If you will it dude, it is no dream.
Welcome to the site. Gear swaps aren't that bad just time consuming. If this is not your DD take your time and go for it
CK5
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Phil's '88 Big Blue Build Thread
- Thread starter Phil513
- Start date
If you will it dude, it is no dream.
Welcome to the site. Gear swaps aren't that bad just time consuming. If this is not your DD take your time and go for it
Yeah, I have an old Lexus ES300 that I can scoot around in. lol.
I assume the gear swap is the time I would install the Detroit Locker, correct? Or would that make an already challenging job for a n00b that much worse?
I assume the gear swap is the time I would install the Detroit Locker, correct? Or would that make an already challenging job for a n00b that much worse?
MT wheeler
1/2 ton status
It can be a fun journey if you don't get caried away and just take your time. Don't tear a bunch of stuff apart and have a defunct truck sitting around that will end up in the classifed section. Mine took 5 years to put together as I took my time, gathered parts and assembled. You don't want to buy things and then decide you want to do ot different. Parts never sell for as much even if they have never been put on. The shackle flip poses some extra work also because it moves your axle forward. It's not a tough fix just things that are not expected. There's a ton of information on here as well as Pirate4x4.com but a warning about pirate, sometimes they can be vicious to a newbie or a person that has not searched alot. Youtube is also your friend. I'm sure you'll hear alot about a 52" front spring swap for a front lift. Do your research, theres alot involved besides bolting on a lift spring.
Anyway have fun and enjoy your truck. Only do what you want and where you want to take it. It's always easy to spen someone else's money.
Anyway have fun and enjoy your truck. Only do what you want and where you want to take it. It's always easy to spen someone else's money.
Stay away from pirate with your questions.
You have a new best bud in Deuling already. For a snot nosed youngster, he has learned a lot and actually has good insight.
I miss Anza and Johnson Valley. Stay 35's or smaller and the 10 bolts will last out there. As long as you stay off of the Hammer trails.
I have 3.42:1 gears in my DD. Fully stock with 31's. Low range in the dirt and sand is fun. Until I hit a big G out.
My wheeler is 10 years old running 35's. Not much that I have to miss wheeling. I just drive in its limits. Stock open 10 bolt in the front, Ford 9" in the back.
You have a new best bud in Deuling already. For a snot nosed youngster, he has learned a lot and actually has good insight.
I miss Anza and Johnson Valley. Stay 35's or smaller and the 10 bolts will last out there. As long as you stay off of the Hammer trails.
I have 3.42:1 gears in my DD. Fully stock with 31's. Low range in the dirt and sand is fun. Until I hit a big G out.
My wheeler is 10 years old running 35's. Not much that I have to miss wheeling. I just drive in its limits. Stock open 10 bolt in the front, Ford 9" in the back.
rampage
3/4 ton status
The axle stays in the same place. You must mean it rotates the pinion upwards.
So couple things.
Being an exploration type vehicle buy the best lift you can afford. Tuff country ez rides are considered some of the best riding mass produced springs. You have to back those springs with good shocks. Bilsteins at a minimum.
The closer you stay stock the more reliable. 33s and a small lift will make a decent combo.
I tend to recommend going a bit bigger than most but I think 35s is where 10 bolts start being questionable. Lots of guys disagree with me though.
Keep stuff simple and see if you can find someone close with a similar rig. Then you can take a test drive
Being an exploration type vehicle buy the best lift you can afford. Tuff country ez rides are considered some of the best riding mass produced springs. You have to back those springs with good shocks. Bilsteins at a minimum.
The closer you stay stock the more reliable. 33s and a small lift will make a decent combo.
I tend to recommend going a bit bigger than most but I think 35s is where 10 bolts start being questionable. Lots of guys disagree with me though.
Keep stuff simple and see if you can find someone close with a similar rig. Then you can take a test drive
MT wheeler
1/2 ton status
With the drop of just the rear of the spring the front of the spring becomes a pivot causing the cener pin to move in an arc. When just one end of the spring moves you are creating part of a circle. That pin moves forward as a result. Different springs or zero rates or spring pads will put the axle location back close or exact depending on what you use. Just went through this on mine with my DIY4X shackle flip and had to shorten the driveshaft because I didnt know about the other springs yet.
To the original poster, if you want 33's keep the axles you have now and enjoy your truck. You will be surprised of what stock stuff can accomplish especially if you dont have an aggressive foot.
Muddysub is in Henderson he has a very nice burb done with similar exploration goals in mind. Could be a good resource
With your SM465, as opposed to Dueling's TH700R4, you will be fine with 3.42's. Regearing 1/2 tons is a waste of money. I would would keep an eye out for a set of 3.73 geared axles, but only pay a couple hundred dollars at most for them.
I would recommend this lift for your rig. You can do a 2" shackle flip from ORD later if you so desire.
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index...8P8HAQ&zenid=ccbbe3ac0b8bd53749022b0b82fed818
That will allow you to buy some other shocks, without wasting money on ones you don't need/want.
Martin
I would recommend this lift for your rig. You can do a 2" shackle flip from ORD later if you so desire.
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index...8P8HAQ&zenid=ccbbe3ac0b8bd53749022b0b82fed818
That will allow you to buy some other shocks, without wasting money on ones you don't need/want.
Martin
Does your truck have the quad shock option? AC? I am actually quite jealous of that rig. If you don't mind, what did you have to give for it?
Martin
Martin
Thanks for all the great advice guys. It's nice to hear folks holding me back down close to earth with everything. lol.
I paid $4000 for it. It was at $4700, but we came to an agreement. It does still have a USGS sticker on the window.
It does seem probably a bit high, but it is straight, rust free, and unmolested, which makes it worth it to me, especially after some other ones I looked at.
It does have AC, and was converted to R432 or whatever, but probably has a leak or something, it's very wimpy.
Seller claims the 64000 or so miles are original, it hasn't gone around the clock yet. It's hard for me to know. The pedals are always a good sign, they are old but not worn like a 164000 mile truck would be. But they aren't new either. There is an occasional puff of blue smoke at start up, so there's that. Who knows? Either way, the paint and dash are toast. It has obviously sat in the sun for a very long time.
Either way, it is a good foundation for me to build an exploration vehicle. I don't know anything about these TBI units at all, so I might be asking some dumb questions about those when the time comes.
But for now I'm very happy. The manual shift makes me grin like a fool every time I drive it.
I paid $4000 for it. It was at $4700, but we came to an agreement. It does still have a USGS sticker on the window.
It does seem probably a bit high, but it is straight, rust free, and unmolested, which makes it worth it to me, especially after some other ones I looked at.
It does have AC, and was converted to R432 or whatever, but probably has a leak or something, it's very wimpy.
Seller claims the 64000 or so miles are original, it hasn't gone around the clock yet. It's hard for me to know. The pedals are always a good sign, they are old but not worn like a 164000 mile truck would be. But they aren't new either. There is an occasional puff of blue smoke at start up, so there's that. Who knows? Either way, the paint and dash are toast. It has obviously sat in the sun for a very long time.
Either way, it is a good foundation for me to build an exploration vehicle. I don't know anything about these TBI units at all, so I might be asking some dumb questions about those when the time comes.
But for now I'm very happy. The manual shift makes me grin like a fool every time I drive it.
Oh, missed one. No, no quad shock option. I looked at the RPO codes in the glovebox and it lists one for heavy duty springs and one for heavy duty shocks. Don't really know what that means though.
You probably have three springs in your front leaf pack.
Martin
Martin
That's what we're here for!
Naw. Your questions won't be dumb. Helping people learn about their trucks is what keeps this site relevant. Post away!
That's what we're here for!
Naw. Your questions won't be dumb. Helping people learn about their trucks is what keeps this site relevant. Post away!
Much appreciated!
Have the ball-joints or TREs been replaced yet (or are they worn out)? That is one indication of >100,000 mile age.
Also, since this is turning into a build thread instead of a greeting thread, you can go back to your first post, hit the edit button, and enter a new title to describe the build. Then folks browsing through the garage will know which truck this thread is about. See the titles in the Driveway section if you need inspiration.
