Let's Build A 1 Ton Crew Cab 4x4

[y5mgisi]

You should be able to find a set of front hangers on eBay. Or, you can always get the super awesome B52 front hanger kit from diy4x4.com. They are awesome and cheap. Bushings can be found for cheap. You can look them up on summit or Napa or whatever. Just look up front spring bushings for something like the k30 and it should ask if it has factory or aftermarket front Springs. It's been my experience that virtually all the aftermarket front Springs use the same bushings so that should be easy. As for u bolts, off road design sells them for $10 a piece. So those aren't too bad either.

[y5mgisi]

Oh Yea, and the bent link you are talking about. Is that the steering link? Cause that whole big long driver side link is what they call a tie rod end, so of you get a new left tie rod end, you will be good to go there. If your looking for shackles (which I think you are calling links) off road design and diy4x4 both sell some nice thick ones. If you're looking for original, back to eBay.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

You should be able to find a set of front hangers on eBay. Or, you can always get the super awesome B52 front hanger kit from diy4x4.com. They are awesome and cheap. Bushings can be found for cheap. You can look them up on summit or Napa or whatever. Just look up front spring bushings for something like the k30 and it should ask if it has factory or aftermarket front Springs. It's been my experience that virtually all the aftermarket front Springs use the same bushings so that should be easy. As for u bolts, off road design sells them for $10 a piece. So those aren't too bad either.

IDK if B52 kit is cheap.. I think its almost $200 shipped? I don't ever think I will do the B52 swap anyways. It is very doubtful but who knows.

I will check ebay for spring hangars again, maybe I wasn't searching the right thing before.

I should only need 3 of the u bolts, correct? I need to make sure right diameter and length though. Then I need 2 of those longer bolts for the passenger spring.

I want to get some stuff ordered this weekend.

If I had it my way it would have the front under it and be shortened this weekend.

[y5mgisi]

Have you read mrk5s thread on ck5 about the 4x4 swap? It had some good need to know info. Mostly in regards to mounting the spring and shackle hangers. I'll find a link.

[y5mgisi]

Have you checked out the off road design website? I think they have a description of the u bolts and the bolt bolts on there. I guess $200 isn't exactly cheap. And I knew you weren't going to do the 52 inch Springs but they can also be used with stock length Springs by using the further back holes.

[y5mgisi]

Here is a link to the u bolt stuff.

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/u-bolts.htm

[y5mgisi]

And a link to the valuable 4x4 swap thread. The first post has a ton of info with links to the specific parts of the thread he talks about.

http://ck5.com/forums/threads/89-r35...-found.303347/

[y5mgisi]

And here is a link to the whole she bang worth of front spring hangers for about $100 on eBay.

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...225880&alt=web

That link doesn't seem to work... But all I typed in on eBay was "chevy front spring hangers" and it was in the top 3 results.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Here is a link to the u bolt stuff.

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/u-bolts.htm

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Have you read mrk5s thread on ck5 about the 4x4 swap? It had some good need to know info. Mostly in regards to mounting the spring and shackle hangers. I'll find a link.

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Have you checked out the off road design website? I think they have a description of the u bolts and the bolt bolts on there. I guess $200 isn't exactly cheap. And I knew you weren't going to do the 52 inch Springs but they can also be used with stock length Springs by using the further back holes.

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

And a link to the valuable 4x4 swap thread. The first post has a ton of info with links to the specific parts of the thread he talks about.

http://ck5.com/forums/threads/89-r35...-found.303347/

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

And here is a link to the whole she bang worth of front spring hangers for about $100 on eBay.

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...225880&alt=web

That link doesn't seem to work... But all I typed in on eBay was "chevy front spring hangers" and it was in the top 3 results.

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Oh Yea, and the bent link you are talking about. Is that the steering link? Cause that whole big long driver side link is what they call a tie rod end, so of you get a new left tie rod end, you will be good to go there. If your looking for shackles (which I think you are calling links) off road design and diy4x4 both sell some nice thick ones. If you're looking for original, back to eBay.

Thank you for all of that! Wow! Someone has done some research! This is why I love this site.

About the spring hangars. I am seeing that LMC sells them for $30 each? Am I mistaken? Or is it missing the other parts? http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=17

I have the shackles from the 4x4 that are in good usable shape. As well as the actual mount that has the bushing in it from the rear. I just have to measure out where to drill those holes in the frame.

Yeah the long bent piece is just a tie rod or whatever, I think that there are different types with one being hollow even. Idk, just have to find it.

I also kept the engine kmember from the 4x4 donor as well as the front xmember from the 4x4 that I will have to install as well I think.

[y5mgisi]

I don't see anything on the lmc page that looks like the spring hangers. Here is the eBay link that should work.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Front-Leaf-Spr...880?nav=SEARCH

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

I don't see anything on the lmc page that looks like the spring hangers. Here is the eBay link that should work.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Front-Leaf-Spr...880?nav=SEARCH

You are correct it just list it as the core support 4x4.

