So I've collected a couple of parts to install this weekend:
- SJ 6" Coils (To swap with my RC 4" coils)
- SJ 6" Leafs (to swap with my stock leafs, 4" RC block)
- SJ Sway Bar End Links (to swap with stock links)

The front went pretty smoothly - I did it last minute so I was alone... I am running with 4" drop brackets so I had to compress the springs pretty tightly to get them in. Drivers side went in easy, passenger side was a f'ing PITA. Does anyone else notice SO much less articulation on the passenger side? It was unbelieveable. The sway bar end links - if anyone gets them just be careful, gotta cut the bushing the bottom end shorter to fit.

So I ran outta daylight (big storm, got dark early) so I saved the rear springs for Sunday. No big deal, get it all disconnected. Plan was to swap out my stock + 4" RC lift blocks for the NO blocks, and the springs with a shackle. Well comes time to disconnect at the front hanger, and I see the massive crack. Just plain unsafe to drive, youll see the picture below. It was widening anytime there was pressure on it, to about 1/4". The passenger side is starting to rust away too, so Ill just fix em both. Plan is to get the hangers from FORD and after some grinding & rivet-punching, install the new ones. Also, the rear hanger area on the frame is starting to rust away, so I am going to fab up a gusset for those.

I dunno when Ill be able to get to it, but Ill post up some pics of that when I do. Enjoy the photos.




Some of the parts:


A pre-work, as-is photo...


Feeling Disconnected...


Compare & Contrast...


Back Together


Looks Good, right?


Old on the left, new on the Right


Enough blocks to build an adobe


Oh ****..


As she sits right now..




The drivers side hangar, cut away

 

i thought you were holding up the rear end with buckets... i didnt see the jacks lol nearly spilled my crown and coke.

 

Oh man, that made me actually laugh out loud.

 

lol i thought the same exact thing. i was gonna ask where you bought such strong buckets, lol.

 

MightyBuckets.com I usually prefer to use my soap boxes and refrigerator boxes to do my vehicle jacking



And a real shame on that craked part.. ugh, going to take a bit of work to fix that one up.. rust eaten, maybe it IS worth it to stock up on black rattle cans and do a once over on teh underside, scrape it and steel weel everything, prime it, blast it, and every now and then spray it off and blast it again.. perhaps I may end up doing that :-)

 

ha ha i was thinking the same thing

 

i guess i should have warned ya about them brackets

get ALL 4 new brackets and 2 new stock shackles...you should be able to get them from a dealership for roughly $120 for everything (that is what i paid for mine)....

your best bet on changing those brackets would be removing the bed....then use a grinder to drind the head off the rivet, then take a punch and punch them out.....then use Grade 8 bolts to put the new brackets on......


everything looks good....you will be surprised on how well it will align with the 6" springs and 4" drop brackets.....that is how mine is now....

 

POR 15 will be your freind!! haha

for the rivets, cut X's in the heads of the rivets and pop em off with an air chisel, once you get the hanger off, there will still be a section of the rivet still in the frame... grind it smooth with the frame... heat it up with a propane torch or something that wont burn your truck down ha then punch em out.... heat makes it ALOT easier!

 

what r u doing with ur old lift kit if ur guna sell it for a good price i want to buy it have been lookin for a cheaper lift a used on would be great if u want to sell pm with the info thanks alot

 

lol i had to look twice i could not find the jacks i was convinced that the buckets were holding the truck

 

:) no worries. The rear brackets are less than a year old, so no worries there. However, the part of the frame that they mount to is getting shot, so ill grind it down, prime it, and fab up some gussets for it. I have to give ford a call on the front brackets & the main bolt.

Im really, really lookin forward to wheelin it hard once done!

 

im gonna give that a shot. good thinkin

 

yuck rust!

i would pull the bed as well. clean that frame while u still have a frame.

front looks good.

btw the new ford brackets come with bolts.

 

I figure if i pull the bed to make it easier to get to, i am looking at an extra 8-10 hours of work. The body mounts look like they havent been touched since 94!

 

wait until you try to get those bolts in on the drivers side with the gas tank in the way. getting the bed off will save some major headaches.