Silverado2500 superduty axle swap and more

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Where to set the springs

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[Easemaster3000 [Veteran Member]]

Where to set the springs

Sent from my SM-G900R7 using Tapatalk

Not knowing how much the weight of the front of the truck would be over the springs I just mounted the buckets at a height that looked good. When I sat the truck down yesterday on the axle it didn't sit but 1/2" lower than the intended ride height. When I build the lower perches I will compensate for that 1/2" and add an inch or so incase it settles any. I'll draw out how I'm gonna do it this afternoon an post it.

[Easemaster3000 [Veteran Member]]

WFO steering kit came in today, that tie rod though


2"x .25" DOM on the tie rod with 1.25" ends and 1.5"x.25" DOM with 7/8" ends on drag link. Tie rod is a little overkill but should never think about bending with my hydro assist.

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Where to set the springs

Sent from my SM-G900R7 using Tapatalk

Not knowing how much the weight of the front of the truck would be over the springs I just mounted the buckets at a height that looked good. When I sat the truck down yesterday on the axle it didn't sit but 1/2" lower than the intended ride height. When I build the lower perches I will compensate for that 1/2" and add an inch or so incase it settles any. I'll draw out how I'm gonna do it this afternoon an post it.

This is the top of the mounting surface.


4x6 or 4x5 tubing is what I'll be using for the mount it self. I'm going to cut it to the height I need then cut out enough so I can bolt it down. The bottom will be caped and a hole drilled to match the hole on the axle surface "14mm bolt". The top will have a 6" round .25" plate for the spring to sit on and a retaining plate to hold the spring down.

[Easemaster3000 [Veteran Member]]

Got a little fabrication done the other day. Bracket is made to convert a 05+ Superduty axle spring perch over to accept a 79 ford style spring. The main block of the perch is 3"x6" tubing plated on the bottom with 3/16" flat plate a 1/4" round 5.5" plate on top and a 3.5" pipe in the center.

Rough full size drawing before any cutting.


Tubing being cut


2 4x6 pieces cut and radius cut on the back to meet the radius on the axle knuckle. Few more cuts to make it more pleasing to the eye.



3/16 caps on the bottom


Test fit and mark for mounting hole.


Roundish plates marked and tacked into position.


Plate welded out.


Taking shape.


Cutting pipe for top.


Finished product.


Sitting on the new perches. I made retainers like I did on the top just didn't fasten them down just yet.






On the down side it looks like I'm gonna have to make new radius arms after all. I'll know more after I get the caster set and track bar on.

[fun in dirt [Veteran Member]]

Looks great!

[Easemaster3000 [Veteran Member]]

Saturday I got the tires off got the axle on stands and pulled the knuckle. The 05+ dana 60 axles are set 1° Pos caster from the factory. A few people I've seen that added in an adjuster, set it around 3°. I've got mine set around 5°, I might roll it back to 6 but I think 5 will do.



Sunday after church I mounted track bar brackets and did a little painting. The track bar wound up landing right in the center of my bucket. I just notched the bucket to the outside of the 4 original mounting holes.





The bottom bracket is right in the way of the spring perch. It'll be a pain but I can still get it bolted down.



Knocked off all the surface rust and painted all the bare parts.





After some more test fitting and measuring there was no way around it, custom arms are gonna have to be made. I ordered a couple of Currie Johnny Joints and I've got some 2" DOM on the way.

[Easemaster3000 [Veteran Member]]

The first task of the weekend was getting some paint on these allen head bolts.


Got a late start Saturday, got my upper shock mounts cut out. I'm gonna reuse the shock mounts on the axle. The shocks I'm using are just the longest travel I could find in the Monroe book, 13" or 14" travel I believe.


Never did take a picture of the finished product up close but they were notched and the ends rounded to clear the shock tube.


Shock in place. I think I'll either paint the shocks red or two tone them black and red, that yellow has to go.


I've tossed a few ideas around for the radius arms this is what I finally decided on.


It will be 4" wide at the bushing on the axle and taper down to 2" to accept the 2" DOM.


What it will kinda look like finished.


Picked up 6' of 12" wide 1/4" plate last week. I cut 4 12"x12" pieces and traced my template to each one and went to cutting.




After cutting them out I tacked the cut pieces together and drilled the holes so they would all be exactly the same.


Before cutting the tack welds I bolted them together and ground all the edges dang near perfect with each other.


Test fit.


I then marked where all of my bends would go and scored the back side of all the bends with a cut off wheel.


Clamped in vise awaiting to be bent.




Other than a little tweaking on the bends they are ready for tubing.

[Easemaster3000 [Veteran Member]]

Update
I failed to get any direct pictures of the finished radius arm but this is kinda how they turned out.


Made me a template for radius arm brackets on frame side. Traced them out.


Stacked them up tacked them together, drilled 9/16 hole for johnny joint and ground them all smooth.




Wound up mounting brackets to the original pads I had made when I was going to use factory arms. I wanted to go a little longer with arms but the abs box was right where it needed to be.


Arms on.


Down on its on weight.


At that point I was ready for track bar, drag link and tie rod. The 1.25" heims for the tie rod having a 1" bore my knuckles had to be drilled out so I bought a 1" construction reamer for the job. Who don't need a 1" reamer handy?


Everything worked out pretty good. Decent angles although I did cut another 1" off the track bar and move it up a notch on the bracket.


After slight adjustments everything was all lined up and squared away. Although I did have a problem with it sitting crooked. One aired up tire in the rear solved that problem.


One night after work I worked on getting my ram assist mounted.


Of course it had to be mounted where something else was. Heat applied and old track bar joint knocked out.




Cut cut cut.


I don't claim to be the best with a torch but it'll do.


Everything's ready to be taken apart weld out track bar and drag link, paint it, gear it, and lock it.

[Easemaster3000 [Veteran Member]]

I primed the steering links an track bar after church Sunday.


Here's a better look at my finished radius arm.




I think I'll paint a few things red when I do the final paint after gears and locker are installed.

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

I'm really enjoying this build.