Starting to start starting a C4 conversion on my 84 SWB GMC

[Tagg33]

The rear toe bar is my concern. If you can see it in this pic it sits several inches back from the axle center line.

[smashingchuck]

Couldn't you just put a dog leg in it or would that affect perfromance?

[Tagg33]

That might work or even a little notch like the dropmember comes with for the rack and pinion. I'll see what's needed soon.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by Tagg33

That might work or even a little notch like the dropmember comes with for the rack and pinion. I'll see what's needed soon.

Do the 'bags mount to that or???

[Tagg33]

My air bags are going to be in front of the axle shafts, mounted above the 4 link setup. Nate showed me a really good setup that he can build for me. It was kind a modified version of this picture.

[smashingchuck]

OIC. Why the dog bone?

[Tagg33]

The dog bone in the picture is not in the right place for my need. A dog bone about that size would be used as the upper link bar and would mount at ~45 degrees down to the bottom link bar. Giving me a ladder bar type setup. I'm not sure I described that very well but I hope to make the real thing soon and I'll show you pics.

[Tagg33]

I'm "still" just about to send my dropmember to the powdercoater but now I'm unsure about my color choice. As you have seen my frame is silver but I don't know the exact color. I was afraid the silver powdercoat options would be close but not exact so I was just going to get these parts done in a darker metalic gray like gunmetal-ish. What do think of the idea to have all these bolt on parts gunmetal with a silver frame and raw aluminum corvette parts. Does that sound like 1 too many colors? I could skip the powdercoating all together and paint these parts and touchup my frame with all with the same silver.

This example pic is all I could find that kind of shows three colors. What do you all think?

[fxdxharley]

Originally Posted by Tagg33

I'm "still" just about to send my dropmember to the powdercoater but now I'm unsure about my color choice. As you have seen my frame is silver but I don't know the exact color. I was afraid the silver powdercoat options would be close but not exact so I was just going to get these parts done in a darker metalic gray like gunmetal-ish. What do think of the idea to have all these bolt on parts gunmetal with a silver frame and raw aluminum corvette parts. Does that sound like 1 too many colors? I could skip the powdercoating all together and paint these parts and touchup my frame with all with the same silver.

This example pic is all I could find that kind of shows three colors. What do you all think?

Where are you getting these pics from? Im planing on putting the same setup in a 70's blazer. any info would be much appreciated.

[Tagg33]

Originally Posted by fxdxharley

Where are you getting these pics from? Im planing on putting the same setup in a 70's blazer. any info would be much appreciated.

Here's a pic of the Flat-Out Engineering kit but it just gets you converted not lowered or airbagged if that was your goal. Nate at Porterbuilt has items available to install a C4 IRS with bags or shockwaves, with 4-link or any custom way you like.
I have lots of pics, if you want more ideas just PM me with your email address and I'll send you more.

[smashingchuck]

I think two colors is enough. Also remember all this stuff is suspension that nobody is going to notice the hue being different. I painted lots of stuff on my chassis "cast coat aluminum", even the aluminum parts I painted so they wouldn't get that nasty oxidation on them. Bare, freshly bead blasted aluminum looks nice at first, but after a while it starts to oxidize. Just some food for thought.

[Tagg33]

I was planning to clear coat the blasted aluminum parts but would you still opt to paint them?

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by Tagg33

I was planning to clear coat the blasted aluminum parts but would you still opt to paint them?

I've heard the clear coat will turn yellow but haven't seen any proof of that myself.

[aggie91]

I have seen some clears turn yellow on aluminum parts. Use a "crystal clear" clear for those parts. The other option is to have the vette parts powder coated the same color as the drop member parts and keep the frame silver.

or

What about painting the frame a different color since you plan to repaint the outside too?

Anyway, your work/progress is looking good.

[Tagg33]

I just scored a set of Corvette Sawblade wheels with good tires for $300. I can't afford 22's yet so these will work while I'm getting the suspension setup and painted. I photo choped a pic, I guess it's going to look like this for awhile. I'm a sucker for this twisted/turbine/sawblade looking wheel. Every wheel catalog I look at my eye always goes to this style. Well it's not my dream wheel but it was a good buy.

[ccreddell]

You can also put a clear powdercoating on your suspension parts.

[Tagg33]

Originally Posted by ccreddell

You can also put a clear powdercoating on your suspension parts.

And the powdercoater blasts all the parts for me too, that sure would make it easier. I went to a paint store today and got a price for a gallon of clear they recommend for raw metal applications. It was $135 total with hardner. Spraying clear would be cheaper than powder but more work for me. I'll have to think it over some more.

[Tagg33]

I was just looking at another truck on here that is tan and it reminded me of my first square an 86 I bought back in 95. It had a 305 that worked great and never gave me any trouble. I started converting the interior to grey tweed but never got the money to paint it another color. But I was rockin the 17" Centerline Scorpions. Here's a pic.

[shirks@cox.net]

Hey Tagg any chance you still have that HD crew cab lowering kit for sale?

[menace121978]

that is awesome man!

[moneyeater]

Wow,great!I could kick myself in the back!!!!!
I had a C4 irs with 3.07 gears laying in my storage that i wanted to install in my truck but never got to install it because i couldn´t figure out how to align it and didn´t want to cut the frame!
Now i see there´s a kit to bolt it in and i want to start a project again!
Do i have to cut the frame for the install? It should sit like the flipped axle sits now!
Volker

[Tagg33]

Originally Posted by moneyeater

Wow,great!I could kick myself in the back!!!!!
I had a C4 irs with 3.07 gears laying in my storage that i wanted to install in my truck but never got to install it because i couldn´t figure out how to align it and didn´t want to cut the frame!
Now i see there´s a kit to bolt it in and i want to start a project again!
Do i have to cut the frame for the install? It should sit like the flipped axle sits now!
Volker

That kit doesn't seem to require any frame cutting. I'm not using that kit on my truck I was just showing the picture for another example. Here's another picture of a square body truck with a C4 under the frame. This guy seams to have made his own mounts. This truck was on ebay not too long ago.

[moneyeater]

Doesn´t look too difficult.He even used the original monoleaf and the stance lookes good too!
I wonder how the mounts for the trailingarms might look?
Any progress on your truck?

Volker

[Tagg33]

Not much progress on the rear end setup. Now that my previous axle is gone/sold I have positioned my C4 center section using a floor jack to see if my existing rear notch is going to work. In order to keep my notch I will have to create my own batwing that mounts inside the frame rails. I'm still considering all my options. I did learn that my existing exhaust pipes are in the way so I unbolted them and set them aside for now.

[moneyeater]

Any Updates?