1986 CC Dually Build

[amberkalvin]

This is going to be a very slow build as I progress. All i've had time to do so far is to repair the brakes, and buff on some paint.

Don't have any good shots of the buffed out paint yet, But this is how it started...







I'm not dead set on a direction of this vehicle yet. it is a 454 TH400 truck and the only real problem other than the sound in the stereo is that it has a bad vibration at misc. times while driving. (i think it might be the carrier bearing or possibly the tires but I'm leaning toward the bearing)

I will get more pictures up when I can take some in the daylight.

What would you do if it were your truck? (i'm open to the idea of bags and have a mig and tig and a stick welder, but am afraid of the cost and amount of work involved)

How would you guys go about lowering it? I am leaning toward a static drop via cutting the front coils and taking out a bunch of leafs. Would you recommend this?

Also I want to get rid of the side steps... what do you think though?

[amberkalvin]

This is what the paint looks like now...

Hard to get shots at night but you get the point

[amberkalvin]

Here is a couple of day pics since I drove it to work today...

[Cheng]

That paint cleaned up very well. Looks like a real straight solid truck to start with. What are your long term plans?

[hardcore4life]

That's a good looking truck. I wish the paint on mine was that clean. Where on earth did you find a truck that straight?

[amberkalvin]

Well, I really just want to make it a very sound truck (lots of leaks and little things) and then maybe if I run across the right deal, a Cummins or LS swap.

Short term is to get rid of the running boards though. Think it'll clean it up some.

I spent about a day driving around looking for C10's and found a bunch that weren't worth a damn.

Then I saw this thing sitting there in someone's driveway and decided to swing in and see if they'd sell it.... They DID!!!

Thanks guys

[Tx Firefighter]

I'm straight up old school, but I'll give my opinion since you asked.

Yank the running boards, do spindles and springs in the front, flip kit in the rear. Now that it's lowered, add a set of old school aluminum wheels when you can find some (Alcoa or Weld). Until then, rock the simulators.

My tastes quit evolving in the 80s though, so my ideas are decidedly out of date. When I was younger, all the cool guys ran slammed duallys on aluminum wheels. No air bags, no cut bed floors.

[hick]

Wow did that paint ever clean up. Mine has the typical flaking paint and Cali fading.

I'll save my opinion. Im an oilfield guy, I think you can put two and two together haha

[amberkalvin]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Yank the running boards, do spindles and springs in the front, flip kit in the rear. Now that it's lowered, add a set of old school aluminum wheels when you can find some (Alcoa or Weld). Until then, rock the simulators.

What spindles should I look at getting, and doing a flip kit, won't I have to notch the frame, it doesnt look like there will be any way that the axle will fit between the springs and the frame. Although I think I can take the helper springs off.

[Tx Firefighter]

Your choice of lowering components are either Western or Belltech nowadays. Dropping these old duallys isn't as popular as it once was so the choices have dwindled over the years. Personally, I'm going to order Belltech stuff for my own dually.

A pair of spindles and springs in the front will net you a 5 inch drop.

A rear flip kit will come with a bolt in notch for your frame. That gets you around a 7 inch rear drop.

Use the recommended shocks with the drop parts and you'll have a very good riding and driving truck.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Your choice of lowering components are either Western or Belltech nowadays. Dropping these old duallys isn't as popular as it once was so the choices have dwindled over the years. Personally, I'm going to order Belltech stuff for my own dually.

A pair of spindles and springs in the front will net you a 5 inch drop.

A rear flip kit will come with a bolt in notch for your frame. That gets you around a 7 inch rear drop.

Use the recommended shocks with the drop parts and you'll have a very good riding and driving truck.

A flip kit on the rear of mine would have equaled 8" of drop (using my tape measure anyway ) so c-notches woukl have been mandatory. Also.... at 8" of drop, the floor has to be clearanced for that big 'ole differential so the can of worms would be fully opened @ that point.

FWIW, the c-notches that came w/the Western Chassis kit I bought had about 1.5" max material remaining (of the height of the original frame rail) so 3+ inches of OE frame material removed. That combo didn't sit well w/me from a safety perspective considering the weight of these trucks; the long wheelbase, & the mounting points of the rear suspension. I felt there was a need for the full height of the rail between the 2 mounting points (front hanger/rear shackle).

