Project Boomerang (2 Viewers)

[badsamaritan]

Just adding everything in one place since I asked questions elsewhere. The rig drives and handles fine, just looks over lifted with the wheels and tires I just put on it. At a minimum I'd like to get the truck level front to rear or slightly lower in the front. Open to suggestions on how to achieve this as I don't have a ton of experience with the suspension on these. I can replace suspension items, but something big like removing the shackle reversal I would have to get a shop to do. Shackles, pins, bushings, etc all look good. The springs look pretty rusty and beat up.

Pictures in Post#30 or here:

Pictures

• Suspension Setup (Older Rancho 2.5" Kit, RS77011)
  • Front
    • MAF Shackle Reversal
    • Anti Inversion Shackle 3.25 from bolt to bolt 5" overall on long side of the shackle
    • Rancho RS43033 leaf springs
      • Rancho list the front spring as RS43033
        Spring rate 391
        Eye to eye flat length 44.13
        Free arch 5.45
        Eye size 1.38
        Width 2.75
        # of leaves 6
    • New Bilstein shocks
    • Front Bull Bumper with Winch tray (no winch yet)
    • Front of rig sits ~2" higher than the rear.
  • Rear
    • Anti Inversion Shackle 5" from bolt to bolt and 7" overall on long side of the shackle
    • Rancho RS43133 Leaf Springs
    • New Bilstein Shocks
    • Rear Swing Out Tire carrier and cooler from 4Plus
    • Rear sags ~2" compared to the front.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Well, if it has the same Rancho springs front and rear and the SR added 2” in the front, maybe try to find a set of OME front leafs and swap just the fronts?

I can’t remember offhand, but I think the Rancho kit for the 40 was 4”

 

[badsamaritan]

Well, if it has the same Rancho springs front and rear and the SR added 2” in the front, maybe try to find a set of OME front leafs and swap just the fronts?

I can’t remember offhand, but I think the Rancho kit for the 40 was 4”

When I owned this rig the first time there was a book with all the receipts and I swore it said 4" as well. I can't find anything to be sure, but my guess is either 3" or 4". I'm going to give cruiser outfitters a call and see what they say. Though swapping springs front to rear is not a bad idea. I think to get where I want to be I am going to have to pull the shackle reversal out and start from there. I'll post what cruiser outfitters recommends.

 

[Boston Mangler]

When I owned this rig the first time there was a book with all the receipts and I swore it said 4" as well. I can't find anything to be sure, but my guess is either 3" or 4". I'm going to give cruiser outfitters a call and see what they say. Though swapping springs front to rear is not a bad idea. I think to get where I want to be I am going to have to pull the shackle reversal out and start from there. I'll post what cruiser outfitters recommends.

No, my suggestion is as to keep the SR in the front and just put less lift leafs in the front and keep rear as is and it might level perfectly

Having owned 40s with and without SR, SR is a pretty dramatic ride quality improvement

 

[badsamaritan]

No, my suggestion is as to keep the SR in the front and just put less lift leafs in the front and keep rear as is and it might level perfectly

Having owned 40s with and without SR, SR is a pretty dramatic ride quality improvement

AHH ok, I misinterpreted I'm definitely willing to give it a shot

 

[MOTOV8R]

called my local discount tire and asked if I could return them and go to a 255/85/16 and they refused to mount that size tire on a 6" wide wheel. I was pretty surprised by that since so many people run that combo here. So it looks like I am stuck with this combo unless I unload the wheels and tires.

Had the same issue at discount tire with a 33x10, went to Les Schwab and they mounted it right up. They go with whatever the tire manufacturer recommends and that’s it.

 

[60 40]

Pictures of your suspension and shackles and their angle would help....but...

If your considering adding a winch you might want to figure what that would weigh and place a similar weight of whatever on the front bumper and jump up and down on it for a bit to see if that improves your stance? Also you haven't really mentioned how your truck rides, given it's a Rancho lift I'm guessing it's pretty stiff it's possible you could remove some leaves from the springs in the front to allow more sag which would straiten your springs and change your shackle angle if your SR allows it.

Along the removing leafs theme If you purchase the 2" OME lift your probably gonna want heavy if adding a winch there again you can also remove leaves to lower or soften the ride. I would probably get rid of the SR and get new springs (Terrain Tamers?) all around. This would be the expensive route and you would need all new "new" shocks but if your adjusting the height it's a great chance to adjust the ride to your expected final weight as well.

 

[Boston Mangler]

it's possible you could remove some leaves from the springs in the front to allow more sag which would straiten your springs and change your shackle angle if your SR allows it.

I agree with this 100%

I’ve removed and added leafs out of packs before to get the right height and ride. Good option

 

[White Stripe]

You have a really nice 40. However it is setup for big tires. I'm not sure why you want to put small tires on it. Personally I don't like the look of the small tires on your 40. The 33s and bullet hole wheels looked nice. The rancho springs were 2.5" lift. You could put some stock height springs up front(I dont remember who sells them)and some ome 2.5 lift springs in the rear. With the body lift that will look like you have a 4" lift visually. With a 4" lift anything smaller than 33s will look unusual. Anything less than 33s will give you a fairly high highway rpm too unless you go to 3.73s or a 5 speed.

 

[badsamaritan]

I have pictures, it's been crazy at my house with kids etc. Overall, the truck rides great, my biggest complaint would be the body lift making it tall and a pain to get into and out of. I am trying to re-do the AA twin stick linkage now so I can remove the body lift, it's 2" tall.

