Ol' Brown - 1985 K3500 SRW slow build

[MTCK]

Check out ORD's zero rate add a leaf. That could give you an inch on either end.

[tip]

That's kinda what I'm thinking, or their 1" body lift. Probably will get the zero rates though, along with some other goodies.

So stoked as I had budgeted quite a bit for a complete ORD 3/4" suspension. Going to be saving some serious money this way. Money I can put into other areas of the truck.

[hardcore4life]

You're making me reconsider a lift on my truck. I wanted to do the same lift to my 86 one ton, but now I'm not so sure.

[y5mgisi]

That sure seems taller than stockbut eieither way, it looks amazing! So the tires are smooth on the highway with the dyna beads? How much did it cost to do theset of 4 tires with tthem

[tip]

Thanks! I haven't had it on the highway yet, but 40-45 on the back roads the tires ride smooth. The rest of my suspension and steering is another story

It was about $100 after shipping. Their chart calls for 8 oz beads but I went with 10 oz. I also got the larger "off road" ceramic beads that are made for meatier tires and large enough that they won't get stuck in the valve core.

Here is their website: http://www.innovativebalancing.com/index.php

I've also heard of guys dumping copper BB's into their tires too, FWIW

[y5mgisi]

I have been doing extensive research on them and the centramtic balancers. I really want to do both. I really hate vibrations.

[tip]

Yeah centramatics are really cool, just couldn't swing the extra $ for them. There is a guy on another forum with a F350 and bead-locked 37's and he says they work great.

Having both would be awesome!

[farmall]

I checked on having my front springs rearched and they said they could not do tapered springs at Benz in Portland.

[y5mgisi]

What about Oregon spring in Portland?

[400/400]

Have you started tackling the floors yet?

[tip]

Unfortunately it will be a while before I get started on the floors. I don't have access to a shop and we just started the 'rainy season' here in the PNW (so rain 'til June).

On a side note, we just welcomed our first child in the family, a healthy little boy. So as if my progress wasn't slow already, it will be moving at a glacial pace now.

I did run the truck into town this morning for some errands. Last week, I had sprayed some PB Blaster on the throttle shafts and choke linkage in hopes to free up the sticking throttle and fast idle cam.

Fired her up this morning and ran it on fast idle. Gave it a good blip of throttle and it returned to idle just like it should... hopefully that takes care of it for now while I figure out whether or not I wanna mess with rebuilding it. It was getting annoying opening the hood and flicking the cam off every time I started it.

[400/400]

Congrats!

Did you put something on the floors to stop the rust till you can address it?

[tip]

Yeah, I had some Eastwood Rust Encapsulator laying around so that should keep the rust at bay for a little while.

[y5mgisi]

Had the tires on the hiway yet with the dyna beads? My truck is good up to 55. Beyond that it gets crazy bad vibes until it's completely out of hand by 70. I think my tires might be messed up but I really want to try the beads before I buy a new set of tires.

[tip]

Sorry for the late reply. I haven't had a chance to run it on the highway until today. I took a 100 mile roundtrip drive today and had it up to 60 on the freeway. Tires felt great, no vibrations at all. I was impressed.

I took the trip to pick up an ARE DCU canopy that I found on craigslist. The guy said it came off an '86 Crew Cab Dually (which was on the property) but it wouldn't fit my truck. Pretty bummed...

[400/400]

Noticed in your signature you've got a 400 under the hood as well. How's she run? Any under hood pics?

[tip]

Yep, the original owner had a 400 swapped in during the 90's. Not sure why, but the receipts where included.

It runs pretty good, needs some carb work. Here is the only picture I have, when I first picked it up. I've since removed the rats nest of wiring.

[Got Smoke?]

Cheaper solution to Dynabeads that work just the same. I got a little over 60,000 miles out of a set of Mastercraft Courser ATR's on my 97 F350 hooked to a 43' car trailer everyday.

www.checkeredflagtires.com

[y5mgisi]

Anything new?

[Matt Man]

Love this truck, would like to see more updates on it. The regular cab SWR k30's are getting difficult to find.