To the top for this old thread.. It only took me two years (really just last week) but here is the set up. Again this is on a '91 pickup I am super psyched with how it turned out. I wasn't able to get it as low as I thought I would be able to (as of right now). I can easily control height of the coils with the adjustable height buckets. I set it at approximate height of about 4" of lift and with my frame that does not have accommodations/design for a live axle, unlike a 40 or 60, I was able to max out at 5" of uptravel before metal/metal contact. I cannot say for sure but I anticipate about the same with a 40/60 that it will take some lift but not tons...
Specs:
GM 1 ton tie rod ends and linkage from 4x4Labs. Luke bent the arms in a spring under type method but because the TREs come in from the top (and are huge) they are still pretty tall.
I used all of the ballistic fab parts listed at the beginning of the thread. I intended to use .120 wall (1/8") DOM for the panhard and the drag link (because I didn't know how long I would need so I didn't get one of these from Luke) and bought GM TRE adapters from Ballistic and 3/4" heims with the matching rod ends for these as well. After I did this I found out 1/8th wall is too skimpy, it would work for the drag link but is probably too thin for the panhard even though I set it up so I would probably have no bending issues. Instead I went to
Summit Machine in Utah (which is **awesome** and all sorts of neat stuff) and they sold me some 1/4" wall for about $11 a foot (I only needed 3'). I will use the .120 wall for the drag link now but have already ordered the right one that is about 1/4 wall from Luke though its also overkill and probably unneeded..
In all I'm pretty psyched with especially how it's turned out.. I have never had a 80 series and messed with its front axle, just wheeled with them and particularly in the rear was always impressed with the flex so I didn't realize how little they flex up front and why some folks have done 3 links & such... Because... They flex like s*** with the bushings and that is OK particularly with a locker. I think it will work really well for the intended use of the truck but it took so long to set it up even with the radius arms (way longer than I had anticipated getting all the angles right) that if I were to do it again I would just link it 3 or 4 link it and call it quits.. So in that regard Kurt and others were right The cost difference and honestly the time difference would be so minimal that 3 or 4 link would probably be superior.
This said it is still a nice, durable match to my Old Man Emu rear springs from Cruiser Outfitters and I still think it is a good front suspension and again will match the setup well. I like how durable it appears to be and how it will handle on the road just like a OEM 80 series... And with a locker it will wheel well. I am planning on using the original length shocks that comes with OME in the rear (8") and 10" shocks in the front because the mounts are outboarded from their location in the rear so it will need a little more travel. I will probably set it to 4 or 4.5 inches of uptravel (I'm not sure if this will be too much with the coils) and about 6" of droop or so... Which I know the radius arms will have trouble reaching I believe...
Placement of the panhard was the most difficult aspect of it all besides the time consuming aspects but this is also because I set all of this up from scratch. I think a "kit" would still do pretty well and relocating the axle is very easy -- basically as difficult as moving the upper links at the end of the radius arms. So that is nice...
Here are photos...
)and you do not need to buy expensive equipment and order a months salary on little parts.In this country I am living now you can't even get the metal plates in the size you want
,so it's all about recycling other stuff(witch I realy hate
)
