Ready to be blasted

[Mike81K10]

Nice, Clean, and good detail.

[Swampyankee74]

Thank you! It's definitely a learning experience.  This my first time going this deep into a vehicle. Learning and enjoying the heck out of it.

[Swampyankee74]

Picked up a  used cheap set of wheels. Fronts are like new, rears are 3/4 new. I don't know what I want for wheels so I'm  experimenting. Mickey thompson sportsman s/t. On the rear is 295/50/15, on the front is 215/70/15. Rims are true and square, but junk. Old cragars chrome peeling, on the hub, and rust specs on the rim part. But it's a start. Thinking they might look a little small in my wheel wells with only a 2.5/4 drop. What do you guys think? She has a mean stance with the body off...

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[Swampyankee74]

If anyone had any input on tire size,  I'd love to hear it.

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[VileZambonie]

Looks good dude 

[Swampyankee74]

Thank you! Got some more parts to install today

[Shifty]

I'm kinda digging the old skool Cragars Swamp!  Good-looking work man! 

[Swampyankee74]

Me too! I've always liked these rims, too bad these ones are peeling.  If I end up liking this wheel size, this thing might get a new set of cragar ss some day

[Swampyankee74]

Added some belltech street performance shocks front and rear

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[bd]

While the frame is exposed with full access, now is an opportune time to fabricate upper shock pin outboard supports, front and rear, so that the frame doesn't tincan and crack.  Similarly, the left frame rail could benefit from strategic reinforcement of the steering gear mount.  Since you have the frame already coated, perhaps a torque arm solidly coupling two of the steering box bolts to the center of the front cross member.

Your project is coming along nicely and looks great! 

[Swampyankee74]

I'm all ears on the shock supports, what does this entail? As far as steering box support,  I was thinking that was an issue with the 4x4 trucks, guys getting stuck in the mud and rocks cutting the wheels back and forth.  But I'm intrigued, I definitely don't want my frame breaking. Any specific direction you can point me?

[bd]

Links to relevant topics...

In context to the links, my truck is an '87 R10 (1/2-ton 2WD) that ran 28" tall tires most of its life from inception.  Even though the truck was restricted to normal street use, the steering gear nearly tore free from the frame over about 180,000 miles.  Both upper shock pin holes through the rear frame rails suffered from starburst and sub-concentric cracks that nearly resulted in the rear shocks separating from the frame.  My heart sank when I discovered the extent of the damage and estimated the effort needed to restore frame integrity.  Local frame shops offered meager (very poor) solutions in my estimation.  Consequently, I set to work evaluating frame rail strain, steering gearbox stress directions, axle motions and shock absorber force directions.  The end products were brackets that are fully self-supporting.  The steering gear torque arms eliminate frame twisting and subsequent cracks.  The shock absorber supports eliminate frame twisting and provide unimpeded shock movement.  Bear in mind that since your frame remains intact, you enjoy a significant advantage and likely would benefit from less robust solutions. 

Note that shock absorbers are not mounted vertically.  They are canted diagonally to the axle and frame.  My primary advice is to carefully evaluate the dominant axes (vectors) of shock compression and extension as each shock pivots through an independent arc controlled by drive axle up and down movement, and then model your brackets accordingly.  In addition, although constrained by the nature of leaf spring mounting, there does exist limited side-to-side displacement of the axle.  Hence, your bracket solutions need to accommodate that additional motion so that the shocks contact the vehicle ONLY through their respective mounting pins.  The bodies and shafts of the shocks should NEVER come into contact with any part of the vehicle.

[Swampyankee74]

Thank you! I will look into it

[Swampyankee74]

Stripping the firewall to clean up before cab goes on frame. I'm not sure what color this truck will end being. So i believe I'm gonna make the fire wall a matte black finish. I think that will work well know matter what color the truck becomes

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[JohnnyPopper]

Matte black will look good.

who's you copilot?