Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

your boy is getting big, i remember when my kids played in my trucks now they are all driving them:lol: it goes by fast so enjoy it, and oh nice work on the truck:lol:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Is this the one you had in a baby seat in Lo-Buck?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Yep that would be the same one.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

That's cool to see him grow up in the different projects. :lol: Hope he sticks with it as he grows up. ;)

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

So once my Wife came home I had some time to go out and play abit. I got the rear end of my "6 link" bars finished up and was able to mock up one side to make sure it lined up with the stock C4 Mono leaf link, and it does:metal:

I also got the rear mount for the Diff made and installed but I still have a bit of welding to do once I pull it back out. Then it is off to get a run over the surface plate to make sure I won't get any leaks down the road. You can see the spacer I Tig'd to the out side of the diff mount and I have done this to all link mounts for added strength as well as to take up the extra 3/8" of length in the shoulder bolts I have.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

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Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Great build, I'm subscribed. I'm putting a C4 IRS in my truck soon. Did you do anything to the aluminum parts on your irs to clean them up? In the pictures they look bright and clean. Do you plan to leave them as is or paint them with your new diff cover? How about the the ABS sensors do you have any plans to do away with them or just leave them.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

The diff is just how I got it from the dismantlers, no cleaning. I will have the diff cover powdered coated near chrome to blend in a bit better and I will just remove the ABS parts.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I played a bit tonight with my rear link set up and made good progress. I finished the end of the first link and for not being a very good Tig welder I say it turned out well. Once I get my RE8's I can build the bag mounts and start on the shock mounts as well. I need to order a few Hiem joints for the track locater on the hubs but the last pic shows the direction I am going with it.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

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Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Wow, it really takes a smart dedicated brain to accomplish that. NICE!!!

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Those turned out great! Are you going to put bushings or another mechanism on the end-links (between components) in case the suspension ever unloads?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I was thinking the same thing as you Mike. The Vett's don't use anything but I was still thinking of using a piece of Hydro rubber hose about 1/8" longer then my ID opening between mounts.

Now for the fun part I get to spend most of tonight with the Plasma making all my parts and pieces for the other side so it all matches and still add 1 or 2 gussets to this rear mount. I hope to have my Re8's soon so I can start mocking up placement and ratios and see what is left for the shock placement.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Can you share what sizes you are using for the Hiem joints for the track locater? Are they 5/8x5/8" and is the tubing 1" ID? I'm about to order the supplies for my IRS and I wondered what you went with.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I have not ordered mine yet. I will be calling in the morning to see what will work best for my set up.

If you are doing this in a truck I would use the stock rear diff cover and just raise the frame 4" and use the stock set up for the track. I only went through this in order to keep the rear floor as low as I could for the rear seat my wife wanted.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin,

Do you need a slam bag rs8 for mock up I have three in my garage and one is damaged to use for mock up welding purposes!
Tony from Norcal

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Sure Tony drop off the bad one and that will also mean mine will show at the same time so it is a win win!
You did mean to say RE8 right?

Thanks
Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Hey Kevin this suburban is so ambitious. The rear hatch with hidden hinges is great. I was wondering if you are going to do something slick with the tail lights. I always thought there was too much metal around the lenses. Maybe a larger tailight that appears stock would fill the void. Just thinking outloud. Anyway great job with all your work. I will keep tabs on your progress.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I am still holding you to the CHEVROLET lettering across the back :)!

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I am thinking about using the tail lights off a 66-67 Nova. They are a touch wider and will Sit flat on the body and not pock out like the stock ones do.

Thats fine but then I get to hold you to sending me a good section out of a step or fleet gate for the lettering:lol:

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Ummm...backpedaling quietly. :lol:

Thought you said you had one upstairs you were going to use?

Everything looks great BTW.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Find a couple of old beat up gates and stitch parts of each together to read C H E R V O L E T

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

That's one thing I wish I had done to my suburban when I redid the back. I'll probably end up making one of the aluminum tailgate bands work. One thing to keep in mind when you do this is the curve of the burb tailgate is pretty substantial. Lay a straight edge up to it and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Or, check with NWD02...he's putting in a panel with the older chevrolet script so he might be willing to hook you up with the original letters. I have a gate that the letters are pretty good on but the bottom's rotten that I could cut out the letters for you...but shipping would probably kill the deal for you.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

All the one's in the attic are gone. My last one was cut up to match a dash I had for a project. See pic below;)

The section I will add would be just bigger than the letters so it should still blend in well.

