1977 K10 2" Lift Install

[MTCK]

Thanks splehigh. Yeah I wouldn't sigh up to do the bushing swaps for fun... It's nice when it's done though, and if I ever have to do it again for some reason, everything is greased now.

[msgross]

I might have missed it but, are you adjusting the steering link for the lift? Looks like you need a raised steering or dropped pitman arm... watch out for bump steer if not.

[DirtyLarry]

Somehow I missed the update on the 11th. Looks great Marcus!

[MTCK]

Thanks Larry! Did I read a rumor about a D60 swap? Don't keep us hanging, it is winter and we need our BigAssGas project!

Yo MSGROSS, no steering arm or drag link yet. All the pics I posted of the drivers side that show the arm are with the axle unsupported, at full droop. The drag link isn't perfectly level, but not nearly as bad as shown in those pictures. My plan is to let the springs settle a bit, then measure and see what I need to do to get the steering geometry back in line.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Thanks Larry! Did I read a rumor about a D60 swap? Don't keep us hanging, it is winter and we need our BigAssGas project!

Hehe, yes….you did. It was a quick easy swap too as I collected all of the needed swap parts before I started removing the D44. I spent two hours last night pulling the D44, repainting springs, rolling the D60 under it then spent a few hours tonight getting the D60 all bolted up. The D44 brake calipers are still connected and hanging on the springs. Tomorrow I need to pull the D44 calipers and lines off and hook up the new D60 brake lines, and retorque u-bolts. Zoomad is supposed to swing by Thursday night to help bleed brakes. I’ll have the full report once it is done. The bigassgas project for this winter is a NV4500 into the Polar Bear Burb.

[MTCK]

I saw the 4500 swap Larry, looks great! I finally put a zero rate in the back. Naturally I needed longer u-bolts, so I had to get a new pair. It sits closer to level now, but still has a bit of squat in the rear. I'll drive it some more and see how the springs settle out.

[DirtyLarry]

Hard to tell from that picture but it does look like it is down a bit in the rear. That is alright, if they can’t sit level a lower rear stance looks better than a higher rear stance. Those zero rate relocation blocks are a beautiful thing, aren’t they?

Man, I can’t get over how much your truck looks like my buddy’s old truck. Actually, my brother bought this dark blue truck brand new in 1977. It was originally two tone blue. My buddy painted it dark blue then regretted it as it was hard to keep clean . This is an old picture from around 2005.


The 77 in front is what the dark blue one above looked like when it was new. My dad’s buddy had a 76 the same color

[MTCK]

Cool pics! I like his 8 lug drive train more than mine! The dark green is a pain in the *ss to keep clean, but honestly it's just not clean that often, so it's not a big problem.

I've been kicking around that if I want it to sit level, I could put the zero rate up front and do a 2.5" shackle flip in the back. It just keeps getting taller and taller...

It'll level out a bit when empty as I keep a couple hundred pounds of stuff in the back during winter months.

[Oilbrnr]

Don't know how I missed this thread earlier, but what are your thoughts on the Bilsteins?

I put 4" TC springs in a couple of years ago along with all the other ORD goodies on my K5 that you did but I used their shocks. While OK, I've always been partial to Bilsteins IF they are the right shock for the application.

[MTCK]

I haven't given the truck a proper flogging yet, but it feels very controlled on road. I'm still waiting to put on the drivers side extended shock mount. I would measure and make sure you don't need the longer mounts or at least some longer bump stops with 4" lift and the 10" travel shocks. It also handled pretty good at the ice track. I linked a video at the end of my build thread. Will let you know when I give it a beat!
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[kubota]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Hard to tell from that picture but it does look like it is down a bit in the rear. That is alright, if they can’t sit level a lower rear stance looks better than a higher rear stance. Those zero rate relocation blocks are a beautiful thing, aren’t they?

Man, I can’t get over how much your truck looks like my buddy’s old truck. Actually, my brother bought this dark blue truck brand new in 1977. It was originally two tone blue. My buddy painted it dark blue then regretted it as it was hard to keep clean . This is an old picture from around 2005.


The 77 in front is what the dark blue one above looked like when it was new. My dad’s buddy had a 76 the same color

what size lift is the dark blue one in the top pic?

[MTCK]

A quick update on the suspension, including the shocks. Last weekend we did a little off highway adventure / camping trip to the old Nebesna Mine. It is about 45 miles into the Wrangell St. Elias National Park, on a dirt road / trail. Most of the time there are some water crossings (not this year), and pretty soupy areas at the end, but it all passable in 2 wheel drive except maybe the last 1/2 mile that is a little steep.

The trip also included about 650 miles of highway cruising over some of the nicest pot holed and frost heaved asphalt Alaska has to offer. The suspension handled GREAT. I had probably 300-400 pounds of food, beer, water, gear and fire wood in the back. I cruised 75-80 on a lot of the paved sections and comfortably at 40-50 on the gravel. The shocks did not fade after miles of washboard and kept good control. They also handled the big frost heaves well, and the truck felt more solid than the Toyota Tacoma that I drive most of the time now. It was very confident over the big bumps, and smaller sharper jolts.

This was the first time I took it out and really ran it hard for a long period of time and I was very impressed. I greased all my joints up before I left and everything worked very smoothly. I didn't feel fatigued at all after three pretty long days of driving, which did not used to be the case with this rig. Two thumbs up to ORD and the Bilsteins.

Now if only I had some more unsprung weight...

[y5mgisi]

Thanks for the update! Its the Exact suspension i want to do on my 78! Pretty smooth on the highway?

[MTCK]

Yep, rides great on the highway. You still feel expansion joints etc obviously but it soaks up the bumps great. If you're lifting your K25 maybe a shackle flip in the rear would give you a good ride? ORD makes a 2.5" flip.

[y5mgisi]

I have considered it. Maybe even swap to later model rear springs as well. I want to make this truck where i can actually enjot driving it! As it is, i lift my butt off the seat when i see big bumps or rail road tracks! Not pleasant.