49 ls1

[99 to Life]

I'm sure it showed up, I just haven't been in pittsburgh. been up north with my fam till after new years. can't wait thanks.

[skymangs]

Oh yeah, that's right. Sorry brother, forgot. Have a great new year!

[skymangs]

Here's today's progress. I actually got more done than expected for once!

Front suspension is finished up. full suspension travel with no bag contact. finished welding up the bottom side of the frame around my bag "cans", and added some gussets to the top plates to make sure they didn't flex over time.

The last pic is at ride height (+ 1.5" to account for the shorter tires I'll be running later). Running boards are 6.5" off the ground, so about 5" with the shorter tires. Exactly the ride height of my kids truck.

[skymangs]

I also got my links built for the rear end. Tube is 1 5/8" 1/4 wall. The bushed ends came from WFO concepts. They are a 4wd place, but I used the small ends for Jeep upper links. These bushed DOM tube ends usually cost $14-16ea. But, I set up a business acct. and got all 8 for $82 including the $15 shipping.... Nice deal! They are normally $10ea from WFO.

Yup, that's my crappy Harbor freight tube notcher... But it's built like 5 rock crawler roll cages, and still works a hell of a lot better than a grinder!

All 4 links are 24" from bolt center to bolt center. Tomorrow I'll start making all the tabs, and putting it together.

[59stepside]

Very impressive! Looking really great.

[99 to Life]

plowing right along. I wanted to build my link set up, do to time and no 220 welder at the time and getting a good deal on a ridetech bolt up kit, I went that route. Its def worth doing yourself, esp if you got the means. One little touch you could add if you haven't thought so already, is some zerk fittings, make your life easier for greasing them bushings. Can't hate the freight either, some stuff is worth it, some isn't of course. All is looking awesome.

[oldman3]

Chris, looks great, can't wait for more tomorrow...Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks all, I've built a couple of rock crawler setups, but they were longer arms, with Heim joints, set up for LOTS of articulation. Never built a hot rod setup before. Good point on the grease fittings. I think I'll stop by the parts store today and pick some up!

[skymangs]

So I made up for getting extra done, by getting very little done yesterday. Here's current progress. My plasma burned up the last tip, so I've been cutting all my 1/4" tabs with a 3.5" cutoff. Sucks!

[skymangs]

So I end today with the lower links installed. Tomorrow I have to cut all 8 upper link tabs, and do some crossmember hassle. The Crossmember will interfere with the existing one (back of the cab area), so I'll have to get creative with some stuff, and re-structure whatever needs to be cut.

[oldman3]

Chris, looks good and Happy New Year...Jim

[skymangs]

Happy New Year to you too Jim!

[STOCKISH]

Looking great! Nice work man.

[skymangs]

Thanks Josh,

finished the 4 link setup today. came out pretty sexy looking! 2.5 days of hard work, but well worth it. I think next time I'll just buy the damned tabs though. I spent like 6 or 7 hours cutting. Here's pics

[skymangs]

Here's the finished product. Now to pull it all apart and seam everything in. I also found some thru rust on the frame behind the front spring hangers. I'll need to address that before the upper link cross member gets welded in.

[99 to Life]

nice work, yeah sometimes little things like that are worth buying or having your own cut out in bulk. are you going with bag behind axle?

[oldman3]

Looks good Chris. Have one question, after you had your bottom bar in place, did you have a set distance for the top bars, so they were paralle to the bottom bars. Or did you fab your tabs after checking were you wanted them? Hope I'm clear in what I'm asking...Jim

[skymangs]

99, I'm going to put the bags in front of the axle, between the lower links and the frame. if I get them as close to centerline of the frame as possible, this should give me the most stability possible, while still maintaining tire clearance.

Jim, I think I understand what your asking... I actually used mason's line from about I foot behind the transmission (on a jackstand) an ran it to the rear end to keep my upper links in line (make sense?) I measured one side from the line on the axle tube to the backing plate, and mirrored the other side. Then marked both the axle and crossmembers along the mason's line. Quadruple checked everything, then checked once more for good measure. Then mocked up my upper links with square tubing and stands to hold them where I wanted them. I made my crossmember tabs first, and tacked them. Then re-measured and re-checked my alignment (probably 4 more times), then used posterboard to template the axle tabs. All my tabs were hand cut, and then sandwiched together in pairs for final grinding and drilling. That is probably about as clear as mud huh? To be honest, I am pretty sure I spent more time scratching my head trying to figure out the most full proof way to keep things square than I did building the damned thing.

But I can tell you that I can lift the rear of the frame over 4 feet high, and using a laser on a steel bar, verify that everything stays straight all the way up with absolutely no suspension bind

[Draggin A$$]

Nice build!!

[59stepside]

That looks really good. Nice build x2. So when you coming to by mine!!

[skymangs]

Thanks guys.

[oldman3]

Chris, thanks for the info. Yes I understand what you did, kind of like the Ackerman principle for the front end, except in reverse, really nice job...Jim

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by skymangs

99, I'm going to put the bags in front of the axle, between the lower links and the frame. if I get them as close to centerline of the frame as possible, this should give me the most stability possible, while still maintaining tire clearance.

Jim, I think I understand what your asking... I actually used mason's line from about I foot behind the transmission (on a jackstand) an ran it to the rear end to keep my upper links in line (make sense?) I measured one side from the line on the axle tube to the backing plate, and mirrored the other side. Then marked both the axle and crossmembers along the mason's line. Quadruple checked everything, then checked once more for good measure. Then mocked up my upper links with square tubing and stands to hold them where I wanted them. I made my crossmember tabs first, and tacked them. Then re-measured and re-checked my alignment (probably 4 more times), then used posterboard to template the axle tabs. All my tabs were hand cut, and then sandwiched together in pairs for final grinding and drilling. That is probably about as clear as mud huh? To be honest, I am pretty sure I spent more time scratching my head trying to figure out the most full proof way to keep things square than I did building the damned thing.

But I can tell you that I can lift the rear of the frame over 4 feet high, and using a laser on a steel bar, verify that everything stays straight all the way up with absolutely no suspension bind

That operation will be next on my list of things to square up a four link.

Still trying to get a visual on the string line one foot behind the transmission?

[Bubba54]

Nice build, chassis works looking great.
Shawn

[skymangs]

Solidaxle, I am by no means an authority on linked suspension. But my understanding is that the instant center is the thoretical line where your links would intersect if they were continued along there current axis. I've been told that shortly behind the tailshaft (on a hot rod) is the "sweet spot" to shoot for, but it needs to be within 50-80 percent of the center of gravity (distance from the middle of the bell housing to the ground at ride height) in order to keep your anti-squat from being too great, or too little... I ran the mason's line along my intended axis to be sure that I kept my upper links parralel to it during installation.

I know, more mud, sorry. Not very good at explaining. Here is a link to a 4x4 site with much better information on 4 links
http://www.therangerstation.com/Maga....htm#AntiSquat
Once you've read that, and understand it, here's a link to a fancy 4 link calculator on Pirate...
http://mysite.verizon.net/triaged/4l...tml/index.html

Hope that helps