What would you do ?

[tomtuna1978]

Ok ... So I bought a 79 gmc 1/2 ton short bed Friday and spent the weekend diagnosing what's wrong with it. It has got the lf spring is bent, the lr spring has 2 leifs cracked in half,( thinking I need 4 springs) some bent/cracked diff shields on it, all shocks are bad, the trans cross member is bent and the trans/t-case is hitting the floorboard, the steering gearbox bolts have pulled threw the frame and have been Jerry rigged, the rf ball joints are bad, and there is more litle stuff but that's the big stuff that's bad. Now ... The steering gearbox and trans crossmember, and ball joints I've alredy addressed and gonna fix those this week. But my question is about the springs. It looks like the lift that is on it as a 4 in lift. I've been reading on here for a few months now and have seen mention of 56 in springs and fliping the rear shackles to get the lift in the rear. Wich sounds like what I want to do, I'd like all the suspension travel that I can get. I'm just gonna beat on this truck as I got it cheep with brand new 33 in bfgs on it. It's gonna be my play truck that I don't care about that much, so I don't want to spend a million bux on fixing it. So my question is ... What springs and shocks should I get and where ? And what do I need to install the 56 in springs on the rear ? Thanks guys for anny help !!! And yes I did a search but came up with nada.

[tomtuna1978]

ok ... i go the steering gear box and bent trans crossmember and frame fixed. now i still need to figure out the springs and shocks. i think i can get the 56in springs from the local pick apart. can i get just the front springs,shocks, and rear shackle flip kit ?

[onlyifihadachevy]

you can get the new front spring and shocks and get stock rear springs from picknpull and then run a shackle flip kit in the rear.

And from what i hear stock springs flex the best.

[tomtuna1978]

thanks !!! where is the best place to get the front springs and the rear shackle flip kit ?

[onlyifihadachevy]

its beteen your local 4x4 shop and 4wheelpart.com i would compared and then make a discision. And make sure ou ask your local 4x4 shop when then can get them because some shops owe their suppliers money and can't get parts.

[tomtuna1978]

lol... our local 4 wheel shop is 4wheel parts... it seems that 4wheel parts is the cheepest and most wide selection.

[84 400]

Best front springs are from Tuff country if you ask around they will always be on the top. They flex great. For the rear flip you got a few options. ORD (Offroad Design) makes he rear shackle flip for 180.00. Another company is DIY4x which cost 170 plus shackles.

I went with DIY4x and mine are showing up some time this week. No need for 56 in ch springs u can stick with sock 52's or stock 56's. They are way flexy tho and if you flip the overload only get better.

DIY4x
http://www.diy4x.com/suspension.htm

here is ORD's site
http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/shacklekit.htm

[tomtuna1978]

thanks !!!! thats exactly what i needed !!! think ill go with diy4x ... looks a lil beefier.

[84 400]

yeah I have heard nothing but great reviews of kerts stuff. Give him a call if you have any questions he is a great guy. Also keep in mind in the base 170.00 kit there are no shackels included. the 196.00 kit has 4 inch shackels ect.

[duallyjams]

Sounds like that thing was road hard and put away wet.Did you check and make sure the frame not twisted?

[tomtuna1978]

the frame isnt twisted or zd or diamond, i checked. it is bent at the trans crossmember and the steering gearbox pulled threw the frame. i fixed the frame at the gearbox with my own plates befor i found out ord had a kit... deffinatly geting the brace kit from em!!! the trans crossmember was so bent up i couldnt re use it so i just used the other one rite behind it wich looked exactly alike ! and wasnt bent. it just looked like they high centered it on the trans crossmember pretty hard. i dont see anny other frame damage anny where. thanks for the replys guys ... i love this sight !!!!

[tomtuna1978]

ps... i ended up going with a custom kit from ord and it should be here early next week.