So I'm confused, you're going to upgrade the LB7 in the '95 to an LBZ, then remove all the fun parts and sell it? Then take said fun parts and put them into the '93 with a lazy 350 and a slush box. I don't follow
Close, but not quite what I'll be doing
The plan is to take the 95's chassis and remove all the good parts from it and replace them with stock or cheaper versions of what it has now. Put the TBI 350 / slush box on it along with the body from the 93. Wheel it then sell it.
The 95 will get a new fabricated front axle. It'll be a Ruff Stuff housing fully trussed and armoured with Reid inner Cs and a Jrat Jana Sixty-9 drop out third member. It'll be fitted with 4.56 gears on either an air locker or an electric locker. It will be built to 78/79 Ford D60 widths and fitted with the Yukon 4030 shafts I have in the 95's D60 right now and upgrade to Yukon super joints. I will put the Solid Axle Industries outers that I currently have on the 95 onto the new axle to round it off and put stock stuff on the old axle under the 93
The front suspension will again be a 3 link but this time I am going to build the links to be a bunch longer and with proper geometry. I will run aluminum links with the Evolution Machine rod ends I have in Penny now. I am going to run 14" coil overs instead of the 16" I went with last time as I simply don't have the driveshaft angles or uptravel room to take full advantage of the bigger shocks. The shock towers will angle the shocks properly (top leaned in instead of out). It will be fitted with the ORO dual rate sway bar, but I am going to get new bars which are a bit wider for arm to frame clearance. I want to do a "monolith" like Greg pulled off to mount the front links to as well as the transmission / transfer case assembly with a built in skid plate.
I am going to slide the steering box forwards a couple inches to get my steering geometry right. The steering will be a proper balanced ram system flow matched from Howe vs cobbled together parts so it'll turn quickly and effortlessly even at low engine RPMs.
The rear axle will be a shaved and trussed 14 bolt full floater with factory disc brakes and either an air or electric locker. I will be installing 63" rear springs with a set of high quality internal bypass shocks. The rear will be fitted with an anti-wrap bar and a second ORO sway bar out back as well. I am going to keep the Kevlar MT/Rs and the trail ready bead locks but I want to lower the truck a couple inches this time around for a lower COG.
The drivetrain is going to be an LBZ Duramax with a proper intercooler and electric fans for the radiator which will allow me to drop the engine an inch or two to allow better hood clearance without a body lift. I'm going to run an Allison 6 speed automatic which will allow for off the shelf tuners and much more speed. The transfer case will be a 3:1 2 speed Atlas. With the 37s, 4.56 gears and .61 final overdrive I will have good streetability running 2000 rpm at 75mph with a possible 145 mph top speed just below the rev limiter. The 3:1 low range will give me all the crawling capability I could need, especially with the diesel's torque.
Ultimately, I am building a fullsize rocket ship for playing in the desert. But, I want it to have excellent street manners. It should still perform exceptionally well for our wheeling up here in AB as well with good articulation and ground clearance. If I want to go mud bogging or do extreme competition I have the buggy.
The 93 will basically be what I have right now except less high-dollar parts in it. Still a very capable wheeler. The TBI 350 should perform well with the 5.13 gears and 37 - 40" tires. Ultimately I want to roll the stuff I am unhappy with under the 93 with the eventual intent of selling it. It should drive straight, flex well and perform decently, just not to the level I want. Ultimately, it'll be my wheeler until Penny is done again. Then I'll sell it.