Front Shackle Reversal, I believe it's an older MAF kit. Front Springs are RS43033. Also have a 4Plus Bumper for a planetary style winch...haven't even gone down that rabbit hole yet of which winch I want. I'll take a look at weights of some common models and see if I can get close.

Front Suspension rear shackle

Rear Suspension forward shackle, Springs are unknown, but I assume they are Rancho's well.

Rear Suspension Rear Shackle.

 

[badsamaritan]

You have a really nice 40. However it is setup for big tires. I'm not sure why you want to put small tires on it. Personally I don't like the look of the small tires on your 40. The 33s and bullet hole wheels looked nice. The rancho springs were 2.5" lift. You could put some stock height springs up front(I dont remember who sells them)and some ome 2.5 lift springs in the rear. With the body lift that will look like you have a 4" lift visually. With a 4" lift anything smaller than 33s will look unusual. Anything less than 33s will give you a fairly high highway rpm too unless you go to 3.73s or a 5 speed.

The older setup of wheels and tires hit or rubbed everything. They were 33x12.50's on 15x10 wheels and drove horribly and ground a spot of the rear disc caliper off. They also stuck out so far outside the tub they threw everything up the side of the tub. In terms of size, I went up in wheel size 1" and down in Tire size ~1" as these are just under a 32" tire. I agree the rig was setup for big tires, and when I owned it originally in my 20's and in Washington State, I was ok with the setup despite it being too tall to fit into my garage. But now, I'd like to get into and out of it easier, and it will see mostly road miles with some trips to the beach or the desert.

I freely admit that I screwed up on the current wheels and tires. I had seen so many rigs with 255's on here that I didn't think there would be an issue. I also didn't think that ~1 in in tire size would look so different but it definitely does. I can probably get back to a 33" but there's so much going on here like the body lift that I'd like to correct all of that and not hide it with bigger tires like the PO's did. It also had the same obvious sag in the rear and nose high stance before the wheels and tires, it was just less obvious.

 

[Boston Mangler]

If you’re definitely taking out the body lift, check the steering linkage beforehand to make sure they didn’t weld in an extension. I’ve seen some odd things done during body lift installs and some of them are a mofo to reverse.

Just a heads up, to make it smoother job with less snags

 

[badsamaritan]

If you’re definitely taking out the body lift, check the steering linkage beforehand to make sure they didn’t weld in an extension. I’ve seen some off things done during body lift installs and some of them are a mofo to reverse.

Just a heads up, to make it smoother

thanks, I'll take a look. I do want it removed, but would be happy if I could get it down to ~1" or so. it used to have either a 3 or 4" and I reduced that to 2" when I did the LS swap. I don't recall steering being a issue then, but I'll look before I do anything else.

 

[badsamaritan]

Ideally, here is where I would like to end up. This rig also has a shackle reversal and is running smaller tires than mine

Credit to @78fj40mg

 

[Boston Mangler]

Ideally, here is where I would like to end up. This rig also has a shackle reversal and is running smaller tires than mine

Credit to @78fj40mg

View attachment 3806113

That looks perfect

 

[badsamaritan]

Got some time to do some homework on the Rancho part numbers I found stamped on the springs. I was able to find an older Rancho Catalog and look up what lift kit used my leaf spring numbers. Was kind of disappointed to see that it's just an older Rancho 2.5" lift. I was actually hoping it was more like a 3 or 4" lift since I wanted to bring the height down a ways. I updated post #41 above.

I also reached out to Alcan about custom springs with a lower amount of lift and spoke to cruiseroutfitters as well about OME 2.5" lift. They seemed to want to talk me out of buying that kit and mentioned parts of it were on back order. From my view, it can't make the rig any worse and at least everything would be new and in good condition. Still going to try and find some time to pull a leaf and see if that helps some.

 

[badsamaritan]

Ordered and received my OME lift from Cruiser Outfitters and had a local shop install it. Really wanted to do the work myself but with work travel it wouldn't get done for months. Overall the ride height came down about 1/2" and the body sits much more level front to rear. In the pictures the old suspension is still in the back so it's slightly lower. I can still pull the body lift once I get trans and tcase ironed out and get those wheel well gaps a little smaller.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Ordered and received my OME lift from Cruiser Outfitters and had a local shop install it. Really wanted to do the work myself but with work travel it wouldn't get done for months. Overall the ride height came down about 1/2" and the body sits much more level front to rear. In the pictures the old suspension is still in the back so it's slightly lower. I can still pull the body lift once I get trans and tcase ironed out and get those wheel well gaps a little smaller.

View attachment 3839223

Looks great

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Ordered and received my OME lift from Cruiser Outfitters and had a local shop install it. Really wanted to do the work myself but with work travel it wouldn't get done for months. Overall the ride height came down about 1/2" and the body sits much more level front to rear. In the pictures the old suspension is still in the back so it's slightly lower. I can still pull the body lift once I get trans and tcase ironed out and get those wheel well gaps a little smaller.

View attachment 3839223

Perfect stance

Thank you!!

 

[badsamaritan]

Perfect stance

Thank you!!

@cruiseroutfit big thanks to your tech support crew, I had a lot of questions since my goal was to lower the vehicle and retain the shackle reversal. We had several emails back and forth and they worked a quote for me pretty quickly. Really appreciate the help with this