Bhintz
1/2 ton status
that would make sense didnt think about thatoriginalspanksta said:
CK5
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Put your Blazer on a diet
- Thread starter Sandman
- Start date
66ELMeano
Registered Member
I've read the whole thread and didn't see anyone mention aluminum heads on a small block. I think a 400c.i. sbc w/alum. heads would give the tq. of a mild bbc w/o any of the weight penalty. Also engine/trans/transf. setback would probably help out, even if it meant building a custom firewall and different driveshafts.
**I have a problem with the springs being too stiff w/ my light rig. It's a '79 k5 with a '66 el camino body, winch, me and a full tank, 36's, and iron headed sbc puts me at 4200lbs. I plan to drop more weight very soon with fiberglass fenders, doors, bumpers, hood, lexan windohz, alum. heads, etc. That stuff will probably put me below 4,000 even with a roll cage. If I could snag some JYard springs should I just go for some mid size truck like an S10 or something? I don't have any flex as it is now, removing the sway bar didn't do anything at all. I don't plan on going larger than the dana44/12bolt, if it breaks I'll get aftermarket parts.
I guess my main questions are:
Will the mid size truck spring rates be in the ball park?
Will they be strong enough to wheel hard?
chevyguybc
1/2 ton status
dont forget about a truck tailgate and a custom rear flip down lid..
Well its been a long time since I posted but here goes. I ended up chopping off all of the body except for the some of the firewall and the floor. Built a new front with tubing and went with it. Still running a 454, TH350 Doubler and Dana 60/14 Bolt. Weight is about 4,600 and it works great. Plan on chopping the rear frame off this spring and linking it up. I also want to pull the 454 and replace it with a chipped 6.0. Dont have a pic handy but I can get one up later.
I also stopped breaking parts as the lighter weight took a lot of the strain off of stuff.
I also stopped breaking parts as the lighter weight took a lot of the strain off of stuff.
think_07
Registered Member
Can you guys that have done weight reductions post pics of what you've done and how you liked it? Discussions are great put pics can be very inspiring...
sandypants
1/2 ton status
well your engine could always be AL like the L92 thats 80 pounds and that right out of the box is 400 hp. chip cam etc how much more power do you need? also the axels go to a sheet metal axel. stonge as or maybe stonger and only weighs about 200 lbs or so. theres alot!!!!!!!! of weight gone right there
sandypants
1/2 ton status
Does anybody know the weights of different axles and stuff? I might start some searching around and list them at the top for a reference.[/quote]
did you ever consider "sheet metal" axels? there about at strong or stronger, better ground clearence and if built right could be stonger..... so im told. also weighing 400 or so less PER AXEL IM TOLD!!!!
also what about the new L92 engine. it can be fitted with a carb, or you can just fit it in with the computer and what not and it alone weighs 80ish pounds less... just some ideas what do you think?
did you ever consider "sheet metal" axels? there about at strong or stronger, better ground clearence and if built right could be stonger..... so im told. also weighing 400 or so less PER AXEL IM TOLD!!!!
also what about the new L92 engine. it can be fitted with a carb, or you can just fit it in with the computer and what not and it alone weighs 80ish pounds less... just some ideas what do you think?
People bend the 3" .500" wall axle tubes on 60's/70's/14 bolts as it is. Thinner axle tubes are a poor idea IMO.
A front 60 weighs ~550 lbs, a disc'd 14 bolt weighs ~450. Even without axle tubes the rest of the components on those axles weigh at least 300 lbs. (i.e. reducing axle weight by 400 lbs is not going to happen with tubes alone).
I believe there are carb style intakes for the LS series motors.
As for my "lighter weight" rig:
1 tons, 42's, 4300 lbs. Most of the firewall and some of the floor is still there along with at least 250 lbs worth of tool box, tools and spares.
79chevyk10
1/2 ton status
Bringing back the dead here, but I can't help but to think he is talking about axle housings, such as Spider9's or Diamond axles.
sandypants
1/2 ton status
that was what i was talking about. the spider 9's. still that all AL engines 5.3 or the l92 engine would help out a good bit
once you start talking about lighter axles, you might as well just build a single seat comp-style buggy from the ground up. Weight down that low is probably a good thing anyway. A small buggy with rockwells would be as roll resistant and anything on the trail. 
sandypants
1/2 ton status
yea thats true you do got a good point
Well, all of this lighting effort has led to this:
Works great! Except the rear supension could be linked up now. It like to load up and spring out on steep climbs.
The weight loss was well worth it though.
Works great! Except the rear supension could be linked up now. It like to load up and spring out on steep climbs.
The weight loss was well worth it though.
Built scrambler will way 5000 easy with everything. The idea of wheeling a full size is exactly that. If you want to be mad max then wheel a buggy, but for some of us the idea is to take something thats not suppose to be able to do it and does. Wheeled jeeps for years and love the bed on my fullsize. I think the limitations of fullsize are not the weight but the size because a big block will make up for that anyway, just my two cents.
sandypants
1/2 ton status
yea i know your point but im not made out of money. so if i can do simple things like drop an all aluminum and put out the same power as your bigblock but do it with better gas mpg and be lil lighter so i dont stress parts best belive that is what i am doing. we will half to see though in spring im in afghan for now and dont return till then.
79chevyk10
1/2 ton status
Well, all of this lighting effort has led to this:
Works great! Except the rear supension could be linked up now. It like to load up and spring out on steep climbs.
The weight loss was well worth it though.
How much does you truggy wiegh now? Still around 4600 lbs?
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79chevyk10
1/2 ton status
Built scrambler will way 5000 easy with everything. The idea of wheeling a full size is exactly that. If you want to be mad max then wheel a buggy, but for some of us the idea is to take something thats not suppose to be able to do it and does. Wheeled jeeps for years and love the bed on my fullsize. I think the limitations of fullsize are not the weight but the size because a big block will make up for that anyway, just my two cents.
I fully understand your thinking. I have been a huge avocate of fullsize wheeling and have proven that they can do it and do it well. My truck is respected by my toyota brothers. After having done all the tuff trails in California (Hammers, Rubicon, MoonRocks, NV, Dusy, Fordyce and many more) I'm ready for something smaller in the waist department but still look like a fullsize. Sandman's picture and 383k5's blazer is what I have in mind. What prompted this thinking was after I reduced the wieght by about 500#s and noticed a huge improvment. Now I want to get the rocker/sliders out of the way. More than just boatsiding.
Aaron.
once you start talking about lighter axles, you might as well just build a single seat comp-style buggy from the ground up. Weight down that low is probably a good thing anyway. A small buggy with rockwells would be as roll resistant and anything on the trail.
Honestly I don't think a single seat buggy would be as fun as it looks. Hell, I kinda wish mine was a 3 or 4 seater. I always have more people that wanna go for a ride.
Well, all of this lighting effort has led to this:
Works great! Except the rear supension could be linked up now. It like to load up and spring out on steep climbs.
The weight loss was well worth it though.
I'd say linking the rear of mine was one of the most worthwhile changes I've made. My leaves used to wrap like crazy, the 4 link simply plants the power down.
Here's one example, the "big" hot tub on Hell's Revenge:
I walked right up this obstacle, not many rigs do. It would have been impossible for me last year, the leaves would have hippity-hopped the rig onto its roof.
For comparison, here's Steve Fox in his buggy attempting the same at BB last year:
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/77k5/?action=view¤t=M2U00050.flv
Built scrambler will way 5000 easy with everything. The idea of wheeling a full size is exactly that. If you want to be mad max then wheel a buggy, but for some of us the idea is to take something thats not suppose to be able to do it and does. Wheeled jeeps for years and love the bed on my fullsize. I think the limitations of fullsize are not the weight but the size because a big block will make up for that anyway, just my two cents.
I wheeled mine as a fullsize for years, then I decided I wanted to make it more capable. Its not a competition, you'll never have the most capable rig out there and the point is to get out there and have fun, whatever that means for you
And as for weight, a lighter rig will always be more capable than a heavier one. That has nothing to do with power to weight ratio.
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79chevyk10
1/2 ton status
38377k5: I would like to know the difference between wheelbase and tires? I see that you are running IROKS (great tire from what I see) and Steve may have been running TSL's (which I run and suck on rock when wet, zero sipping), and possibly Steve is a little longer than you (which should help)??
