Project 61.....It is what it is.

[mano]

Looks sweet, what size tires r u running. Is the top of the tire hitting the wheel well. Thanks for the build pictures.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Unfortunately yes, the tire is hitting the inner fender. I'm probably going to do a mini tub sometime in the future.....not 100% on tire size. The front and rear are different. I'll check it tomorrow when I go back.

[protrash64]

Glad to hear you say it........one compressor is too little. Maybe OK for a 3gallon tank. I used the 400c dual pack.....40a draw and used 95a alternator and a 2g wire to feed the relay set-up. Fills my 7gallon tank in 3minutes or so....pushes about 5cfm. Also you dont need 200psi to run your bags. 150 would shut off more quickly. Also, run some quality shocks and it will ride like a dream.

Looking kick a$$.....what are you doing for stops up front???????

[ceruzziracing]

Love the stance on her, looking great. What size airbags did you use front and rear?

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Originally Posted by protrash64

Glad to hear you say it........one compressor is too little. Maybe OK for a 3gallon tank. I used the 400c dual pack.....40a draw and used 95a alternator and a 2g wire to feed the relay set-up. Fills my 7gallon tank in 3minutes or so....pushes about 5cfm. Also you dont need 200psi to run your bags. 150 would shut off more quickly. Also, run some quality shocks and it will ride like a dream.

Looking kick a$$.....what are you doing for stops up front???????

My relay kicks at 145psi right now. The tank is the 5 gal from suicide doors, their site says it's rated for 150psi. As for the shocks, I bought front and rears from LMC that have a McGaughy (sp?) sticker on the tube. They were drop shocks for the 73-87 crossmember I'm using. Unfortunately the shock travel just isn't long enough to get full lift/drop range. Gotta find another shock now, don't know what I'll do with the other drop shocks. What shocks are you running up front?

Originally Posted by ceruzziracing

Love the stance on her, looking great. What size airbags did you use front and rear?

RE7's front and rear. I may be changing the fronts to RE8's...trying to see if there's a bag that will give me more lift up front.

[protrash64]

I use a Doesch Tech shock that came with all my stuff from CPP. Ive used them before and like them. My tire sits in the fender, too. What are you doing for stops up front???

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Lower control arm is the bumpstop. It rests on the ground. If I lose air pressure......I'm screwed. I've been playin with some ideas but nothings in stone yet. I'm open to any ideas if you wanna throw something out there.

[joe231]

Looks sweet!!!

Yikes, even with the bags fully aired up those lower arms are close to the ground

have you looked at the Dominator bags, I think they have more travel than the Slams

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Fully aired up I'll have 3" of clearance......I've been contemplating swapping out for stock spindles instead of the drop ones. Or possibly running a spacer under the bag to get more lift, making the outer part of the arm level with the ground. I definitely want to leave the spindle swapping as a last resort. $80 s/h there and back will suck.

As for the Dominator bags, I looked and couldn't find any specs on the travel. I think the slams will do honestly, just need to rework the angles.

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by Daniel 61 Apache

Lower control arm is the bumpstop. It rests on the ground. If I lose air pressure......I'm screwed. I've been playin with some ideas but nothings in stone yet. I'm open to any ideas if you wanna throw something out there.

Im in the same ballpark...my tires hit the inner fender and I need to figure out a stop a little before that point. I considered drilling the edge of the spring mount and adding a bumpstop there, but have not looked at it to figure out what location would be best. Its hard to stick your mellon in there once its on the ground....

[joe231]

suicide doors site says the Dominator 2600 has 9.7" of usable stroke....

[Daniel 61 Apache]

What about this? Space the bag up a few inches.....that should do it. This will allow me the option to remove the spacer in the future when the mini tubs are done and if I have a larger diameter wheel tire combo.

[protrash64]

If that plate is flat, you could probably use an appropriately sized piece of 2x4 steel or tubing and use longer mount bolts.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Well......I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow then.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Got about 5 more inches in lift today and a few more in ground clearance for the lower control arm. Mr. B welded in some lower cups I had for stock control arms. We did the math and figured I wouldn't loose any drop but would gain lift in the travel range.

Here's Mr. B welding in the cup after we got everything squared up with the bag.



Here's what it looks like now. The old holes that held the bag were drilled out to allow a socket in it so that the bag can still be installed/removed for maintenance.



Fully aired out the lower arm comes soooo close to the ground, but it doesn't actually touch. Awesome. I really didn't want to loose the stance. Guess my math worked out.



Here it is fully aired up now. Measuring from the rocker, Full up is 15.5" and full down is 5.5". Before I only got about 7 inches of travel so the cups really helped a lot.





Bled the brakes today and found the rear drums to be leaking all over the place. Got new cylinders and shoes, and Mr. B turned the drums. Have to run another line on the axle and then we can try to bleed the system again. Found out the oil pan had a patch in it previously and it started to leak so I've got a new oil pan to put in.

Then to top off the day.......We picked up the 3" pipe for the exhaust. Decided I'd drive my 4-door car and we'd just lay down the back seat to load the pipe. Then while I was pulling the pipe through to the front of the car, SMACK! I hit my front windshield cracking it. Really sucks.

[protrash64]

Looks good man!!!! I was thinking of those type of cups when I posted about tubing. You're still going to have to keep your eyes on the road when driving.....that thing is low.

[joe231]

looks good, but didn't you just defeat the purpose of the lowered arms? oh well guess they look cool anyway, huh?
windshield cracks suck! don't ya hate that!?!

[c10addict]

Trust me when I tell you BE CAREFUL driving that thing.... when your running a suspension piece that low the littlest things in the road jump out at you... The way those arms those arms are designed they are dangerously low... I am always smashing mine off the road but luckily my sway bar brackets hit first and almost lift the truck..

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Didn't really defeat the purpose of the arms, I'd say we improved the arms. My ride height will be when fully aired up. Before I just wasn't happy with how low the ride height was. Now it sits level aired up and the LCA's have about 5 inches of clearance. Previous cars I owned have had less than that. And when this truck had torsion bars, those things fully loosened up, it had about 3 inches of clearance for the torsion bar bolts.

Thanks for the heads up C10addict. I figured I'd be pothole dodging a little more now. But I've always kept an eye out for them. I'm originally from South Carolina, home of crappy road surfaces.

[c10addict]

Right on... I am right next door to you with some of the worst roads ever!

[joe231]

i would have to disagree....technically those are what 2 inch lowering arms? they lower the suspension by lowering the bag mount, correct? so by welding 1 3/4"-2" cups you negated the lowering design of the arms...i'm not saying it is a bad thing....I personally think the design of those arms are seriously lacking to begin with.
so now you have tubular arms that look cool and will work in your application

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Po-tay-toe / Po-tah-toe

And the arms were a crappy design to start with.

[joe231]

potato....patoto...lets call the whole thing off

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Got a new oil pan in today, before I showed up Mr. B finished the brakes, and the tranny is full of fluid. Had a chance to actually drive the truck a little. The difference is like night and day. This truck is gonna be a driver....

Still have a slight power steering leak. The fitting that goes into the power steering gear box seems to be too small. No one sells a replacement new so I'm gonna try the salvage yard tomorrow. Mr. B is going to make the exhaust on Thursday. Welded Thrush mufflers with 3 inch true duals dumping in front of the rear tires. Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

I'll have a video once thats all done......hopefully no surprises come up.

[killthewabbit]

Can't wait to see the vid!