What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

The Hellcat Blazer

Just a budget Blazer build out of control
Overview Gallery Discussion
Babaganoosh said:
How about a rebuildable reservoir shock? Be more expensive but you can dial it in.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about it, but that's just way too much shock for how I use the truck I think. Mostly street, occasional trails for fun and sand 2-3 times a year. I think the reservoir shocks will be way overkill, which isnt a bad thing, but the large cost bump is steering me away from it if I'm not even gonna use or need the additional volume. I'm already worried going to no-res Fox's may be overkill, I'd love to use it more offorad but I just don't have any local offroad friends to go out with. I'm all for improvements! I just don't want to throw extra money at it for no reason :D
 
I snowballed into wanting some King 2.0 adjustable reservoir shocks, and was about to buy them. Unfortunately, build time is 12-16 WEEKS from Down South Motorsports. I wouldn't get them until Oct/Nov, so I am no longer in a hurry to order them. I'll just order them on Black Friday or something, and get them on by next year.

I found a STEAL of a deal on a built Raptor 700 and snagged it. Borrowed a car trailer from a friend and went out to Frontier sand dunes in Florence, OR this weekend (3.5h away). First time towing AND going anywhere near that far with the K5, but she did great! Powered up over the pass (like 5000 feet) and back without breaking a sweat. The whole trip to and from:
-4L80 stayed below 160⁰
-IAT's stayed below 105⁰
-Coolant stayed at 175⁰ and under
-And I didn't even NEED to hit boost to climb. Doesn't mean I didn't though, that blower starts SINGING at 32-3500rpm, even in vacuum :saweet:

Snapchat-1195778687.jpg

Aired her down to 16psi and was an absolute BEAST in the sand! Very happy with her performance, but I definitely want those King's now. I'm still waiting for the other videos we got to be sent over, I'll drop those when I get them. This was just a test run, the only thing I broke was my rear exhaust brackets! Yes, both of them. Other than that, no complaints. I plan to take it back next month, to UTV Takeover at Winchester Bay!

View attachment Snapchat-2147382830.mp4View attachment Messenger_creation_CCFC2962-4475-44C0-B189-F091A5C48280_1.mp4Snapchat-436967941.jpgSnapchat-1240233016.jpgSnapchat-1693892871.jpg
 
Okay, I caved. Shocks are out of stock and 3-6mo out everywhere, but I found a set that'll be a one-and-done proper setup for how I use the truck. Gonna run them as they are out of the box, and I'll re-valve them once I get some drive time and have feedback. Ordered today!

Screenshot_20260716_191113_Drive.jpg
fox_motorsports_performance_elite_20_smooth_body_remote_78_DSC_shock_pr.png

The shocks I was looking for were out of stock, so Tommy over at Poly Performance gave me a discount on an upgrade! I'm gonna lower the rear shock mounts 2" and run 12's out back, and 10's up front. The DSC adjustment will be perfect when going from aggressive street to moderate+ offroad, sand, dirt etc. They were the last 2 10's, but all 4 were in stock and should be here by Monday. Now I can get the PRP limit straps and TMR mounts installed that have been sitting in a bin for over a year! I should have it all installed and figured out by August 14th for the Fri-Sun trip back to the dunes. I'll be using ORD's bolt-on extended front shock mounts, and playing around with some ideas to drop the rear lower brackets.

This has been on my mind for a long time, and I'm so happy to finally "finish" the truck. Obviously there is more I am gonna do to it, but this is the last major upgrade I have been undecided on. The Skyjacker Black Maxx's have honestly been great shocks, I have no complaints and would run them on another truck.

Other videos were sent to me
View attachment Messenger_creation_3D338E4B-C218-4E97-A2FC-5D7A51BDA112.mp4
View attachment Messenger_creation_EE372FB2-037B-4B7B-A27E-EE6C1D035598.mp4

Looking forward to seeing the improvement, we will see if it's worth it
 
The dunes are so fun down there! When the sun it is out you kinda go snowbind and you can't see the ridges. I hucked my K10 a few times, accidentally.
 
Now, for some developments. Gentlemen, I have become a victim of 'the slippery slope'.

The rear end hangs nice and level at full droop. But, when at ride height, the geometry of the staggered shocks leaves me with 5.5" up-travel on the passenger side and only 3.5" on the driver's side. Extending the driver's shock mount to match the passenger side will make the rear end hang uneven again, which I don't particularly love. I'm gonna relocate the shocks to a location that provides both more usable travel, and symmetrical geometry for valving and compression tuning purposes.

In addition, I haven't driven it since I towed back from the coast trip. Driving it for the suspension upgrade, I noticed the rear end is chattering again. Last time, after the drag strip, it made the same noise under the same conditions and I mushroomed the solid pinion spacer/shims. I assumed improper installation, tried again, and it has performed fine until I started putting my foot down more often. The same thing has happened again, so I think I have found the power limit of this old 12 bolt. She'll be great for something with less power down the road. In the meantime, it's time to bust out that Ford 9".

LE SLIPPERY SLOPE:
It's ~$1000 to get this cast 9" in the truck (6x5.5 axle shafts and a disc brake conversion).
A custom fabbed 9" housing and custom axles is $1200. That includes:
Centered pinion (biggest draw for me)
1/4" wall DOM tubes
Fabbed big web center section
Internally gussetted
Big drain and fill plugs with jack pad
GM 12 bolt ends so I can use my current rear disc brakes

Lighter, stronger, and cooler. Worth the $200 to me. I'll relocate my shocks and get the new brackets welded on when I get the new housing, and do all that fun stuff at the same time. BUT, I still plan to take this truck to UTV Takeover on August 14-16th, so I'm under the gun! Lol. Quick Performance said they can have everything shipped in a week. Best case, they arrive Aug 6-7, worst case Aug 10-11. That will give me hopefully 6 days (but maybe 3) to get everything in the truck, mocked, measured, welded, painted, then assembled and permanently installed for the trip. Then, immediately into a 3.5h trip, each way, with a trailer. Of course, all this would have to be done after work each day. Why do I do this to myself

I was told when I bought the old 9" that it worked just fine, but tbh I have no idea. It's a Strange center section with a Detroit locker, but I don't even know if it's good! It looks good and feels tight, but who knows why it was removed. It sure would be fun to do all this and have a problem with the diff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom