project "GOT BORED" 1988 1500 sportside

[dragginmetal]

Its my understanding that all you have to do is change the balljoint to 1/2ton. Haven't tryed it yet so i cant say for 100%. Iv'e just read it on different forums. The guy i got the UCA's from said he had dont it before. I dont know tho. I'll let you know when i get back to working on the front. Still doing rear now. This is probably the slowest suspension job in history. I bought the bags over a 1yr ago and still haven't installed the rear. I'll get there at some point. I just keep doing alittle at a time. My 4yr old thats my side kick, helping me on this seems to love to lose the nuts and bolts when i take something apart. I bag and tag, and he "orginizes" for me.

Teaching the kids how to "work" on trucks...Priceless!

[Redaddiction]

Originally Posted by jughead12

do the 3/4ton uca's bolt right on? are they the same?

No do not do this, it CAN NOT be done, they will physically bolt on but the camber is way off and there is not enough adjustment to correct it.

[dragginmetal]

Thanks for the heads up. What your suspension set up? Size or height of tire, drop spindles or stock, bagged or static?

[jughead12]

any updates on the truck?

[dragginmetal]

No, not really. Nothin kool anyway.I finished the notch.


Then a couple days later the fuel pump went out. I took the bed back off and got the old pump to run, but havent bought a new pump and sending unit yet. So its been sitting with out the bed on it, Yard Art style.


I have been buying parts, just haven't got around to installing them yet. Pre amp,2 amps, 12s, no mids and highs yet, everything for shaved door handles, and alot of odds and ends(small cheap stuff). Iv'e been driving it some trying to figure out what ride hight i want. I'm eather gona lower the front outer fenders or raise front and back.Wont know untill i deside ride hight. I would like ride hight around 4-6" off ground, but can't turn with 22" rims at that low. Trying to finish the suspension before i do any body work. It's not easy when i have all the stuff but color and clear.

[jughead12]

nice job on the notch, it looks factory.
by the way. it appears my rear passengers side shock bracket only had 1 rivet in the top of it, does yours?

[dragginmetal]

1 on the top, 2 on the bottom. I’m assuming they put it in the middle since they couldn’t use 2 rivets. Bed bolt in the way for 2 rivets. Just guessing tho.

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by jughead12

nice job on the notch, it looks factory.

Opps, forgot to say thanks. Thanks.

[jughead12]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

1 on the top, 2 on the bottom. I’m assuming they put it in the middle since they couldn’t use 2 rivets. Bed bolt in the way for 2 rivets. Just guessing tho.

okay thanks for the info

[dragginmetal]

no prob. Any time.

[dragginmetal]

I've been trying to think up some different mods to do. I played around with photoshop and this is what i came up with. Added front bedside pieces similar to a S10 or '99+ sportside, Then section the bedside down about 1.5" to make it level with the sidewindows or the top bodyline. What do ya'll think?

[rchavez101]

It looks great. Photoshop is great. It gives you instant satisfaction and is a lot cheaper then really doing what you want.

[SiCk_DiAbLo]

Nice work, it's really changing Big Time!!!

[dragginmetal]

Thanks. I need to quit beaning lazy and do some more work to it. I have some more parts for it, just haven't felt like working. Maybe soon, i can get this thread going again. lol

[jughead12]

normally i would say don't hack up a good box because the step sides are hard to find in good shape, but your in texas. haha

[dragginmetal]

Yep, there dime a dozen around here. ..... I take it your not in favor of the bed mods. lol

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

I've been trying to think up some different mods to do. I played around with photoshop and this is what i came up with. Added front bedside pieces similar to a S10 or '99+ sportside, Then section the bedside down about 1.5" to make it level with the sidewindows or the top bodyline. What do ya'll think?

Attachment 1039034

love the build! the front s10 pieces and sectioning the bed are awesome idea's....thumbs up! you ought to do it. it would look killer. i like the pipe notch idea. thats what i plan to do, except go alittle deeper and weld a 2x2 on top of the frame which will still clear the bed floor (without cutting)

is the front bagged only? with no drop spindles?

[made2drag]

but then again, it may be a hard mod to section the bed... i think some or most of the bedsides are fiberglass. metal would be a whole lot easier

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by made2drag

love the build! the front s10 pieces and sectioning the bed are awesome idea's....thumbs up! you ought to do it. it would look killer. i like the pipe notch idea. thats what i plan to do, except go alittle deeper and weld a 2x2 on top of the frame which will still clear the bed floor (without cutting)

is the front bagged only? with no drop spindles?

Thanks for the compliment.
Right now its bagged in the front with stock spindles. The rear is just a axle flip. I still need a link setup and bag brackets for the rear.

Originally Posted by made2drag

but then again, it may be a hard mod to section the bed... i think some or most of the bedsides are fiberglass. metal would be a whole lot easier

The bedside is fiberglass(SMC). I do plan to do this. I'm always looking for something todo that looks alittle different. With metal you have to worry about wrapping, and with fiberglass repair it's the adhesive shrinkage. Its always something.

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

Thanks for the compliment.
Right now its bagged in the front with stock spindles. The rear is just a axle flip. I still need a link setup and bag brackets for the rear.





The bedside is fiberglass(SMC). I do plan to do this. I'm always looking for something todo that looks alittle different. With metal you have to worry about wrapping, and with fiberglass repair it's the adhesive shrinkage. Its always something.

sweet, i look forward to the mods!!! i think the bed will look killer!

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

No, not really. Nothin kool anyway.I finished the notch.
Attachment 997569

Then a couple days later the fuel pump went out. I took the bed back off and got the old pump to run, but havent bought a new pump and sending unit yet. So its been sitting with out the bed on it, Yard Art style.
Attachment 997570

I have been buying parts, just haven't got around to installing them yet. Pre amp,2 amps, 12s, no mids and highs yet, everything for shaved door handles, and alot of odds and ends(small cheap stuff). Iv'e been driving it some trying to figure out what ride hight i want. I'm eather gona lower the front outer fenders or raise front and back.Wont know untill i deside ride hight. I would like ride hight around 4-6" off ground, but can't turn with 22" rims at that low. Trying to finish the suspension before i do any body work. It's not easy when i have all the stuff but color and clear.

i think you ought to lower your front fenders....like the Hill's hot rod's 99 chevy tahoe. they lowered the front fender skins 2 inches....jan 2011 street trucks.....here is a link of a pic i found. http://www.sportruck.com/events/sema...-set-2/216.htm

[Hankster]

Thread bump!! anymore progress?

[dragginmetal]

Not really any progress. I kinda lost motivation for a while, but I'm getting the itch back again. Took off the bags and put spindles, cut springs, and ball joints on. Also reset the speedometer for the 22's and rolled the fender pinch welds. Still looks about the same as it did with the bags.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

Not really any progress. I kinda lost motivation for a while, but I'm getting the itch back again. Took off the bags and put spindles, cut springs, and ball joints on. Also reset the speedometer for the 22's and rolled the fender pinch welds. Still looks about the same as it did with the bags.

oh okay, are you gonna put bags back on it eventually? Or leaving it static?

[dragginmetal]

I'm sure ill put the bags back on sometime. There's no real plan. It's just something to have fun with.