still haven't bolted up the front tires but i rolled one out in front to get an idea. It looks once i put the fronts on the truck will sit pretty level.

Here is a pic of the welded perch... not to bad i guess..haha..

 

[howdiy]

Weld doesn't look too bad, but it does look like you moved too fast

 

[gmc4cw]

after seeing those pics I think you need to move the shackle hanger back to stock. you have the front hanger in the forward set of holes right? looks like you are only one hole back on the B-52. going to the forward hole is not gonna give you enough. once you drive the truck around the springs will settle some, it will not be much but even 1/8" will affect the shackle angle.

 

[hunterguy86]

Thats one awesome rig man.

 

[k5 krawler 50]

gmc4cw: yea, i see what you are saying. I will play with it a litttle bit once i get some more time. but since it cant drive anyway, its going to have to site like that for a while.

and thanks again to everyone for the complements..

 

[RockinChevy]

BadAss90K5: Thanks man. as for your shackle in the stock location and your front mount all the way forward, how is your shackle looking? I was looking at muddybuddy's post on here and he has his set up like your describing, and he shackle angle is not optimum, but it works. I was hoping for a little kickback with the shackle so that is why i was thinking about leaving the front mount were it is and just moving the rear mount back to stock.

My shackle angle is around 80*, almost vertical....not optimal but better than the angle I had with the rear shackle mount moved forward. The frame was sitting on the springs just like one of your pics so I moved it back. This is only temporary until I get the correct B52s and longer driveshaft. I'd hate to rip out the stock driveshaft when BB07 is near.
Also keep in mind that my frame is bent from the accident, so that does affect my shackle angle a bit. I'll have to get the frame straightened out at a shop before I swap new driveshafts, etc. otherwise the measurements will be off a bit.

 

[k5 krawler 50]

My shackle angle is around 80*, almost vertical....not optimal but better than the angle I had with the rear shackle mount moved forward. The frame was sitting on the springs just like one of your pics so I moved it back. This is only temporary until I get the correct B52s and longer driveshaft. I'd hate to rip out the stock driveshaft when BB07 is near.
Also keep in mind that my frame is bent from the accident, so that does affect my shackle angle a bit. I'll have to get the frame straightened out at a shop before I swap new driveshafts, etc. otherwise the measurements will be off a bit.

so just to make sure on on the same page, your b-52's are move in the most forward position with the sping in the furthest hole, and you arleady said that your rear shackle is in the stock mount with an 80* angle... sorry if this sounds redundant, i just want to make sure i can see what your explaining. If this info is correct, then if i moved my rear shackle back to the stock location and left the front spring where it is then i might be looking at about a 60*-70* angle which should be alrite i think.

 

[RockinChevy]

My B52s are still in stock location; I can't move it forward because of the body mount. I had the front spring eyes bolted in the forwardmost hole (at the #1 hole).
Even if I were to move the correct ('87-'91) B52s forward, it would only move an inch so there's not much difference. I wish I could snap some pics so you can see what I mean.

 

[cbbr]

That looks great.

 

[k5 krawler 50]

BadAss90K5: ok, i thought you said something like that earlier... anyways thanks for the info...

cbbr: Thanks for the complement

here are a couple more pics with the 40 inch iroks bolt up front... just for refrence I'm 5-11 in the first pic..

 

[RockinChevy]

WOW your truck looks wayyyyy better now! I like the lift and the tires. Great job, man!

 

[original balzer]

i would stay with the 40's looks about right with them. The front looks a little lower than the rear but ill bet its gets better once you fix shackle angle. Good job man its gunna be shweet. I sence a rope ladder in your future.

Balzer

 

[Avery4jc]

looks sweet man! couple questions though...I don't see any x-over stuff up front...so you're still running the stock push/pull steering?

Also what did you guys do to the axles? I think I see disc brakes out back so I assume you've done some work to them...what gears did ya' put in?