4-linking the front of my 86' k35

[krazykarl454]

so im in the process of 4-linking the front of my 1-ton GMC. im running a straight link set up with a track bar. if this doesn't work out i will eventually switch it to a triangleated set up. bt then i will have to go higher then what im shooting for. im already having problems with my diff hitting my pass-side header tubes and crushing them flat. so im trying a different approach. plus i dirve this on the street just as much as a wheel it. im useing 8" skyjacker F-150 coils and mounts. and looking to make my arms around 39 inchs. well guys let me know what ya think, i would appreciate and pointers i could get from you old n wise ones. well heres a few pics

heres the modified coil buckets. still need to put a flange along the bottom once i set the height.


the sweet axle brackets im useing fro mballistics.com


since i couldn't weld to the diff i had to bolt to it. so i drillled and tapped 4- 1/2 holes, and used the 2 stock 5/8 holes, plus i'll be welding a flange to the tub for the out side mount to bolt to using 3 1/2 bolts, i'll get pics of that soon

almost done with the axle


heres the bucket mocked up

[Super Steve]

looks sweet, just wondering if you have ever replaced the fender emblems on that truck. ive been looking for sierra classic 3500 ones for ever and cant find them anywhere. do u know of any places that carry them? thanks

[HickTrucksRus]

Originally Posted by Super Steve

looks sweet, just wondering if you have ever replaced the fender emblems on that truck. ive been looking for sierra classic 3500 ones for ever and cant find them anywhere. do u know of any places that carry them? thanks

LMC truck..


Your going to convert that thing over to cross over steering right?
Please keep us posted on this there really hasnt been an actual build like this on here before

[Super Steve]

Originally Posted by HickTrucksRus

LMC truck..

tried it they only have k25 ones

[krazykarl454]

well i've never had to replace the emblems, but i know LMC only has them up to like a k20. i'll keep my eyes out for them, but i've never seen them any where else either. i kinda like it like that.

well got my stuff in to build my lower links. 36"s of 2" OD .25" wall DOM, 2.5" johny joints, and 3" suicide door bushing. still messing around with the axle, hopfully tomorrow nite i'll get these together.

[krazykarl454]

got some shit done this weekend

got the axle back under it



made up a cross bar to connect the 2 buckets



welded in the bungs and the busching sleeves



and hears the money shot

[rockbender]

Hey where are those 4 link brackets from I could use a set for my K35.

[Big91RustyBucket]

I thought parallel 4 Links bring the suck?

[krazykarl454]

rockbender- the brackets are from ballisticsfabrication.com, they got a bunch of dfferent bracket set ups.
bigrusty- i didn't really have the room to make a triangleated set-up. trust me i wouldof loved to . but my headers and deep-sump pan are all in the way.i would of had to go higher, which i don't want to do, so i'm hopeing this works out pretty good. if not then i'll scrap the top arms and try and make it a three link set up. my buddys long arm dodge 2500 flexs pretty nice(same lenth arems and spaceing). plus i do alot more then rock crawling. truck pulls, tug-o-wars, lots of high-way driven, a good amount of towing.and i REALLY like to jump it, and run it hard through sum pretty ruff fields. plus the rear will be gettin a triangleated 4-link on bags after winter. so that will really make this thing work nice in the rocky stuff. also those johhny joints really work nice when i cycle the suspension. so i'll keep ya poseted.
bigrusty- you know of anyone else thats tried it and it just didn't work out for them?

[Big91RustyBucket]

Originally Posted by krazykarl454

rockbender- the brackets are from ballisticsfabrication.com, they got a bunch of dfferent bracket set ups.
bigrusty- i didn't really have the room to make a triangleated set-up. trust me i wouldof loved to . but my headers and deep-sump pan are all in the way.i would of had to go higher, which i don't want to do, so i'm hopeing this works out pretty good. if not then i'll scrap the top arms and try and make it a three link set up. my buddys long arm dodge 2500 flexs pretty nice(same lenth arems and spaceing). plus i do alot more then rock crawling. truck pulls, tug-o-wars, lots of high-way driven, a good amount of towing.and i REALLY like to jump it, and run it hard through sum pretty ruff fields. plus the rear will be gettin a triangleated 4-link on bags after winter. so that will really make this thing work nice in the rocky stuff. also those johhny joints really work nice when i cycle the suspension. so i'll keep ya poseted.
bigrusty- you know of anyone else thats tried it and it just didn't work out for them?

