ridetech install 86 c10

[swilliams]

Well not much to worry about for the c notch. The template  uses one of the many existing holes in the frame to locate it. I tried using a grinder and a reciprocating saw to cut the notch and the grinder worked better for me. I may have had the wrong blade. The grinder did allow me to take a little off at a time to make the notch fit snug.


The directions say that you have to cut the exhaust like I have done for clearance and says that you  can put turndowns which does not interest me I am hoping that I can have it routed high enough to clear it seems like there will be enough room. I hope.

[bake74]

      That looks really good, it's making me want to go out and get a 2wd truck to do one to.  The c-notches, I am assuming you could weld them in place instead of having all the bolts there ?

[swilliams]

That's right they make a weld in kit also.

[swilliams]

Well I got ahead of myself with on previous post I went ahead and bolted the c-notch all the ay in and came to find out that I had to take most of the bolts out to put in a cross member.

[bake74]

That's right they make a weld in kit also.

     That is nice to know.  I am interested in seeing how you run your exhaust pipes, I remember you saying you do not want to turn them down right there, I agree, I do not like it when they are turned down right after the cab.

[Skyshadow]

Looking really clean man. I agree that grinders cut way better than recip. saws.
Whats your total drop height going to be when finished? with you be able to sit frame on the ground with a C notch that size?

[swilliams]

Ridetech told me that I will get between 3 to 6 inches. This is a link to the 1986 that they did.
http://www.ridetech.com/garage/1986-chevy-truck/

[bake74]

     That 86 looks good, is that the stance you are going for ?  This kit does not allow you to raise the truck at all right, the bags are just to make it sit at that height correct ?

[swilliams]

I know its not going to have the stance I had to begin with which I liked. It will be able to raise and lower but they recommend not driving with the bags completely inflated. So its going to be a surprise to me as well.

[swilliams]

I have actually almost finished the install other than the management system. The rear has not been much of a problem just some mistakes on my part. The worst has been the removal of the front leaf spring mount and I bought a chrome diff cover from Jegs first the gasket was bad then one of the screws broke off when tightening it down. Not happy with this outcome. I have drilled and taped it hope it will hold because the Ridetech kit has a bracket that bolts up to the diff and one end of the panhard bar bolts to.

See top bolt in diff missing

Like I said pain in the . Between a grinder foot long drill bit a chisel and even a hack saw finally got them off.

My dog photo bombed the pic.

[HAULIN IT]

A little hard to tell in your photos, however it does not look to me that the upper shock hole that you were having trouble with fitment, is original. My guess is that the area cracked & someone welded some pieces on there...might explain the fitment problem & also the Ridetech answer of: "Just tighten it down" as they are not expecting (or seeing) a non-original item that someone has done to your truck. Here is a couple photos of the original area to compare. Lorne

[Captkaos]

Care to post a pic of the rear at ride height looking down where the panhard bar goes..

[swilliams]

This is fully extended with the shocks installed, if they are removed it can be extended another 1 inch or 2.

A cross member on the bed has to be cut for the c-notch bolts.

Routing the air lines

[bake74]

     I am looking forward to when you have your wheels back on and how it looks, would like to see how low it can go and high when sitting all together.  It is making me want to finally do a 2wd truck.

[swilliams]

I am looking for opinions for the placement of the tanks and management system also the routing of the lines. Please let me know what you think.

 If I go through the fenderwell with the air lines it helps with the routing on the rear bag lines but going through the bed floor is a cleaner look. Just 2 ideas.

The valves are in the middle.

The second tank mounted on the bed wall gives me a little more bed space.