Sir Vincent Build

[chevysmithz71]

your spring looks pretty flat, so it will not get any closer to the frame. if you stand it up it will ride rough.

Just like he said. Your spring can no longer compress and get longer. So, it should not move shackle back anymore only move forward when extended.

 

[Avery4jc]

If it was my truck I'd move it a bit to make sure I had a little more clearance than that. I'm not saying kick it up until the shackle is vertical but some wiggle room wouldn't be a bad thing.
I'm always surprised what makes contact and how far stuff moves on my truck and my springs aren't even all that soft.

 

[shaun89]

if ur still confused on what to do about the shackle and u have access to a forklift or sometime to flex ur truck out, do that and see if it will hit the frame.ull get ur answer then

 

[K5Nate]

kinda jumpin' at the wrong time, and a little late, but regardless it looks good. I'm building the same type of rig. Looks good, keep rolling with it! Subscribed

 

[bamacooter]

Thanks for the input I do not have a fork lift but I will see if I can figure out some way to flex it and check.

 

[bamacooter]

Alright after much rain, cold, hiking trips (I have to get offroad somehow) A new to me blazer project and so on I am back to Sir Vincent . One of my junkyard 52"springs was bent so I now have a new (to me) spring , I am 45 and a half percent sure this one is good. I am also putting on 7" shackles to fix the closeness to frame problem. Flexing indicated it would touch frame. Taxes are over with so crossover knuckle soon Can you say happy camper! Also in the not too distant future a build on Jolene, a 71 blazer that is going to skip all the tedious body chopping and go straight to tube from the start.

 

[COCHEV]

so with the front spring mounted in the second hole back in the b-52, it puts the wheel in the center of the wheel well?

are you going to run a front sway bar? i've heard the 52s make for a good bit of body role...

does the 1" body lift give the right amount of lift for the t-case without messing with the center hump?

looking good man

 

[bamacooter]

so with the front spring mounted in the second hole back in the b-52, it puts the wheel in the center of the wheel well?

are you going to run a front sway bar? i've heard the 52s make for a good bit of body role...

does the 1" body lift give the right amount of lift for the t-case without messing with the center hump?

looking good man

1 Yes it centered the wheel in the wheel well. 2 Yes I will run a sway bar, this truck will be mostly daily driven, it will need some road manners. 3 No unfortunately the 2wd and 4wd cabs are different and I will need to mod this too. 4 Thanks ! I need all the encouragement I can get. This is not a easy or quick project but it is great fun !

 

[chevysmithz71]

How are you going to cure the 2wd humo issue. Cut and make the 4wd fit?

 

[bamacooter]

I don't have a 4wd crewcab cab, I do have a 4wd cover plate for the hump .I will use it and sheetmetal to make the hump the right size . I had a 79 4wd with a 2wd cab and thats how I did it on that . It was not beautiful but carpet hid it.

 

[COCHEV]

1 Yes it centered the wheel in the wheel well. 2 Yes I will run a sway bar, this truck will be mostly daily driven, it will need some road manners. 3 No unfortunately the 2wd and 4wd cabs are different and I will need to mod this too. 4 Thanks ! I need all the encouragement I can get. This is not a easy or quick project but it is great fun !

well, i want to hear about the ride quality on the road with 52s and a sway bar...keep up the good work, man

 

[bamacooter]

Progress!!!

I have been making progress, but haven't been posting. So, here's some updates!

Started out by getting the front brake lines finished. A local shop made extended brake lines for me at a really good price. Then I moved onto the rear. After bracing it up, took off all the brackets and hangers and cut the frame. I took measurements off of a short bed 4WD and cut the frame the appropriate length. I HATE RIVETS! Removing those rivets without damaging the frame or the bracket takes forever. Then, many hours with a wire wheel and a flap disk later, I primed and then bed linered the frame. I've mounted my front spring hanger and rear shackle flip. Next, I install a rear cross member. I forgot to add that I have removed the saddle tank, too. And shortly will be installing the blazer tank.

 

[bamacooter]

More progress pics

Here are more pics.

 

[bamacooter]

Even more pics

Heeeeeere's some more.

P.S. Old front spring hangers make GREAT wheel chocks!

 

[bamacooter]

You guessed it...more pics.

More pictures.

 

[chevysmithz71]

Looks good. That is a whole lot of work to clean the frame.

 

[bamacooter]

Today's Progress

Thanks. Yes, it takes forever to get it right.

Got the cross member and brackets finished, and the axle-spring assembly mounted back up. It sits just a titch high, which means when the bed and tank are mounted, it should ride level. I'm really happy that I've gotten as far as I have. I never thought I'd see it like it is today.

 

[bamacooter]

More of Today's Progress

More pics.

 

[chevysmithz71]

So I see a rear shaft back there. Does that mean a tranny and tcase there too?? If you have the case in have you figured out the problem hitting the floorboard with it??

 

[bamacooter]

No, that's the 2WD drive shaft up out of the way. I haven't swapped in the 4WD tranny and t-case yet. I'm hoping with the body lift it will clear and if I have to I will add some spacers between the frame and t-case crossmember.
I have been concentrating on brake lines, rear suspension, frame shortening and fuel so I have not thought about the powertrain lately.