Yeah I know a guy with an s10 who has his like that and absolutely hates it.

[krazykarl454]

Originally Posted by Big91RustyBucket

Yeah I know a guy with an s10 who has his like that and absolutely hates it.

realllly...... thats not good, will is it just a crawler or what?

[Big91RustyBucket]

No he drives it everyday on the road. Says it sucks but at least it is a solid axle.

[guidolyons]

Blasphemy! FoRd Parts on a GM??? Looks a lot like the Dick Cepek long arm kit for 2nd gen dodges, with a good panhard/trackbar the parallel 4 link (5 link incl panhard) should work just fine. That's what Dodge has been running since the early '90's.

[krazykarl454]

Originally Posted by guidolyons

Blasphemy! FoRd Parts on a GM??? Looks a lot like the Dick Cepek long arm kit for 2nd gen dodges, with a good panhard/trackbar the parallel 4 link (5 link incl panhard) should work just fine. That's what Dodge has been running since the early '90's.

thats exactly what im copying. my body has it on his V-10 2500 and it does relly good. im using the same spaceing 7" on both ends, and im runig a 39.5" arm instead of his 48", but i'll be using johnny jonits where he has rubber bushing on the axle side. his truck will stuff a 38.5 on one side and have the other one dippin down like 2 feet. thats plenny for me. im just curious about my spring choise, they mite be 2 stiff might look into the deaver superflex coils.

bigrusty- he must of used a much shorter arm , or designed sumthing wrong. maybe to stiff of a spring and its not letting the front end do its thing????

[guidolyons]

Did you plan on alternating bushings v/s heim joint or is that just mocked up? Seems like you would want the same joint at the end of the rod paired up, i.e. both bushings at the frame and JJ at the axle? Just wunderin'

[krazykarl454]

ya it was just a mock up, just to find out were there goin to be on the frame. im going to have the JJs on the axle. that picture is actually both my lowers. im useing 1.5 DOM for my uppers, i should have the stuff in latter this week, shit gets expensive

[mj]

no shit
I just paid $17 a foot for 2" .250 DOM
16' of that is a paycheque biter

[krazykarl454]

dude thats rediculous. i get it for like $9.50 a foot at suicidedoors.com you should look into it.

[krazykarl454]

well i got one of the chassis mounts built tonite, and got the holes drilled in the chassis. so all thats left now is; built one more chassis mount, install cross over steering, set up some shock mounts, set up bump stops, and build a track bar and mounts. hopfully by next week she'll be back on the road.

heres the mount i put together tonite


got the arms in, and had to clearance the body mounts(alot) i reinforced them from the top.


i'm likeing the way its going

[Big91RustyBucket]

I hope you plated the back of the frame , or beef it up. I dunno how well that frame is going to hold up if you dont with it just being C channel. Also I think you need more than where those 2 bolts are mounting.

[krazykarl454]

well theres 4 other bolts on that mount, theres going to be supports running off the front and back to further support it and they will be connecting to trans cross member, and a flange runnig along the bottom to catch the cross member bolts.

[krazykarl454]

got some more stuff done during the week.

ORDs cross over steering kit. real nice stuff, clears the cross memeberby like 4" s


filled all the holes in the frame. then ground and paints the rails.



modded the coil buckets abit more. now they bolt on were the engine cross member bolt on


gotthe trucks weight sitting on the coils. (still waiting forthe upper link shit, so i used a piece of EMT)


sitting about 2 inchs higher then b4/original plan, for now i'll just put a taller block in th rear, but comes april its getting lincked back there too

[dragoonranch]

I really like the way it came out. I have been wanting to link the front on mine but want to get everything else finished up first. I am going to keep an eye on this to see how you like it and how it flexes.

[Audiophile31]

someone should donate 2 sets of 42's to you and your hand/arm-model so you can finish projects

[SouthernK5]

how much lift are you running and what coils are u using? i 4-linked the rear of my k30 this summer using bronco coils and im very pleased with the way it turned out.