..project never done..

[flatblack83]

Hi guys im new here, heres my lil project from the last 4 years, i started with an 83 chevy swb, ill post the pics now and if interested ask and it has alot done..also 453 hp...

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/0717091725b.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/0717091725a.jpg

[Deviant1]

Not a big fan of mixing body styles, but that thing looks tuff and mean!

[flatblack83]

Yea i wasnt sure it would fit good either but it seemed to fit real good and rust wont be a large prob with this one...

[saltwater cowboy]

You need a winch to run the warn winch bumper :P Why wont rust be a issue?

[flatblack83]

Na no rust, its garage kept...lol, it hibernates during winter, fiberglass bed sides for sure wont rust... I usually wash it afer a day of muddin or wheelin and park it in the corner, and believe me it gets used...a winch is in the process, i just got done fabbing up a dual optima battery box and ordered a powermaster alt. Following that will be a 10-12,000 lb winch.....

[fortplainman]

god i love this truck, its such a fuggin beast!

[BOTMAN]

Sub'd :CR:

[flatblack83]

Yea its a good play toy, its alot of fun to take out and tear it up..lol, we were wheeling a few weeks ago and my friend has a one ton jeep, he got stuck and i drove around him and towed em out like i had a little trailer on...lol
Thanks guys ill get you some more...

[TheFreeman2005]

That truck looks great! Any vids of it in action?

[flatblack83]

Thanks, sorry no vids of it now but i will have some soon.

[trendkill]

Sweet.

[flatblack83]

The right lockout hub broke right at the beginning so the tire wont spin its just like a ski...lol

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/th_MuddBogg09047.jpg (http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/?action=view&current=MuddBogg09047.flv)

[flatblack83]

Did some work to the front end this past month, I removed the 8inch front superlift springs for a new set of alcans, new poly bushings and longer shackles. The new springs are 53 inches long alot longer than the old ones, i moved the shackle hanger rearward. moved it too far so im plating the frame and moving the shackle hanger up and forward about 2 inches each way. I have to shim up the axle so i get a decent pinion angle, a new 1350 shaft on order along with my new longer stainless brake lines. I put skyjacker nitros on that have 12 inches of travel almost 5 more than before. It rides beutiful, almost too good for a leaf spring truck...heres some pics , lots too do yet this week.
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/greentruck006.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/greentruck002.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/greentruck004.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0113001527.jpg

As you can see the stock shaft i way too short and the shackles are 2inches too long , bolts need to be shortened , skyjackers for now till i pick the correct valving that ill need. It should sit either level or a lil low in the front, if low ill lower the rear some.

[RWSZ71]

I like that truck, looks like a lot of fun

[Lobsters]

I want some more vids of this thing. I really like this truck.

[nick613]

Thats one badass truck

[flatblack83]

I have one more video but its not going through a mud hole its crawling uo a little silt bank , if i can find it, The truck is mean, slowly where i want it....thanks guys, ill have more pics soon when i fix shackle angles and shim the axle...

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/th_Wheelin09087-1.jpg (http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/?action=view&current=Wheelin09087-1.flv)

[flatblack83]

1 and 2 pics when I first got it, after we put a motor/trans in it

3 body work done, 91 burb rad support, d60, 14bolt , 37s
4 bed change
5 offroad b4 the bed change
6 39s And all black
7 All green

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/l_749de55dc7bac78cb6bbb7c412c7d2f7.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/l_e176165a1058670d80a29e72a241fff2.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/BlackTruck.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/0909081311a.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/Picture260.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/0619091448a.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/0719091649a.jpg

[M.L.S.C.]

I got a quick question, are the two plates (per side) of your front shackles connected to each other in some way? With shackles that long you really wanna have them so they form one solid piece (instead of just two pieces of flat stock running parallel), your bolts on both ends will thank you for that...

[ryan_thompson87]

Man every time I look at this thing I admire it more. Quick question when you went to 52 up front, are you just using the stock rear hanger moved back and is it sharing bolts with the body mount? I want to run 52s (God Superlift springs ride awful don't they) up front and was looking at the B52 kit from Diy4x but this looks cheaper and easier.

[flatblack83]

M.L.S.C.....The shackles will be connected togeather, that was just to see how it was with a long
shackle, im going to shorten them, plate the frame and move them 2inches forward and up to get
a 35 degree angle and that should get me to where i want with a 6inch shackle. But with the
shorter shackle and the mount moved up i might not be able to connect the 2 pieces togeather,
might not have to or cant with it that far up the frame.



Ryan.....Thankyou....The springs i have are Alcan 53 inch springs, a little different than 52s. The center
pin on these is moved so you can leave the front spring mounts in their stock location. So with
these springs i torched the rivets outa the stock shackle mounts, drilled them 7/16 for bolts and
moved it back sharing the body mount holes. Which was too far, so im plating the frame with 1/4
plate on each side and moving the shackle mount forward and up 2 inches. It rides great now and
will ride better with a better angle. They ride 10xs better than the superlifts..(no hard
bounces) To do the 52s and buy new springs, ez inch to move you axle back, bushings, bolts,
shackles and the b52 kit still might be cheaper. ( these alcans are 600. plus shipping
but worth it for the ride , flex etc (i bought half price in the ck5 classifieds)

[M.L.S.C.]

M.L.S.C.....The shackles will be connected togeather, that was just to see how it was with a long
shackle, im going to shorten them, plate the frame and move them 2inches forward and up to get
a 35 degree angle and that should get me to where i want with a 6inch shackle. But with the
shorter shackle and the mount moved up i might not be able to connect the 2 pieces togeather,
might not have to or cant with it that far up the frame.

Actually you could make a plate that starts off flat and then bends to follow the radius of the two side plates of the shackle, and then weld it to them on the side that faces the rear of the truck - it looks like your side plates are wide enough to where the back plate would not rub against the spring eye, and you should have enough space for the back plate even after you move the shackles frame moiunt forward...

[flatblack83]

Although the shackle mount will be 2.5 forward and 2 inches up or so, with a 6inch shackle i wont have any room to connect the two pieces of shackle. The spring eye will only be 3 inches from the bottom of the frame leavin that space for shackle flex backward. If i connected the two it would interfiere with the frame. If it was like my rear shackle like in my next pic that would be fine to connect them....

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/0612091500a.jpg

[M.L.S.C.]

Yeah, I understand, that's why I said bend a plate and weld it between the two flat pieces at the very bottom and around the rear of the spring where the bolt goes through it - can't do it on your shackles cause their flat sides ain't as wide as the fronts, but it should work on the fronts, and you only lose less than 1/2" of your space between the spring and the frame rail... Makes sense, or a picture would help?

[flatblack83]

You mean connect the 2 at the very bottom a little up from the spring eye..?

[M.L.S.C.]

Yup!

[Cyclops]

I really like this truck. Looks badass.

[Cyclops]

What brand are those fender flares? I am thinking about swapping my fleetside for a stepside but I am thinking about trying to put fender flares on it. I have not been able to find any for a stepside 88-98 bed. Thanks.

[flatblack83]

Thankyou, and the flares on the bed are bushwacker extenda fenders that are like 7 years old. They go on with self tappers, i bought the flares used. The flares on the front fenders are 10 years old or so they are warn flares, the flares help out the bed to look a lil like it belongs on there....

[Honey Bear]

So what did it take to finally get that beast pulled out of the mud hole?

Great looking truck

[nobrand]

what a nice oobs! sweet truck man

[flatblack83]

So what did it take to finally get that beast pulled out of the mud hole?

Great looking truck



Thankyou, they have a real nice 4wd backhoe and a 20,000 lb strap. Works real good, sometimes they have to drive it halfway in the hole to get some trucks out. I usually make it right to the end and reverse out but i broke a front stock hub, 3 wheel drive wouldnt do it..lol.

[flatblack83]

what a nice oobs! sweet truck man

Thanks, its getting there. I still have alot to do yet, im waiting for parts to come in the mail. Then after that i can measure for a front shaft. I will be doing a sye on my 205 and upgrading my d60 to 35 spline axles and ctm u joints. Still have both diff covers from solid here that i didnt get to yet.

[gangreen]

Here is the new progress on my 53 inch alcan swap on the front... 1/4 plate welded in to cover up all holes, 9/16 bolts, poly bushings, new angle 35 degrees, diy4x steel shims to bring up the pinion, earls 24 inch brakelines, 12 inch travel skyjacker nitros(for now), waiting for new 1350 shaft...(ups) Heres are the pics so far... Sits right at 8 inches of lift..

new shackle angle
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0310001617.jpg
full droop, new lines and cheap shocks
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0310001320.jpg
full droop shackle angle
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/diesel/cid__0310001319.jpg
new view
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0316001923a.jpg
axle moved 1.5 forward
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0316001924.jpg

[gangreen]

I have had a prob logging in as flatblack83 so i am now gangreen....

............ Some new parts since march, I bought a new taller steering arm from virginia 4x4. 2 inch tall for more room between the springs and my crossover drag link. Needed a new shaft with more slip so i called tattons for a new 1350 with 12 inches of slip with a u bolt yoke instead of strap. The skyjackers do ok i guess but wanted something i hope is better so i picked up some rancho 9000x 9 way adjustable shocks in 14 inch travel for all four corners. The stock shock mounts won't do it so i plasma cut a set out of 1/2 inch plate to weld on the frame and then i tapped them for the studs that the rear shocks use. pics will be shortly.

[gangreen]

arm
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0416001005.jpg
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0416001005a.jpg

1350 shaft
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/diesel/cid__0323001430a.jpg

[gangreen]

shocks, still in boxes
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0416001011.jpg

mounts, 1/2 inch steel plate
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/GMC1983/cid__0404101022.jpg