I will just hit the pic-n-pull for another section. That is what I did for this gate. Notice it is a step side section put into a GMC gate.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Whos truck are the backwards stuff going into..?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Gate is on the Blazer I sold to Hickman and the dash is back in my attic;)

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Well I think for sure today was the hardest day of this build so far, but I got it. I was working on the front 4 link bars for the C4 and had a heck of a time in trying to keep the bars low and still maintain the smallest amount of front to back wheel travel during the full range of up and down wheel travel. I started out with equal length bars and had them parallel to the frame and that gave me over 1 1/2" of front to back wheel travel through the 10" of travel. After allot of different set ups and allot of thinking I ended up with 30" top bars and 31 1/4" lower bars. They are parallel to the ground at ride height and during the full 10" of travel my front to back movement is less then 3/8" total. I have it set up for the wheel to be centered in the wheel well at full dump and at ride height it is back 5/16".

Here are a few shots with the laser set up for checking the final configuration. First shot is full stuff and the laser is dead center of the hub Axel nut. Next is ride height and a close up of the tape. Then the last hub shot is at full lift and it is once again perfectly centered. I still need to play with my track bars abit because I am getting a few degrees of tow change during full travel and I think I can get it all out with some more work. If I can get it to zero it will also decrees the 5/16" number a very small amount.

Kevin
LFD Inc.


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Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

So in order to make it all work I had to bring the top bars into the floor by 2". This really won't be a problem because my seat mounts are just above this and will still allow for a sheet metal cover over the seat mounts and top bars and the seat will still lay forward and down flat like it should. I will make some simple covers to go over the bars but leave access for the bolt to be removed. The upper bar has to have a down ward bend to it in order to clear the rear floor step structure and also to keep the bar below the magic 2" floor #. I will bend this bar in my hydro bender but first I will sleeve the inside of the 1 1/4" tube with a .120 wall 1" on the inside then if I feel it is needed I will add a gusset blade to the bottom of the tube.

The lower links are parallel to the ground at ride height and are angled in to the frame about 3"+- at the leading end of the bars to minimize the front to back travel of the hub during the up and down travel. I have 10" of travel 5" each way from ride height and that should have the frame 1" off the ground with a 31" tall tire and 6" of frame clearance at ride height.


Kevin
LFD Inc.


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Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

nice work, its lookin real good

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Check this out. I'm putting it on my tail gate. Something a little different... MEKDAD machined it for me. :metal:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Looking good LFD :metal:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Looks good Kevin.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Looks very nice! How thick is the material?

Kevin LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I know not much but it was my evenings work all the same. I finished welding the bars and added a small brace to the two bent arms. Here is a pic of the section I cut out for the poly end to weld to so you can see what is on the inside. The sleeve runs from the ploy end to 4" back from the rod end. Combined it is just over .250 thick and I will add 4 plug welds on each side of the bend to lock it all into one piece. I am waiting on 3 new threaded ends that I should have on Tuesday so I can finish up these bars and start on the toe in/out bars on the diff cover.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

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Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Wow Kevin, that IRS is sure taking you lots of hard work, evrybody can weld but not evryone can design. Im pretty sure your 5.3 conversion will be easier
cant wait for that! :cool:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

It sure has been allot more work then I was thinking but it is still worth every bit as I see it coming together. If I would have just been ok with cutting up higher in my floor this would have been allot faster and easier but I want a certain look when it is done so I brought it on my self. I too believe the 5.3 swap will be a cake walk especially with PorterBuilt's C4 Drop Member that is on it's way. I still have a few trick up my sleeve that will add extra work but it will all be worth it in the end. Thanks for checking in somtimes I think I am just posting this for my self:lol:

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I think there are a lot more people watching this thread than mine. We just don't need to continuously comment on how cool this is, etc. There are always some that can't help themselves and say it for of us. This IRS is a lot more work than that other one you did with the T-bird IRS. Any regrets?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I'm always watching! Waiting to see what you do with the tails ;)

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Believe me, I am VERY excited every time I see your post updated...Yours and several others on here keep my attention and are filled with excellent information and are truly inspiring :metal::metal::metal:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

X2.

I'm always lurking and taking notes :lol:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

No regrets at all I think this will be one of the coolest projects I have done to date.

But of course you are how else are you getting your Tahoe fix these days!:lol: I need to get back over and check out the Tuner page;)

Thanks, I try and get as much info out their as I can that will help others. I just don't want it to come off like I am just stroking my own ego if you know what I mean.
yeah I see you have been on this site for a few years now. What are you working on?


Thanks for the feed back guys. I would have the front 4 link done tonight and installed but the Brown truck seems to have forgotten were I live and my threaded ends are not showing up. I need to get the 4 bars installed so I can start figuring out just were my toe in/out bars need to be set for proper tracking.

Kevin
LFD Inc.