From the dead! not too much progress..been busy... and waiting to do too much untill this yrs registration so i can do it for 2yrs and then have a street legal race truck. LOL I also bought a 69 VW bug as a daily driver. HA

Got some more parts..Backing plates to run race snouts/hubs based on bolt on Dana 44 snout patterns, Uniballs, Shock rebuild stuff, ect..


Some 2.0 Sway away bump stops..4in stroke.


Had a buddy machine some custom spacers for the upper arm mounts.



Rebuilt my 10in SAW's, pretty much brand new now, and i picke dup soem 14in SAW's to 3-link the rear of the truck.


Got the whole driver side suspension pretty much done..Cycled, have to do some frame notching by the upper mounts, but cycled good and clean.
ride height

Droop will go more




and about how wide it will be


I have some Chromoly tie rods for it, and some machined aluminum ones on the way as well for bling factor. Ha.

After i get it registered in may, it will be parked, and parted out..Everything interior..air bags, Rims/tires, lift spindles, motor, so if anyone needs anything..hit me up..Ill give ya deal on spindles if throw in stock ones so i can keep it rollin around.

-Vince

 

Wow, that is one hell of a custom rebuild / redesign.
TONS of work... TONS of time invested.
Why don't you document all the fabbed parts, patent them, and sell your patent so you can RETIRE.
By now, those front end components must be worth more than the trucks purchase price.
Why can't people with your skills live in my neighborhood?
I'd always have a case of beer ready for this type of neighborly help on my truck.

 

Ya, alot of work and time..and ya, $$$, but its worth it end the end.>So much fun racing desert and playing out there. And honestly, there are about 5-7 companies with great Long Travel kits for 97-03's that have all parts designed on CAD and just cut out..my design is no where close to some of theirs, or their production amount level. My buddy and i Do have a business license, and do work, but were just garage work really to fund the racing..We keep all the jigs for the kits, so we can build more. Its just somehting about, "hey i built this myself, i didnt buy it, and im out here racing it,a nd workin it along with all the BIG $$$ guys.

And in this economy, the parts for sure = more than the truck itsself..FML! LOL

 

truly elite build. very nice truck. how's the 4-link rear coming along? is that real hard to design/fabricate? i was thinking about a 3 or 4 link for my 1995. do the swing arms need to be boxed steel, or can they be made with tube? and where do you mount the inside links on the frame? would i be able to maintain a somewhat useable bed on my truck? you know...for spare tires and tools..

BTW, thanks for checking out my thread...i can use all the pro help i can get for sure.

 

Alright, 1st off, not tryin to be a ****, but you have alot to learn. The rear will be 3 linked, and no rear frame will be left, cut off behind the cab to a tube chassis. I have not started that yet at all. the 95 frame rails are totally different, and the correct term is trailing arms, swing arms are for steering. But yes, most trailing arms are made with 1 tube bent int he correct sopts, then boxed in with plate. Some full plate are also doable. Honestly, buy a weld it yourself kit, and that will take all the geometry out of it mostly. Look into Giant motorsports or threat motorsports, they both make awesome WIY trailing arm, and link mounts for the frame, as well as full kits. But where you mount them is up to you and what wheelbase you want, how long a link, ow much travel, Alot goes into it. The lower trailing arms mount outside the frame, and the upper links or wishbone will mount inside..but it all depends how its setup. no location specific really. Also, keeping the bed would be pointless, you will lose a ton of up travel, so if you really wanna keep the bead..dont even link it, just get some deavers and shock hoops/bed cage.

check out www.dezertrangers.com sign up and read/learn..Ask dumb questions and you will get nothin but crap. So read, learn and search lots of great info if you be patient and read.

 

I love it.. doing mine next?

 

sweet build man cant wait to see more progress.

 

Pretty bad *** man. wouldnt mind seeing it in person some time. I see you made most of the work yourself...im looking to have a piece fabbed up for my truck. Think you could help out?

 

me and my GF are doing a 5.4 swap into her 4.2 no more then 30 min away from you over in gilbert

from my research you do not need a new computer only if you keep the coil packs which the 5.4 didnt come with so you would need to get them off a 4.6, which then you would need to piece together a 4.6 and 5.4 engine wireing harness, and if you keep your trans, and if its the 5 speed you will need to ditch it. so if you keep your coil packs and trans keep your ecu and have it tuned for the extra displacement or go to coil on plugs and get a new trans. so it would be much easier to just get the 5.4 ecu only reason for the lightning ecu would be for if you want the lightning 4r100 trans instead of the 4r70. and you can put the lightning sc setup on the 5.4 without the lightning ecu

 

What are you lookin to have built? All work is done at my Buddys shop, he has a 2 port RV garage in his back yard we work out of..Just finished a 05 Nissan Frontier. Its pretty bad ***. Im sure we can build ya what you need, and be cheaper than any shop rate.

 

I have been doing some research and unless i can get a smokin deal on a 5.4 and ECU, im not even gonna hassle with it. And just go with an Built LS1 or 6.0. Can run them off a few wires, and turbo 400 trans.. alot stronger and simpler..And cheaper. Cause it will be blown up at some point during a race.

Do you know of anyplaces that buy Ford motors out here in the east valley, so once the 4.2 is pulled i can get somethin for it.

 

yeah an ls1 or any chevy would be easier then to swap in a 5.4 or like you suggested earlier a 351

could try some ford specific junk yards, or craigslist thats where we got a 5.4 engine and trans for $300 nothing wrong with it just rebuilding it to handle some power

 

$300!! thats a steal, for that price i would do it. Ha, Ya, a 351 would be simple..but weight to power ratio stock, the LS would be way better with the weight of the alum. block. And are a dime a dozen seems like now days.

Plus i wont have the stock gauge cluster, and i thought i heard something about the 5.4's or our trannies not being able to run w/o the stock cluster..that may be in accordance with the ecu though