Build of my 72 C/20

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by Altec

Yeah, the frame flex more then the suspension on these lol.

Have you looked at your body mounts? They play a big part in stiffening up the frame. You may also consider welding in some beefy cross members, and putting gussets around them. I wouldn't want to completely make the frame rigid. More trouble then its worth, and you better have suspension upgrades planned. Like 4 links...

Do that, and swap the rearched springs for a set of 73-87 52" rear springs. That'll help your flex a lot.

Some other stuff you can do as well to take it a step further.

Your right about the rearched springs they ride like crap. I've been thinking a lot about the 52" fronts. I think I'm going to tear the rear back apart and put in a set of 62" springs out of a one ton, prob take out a few leafs to help the ride.
I don't want it to be completely rigid but I want to make it stronger for towing and I want it to look beefy too.
My supports are prob the stock ones, what would you recommend?

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

Your right about the rearched springs they ride like crap. I've been thinking a lot about the 52" fronts. I think I'm going to tear the rear back apart and put in a set of 62" springs out of a one ton, prob take out a few leafs to help the ride.
I don't want it to be completely rigid but I want to make it stronger for towing and I want it to look beefy too.
My supports are prob the stock ones, what would you recommend?

I wouldnt yank anything out of the pack, just dont run the overloads, You yank leafs out and you will start having tons of problems with axle wrap.

[modblacksmith]

Well it all depends if I get the donor truck that has the 5 speed in it. It has the rear springs I want.
That's the reason I haven't done the 52" swap yet, this truck is pretty much a street queen and I don't want a sway bar. I know its not going to ride like a Cadillac but I'd like a little better than a hay wagon.

I found a lot of the parts that I'd need for the Nv4500 conversion for some pretty good prices a lot less than what other guys on here were saying they bought them for.

I'm get a little discouraged about all of this, my upgrades have turned out to be way more involved than I originally planned. I know this is how most projects go but this is starting to get to were I need to just tear the truck down to the frame to do it right and I don't have the space or the time for that right now. Nor the equipment or fun tokens either.

[Altec]

Oh, haha. That was part of my other suggestion. 63" in the back. You are already half way there with your shackle flip. That was the hard part. Now you just need to drill new holes... I agree with Beast too. Leave the pack alone, and ditch the overload. replace it with a Zero-Rate to gain you back the 1" and add a proper bump stop.

I'm still quite a fan of 52" springs front, and rear though. The idea of one spare for both the front, and rear seems worth a little flex.

I'd also consider running front, and rear sway bars, and put together a quick release system for when you need the flex. Otherwise it will look like a bobble head going down the road. Quite scary towing... I'm probably going to take a second 73-87 front sway bar and put it out back. After I go 4-link in the rear that is!

I'd say cross members are right up your alley. They bring the beef without the PITA of a fully boxed frame. Look at some brace kits for unibody cars. I've seen some designs for cars like camaro's that are a great example of brace designs.

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

I'm get a little discouraged about all of this, my upgrades have turned out to be way more involved than I originally planned. I know this is how most projects go but this is starting to get to were I need to just tear the truck down to the frame to do it right and I don't have the space or the time for that right now. Nor the equipment or fun tokens either.

That is the worst part. If done one at a time, both the front and rear swap should be a weekend a piece. Assuming all the parts are sourced before hand. The "fun tokens" is my trouble too... Otherwise I'd be running a 4-link rear, and a radius arm front right now...

[modblacksmith]

What about the body mounts?

[Altec]

If they are worn out they will allow more movement between the cab, and the frame. Makes the frame twist more because the cab isn't helping stiffen it like it should. I believe you can get a set of poly bushings for about $50. Only issue is rusty cab bolts...

edit,

Just looked. Energy Suspension has a set of Poly bushing for about $57. I bought some Energy Suspension dust boots just the other day. Was very happy. I'll most likely be looking to them for more stuff in the future.

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by Altec

If they are worn out they will allow more movement between the cab, and the frame. Makes the frame twist more because the cab isn't helping stiffen it like it should. I believe you can get a set of poly bushings for about $50. Only issue is rusty cab bolts...

edit,

Just looked. Energy Suspension has a set of Poly bushing for about $57. I bought some Energy Suspension dust boots just the other day. Was very happy. I'll most likely be looking to them for more stuff in the future.

Thanks, I was just looking into there leaf spring bushings, didn't even think about the cab bushings. I'm going to add another cross member for two more rear shocks above the axle, mite just have to build it a little more over kill than I first planned.

[Altec]

If the bushing do seem worn I'd be tempted to replace them before deciding on my next course of action. I'd want to double check the factory bushing though. Call me Jewish, but $57 is a bit of money...

