DONT use shims in the front! I dont care what anybody says, it flat out isnt safe, especially if you wheel the thing at all; the springs flex and move around, which can crush the aluminum shims, causing them to come loose and leave the vehicle at the wrong time! You could make metal ones and...
Kling-on is right; the springs are a lot longer, the move or flex more, which results in a LOT more movement of the axle whcih provides for a much softer ride....maybe too soft in some situations, but the articulation is awesome!
"the 60 will get hung up more than the 40" Maybe and maybe not. Longer wheelbases have their advantages, and the rear axle shafts in the 60/62 series are larger diameter than the 40s....
I paid $800 for my 62, and all that was wrong with it was the 4x4 vacuum on the t-case.... And small bit o rust on the RR 1/4 panel. I think people want too much for their junk sometimes
18mm is the probably a better way to go. They will move a little better in the bushing. You'll have to go to a speciallty fastener store and they'll have to order them, but I think you"ll like the fit.
The stock vortec has about 40-50 hp over the TBI, but the TBI is a simpler system and a little easier to work on in the field. The Toy stuff is plenty strong.
2 x 3/8 bar stock like the other guys said, dont use the cross bar on the shackle itself, any good fastener shop should be able to get you the 18 mm bolts. they are expensive, tho.
"Necessity is the mother of invention" Take the $2000 youd spend on paying someone else and enroll in a metal fab/welding class at your local community college. Learn how to fab, do it yourself the right way and come away from it all with new skills and the pride that you actually did the work...
If you got it back form any shop in that condition without them making sure it worked right, they should have their asses kicked thoroughly and repeatedly! (I'll help!) I dont trust anybody to work on my rig.
Hmmmm...I think mine was probabaly pulling the entire drivetrain out of the vehicle, the fuel tank, grinding and torching all the spring hangers off, installing a complete Chevy drivetain (TBI350/700r4) !4 bolt axle in the rear, 63" springs in the rear, Toy 48" springs in the front, sag steering...
Heres a hint for saving TREs...DO NOT use a pickle fork!!! Loosen the nut until the threads are even with the end of the threads On the rod end. Get a big long bar and wedge in between the tie rod itself (maybe a foot back from the TRE.) and the axle or something. Either stand on the bar or...
Cruiserdrew is right. If you dont use the Carden joint, the angles at the pinion and the t-case have to be the same; as the joints go thru their motions, the angles cancel each other out, cancelling vibrations. With the carden at the t-case end, those two joints work in unison to cancell their...
When youre welding youre "test subject" is it laying on a bench or floor or something? If thats the case, it could be dispersing or absorbing the heat and preventing the blow thru. try putting a backer behind the thin material when you weld it.