Build of my 72 C/20

[modblacksmith]

Thanks guys, I'm tryin to keep going on this until the day comes that I just have to pull the sheet metal off. I don't have any place to put it right now so the body off is going to have to wait until I get a larger garage to work in.

[modblacksmith]

Update
I had the day off on Friday so the crew and I went to the pick and pull yard and I spent four hours yanking leaf springs out, somebody wasn't burning with diesel that morning and forgot a lot of the tools we needed and brought a lot of stuff we didn't need. There's a set of 52 inch springs in the garage already torn down and almost ready for paint, just need the buckets to show from DIY.

[modblacksmith]

Some of the new parts, almost all the crossover steering parts and the DIY4X spring buckets. I still need to get a rebuild kit for the 2WD steering box, a couple weld in bungs for the other two heim joints to make my tie rod and some other odds and ends. The 3/4" bolts for the steering linkage are grade nine, there the same ones that Cat uses on there dozers, should of called this project overkill.
I'm going to start building my front cross member for the 52" springs this week. I still need to press out the bushings and get new ones coming this week.

[modblacksmith]

Update, I installed my new cross member and the 52" springs last weekend, but I'm not happy with them so I'm going to tear apart the ones out of the rear and build a new set for the front to net more lift. I'll post some pics soon.

[UBLUZIN]

Were did you get the cross over stuff?

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by UBLUZIN

Were did you get the cross over stuff?

The heim joins and tube inserts I ordered of eBay, the Pittman arm is off a 99 Dodge 2500, that I drilled out to accept the 3/4" bolts. I cut and drilled the arm for the 60 out of 5/8 plate.

[babylonflyer]

cool build..... waiting to see that truck in action!!!

[modblacksmith]

Thanks, me too. It's completely tore apart right now, she's getting 52's in the front and 56 inch springs in the rear. I'll try to post pics soon.
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[mjensen]

Oh yeah! You better post pictures of that mod I ended up just going all new springs on mine.

[modblacksmith]

Little bit of an update, I installed all of the springs and I'm still not happy. I lost almost three inches of lift in the rear with the 56's. Thinking I need to pony up and buy all new springs.
I did some wheelin and dealin and picked up a NV4500 5 speed last night though.
I'll try to get some pics up soon.

[modblacksmith]

BIG UPDATE
Its been a while so I'll bring you up to date with the latest changes.

Built my own front cross-member adding 1.25" of lift over the B52 kit. I installed the first set of 52" springs and didn't like how soft they were so i took the ones out of the rear and re stacked them to make the springs handle the big block better. Added my new steering box and finished the crossover steering as well.

I had problem with the crossover right off the bat, when I turned my truck was shifting from side to side about 1.5". Come to find out that my front shackles are to long so I ordered the flush front shackle mounts from DIY4X.com and built new shorter cross tied shackles. Trying to get around building a panhard bar for the front. I have been playing with the idea of doing hydro assist too.

I'm in the middle of rebuilding and installing the 56" springs in the rear, pics to come.

1 of 2

[modblacksmith]

2 of 2. New wheels and sneak peak at rear bumper.

[quadzero]

Fantastic project, beautiful truck too. I like the cross-over steering and looking forward to seeing that come together. Really appreciate all the work you are putting into this. Where is that neighbour's kid when I have long tedious things to do?

[72chevyk10]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

2 of 2. New wheels and sneak peak at rear bumper.

wow!! that bumper is.... beefy!! to say the least haha

and those wheels will look GOOD with that truck

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by quadzero

Fantastic project, beautiful truck too. I like the cross-over steering and looking forward to seeing that come together. Really appreciate all the work you are putting into this. Where is that neighbour's kid when I have long tedious things to do?

Thank you. Still a ton of work left to do. Haha, he's not around much anymore so I have to do the tedious things again myself.

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by 72chevyk10

wow!! that bumper is.... beefy!! to say the least haha

and those wheels will look GOOD with that truck

Thanks bud. Haha yeah the bumper is a little bit overkill but so is everything else I build. It took me forever to sand and paint them so I hope they look good on the truck or its going to be a lot of time lost.

That roll bar looks grate on your truck, were did you find that, hahaha.

[72chevyk10]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

Thanks bud. Haha yeah the bumper is a little bit overkill but so is everything else I build. It took me forever to sand and paint them so I hope they look good on the truck or its going to be a lot of time lost.

That roll bar looks grate on your truck, were did you find that, hahaha.

hey overkill is under rated haha

well thank you! and thanks again for letting me know about it. cept it made the truck look lower... now i need 4in more lift and 38s

[modblacksmith]

Yes, now your thinking, everyone needs at least 37's I almost have my headache rack finished up, it weighs three times as much as the bar did. I'll post pics when I get it painted and get the lights installed.

[72chevyk10]

how does your rig ride with the 56" springs out back? im thinkin of doin a shackle flip and the 56's some day

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by 72chevyk10

how does your rig ride with the 56" springs out back? im thinkin of doin a shackle flip and the 56's some day

I haven't had much drive time on them yet but so far there grate. There softer than the old springs I had in it before but not so soft that there spongie. I took them out of a 3/4 ton camper special so there is more thinner leafs to them than a regular set of 3/4 ton springs. I'm not done with the swap yet, I want to take out the overloads and add a few more leafs per side. On the other hand I mite be aquiring another truck here in a few weeks so this project could change directions again. I can't get it out of my system I want this truck up in the air.

[JDeere550]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

The heim joins and tube inserts I ordered of eBay, the Pittman arm is off a 99 Dodge 2500, that I drilled out to accept the 3/4" bolts. I cut and drilled the arm for the 60 out of 5/8 plate.

that dodge pitman arm splines match up with the chevy 2wd p/s gear box without modification besides drilling the drag link end? just making sure i get what you're saying before i buy the pitman arm i found on craigslist lol

[modblacksmith]

Yes that's correct, it'll go right on there.

[JDeere550]

Right on dude, that's awesome. thanks for the info! You got any updates for this thing yet or what?

[modblacksmith]

Your welcome. I haven't been on this site much lately and I didn't renew my subscription due to the lack of impute from people.
As for updates there isn't very many, the truck has been sitting on the side of the house for months.
I've been wheelin and dealin to get parts for my 83 k30 dually. I sold the NV4500 to buy 8 to 10 lug adapters for the dually so i can run 22.5's and the bumper and headache rack are going on the dually. This truck is eventually going to be an advertising tool for my fab bis if it ever gets off the ground. I've been thinking about selling my tons for 2.5 rocks for this truck to give you an idea of were this project is heading. Also I picked up a nasty roller cam and a set of roller rockers for it.

[modblacksmith]

Boom! Epic update!