80s chevy long travel

[1st Recline Bn]

I need some suggestions for an 80s Chevy long travel front I like the I beams but don't know if they make them for a chevy please help.

[Offroad-Engineering]

http://site.offroad-engineering.com/images/77prerunner/CameraShots013.jpg

Here is the prerunner I bought....A arms are relatively simple for these trucks, but I'd use a 1/2 ton lift spindle if building from scratch.

[1st Recline Bn]

so you stayed with A-arms ? are the lowers mounted to a cross member under the engine ? how much travel? thanks
Jake

[JuryRigJalopy]

If you have to ask if chevys came with beams or how to mount front suspension then you might consider having someone build it for you or buy a built truck.

FORD rangers and F150s came with beams but almost any sucker can slap some beams on a Chevy. Check out Camburg's products.

leaf sprung solid axle is the way to go in my opinion though.

[1st Recline Bn]

I know that Chevys didn't come w/ibeams I have one. What I need help with is a long travel front end
for a 2 wheel drive 86 short bed.
And I happen to like the I beam fronts I've seen on a couple of 1450 chevys just don't know if I need to fab it all or buy a kit (camburg) and fab a little of it.

THANK YOU
Jake

[Beat95YJ]

Beams=fab to some degree. A-arms like extreme engineerings are available from fabtech, etc. They aren't great but they work. If you go fabtech style run all the shock and spring load through the lower a-arm, and never use urethane for a-arm bushings.

[COMPLAINE]

Beams=fab to some degree. A-arms like extreme engineerings are available from fabtech, etc. They aren't great but they work. If you go fabtech style run all the shock and spring load through the lower a-arm, and never use urethane for a-arm bushings.

What do you suggest for a-arm bushings then?? Rubber? Delrin?

Ian-

[derail]

95 YJ- aside from the squeaking, why would you say not to use urethane? lots of aftermarket control arms come with urethane bushings

[Beat95YJ]

What do you suggest for a-arm bushings then?? Rubber? Delrin?

Ian-

Yes and Yes. On vehicles I have built for the street I use rubber a-arm bushings. For autocross etc, I use del-a-lums. I have experienced urethane in my 73 Camaro, a friends 70 El Camino and a 98 Chevy truck 2WD with fabtech upper arm. Due to compression set, not one of the vehicles would hold alignment (both cars never made it to 5000 miles with urethane) They squeak like hell and transmit a similar amount of vibration to the del-a-lums. As a shock guy thought the friction is what made me crazy. There is so much bind in them that the suspesion would pick up damping and the tires would not follow the road.

I have noticed the shortcomings of urethane elsewhere but they seem more pronounced in a-arm bushings.

I have also heard that the lifespan of the urethane bushings in the total chaos upper a-arms for tacoma's isn't great, but I have never worked with them personally. Total Chaos now shows delrin bushings as an upgrade on there website.

[Offroad-Engineering]

This guy used the factory 3/4 ton ball joints, and it cycles 16.75"
Uniball outers would have given it a few more inches, but then again center mounted a-arms would have too. Urethane, when properly lubricated, has worked well for me in the past. But delrin or spherical bearings are my first choice. Good Luck!!!

[1st Recline Bn]

Did some bench fabbing last night
with some buddies and a computer looks like we might f@ck
up a perfectly good Chevy with a F1shitty front end and see if it flies.
Any more input is gladdly appreciated
Thanks
Jake

[CRAWLIN4RUNNER]

Since your from Memphis you should talk to MTBRJON. He posts on here but mostly in the F-Toy and Toyota forum. He mostly builds 4WD toyotas but, he's good at suspesion work. I've seen the 4link setups he's built. He might be able help, give some ideas, or build it . He does really awesome work and is extremely paticular about it. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=522133 He owns Alpine Autoworks off Whitten. ( across from Bumpus HD ). Its a BMW shop put he builds trucks after hours.