My version of the s10 swap

[99 to Life]

I used accuair on my last build. This one I'm just going with aire jax which used to be called little larry's valves. the four play is almost $300. thats all you need to run each bag independently. obviously you need tank and compressors and gauges. its a great looking unit, small and reliable. Going with electric valves is way more expensive and more wiring and riff raff to deal with. The one and only downfall which isn't a big deal is... routing all your airlines directly to this unit, which 90% of time will be around the dash area.

[neverfinished52]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I'm building a 4link setup now for my 51'. Should have some photos very soon, next day or two. If you want its pretty easy and cost effective to do. Biggest thing is getting 1/4 wall 2" sq tubing and or DOM tubing. I have a decent metal supplier I go to. They sell drops and or full length pieces. You can get brackets and stuff from thor bros and or plasma your own. For time and money sake I did my own, but I'd suggest buying some of the brackets as they are cheap and look nicer than doing your own. Mine is a bag behind axle with the sleeve bags. But you can whatever setup you want.

Looking forward to seeing the pics.

[lower50's]

Look up Monroe Max air shocks. It is a heavy duty shock with an air bag helper. I have a set on the back of my jeep for 4 years now just put air in them when I load it up. They can lift 1000lb@120psi Mine where $80 for the pair.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I used accuair on my last build. This one I'm just going with aire jax which used to be called little larry's valves. the four play is almost $300. thats all you need to run each bag independently. obviously you need tank and compressors and gauges. its a great looking unit, small and reliable. Going with electric valves is way more expensive and more wiring and riff raff to deal with. The one and only downfall which isn't a big deal is... routing all your airlines directly to this unit, which 90% of time will be around the dash area.

So I assume the reason you'd want 4 valves and not 2 is in the event that your weights are significantly different left to right. Are there other reasons to have 4 vs. 2? I just googled AccuAir and yeah at that price point I'd opt out of air ride. I obviously have more researching and educating myself to do here.

Lower, that could be an option but it wouldn't fix my axle wrap, and I didn't design my shock mounts to support a load...I think I'd want them to be in double shear if that was the case.

I've also on and off considered CalTracs bars, but as low as my truck is I'm very concerned they would hit on everything (and doesn't address my hauling ability).

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I used accuair on my last build. This one I'm just going with aire jax which used to be called little larry's valves. the four play is almost $300. thats all you need to run each bag independently. obviously you need tank and compressors and gauges. its a great looking unit, small and reliable. Going with electric valves is way more expensive and more wiring and riff raff to deal with. The one and only downfall which isn't a big deal is... routing all your airlines directly to this unit, which 90% of time will be around the dash area.

I have used the little larrys and they are awesome, I also have stashes of original MIC (yes the tv show guy, in the 90s he made minitrucks and manual air valves) 2 and 4 valve plates.

blue, you will want to use independent valves at least in the front, the weight may not be all that different when you lift it up, but when you go around a corner the weight will transfer side to side and your outside bag will pressure fill the inside bag making the body roll ridiculously.

also, the weight will NOT ever be even side to side when just sitting there, unless you dont plan to drive it haha.

sharing valves is ok in the rear when you have a solid rear axle, but in the front, always use independent valves.

and another shout out to the little larry/airjax stuff.

[99 to Life]

yah all great points by joedoh. it does come in handy alot having all 4 corners controlled and... in the event of disaster, its better and easier to control 1 leak or bag vs, two being out of commission bc they share a valve.

[BlueJeep]

9800 miles on the truck now. Goal was to have over 10k this year on it, will easily blow past that! Most of my spare time has been working on getting my shop set up, and that's getting closer so I'll soon be able to pull it in and start addressing some details that I've been postponing.

Still undecided on the rear suspension. How well do coilovers handle a load, anybody know? I also haven't had time to slide underneath and assess whether I'll do parallel 4 link or triangulated. I'd prefer triangulated, but has to meet my requirements.

