81 stepside. Replacing 12" lift/44's with a 4"lift/33's.

[fitz]

 It's Dupont Chroma Base "Bahama Blue Effect" code 22 

[fitz]

 I finally got a chance to work on the truck today. I took it for one last ride before I put it on the lift and tore it down. I pulled the trans/transfer case/axles/lift kit/ and the traction bars. Next weekend I'll install the 4" lift kit and see what else I can get done.

[Irish_Alley]

what you planing to do with the lift and tires once you take them off?

[fitz]

 Got to work on it today. My friend changed the output shaft on the turbo 350 to mate it with the 205 transfer case. We got the trans/transfer case installed. I installed the Rancho 4" front springs then we bolted up the 10 bolt. I have a few things left to do on the front end (aluminum cover from Off Road Design/ties rods/steering arm and calipers)
 I should be getting the Eaton posi unit from the UPS man tomorrow so we can start on the rear axle this weekend. My goal is to have it back on it's wheels by Sunday night so I can take measurements for the driveshafts  and have them made up on Monday.

[oldwhity]

It's coming along!

[fitz]

 I got the truck on it's wheels again to measure for the driveshafts and it didn't sit level. The rear end was higher than the front (it's an all spring lift).
 I spent a few nights this week trying a few different sets of front springs trying to level it out. So far this is the best that I came up with. It clears the 35's with plenty of room.
 I also got a trailer hitch from uhaul to clear the roll pan so I'm  finally making progress with it.

[choptop]

Looks real good

[CruzinHigh]

This is a real first class project it seems!  That's an awesome truck Fitz!

What brand lift did you switch to?

[fitz]

The rear springs are Rough Country Part #6200
The fronts are Rancho Part # RS 586206-A
I tried 3 different sets of front springs to get it to sit level. We finally ended up lengthening the front shackle about 1" to get it at this height.
I'll try to get some pictures of the shackles over the weekend. It would take a good eye to notice them on the truck. (not like the cheesy generic ones people used to jack up their cars in high school).
They are similar to the leveling shackles made by Daystar.

[oldwhity]

Garsh Scoob, that coming back together. I'd love to find a set of wheels like those for my 20.

[fitz]

Got more work done on it this weekend.
I took the rear suspension back out to clean and paint the spring hangers . I'm changing from 1 ton to 3/4 to pieces. I had a set from a Suburban all sandblasted and painted but last week when we went to put them in I found out they are different than the pick up truck ones. I installed a pair from a parts temporarily truck just to mock it up to measure for the driveshafts.
I reinstalled the rear suspension today with the 14 bolt (9.5") rear end. My friend set up the Eaton Posi and the Yukon 4.10 gears in it last week.
The bottom picture is of my new front spring shackles my friend welded up for me. The blue piece is a stock shackle. They are just a little longer (and more beefy) to make the truck sit level. I painted them all up and installed them today. It would take a trained eye to notice them in the truck.
It's getting there.

[GoatBeard]

Have you tried to put another leaf in the spring pack?

[fitz]

Have you tried to put another leaf in the spring pack?

I thought about that but the fronts are Rancho "soft ride" springs and I didn't want to stiffen up the ride. I've seen shackles on line made by Daystar and Off Road Design and figured that was the way to go. These things are made more beefy than the stock ones. I'll post some pics of them on the truck. Like I said before, It's one of those mods most people would never notice on the truck.

[fitz]

Driveshafts are in, bent up all new brake lines and bleed the system, e-brake cables all set up, installed the fuel tank, finally get to take it for a ride tonight. Still a few more things to do like install the traction bars and transfer case linkage, but it's close enough for a test drive in the rain

[choptop]

Ive never been a big fan of the long bed stepsides, but yours has shown me that they look good when decked out. That truck looks good no matter what you do to it.