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Skyjacker setup.. feedback?

BadSince73

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Got a stock 73 k5. Lookin at running an 8in skyjacker kit(all leafs)and some bilsteins. Most likely going to accompany that with a few meaty 38" TSL radials. She'll get crossover steering when the steering box pulls the trigger but until then its guna rock out stock with a lower pitman arm. Ill throw some dual stabalizers on the front to help for the time being and someday hydro assist with 1tons locked up with detroits(4.56s):saweet:. Shes my DD but also going to be a fairly serious weekend/freetime wheeler. Thanks for any input. Any one with a similar setup?...once i start the build ill actually become a paying customer and stop being so cheap.

  • Chevy small block
  • SM465 tranny
  • Np205
  • Dana44 and corp12 w/4.11s
 
8" lift will be way stiffer than a 6", how about a 6" spring an ez inch from Diy4x some longer front shackles, that will get you 8" total and the ride will be nicer.

A shackle flip in the back plus some lift springs will work out better too.

With that much lift you will want crossover, once you get a dropped pitman arm, and a raised draglink (which you will need) and dual steering stabilizers you will probably be nearly at what a crossover costs, your 44 should already have flattop knuckles.

If its your daily driver steering will be the one mod you will absolutely love, you get to drive the truck instead of fighting it all over the road
 
A 4" lift spring and a 4" shackle flip in the rear will be WAY better than a 8" rear spring, better ride and flex etc.

As for steering, with 8" you'd need both a drop pitman arm and a raised steering arm. As mentioned, you'd be well on your way to crossover with the cost of those parts.

If you choose to go with crossover steering we offer a one piece passenger side knuckle that works great with bigger lifts, plus it saves you the cost and time of having your knuckle machined for a steering arm, dealing with a steering block and studs coming loose/breaking etc. It's VERY reasonably priced for what you get.
 
Your going to break your axles with 38s and be left with no daily driver come monday... And dont try to make excuses like "O I'm gonna take it easy" or "Well its not like theyre sticky bias plys". You are going to break it.

Do things the right way. Supporting mods then lift and meats. Build or at least freshen up a set of 1 tons out of the truck. Put the 1 tons in and then put huge tires on it.

And btw dont waste your time with a **** box lift kit company call up ORD or DIY4x and get a shackle flip for the rear to start. Then call a company like alcan or BDS for your springs.

Dual steering stabilizers are a waste of time. Theyre nothing but a look at me 80's/90's bling item that people used to go "Yeah this bad boys lifted 6" with 35in gumbo monster mudders, a wicked 305 small block, and o yeah its got a bad ass chrome dual steering stabilizer setup!"

You have lots of reading to do grasshopper.
 
I have 8in superlift springs up front with just a raised steering arm and it sucks doing crossover when I put my 60 in. In the rear I have the shackle flip and a 2in block also a 1in body with 39.5 tsl/bogger combo. I have trimed the fenders but not enough needs more.
Blazer2lower.jpg
 
Got a stock 73 k5. Lookin at running an 8in skyjacker kit(all leafs)and some bilsteins. Most likely going to accompany that with a few meaty 38" TSL radials. She'll get crossover steering when the steering box pulls the trigger but until then its guna rock out stock with a lower pitman arm. Ill throw some dual stabalizers on the front to help for the time being and someday hydro assist with 1tons locked up with detroits(4.56s):saweet:. Shes my DD but also going to be a fairly serious weekend/freetime wheeler. Thanks for any input. Any one with a similar setup?...once i start the build ill actually become a paying customer and stop being so cheap.

  • Chevy small block
  • SM465 tranny
  • Np205
  • Dana44 and corp12 w/4.11s


i used to dd my truck..and wheeled it... but 38's and those axles are not gonna happen..... i had a d44 front w/4.56's stock and 14bff rear... and i snapped a front axle shaft with 33's.....

personally... I would look at what you want to do .... ill list some things you said and what is true reasoning...

  • She'll get crossover steering when the steering box pulls the trigger but until then its guna rock out stock with a lower pitman arm.
Well you dont do crossover steering when the box "pulls the trigger" you do it to get rid of the lack of steering on flexing...

i was taking my fullsize (still with 33's) down a quad trail... and i went down a trail that turned right.. i started turning right.. left tire drooped into a rut.... while drooping my steering wheel was turning while i wasnt... steering wheel got to full lock and i couldnt turn right like i needed to!!!!!!!!

(left to right maybe backwards but you get the drift that the old push pull steering will flex and turn the wheel while going straight making an impossible turn when needed)


  • Ill throw some dual stabalizers on the front to help for the time being
what are you helping? usually stabilizers get added when there is an issue.. and that only covers up the issue.. i bought a parts truck for $500 ( 1979 gmc k30) and it had dual so i left them on.....but wont replace them.. they will come off some day...

  • hydro assist with 1tons locked up with detroits(4.56s)
hydro assist is nice with larger tires (i dont have hydro assist right now) so good choice looking into it.... but the detroited 4.56's 1 tons.. is what im running now and love it... to me that should be your FIRST investment..


i used to wheel with 350 motor, turbo 400 trans with stage 2 shiftkit, np203 fulltime case, d44 up front 4.56s and open, 14bff drums 4.56 and open, 33" firestone 23 degree mud tread tires

I wheeled this puppy and had fun... while a dd and weekend warrior... you start adding detroits, 1 tons, large meat, lift expect your DD to be down sometimes and dont count on it being available for work.... im not saying you cant but you got to look forward...




Dual steering stabilizers are a waste of time. Theyre nothing but a look at me 80's/90's bling item that people used to go "Yeah this bad boys lifted 6" with 35in gumbo monster mudders, a wicked 305 small block, and o yeah its got a bad ass chrome dual steering stabilizer setup!"

You have lots of reading to do grasshopper.


hah yer funny... im from that era and resemble that remark...

my dual steering stabilizers rock... i bought them and they came with a free dana 60 :whistle:a
 
First off, if you are going to make it a serious wheeler and daily driver then toss the whole 8" lift idea out unless your serious wheeling is mud holes. If you want to run 38's that's fine but use a 4" lift and do some trimming. Also you plan on buying alot of parts over and over? Get everything together and do it once. Skip the steering bandaids and go to crossover with hydro assist. Get a 60 and a 14ff so you only need to buy one set of rims. Do you need a 60 and a 14ff? Well that depends on how serious you want to wheel. A d44 will survive if you upgrade to alloy shafts and go with a ARB instead of a Detroit, then you can use it when you need it instead of all the time. Think about it before you do it.
 
First off, if you are going to make it a serious wheeler and daily driver then toss the whole 8" lift idea out unless your serious wheeling is mud holes. If you want to run 38's that's fine but use a 4" lift and do some trimming.
.

i have 6" fronts and ord zero rates.... and i rub heavily on the top part of the fender!!!!!!!!!!

this aint a great pic.. but shows they stuff up there.... and i cut alot.. and need to cut more...

rootflex2.jpg
 
Your going to break your axles with 38s and be left with no daily driver come monday... And dont try to make excuses like "O I'm gonna take it easy" or "Well its not like theyre sticky bias plys". You are going to break it.

Do things the right way. Supporting mods then lift and meats. Build or at least freshen up a set of 1 tons out of the truck. Put the 1 tons in and then put huge tires on it.

And btw dont waste your time with a **** box lift kit company call up ORD or DIY4x and get a shackle flip for the rear to start. Then call a company like alcan or BDS for your springs.

Dual steering stabilizers are a waste of time. Theyre nothing but a look at me 80's/90's bling item that people used to go "Yeah this bad boys lifted 6" with 35in gumbo monster mudders, a wicked 305 small block, and o yeah its got a bad ass chrome dual steering stabilizer setup!"

You have lots of reading to do grasshopper.

Definatly appreciate the input stomis, good ideas for sure, and i was just throwing one of mine out there. That was more of my cheap cut corners approach to the build. Probably could have gone without the whole "grasshopper" comment though, not to mention the blind assumption that im some kind of bull**** excuse maker. Again though all good ideas man, thanks.
 

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