I sold most of the flip kit & went to a Ride Tech 'based' 4 link set-up w/step notches instead. Alot of extra work for the same amount of drop but I know it's a better foundation (I didn't sell the c-notches because I feel they were unsafe).

Shackles & hangers w/no notches (or real mild homemade c-notches boxed in) would be better if big drop isn't mandatory.

[amberkalvin]

Thank you guys for all of the excellent information. Any other suggestions?

How much was your Ride tech 4 link setup if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks again.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by amberkalvin

Thank you guys for all of the excellent information. Any other suggestions?

How much was your Ride tech 4 link setup if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks again.

Well.... it's a 'gently' used AirRide HD 4-bar kit that I picked up for a little more than the cost of what 2 new bags would be (plus the cost to ship). New universal HD Ride Tech weld-in kits are about $2k.

I couldn't justify the price of a new kit from them (nor could I afford one). I also planned to not use some pieces because Ride Tech never intended it to ride @ the height I was targeting so I searched for used stuff. Basically I'm using the rear end brackets, bags, & the 4-bars. I swapped the 4-bar rod ends out for something better, built my own front mounts, built upper bag mounts for ideal bag placement, & relocated the shocks for better geometry.

The pic is from a while ago but I have your twin.... A younger version anyway.

[amberkalvin]

Dang! That is the truck I have in my head when I think of mine almost finished. I need to find a set of alcoas. I cant seem to find a nice set of 6 for a decent price anywhere.

Love your truck though.

[gmachinz]

I'd rock it as-is! I'm no help....lol.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by amberkalvin

Dang! That is the truck I have in my head when I think of mine almost finished. I need to find a set of alcoas. I cant seem to find a nice set of 6 for a decent price anywhere.

Love your truck though.

It's a decent truck for sure. Sits a little lower these days & the Alcoas went to another board member a while back for some other alum wheels/caps (for now anyway).

Unfortunately, the motor seized after about 8mo in my posession (454/h400). Motor swap is done & it runs again but I still have to finish up the rear suspension build before it's mobile again...

[amberkalvin]

Sorry to hear about the Engine going. What kind of swap did you end up doing?

at least it gave you a reason to park it and do some more work to it though!!!

[amberkalvin]

Any good ideas on what I should plug the holes in my doors with if I decide to put Blazer/silverado 1500 mirrors on it?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by amberkalvin

Sorry to hear about the Engine going. What kind of swap did you end up doing?

I had the original engine rebuilt (.030 over, changed from dished to flat-top cast pistons, mild clean-up on the heads, RV/towing cam, Edelbrock intake, 1 3/4" full length headers, & TBI chip for the combo).

at least it gave you a reason to park it and do some more work to it though!!!

Unfortunately I was knee deep in my 64 'Recycle' build & was specifically not doing anything to the dually to maintain focus (I actually bought the flip kit & spindles before the dually was officially mine ). Once the motor went, it moth balled my 'Recycle' project & the simple motor swap became the current project. I'm ready to be done & get back on the 64.

Any good ideas on what I should plug the holes in my doors with if I decide to put Blazer/silverado 1500 mirrors on it?

Want them to disappear completely or just minimize their existance? You could try the latest trend of plasti-dipped parts (do some push plugs as close to body color as possible) or go old school & scuff/shoot the push plugs w/some dupli-color rattle-can paint. Another option is just use some chrome button head allen bolts into the existing plastic retainers in the doors.

[nekkidhillbilly]

id just ls or diesel swap and go

[amberkalvin]

I would love to LS Swap this truck as I don't plan on hauling anything for real. But it will be slow and steady. Looking to finish buffing the tailgate and roof, then pull the bed so I can work on losing that rear bumper and just clean up/paint the frame and all that.

I honestly don't think I'm going to lower it just yet. I just want to get those running boards off of there!

[amberkalvin]

Well, I sold it but I went and picked up a 1984 C10. I'll pe making a new thread here shortly...

[SCOTI]

Too bad. They look good when they're low....

[amberkalvin]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Too bad. They look good when they're low....

I agree! I loved it. Would get another one. I couldn't turn down the offer I had, since I had such little invested and only put in a small amount of work...

Hopefully the swb C10 I picked up will turn out good too!