Aim for 4 degrees! I have been at 6 before but didnt care for it. I have been at 4 degrees since my D30 install. My Dana60 is the same.

As for the coilovers I would try and shoot for 5 and 5. 5 degrees back and 5 degrees towards the engine.

Have you set the weight on the coilovers? Are you sure you are at ride right or are you at what you want ride height to be? I know I had this dream ride height on mine but when I was all said and done I had to reset my caster because ride hieght wasnt exactly what I hoped for. (with radius arms your caster is going to change based on ride height!!)

 

I would mount the shock hoop, track bar then go and mount the lower links once the weight is on it. that way you are certain what you are getting. Tack it up then take the weight back off and cycle the suspension. see what clears, if you are unsure disassemble the coilovers and just run the shock with no spring, cycle again and see what your travel is like. If you like it then fully weld the brackets.

(Btw when I mean tack you are going to have to put a decent weld on it but put it where its easy to grind off.)

 

Well hopefully once its all welded up it will be as easy as swaping the C bushings to get it closer to 4º.
I have the truck sitting on stands at the heigth Im shooting for.With the axle under it I had 7º caster,knowing it will decrease with compression and get bigger under droop.Coilovers have no coils on them rite now and there hasnt been anyway to put the weight on them until these mounts are done.
Well after talking with a few other guys on GL4x4 they suggested actually putting axle under truck at full stuff and compressing coilovers completely then build my hoops to fit since the lower mounts were finished. Thats is what I spent thursday doing and found the diff hit my new engine crossmember and the lower Ballistic brackets I welded to the knuckles didnt allow enough misalignment at the lower coilover bolt. The spacers that came with my Kings only allow 5º of misalignment before they bind.This meant I would have to lean the Kings rearward 12º to stop the lowers from binding. First I didnt like that because it would change the spring rate and second it cause clearance issues at the master cylinder.
Soooo...I wont be using the lower brackets I already welded on and came up with a much better mount that bolts to where the C's bolt together.Im going to use different misalignment spacers at the lower mount the fix the binding issue.

I been sick as hell the last two days so I will have pix later I hope.

 

Makes sense. The reason I mentioned doing it the other way is because once the weight is on is it really going to stuff in that manner? Not full bump, you should really bump stop it before the shock are fully compressed. I know the axle twists on radius arms but I wasnt thinking about the misalignment on the shocks being an issue.

Another reason 3/4 links are the way to go Since my caster never changes I dont have to accommodate the misalignments on the shocks.

 

Im setting it up with 4in of compression {i hope} but the last inch will be on bump stops.So it should only have 3" of usable stuff.

 

Well I got the flu over my vacation like I have never had before so basicly nothing got done on truck until this past weekend.

Turns out the lower coilover mounts wont work. The caster angle was to much for the lower misalignment bushings in the coilovers and they would of had to be mounted leaning back almost 15º to stop them from binding. So I built my own lower mount that uses the top two wedge bolts and one of the coil spring pad bolt holes. Coilovers can now sit at 5º rear and 5º in.


Then I made 4 stands to weld to the frame for the hoops to sit on.

After a whole day of mocking the coilovers up getting the right angles I welded up the hoops.



Just need to make the crossover bar and weld up the radius arm mounts at the frame and looks like she ready for coils.

 

youve got some bad nasty welds!! cant wait to see some wheeling videos when she is done!

 

Going to move heims to other mounting hole to push axle forward another inch. Need to build the crossover for the hoops and mount the track bar.

 

i want that.

 

Looks badass.... Love it.

 

Turned out awesome. Can't wait to see it rolling.

 

How long till the test drive?

 

wow she looks great!

 

i want to see pics of this rig doing what it was built for!

 

drool, this thing is so cool

 

Awesome

 

Still working on steering but it rolls!

 

Finally!

 

Hell yeah!

Is the metal in the bed sides strong enough to stand on?

 

gnar.

 

kill.

 

---- ya that looks great!

 

No thats just thin aluminum.Its on there for tire coverage and for looks mostly.

 

this thing is awesome.

 

Very nice build, felt bad when you started cutting into the perfect body and frame but end result looks great, would love to see more detail regarding your engine mounts, they look like a solid mount setup. I am presently putting a 5.0 efi into my 88 ranger, have been playing with different mounting systems for a few months now, faded up a set of Advance Adapter cloned adapter plates, puts motor right where I want it but they look like crap, anyway any additional info and details you would provide would be appreciated. Also how did you bend your pipe for the cage and bed?? Again nice job.