Yeah that link worked but I need the 81-87 style since I will be using the 91 style core support. Correct? I found one of those on ebay from same seller. I may just go ahead and pull the trigger.

Were those U bolts you sent, stock size? I just need to find longer ones. I see they have the stud instead of the big ass bolt the dana 60 normally has.

Next is just leaf spring bushings.

Now if you could find me a cheap 32 spline 208/241 I would owe you a beer.

[y5mgisi]

I THINK the front spring hangers and body mounts are the same for all the years 73-91. And the u bolt page says they are good for just about anything. Thin or thick Springs. I assume they mean that are taller than stock but still threaded low enough to work with stock Springs. I'll find you the bushings real quick.

[y5mgisi]

This should be the ones you need.

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/ens-3-2112g

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

This should be the ones you need.

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/ens-3-2112g

I think I am gonna go with rubber on this truck unless it is just that much cheaper to use poly. What do you think? I know they're a lot of disagreements about which is better.

[y5mgisi]

As far as I know, there is no rubber option for aftermarket Springs.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

As far as I know, there is no rubber option for aftermarket Springs.

Yes, you may be correct! I forgot about that aspect!

I ordered front hangers today and rebuild kit for my t56. Tomorrow I'll get bushings and u bolts and start locating everything else.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

And a link to the valuable 4x4 swap thread. The first post has a ton of info with links to the specific parts of the thread he talks about.

http://ck5.com/forums/threads/89-r35...-found.303347/

I have read through most of this, great information!! I just wish I could find a swap where people don't go crazy with x over steering and big lifts and tires. A lot of the complication he seemed to have because he was lifting it so much.

I do plan to utilize x over but not as complicated. I will just have the 4" lift springs up front and run 35s, nothing ever bigger.

[y5mgisi]

The biggest not worthy complication is the frame area where the rear shackle hanger goes. It doesn't have the proper clearance for the shackle there. So you have to either mount the hanger too low and end up with a weird caster angle, mount the shackle low and make the front spring hangers lower to compensate, or modify the frame to mount the shackle hanger up higher like a factory 4x4.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

The biggest not worthy complication is the frame area where the rear shackle hanger goes. It doesn't have the proper clearance for the shackle there. So you have to either mount the hanger too low and end up with a weird caster angle, mount the shackle low and make the front spring hangers lower to compensate, or modify the frame to mount the shackle hanger up higher like a factory 4x4.

So you are talking about the rear hanger of the front leaf springs right? I see where he showed the frame on the 2wd doesn't curve up at a sharp of an angle like the 4x4 frame did.

Should I cut it and weld it back so it does have that angle? I have seen a lot of other 4x4 swaps in the past and it seems no one else addresses that issue.

I am no wheeler or climber or anything and I don't even play in the mud anymore but I do want my angles to be as correct as possible and not cause issues with driveability.

Also, so far the plan is to shorten the frame Saturday morning so if there is any other welding I need to do I need to have planned to have it done that day.

[y5mgisi]

My plan on my upcoming 4x4 swap is to cut the frame and re shape it for clearance. You'll have to fact check me but as I understand it, the issue only comes to light on the c20 crew cabs since they have the taller one ton frame. Something like a suburban on the other hand wouldn't have the taller frame issue.

[NastyBuzzard]

Yes, that seems to be correct. In this case I do have the tall 3/4 ton frame. It seems I may do the same as far as reshaping it to be more like the 4x4 frame. However, another option I have considered is making longer rear shackles for the front with several holes in them. That way when I have the full weight on the front end I could move the spring in different holes to find the angle that I need then just cut off what isn't necessary.

To do that though I would have to have it all back together. So I guess time will tell.

[y5mgisi]

I thought of something similar. I thought of just putting it too low in the frame and then just running degree shims between the axle and Springs to correct the caster angle. But like you, I wouldn't know what shims I would need until it was all together.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

I thought of something similar. I thought of just putting it too low in the frame and then just running degree shims between the axle and Springs to correct the caster angle. But like you, I wouldn't know what shims I would need until it was all together.

We will figure it out I am sure. I just don't think I need to jump the gun on cutting the frame just yet.

[NastyBuzzard]

I was worried about the rear suspension being 3" shorter and started on a hunt for rear hangers from a 4x4. Then I remembered I already had a set from a previous purchase so I went out and dug them up. Looks like I will need to swap them out.

2wd rear spring hangers vs 4x4 rear spring hangers.



I also measured my lift springs for bushing sizes.





I also got some bad news from machine shop about my tbi heads. One is fixed and ready to go but the other head "was the worst wore out head he has ever seen" and supposedly isn't worth fixing. So I have to find another head to get reworked, which I don't have. Damn head is useless as a boat anchor until you need one.

Also may have found another diesel engine that I could buy. I guess we will see how that pans out.

[y5mgisi]

For my swap I plan on just running a block in the rear. Since I'm going to run stock front Springs. Then a 3" block in the rear should make it level with the front.