So you like the dogleg over the straight shackle? Shorter bolts will be stronger and allow more flex.

You know the diff between a contractor and a enviromentalist? The environmentalist lives a house in the woods, the contractor wants to build a house in the woods.

At first it seemed simple, but there is no SAS kit for the Dmax and a HP D60 with 36.5 leaf mounts. I want to stay with leafs, coilovers break the bank in many ways.

Now Sky has a kit for the later HP D60, but it has the 8x170 bolt pattern and ball joints. That D60 also has 38.5 pads and uses angled shackles. I thought why not just push my mounts out 1 inch or so and go with the same idea, but with a small twist (well no twist). The SKY SAS kit is not expensive, but all I need are front and read hanger and some shackles, right?

So my idea is to move the pads out a little on the axle. 1 side is easy and the HP side is a little more work but not hard. This may not even be needed once I measure some more, but my frame is 38 inside to inside now.

So front mounts can go where I want really, just match the pad width. Shawn tells me keeping the spring mounts sorta level works best and caster can be managed with shims if needed. For the rear mounts you drill the frame and weld bushings in place. Plenty of meat there on the frame, inside and out. So why not extend the upper tube and use a longer bushing vs the angled shackle? Then on the spring end just use an alum spacer (or weld a steel spacer) giving me straight shackles? This would add about an inch to each rear shackle bolt.

Just wondering if the stress on the longer bolts would be to much? The upper should be no concern as the shear would be on the ends just like a short bushing. The lower with the spacer might be a concern, but would it?

After posting I think a welded steel spacer on the shackle would be a better idea placing all the stress on the bolt ends as is the normal

Here is a pic showing how SKY does it and my idea.

Cleaning this is a bare, think I will have the D60 blasted for the Dmax.

Have a solid bite on the flip of this, just need to mount the 9.5 after a little more cleanup.

Some fair shooting there. Put a H pic on them and it will be automatic!

I may have to get a 9mm just for practice. 40/45 is to pricey for plinking and I can finally qual with any auto I want vs the gun carried.

Well, that put a smile on my face!

Looking good. Throw a little mud and paint on there!

Took the boys to advance camp at the Fairgrounds. After setup it was off to Six Flags for the evening.

I didn't ride a thing, boys wanted to go back today after camp, not.

He is better looking

It will get done,,,,,,,,,

As another great American just said;

 

Great emoji!!!

Looks like Kavanaugh is on a roll,,,,,,,,,,,

Bringing this back to life a little as this is getting flipped now. Besides it is the right thread for it as some mods might say,,,,,,,,,,

It is up for sale on both pirate and CL, with a little attention. Running and sitting on all 4 would be a good option.

Pulled the blown 10 bolt rear out, prepping the 9.5. My cycle jack with a peice of wood works great!

Turns over fine with another battery. The found optima dropped a cell, but it was free! Has spark but no fuel, so first is to jusp the pump and check pressure.

To many little fires going right now, then I got a bug last night. Felt like someone turned a switch off. Slept for 12 hours and going again, slower but going.

Pouring a 3x3 slab for the pool heater then hopefully get that 9.5 under the sub.

Dodged another bullet there it seems, good all around I hope.


Maybe something a little smaller for the farm later? Would be even more self sustaining that way as long as you have chain saws that work,,,,,,,

By the way I think its a great idea, same reason I went solar, my summer bills were killing me. NG is reasonable out here and heats the house and soon the pool.

Hmm, Don is quiet after that info. Hope it works out. Wasn't there a note about using US pipe as in made in Kansas, I think I see a china stamped on that.

Dave, they have crazy burn laws out here. I am not in one the zones though and still have a real fireplace. I also think wood burning for home heating is exempt, was here last I checked. 

Tell him not to be a wuss Dave. Pull-and-tape.

Nice Shawn!!

That's what I thought too,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Very nice Bob, reminds me of the Almar boats when I worked. Suspension seat and closed cabin, nice for nice weather 

Our boats held up very nice in the brackish water. Must of set you back about the price of a Duramax!

Have talked to Tate a little. Prob keep the axle as it is more or less. Sure gears and rebuild even keeping the ford brakes.

I do need to address the tone ring, which looks to be a 55. Kits are around for it, about $100 and machine the hubs (which I can do).

Also need to address the tcase. Will need a yoke eliminator kit and rear case since I got the rub. Thinking about upgrading to better case and going manual. Its a 263XHD and there are a few compatible (mp1225/6, mp1625/6). Need a 29 spline input and a 31 rear slip.

Lots of little things to get together. 

I want to start getting parts for this as I rebuild the front end.

Pretty sure I can use almost everything from my dodge dana 60 on this, cept the gears and that is covered. That should cover the cross-over steering and internals, less outer 35s?

So I need spring brackets, springs, shocks and hoops. Not sure if I want to fill the frame when I cut all the stuff off. It would look cleaner though. Also do I need a panhard bar, GMs don't use em. Then a pitman arm for the crossover and I will use tierod ends. A anti sway bar is in the plans.

Hopefully Tate and Sean are watching this and will chime in.

I plan on a rear locker since I'm doing gears, as well as the shackle flip.

Should be done, well before Square D is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Did a little fence building today, 20 ft left!

Why not get the newer ford front end style sas kit. ?

http://www.wfoconcepts.com/cr/Chevy-GMC-2500-3500-HD-00-10/9105/10446

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, its $1500 to start with and not made for my axle. It has crossed my mind (carefull)

Plus I want leafs so I don't have to mess with coil over mounts and coil overs that cost as much as the truck! The normal spring for this is 47in. If I use a gm 56in spring I can get about any rate I want and they are cheap!
 

Those are the STT, I got the MTP made for DT by Cooper. They have a little friendlier center treat for maybe longer wear and a touch quieter.

Those are the 37s I'm getting with my worn 35s behind em. Nice thing with DT I can get either tire!

We need to talk some more to see what I can get from you on this.

Those rocks would make a heck of an obstacle along the main road or even a way to block the main entrance if that ever arose. Place a few in the right spot with a "key" to knock out.

There are other ways in/out if I recall.