Going under the knife. Will take pics while I work.

[Super73]

Well,

Since I started loosing a head gasket and wanted to do some suspension re-engineering, my truck is parked right now. I am going to be doing some changes again.

1) Making a new upper front shock mount to accomodate the Rancho 9000's I bought. This will be fairly straight forward and made out of 3/16 plate.

2) Making my own anti-roll bar. I found some 1 3/4" sway bar bushings online for a RV. They are made of poly material and I got 4 with the kit. Bar itself will be made from 1 3/4" .188 wall. The leverage arms will be made from 3/16 plate and the plates going on the rear.

3) Going to make a new panhard bar. Reason for doing this is to A) make it longer and B) remount it to be closer to axle centerline. By making it longer, there will be less rear side shift under a bump on the street (Since I do cruise it around).

4) Pulling the wood out of the bed so I can C-notch the rear frame. I think I am going to mount the anti-roll bar and the new panhard in the C-notch. I think it would be a clean look as well as maybe keep them out of the way.

5) I'm also going to redo the exhaust from the X back. Going to dual cut outs then knecking it to 2 1/2" after the cut outs and in to a single "two-in" 2 1/2" to a single 3" out. I'm hoping this quiets it down when corked. Some times I can't hear myself think in it right now.

6) Gonna swap in the poly bushings I have for the rear control arms.

7) Make a new front Crossmember that factory control arms will bolt to (might buy tubular replacement sooner than later).

8) Make a square frame tonue cover.


7/8 I might not get to this round.

[Super73]

BTW, This happened while cleaning my valve covers. Six stitches and I can't play sax for a month I was pulling the filler piece out of the valve cover and it didn't want to come. Finally poped and the valve cover met face. I do not advise any one to do this. At first I thought I might have knocked out my front teeth.

[regan wilson]

I guess you will remember that for awhile ! Maybe you could file for dissability ? lol ....Keep us posted .

[prostreet1967]

cant wait to see some pics. mines under the knife now as well. doing step notch and removing panhard bar for diag track bar. remounting shock bar. will post some pics later.

[djracer]

that sounds like allot of work. Have you ever tried spraying it out of the hole?

[Super73]

Kevin,

Only once. Lifted both front tires. Once they came down it unloaded the rear. Front shock needs to be stiffened up. There are a lot of little things I am noticing that I am trying to resolve.

[Custom 68]

how come you are changing the front shock mount? I too am thinking about the Rancho 9000 also. Which ones did you get and where...
Thanks
Dave

[Custom 68]

any word on this? I have read some about the shocks and for the price am curious on how they will work. I understand the get stiff the quicker they are moved. This is opposite of what I think I would want for the street. I would think you would want it to absorb the bumps (fast movement) and under cornering (slow movement) you would want a firmer shock.
Maybe for drag racing this shock is ideal?
any thoughts...

[71Dragtruck]

Originally Posted by Custom 68

any word on this? I have read some about the shocks and for the price am curious on how they will work. I understand the get stiff the quicker they are moved. This is opposite of what I think I would want for the street. I would think you would want it to absorb the bumps (fast movement) and under cornering (slow movement) you would want a firmer shock.
Maybe for drag racing this shock is ideal?
any thoughts...

For drag racing you want a front shock that extends really fast for weight fransfer to the back, and then when it comes down they settle realy slow so the front doesn't slam down hard and also to keep the weight back so your rear doesn't come unplanted. Shocks that have this type of valving are drag race specific and aren't any good in any other aplication and will handle poorly on the street.

[Super73]

Unless... You have sooo much stored energy that you need to slow the upward travel down more than a drag shock will allow for (this is my issue). Here a stiff/stiff shock would be good.

As far as the shock mounts, they are made and the shocks are installed. I went with Rancho 9000xl's and can give you the actual P/N tomorrow.

As far as how they ride? no idea, trucks motor is in piecces right now.

[Super73]

I'm sure this will help the confusion.. Sorry for the bad pic, cell phone.

[whatnow123]

Can you tell me kind of front springs are you running? I have the ECE 1.5 drop springs and get NO weight transfer at all to the rear. The front doesn't lift at all. My truck is worthless up to about 40, but it is quite a show.

[Super73]

Here is the thread on it..

But, please get a front end weight before using these. If your truck is heavier than mine, you will want a little different spring.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=277773

[hotrod 80]

Any word on the RV swaybar / anti-roll bar ?

[Super73]

No.. I did the shocks then pulled the motor.. I need to c-nothch the frame before I can finish the anti-roll bar. The only thing I am using from the RV is the 1 3/4" bushings.

[Super73]

Well boys and girls.. Here are some pics of the motor. I still need to finish polishing a couple areas, but take a look at the driver head in the first pic. That is the waterpump reflecting off the front

[djracer]

Sweet!

[shortbed70]

Dude you HAVE to post some more drag videos when you get done. Awsome motor. Wanna trade???????LOL

[Super73]

Thanks for the compliment but Kevin, Bigjim and some others got some awesome rides. Mines just a lowly old farm truck