need all the advice in can get

[pale-rider]

well this is my first post here been sliding around the back drop...... long story short my wife bought me a 69 c10 for our anniversary well the PO swapped in a ford 9" did and axle flip and installed lowering shackles. the frame is c notched.... problem is when the PO did this they cut all the shock mounts off and everything so needless to say the truck has no rear shocks and i cant drive it because there is maybe 1 inch between the axle tube and c notch... i was going to re-flip the axle and just buy weld on shock mounts but i like the way the truck sits don't really want to raise it a lot... so i need options as to what i can do for the rear suspension with out selling the farm i will get pics up as soon as i find the camera....... Thank you in advance

[pale-rider]

here are the pictures they are off my cell phone also the drop shackle is a 6" drop shackle or at least that is what is measures from center hole to center hole

[SCOTI]

You're going to have to make some decisions.... it needs to be raised up for suspension travel clearance or the c-notches need to be removed for taller step notches.

Once you decide that, you can do some weld-on shock brackets to get that bouncing under control.

[tubbedII]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

You're going to have to make some decisions.... it needs to be raised up for suspension travel clearance or the c-notches need to be removed for taller step notches.

Once you decide that, you can do some weld-on shock brackets to get that bouncing under control.

X2...with that little of suspension travel, a shock is not going to prevent you from bottoming out.

[pale-rider]

if i relocate the axle under the leaf spring and leave the 6" drop shackle how much clearance would i be looking at? also how much clearance would be necessary?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by pale-rider

if i relocate the axle under the leaf spring and leave the 6" drop shackle how much clearance would i be looking at? also how much clearance would be necessary?

6" drop would be from relocating the axle from below to above the leafs. Drop shackles typically yield between 1-2" of drop (possibly more if they're some home built units).

[pale-rider]

ok well tomorrow morning im going to relocate the axle and see were that puts me.... any suggestions on a setup for the rear suspension? the most that will be in the back of the truck is my motorcycle which weighs about 600 lbs so i dont think i need anything crazy.

[pale-rider]

ok so i got everything lifted up today to see exactly what i am dealing with the PO swapped in the 9" added the lowering shackles and removed a leaf i only have 3 leafs. If i choose to re locate the axle i am going to need to buy a relocation kit from no limit or one of those dealers which is no big deal. but while i was down at the hobby shop one of the guys who works there walked up and was talking to me about the truck he has air bags, brackets and lines said he would sell all of it to me for $100 my question is can i run a AOL setup fairly easily by picking up the parts i would need? with this would i still need to possibly notch the frame? thank you for the help so far

[SCOTI]

Can you get some pics of the hangers @ the front of the leafs & the shackles @ the rear?

Typically, just flipping the rear-end from below to above the leafs yields 5-6" of drop. At 6" of drop, there should still be about 1-2" gap between the rear end axle tube & the bottom of the frame rail.

Add some dropped shackles & you get another 1-2" of drop.
Remove the leaf & it will drop another inch (possibly).

Installing an AOL set-up can be done cheaply. I bought a piece of 1' x 1' steel from Lowes for < $30. I was able to cut it up & make my top brackets for both sides. I used the original leaf pads on top of the rear end as my bottom brackets. Add the air bags & I did it for < $200. If this guy you met has a decent kit, it might be worth the money (depending on what type of brackets it has, what type of bags, & what else is included).

[pale-rider]

i will take as many pics as i can here in a bit they will be cell pics for some reason my camera isnt working.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by pale-rider

i will take as many pics as i can here in a bit they will be cell pics for some reason my camera isnt working.

Even crappy pics are better than nothing sometimes.

[pale-rider]

here are the best pictures i could get right now i also included one of the ride height as well, if there are any more you would like just let me know i will run to the garage and snap them real fast- thank you

[SCOTI]

Ok.... rivets on the front hanger mean it's still the original hanger. The rear shackle length definitely suggest it is a drop shackle as factory shackles aren't that long. So a flipped rear end + drop shackles & 1 (or more) leafs removed yields about 9" inches of drop which would match what your pics indicate.

I would try & find a factory shackle 1st & see how it does as that alone should raise it 1-2". If there's a need for additional lift (spring rate) the AOL set-up would be a great alternative because of its adjustability.

[pale-rider]

alright i am getting some where now lol so i will find some factory shackles and get them put in.... any suggestions as far as mounting rear shocks? weld on brackets etc....

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by pale-rider

alright i am getting some where now lol so i will find some factory shackles and get them put in.... any suggestions as far as mounting rear shocks? weld on brackets etc....

For the lower mounts, these are decently priced & offer adjustbility....

http://www.welderseries.com/blog/onl...k-mount-lower/

With some sort of home built upper x-member like this maybe....

[pale-rider]

ill have to check these out were would you suggest getting factory rear shackles? or can i just buy some universal ones? is there any secrets to building a x-member? other than strength?

[pale-rider]

could i get some of these and weld to a piece of DOM tubing mounted in place of the rear x-member? or something of the sort?

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...STAB-CURV.html

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by pale-rider

ill have to check these out were would you suggest getting factory rear shackles? or can i just buy some universal ones? is there any secrets to building a x-member? other than strength?

I would check in the classifieds forum for someone parting out a leaf equipped truck for the shackles.

As far as the upper crossmember, anything 1/8" wall tubing or thicker would work. You might even be able to box the inside of the frame rail w/some 3/16 or 1/4" plate, drill a hole for a shock mounting stud (just like the front shocks) & mount it like that. That would take up less space & if you drilled multiple mounting holes (like the lower mounts I linked have), that would allow even more adjustability.

[pale-rider]

ill look around the classified see what i can find... and once i get the rear shackles i can start on the rear cross member

[pale-rider]

Alright so i was finally able to get back with the guy with the airbag parts and what he has it a Slam air kit # 59103 i attached a picture of the parts list. Will this kit be able to fix my problem or should i just go a different direction? any pics or ideas are greatly appreciated.... Thank you

[blime81]

I won't fix your shocks but it should add the height you need out back.

Just keep in mind that buying that kit isn't the complete solution. You'll need air management which can be as simple as schrader valves you fill at a gas station to as complex as a tank, compressor and 4 valves with switches. Fittings, line, valves, tanks and compressors all add up.

I'd suggest a schrader on each bag as a start because it will get you rolling and then perhaps a manual valve setup with a small tank and compressor as your wallet allows (or until you get the bug and really dive in...).

[pale-rider]

I had already planned on running schrader valves do to ease until i redo the entire suspension front and rear... as far as shocks what i was looking into doing was upper shock studs through the frame rails and weld on lowers on the axle tube... similar to how n2trux has... but if this system will give me what i need im going to get it. anyone have pics on what they look like installed?

[SCOTI]

These are the only AOL pics I have. It's a RideTech 'kit', but still has the same basic parts & should install similarly.

[pale-rider]

yup that would be the setup i was looking at lol any pics of how the lower shock mounts are dont that is the only factor i have left i looked at that link you posted SCOTI and im sure those will work just wanna covert all my bases and i like to see pics so i know exactly what i need to do... Thank you

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by pale-rider

yup that would be the setup i was looking at lol any pics of how the lower shock mounts are dont that is the only factor i have left i looked at that link you posted SCOTI and im sure those will work just wanna covert all my bases and i like to see pics so i know exactly what i need to do... Thank you

On that particular set-up, I remember them using the factory lower shock mounts. On the pass side, they just cut it off & swapped it so the shock would mount to the back side of the rear-end housing vs the front. They then attached the shock stud to the frame in the same area as was done on the driver side.