-spare tire has to still fit behind axle
-gas tank has to still fit in front of axle
-exhaust has to fit down passenger side (but if I need to modify routing, so be it)
-has to be reliable and simple

[99 to Life]

could do a 3 link using a wishbone for space sake. not sure on coil overs, but I'm actually planning on doin that with an up coming build. From what I hear it's better than leaf springs, but I'm sure there are a ton of variables on setting them up to get the best ride.

[lower50's]

My triangulated 4 link has worked great 8000mi and counting. As for springs, I believe coils are for comfort and leaves are for load.

[BlueJeep]

11,500-ish miles on the truck when I put it away this year! Still some things I want to sort out on it, but those will happen next spring when the snow melts.

Someday I do plan to re-build the pictures after Photobucket pirated them from this thread.

[BlueJeep]

And to hi-jack my own thread, I picked up a new project in 2017.

My Antarctic Blue Super Sports Wagon with the C.B. and optional rally fun pack!

[lower50's]

Good job on the 11,500 glad to see there are others who drive long distances.

[BlueJeep]

Time to accumulate more miles on the truck! 400+ last weekend to warm it up.

[oldman3]

Looks great...Jim

[lower50's]

That'a a nice warm up.

[Advanced Design]

400 miles of smiles...

[gigamanx]

Looking great! Where did you go for that 400 miles? Car show?

[BlueJeep]

Yes, car show.

http://vintagetorquefest.com/

Found out yesterday it holds 1.5 yards of mulch with the toolbox removed. I bet I could double that if I built side boards for it (but it would take longer to do that making another trip).

[99 to Life]

that's awesome. I need some mulch, funny you just posted that. and the stake sides add a nice look to any old truck.

[BlueJeep]

Another June, another Power Tour! I cleaned out the garage about 2 weeks ago so I could do some work on the truck in preparation for this year's Power Tour. I had a pretty good list of things, and unlike most times.....I got them all done with time to spare. I have no idea how that happened, and it probably won't happen again. I got the rest of the windlace in (I hate that), the lower inner door seals, made some mud flaps for the front, modified the tailpipe where it was hitting a rivet in the frame, and put down some Dynaliner on the floor. There were a few other things, but I won't bore with the details.

Met Mr and Mrs TR65 in Kentucky, great people! Saw AJ's new wagon, that was awesome. Having a great time making memories with the kids and swimming in all the hotel pools we can.

Currently in Darlington, SC in my hotel room as the kids are pretending to sleep and there are burnout competitions in the parking lot. Tomorrow we detour to Myrtle Beach to swim in the ocean, and then on to Raleigh.

Here's a GoPro pic from the boy's vantage point. More pics will follow when I get home.

[99 to Life]

friggin awesome. wish they'd power tour up north more on the east coast.

[lower50's]

So cool it's on my bucket list!! I agree 99

[BlueJeep]

Myrtle Beach today!

[Advanced Design]

Great times! Have a safe trip home! Stop by on your way home if you are in the area.

[BlueJeep]

16,600 miles on the truck when I put it away Thanksgiving weekend. Time to put some more miles on it!

But first, it was in need of some maintenance and an upgrade.

This maintenance shouldn't have been necessary. When I put it together before, I had bought all the ball joints and steering joints from Speedway. When they showed up, they were in a white box with no brand name on them. I'll never do that again. I noticed when I jacked the truck up a couple weeks ago that the front wheels move in and out with a distinct "clunk", and the ball joints were shot.....with 16,600 miles on them!!! I always use MOOG, and this time I didn't. It now has all new MOOG joints in it and is very tight. It is less costly to do the correct parts once, than to do it again in too few of miles.

Now for the upgrade. The 5.3 is definitely too much for the stock s10 leaf springs, and makes for some noticeable axle wrap. I had at first shied away from traction bars, thinking they would hang too low on a truck that already rubs on the ground on occasion. After evaluating many options, and understanding that I want to spend my time working on my station wagon project, I decided to go with a "bolt on" solution and ordered up some CalTracs bars. They don't hang too low, but they do hang lower than the rim so if I blow a tire the bars will drag on the ground. I may have to swap out my springs for some 2" drop springs in the future and get rid of the blocks.

Anyway, here are the pictures: