Hey Folks, I have been a member here on Pirate for a few years. I have always been able to find an answer to whatever problem I had to deal with by reading and not talking. This time I need some advice.

I am in the begining stages of an really different type of build. I saw this truck on E-Bay, it was a truck like I had never seen before and I tried to buy that one. Guy wanted way more than I was willing to pay so I started looking around for one like it to build as I wanted. I decided to take this build in a different direction than the one that got me going on this trip. So I am converting it to 4x4. For a donor truck I bought a Big Block Blazer, thats why I am posting this in the Chevy section. Body was shot so I blew it apart and am only going to use the suspension and running gear. my problem lays with the steering Box. The donor Blazer frame is a pinced frame going from a main beam width of 34" down to 28 1/2". The frame I am using in the build has a frame width of the same 34" but with no pinch. So the question is : Can I mount the steering box off by the 2 3/4" out ward and still maintain the proper geometry and not get into any problems?

Anyone with an answer or an idea would for sure be welcome. here are a couple of pictures of the truck that got me started on this and the one I found for the build.

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/19898374/aview/_BdTpsnQ_mk___KGrHqQOKjIEq43mEwu_BK4TP2W1rQ___3.jp g

That is the one that got my blood to pumping...

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/19898374/aview/kb_6_007__Small___2_.jpg

And this one I found as a very solid truck in a barn in Tennessee.

Thanks guys Roland

If you're going with crossover steering, it won't matter at all (except your draglink will be 3" longer, and thats a GOOD thing). If you're staying with stock push/pull..... you won't be as lucky. It will still work, but it will be far from ideal.

If you're going with a larger tire, keep in mind the tire will be that much closer to hitting the steering box. Also you're most likely going to find the blazer axle is on the narrow side for that sheetmetal.

Drip, Thanks for that response. The crossover steering is damn interesting, had to go do a little surfin around to find out the paticulars but I like this system very much and it seems to help with my problem, if there is a problem. It looks like to me, and correct me if I am wrong, that crossover is most useful in a serious off road rig. Were articulation can and is sometimes a problem. That certainly is not the case for this truck. It never will be a serious off road rig, nor do I intend it to be. It will be a mostly street truck with some mild off road use each and everyday as I do own a few head of cattle and those suckers really like getting fed. I also may have a problem with clearance between my spring pack and the axle. Most of the cross steer systems I saw have the cross arm going between the passenger side leaf spring and the axle.

Your mention of width also is a good point. However this old truck while it looks really wide, in truth it is not very wide at all. Certainly not as wide as the Blazer. The cab on this truck is what was called back in the day a "Two Man Cab" I have a 48 Ford F 1 street truck Hot Rod and that truck is wider than this big old thing.

Once again Drip thanks for the idea's.

Roland

was that black international owned by a guy in Ohio? there was a truck that looked just like that at super summit. sorry about hte off topic.

The geometry will be fine, but your tire may rub on right turns. Go crossover or high steer for sure, and if you're building a hauler, I'd lose the blazer diffs and go 1tons.,

Spidr is right, the half ton stuff wont hold up for long with the truck loaded down. You can put crossmembers in on the stock frame to run aftermarket axles, and then use a camaro box to install it inside the frame rail, and get crossover steering.

I would use the stock frame with a front crossmember that would help lower the front spring mount to take advantage of free height, and the strength of the frame will probably be better than the Blazer.

Should be pretty straightforward......

years ago i was gonna build a street rod out of a KB1, put a camaro subframe under it to lower it... I love the look of those trucks.

Have fun with your project.

the geometry will be fine, but your tire may rub on right turns. Go crossover or high steer for sure, and if you're building a hauler, i'd lose the blazer diffs and go 1tons.,

x3

For what you want to do, as said before switching to an inside the frame box would probably be a better idea. Look at a 92-99 (or later model) IFS Chevy truck. If everything fits, you can mount the box directly above the axle and have the draglink attach to the rear side of the passenger knuckle. I am doing my trail truck this way (with the box outside the frame but inside the scrub radius of the tire) right now. I can post pics later if my description isnt clear enough.

So, details on the ebay truck, and on the one you found?

Michael