I too was looking at there leaf spring bushings. Having trouble figuring out the part number for the 73-87 front kit.

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by Altec

If the bushing do seem worn I'd be tempted to replace them before deciding on my next course of action. I'd want to double check the factory bushing though. Call me Jewish, but $57 is a bit of money...

I too was looking at there leaf spring bushings. Having trouble figuring out the part number for the 73-87 front kit.

I found the rear set for the front for about 20 bucks on e bay.

[modblacksmith]

Update if you want to call it that.

So my plans have changed again. I'm thinking about putting the 5speed in my dually and leaving the TH400 in this one. I've also decided sense this rig isn't going to be driven as much as I first planed that I'm going to lift it even more and run at least 38's.

I haven't had much time to get anything more done to the truck but tomorrow is the swap meet so I mite find something I cant live without for it.

[modblacksmith]

Update. I got the rear end leveled out and borrowed a set of 37's from a friend of mine. They look okay but I think I can go bigger. That's me in the pic

[modblacksmith]

Well if anyone's still paying attention to this here's a progress report with a story. Last weekend a got a wild hair and installed my Hooker Headers and it sounds grate, like a race car. Monday night I went to start it for a friend of mine and while I was trying to get the idle to kick down I notice a guy on the phone staring at us. My neighbor called the cops on me for the noise, I really didn't think it was all that loud. I went over and apologized and he said he wouldn't file the report. Thought it was kinda funny in the end.

[madmopar]

cool truck. i read through it all. Dunno how I missed it. Love the BIG BLOCK!

[Gene]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

Well if anyone's still paying attention to this here's a progress report with a story. Last weekend a got a wild hair and installed my Hooker Headers and it sounds grate, like a race car. Monday night I went to start it for a friend of mine and while I was trying to get the idle to kick down I notice a guy on the phone staring at us. My neighbor called the cops on me for the noise, I really didn't think it was all that loud. I went over and apologized and he said he wouldn't file the report. Thought it was kinda funny in the end.

Neighbors! Geez.. Well, the trucks coming along nice. Gotta love the open header bigblocks, well your neighbor didnt I'm running open manifolds on a mild/stock 350 and my country neighbors gimme the thumbs up every time I fire her up to pull it outside. Keep up the good work!

[GhostTown]

They wouldn't have called the cops on you in Nampa. :p

[72chevyk10]

any updates?

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by 72chevyk10

any updates?

A few, I build new mud flap mounts and I picked up a set of 38x15x16.5 super swamper radials. I'll post pics soon. I haven't had much time laity to work on the truck, I have way to many customer projects going right now that have dead lines plus my real job.

[JDeere550]

hey just wonderin about the dana 60, what year a truck you get that out of for the passenger side drop? nice truck by the way!

[modblacksmith]

I pulled my Dana 60 out of a 84 Chevy dually and then swapped the dually hubs out for single rear wheel front hubs.

[JDeere550]

thanks man!

[modblacksmith]

Here is a few update pics of my truck. The 38x15 Boggers were just for fun. Installed my new shocks, finally got the exhaust done but I don't like how they look so they well be changed. Built my new mud flap mounts too. I ended up taking the shackle flip brackets out and welding a bracket to them for them to bolt too. Should of called this project overkill.

[modblacksmith]

I decided these 38s were too chewed up to pay the owners asking price so I'm still on the hunt for a set. I've been talking to a friend at a tire shop here in town about buying a brand new set of 38x15x16 Toyo MT's with new wheels. It would actually be cheaper than buying a new set of Swampers for my 16.5s. Would love to know what you guys think about the Toyos or if I should just hunt down another set of Swampers?

[modblacksmith]

For anyone paying attention heres a small update leading to a big one. I've got the truck fully back together now except for the crossover steering and I took it for a little test run and found out a few things that I'm not happy with. There all lessons learned though.
First the rearched front springs suck, they ride like crap going down the road and there way to soft when you take a corner. The fix 52" rears going in the front. I ordered the brakets from DIY to build my own B52 brackets, I'm just going to do mine a little bit diffrent.
Once thats done I'm going to build new shock brackets with finderwell hoops.
I'm thinking about lowering the truck down a little and sticking with 37's, I still want to be able to tow trailers with the truck.
The rear shackle flip brackets I built are to far back and don't have enough angle for a good ride. So I need to do something about that, I have been thinkin about 64's out of a 3/4 ton truck. I'm also going to build an anti rap bar for the rear too.
I will post pics as the new parts come in and the others get built.

[freakshow108]

Trust me, we all pay attention! Love seeing other peoples work. Keep it up we all need the motivation to keep at it!

[mjensen]

Of course we are paying attention, and for those of us that are motivationally challenged..this is the only progress we see...