1993 OBS ECSB 4/6 drop done!

[Q-DawgVFR]

It's done finally!

It was slightly more involved than I thought it would be, but it all went pretty good. Most of the problems I had stemmed from replacing rubber bushings with Energy Suspension ones.

I don't have any pics just yet, as the truck has been dropped off for an alignment first thing in the AM, but I promise to post some in a day or two when I get back from the city. (Gotta go to Edmonton for eye appointment..)

Initial impressions are that it feels pretty good, and is firm and responsive, without being bone jarring harsh. Haven't tested too many bumps with it yet, though.

My mudflaps are now dragging on the ground every time I hit a bump. I will trim them back and all should be well.

Another clearance issue that was sort of a surprise to say the least was with my fan shroud.

I heard an awful noise coming from engine bay after the truck had idled for a bit. Popped the hood to find fan rubbing on shroud. I guess the transmission shims tilted the engine enough to cause a slight issue there. A little trim with a utility knife should suffice to remedy that situation.

Haven't had the truck faster than 45 MPH yet, as I haven't got the alignment done yet, but no noticable vibrations yet.

I'm loving the attention the truck is getting already as it turns heads now wherever I go...... Probably just as many haters as admirers, but I could give a rat's ar$e what they think. I build my vehicles to impress me, not others!:rocking:

[97gmcextcab]

:nopics: j/k
Did you get the airbags installed also? If so how did they come together?

[Q-DawgVFR]

No, the bags aren't on yet.

I was gonna do everything, but summer is quickly disappearing and I just want to start driving this thing again.

I even abandoned my plans to paint the rest of the chassis.

My plan is now this priority:

-Finish interior and stereo work. get air conditioning working again. (ASAP)
-Install Whipple (late fall)
-rear disc conversion, install slam air bags and train horn, underbody lighting, paint chassis entirely, add thicker front sway bar and add a rear one. (over winter and spring)
-rear end re-gear and locker install (date yet to be figured out)
-AGR quick ratio steering box, transmission upgrades, engine rebuild (next year)

Most of this will likely get pushed back as I am hoping to install a bunch of gadgets on my custom Honda VFR800 Interceptor this winter as well.

Plus I'm hardly ever home. I'm either working 12 hour shifts, or I am with my wife and boy in Edmonton.

And I have some major work required for my garage this fall. Need to install more outlets amd lights, drywall it, plumb air outlets, add shelves and cabinets and toolbox.

Anyone like the stainless tool chest (41") from Costco?

I'm planning on buying one in around a week. Never had a nice tool cabinet to stow my things in before. Is this a good one? It seems pretty good to me for the money. I figure I can always add side cabinets later if I need to.....

[CKTA]

Check your mounts on the fan shroud......there is no way the fan should be hitting.

[bdiamond]

My fan hit my shroud also. I took out the transmission spacer altogether. It doesnt have near the vibration that it had with it in. It still has a slight vibration though.

[Q-DawgVFR]

bdiamond, was yours a Belltech kit also?

Thanks for the suggestions.

[97gmcextcab]

Me and dad have the massive tool box from costco in the garage. Very nice unit I must say.

[Nevr2Lo]

I have the costco stainless toolbox also and I love it.:10: :10: :10: :10: :10: :10: :10: :10: :10: :10: :10:

[bdiamond]

Yeah, mine was a belltech kit. I thought about trying to ditch the carrier bearing spacer also and just shimming the rearend for pinion angle. I think it will work, but not sure.

[Q-DawgVFR]

OK I promised pictures, so here's one (sorry lighting was a little bad and I was too lazy to move the truck for a better shot. It is really dirty anyhow.

Finally dropped 4/6:

http://www3.telus.net/Q-DawgVFR/images/Old%20Whitey%20pics%20011.jpg

And after getting the alignment done, I'm really happy with things. It drives very nice and ride is firm but takes the sting out of most bumps when needed.

I do have a minor driveline vibration at 55-60 KPH (indicated; my speedo is totally out to lunch running the 2.5 inch smaller diameter tires that are on the truck, compared to stock.) The vibration seems to just show up as I accelerate up through this range, but isn't too bad, from what I can tell. I notice no apparent vibration from 63-140 KPH indicated.

Is a little bit of vibration acceptable, or would you play around until everything is absolutely perfect? Or is perfect even attainable with a lowered truck?

[CKTA]

Being you have a vibration and your fan was hitting the shroud.....something is "off" somewhere. Check the "transmision" shims.....because they aren't tranny. shims....they are carrier bearing shims. :read:

[Q-DawgVFR]

Actually, my Belltech kit came with pinion angle shims, carrier bearing spacer, AND transmission spacers.

I installed everything EXACTLY as the instructions described.

I thought I would start somewhere, and see how much tweaking I had to do later.

And the fan shroud issue is now gone.

I guess if you leave it long enough, it takes care of itself!:aniteef:

[Q-DawgVFR]

Oh, and before the box went on, the driveline looked pretty straight, with a little angle on the carrier bearing to differential. You want some, right? It looks like it would go totally straight when accelerating and the rear end squats a bit.....

[sj250]

That's weird because I have a Belltech kit on my '92 and it didn't have any tranny spacers. I have it lowered 5/7 and there is no vibration at all. I would pop those tranny spacers out and see what happens. Do you have an angle finder to check your pinion as well??

[Q-DawgVFR]

That's weird because I have a Belltech kit on my '92 and it didn't have any tranny spacers. I have it lowered 5/7 and there is no vibration at all. I would pop those tranny spacers out and see what happens. Do you have an angle finder to check your pinion as well??


No, but I'm gonna have someone look at it that has some clue what to do with it..... In other words, not me!

[CKTA]

I would pop those tranny spacers out and see what happens.


:word:

[Q-DawgVFR]

OK, went for another drive with my mechanic pal.

He confirmed that there is a slight vibration, but that it is nothing even worth doing anything about. (He thinks it is my exhaust, actually. I had to cut the exhaust off at the muffler outlet when I did the c-notch; there was no way it could clear the axle.)

Anyhow, it is much less vibration than what I had when my carrier bearing and one u-joint were in need of replacement when I bought the truck.

I might also just be noticing the difference that the poly-urethane transmission mount makes in terms of added vibrations. I don't know. Not too worried about any of it. I'm gonna drive the truck just the way it is!

Thanks for the suggestions and help anyways, guys.

[bdiamond]

Don't know kph to mph conversion, but mine had a pretty bad vibration at 10 -15 mph then a slight vibration again at around 60 mph.Taking out the tranny spacer all but eliminated the low speed vibration.

[96thebossgrnchv]

most of the time the belltech carrier bearing spacer is to thick(made for a 5/8 drop), try switching it out with a 1/2" shim, the belltechs are like 1 1/2"

[96thebossgrnchv]

truck looks badass btw, are those 17's?

[Q-DawgVFR]

Thanks for the compliment on the truck. I can't wait to do all the finishing touches on the exterior to really make it stand out more.

Yup, they are 17's. Centerlines of some sort.

I bought them used from a guy upgrading to 20's and the price was right. Had I know I would be dropping the truck so much when I bought them, I would have wanted something with less offset to tuck a little more. I will definately have to roll the fender lips.I just MIGHT tinker a bit in the next few weeks to see if the transmission spacer or a thinner carrier spacer will do anything for me, but I'm actually quite happy with the way it is.

Like I said there is the SLIGHTEST vibration, but even when I noticed it, I was not alarmed or concerned too much by it.

And after hearing someone else (who is the service manager at a dealership) say that there is nothing to be concerned about with this, I'm convinced that it will be OK the way it is.