Re: 75 Dually build
 

I might have missed it, but what bag are you using for the front?

Re: 75 Dually build
 

I am using the 3800 bag for the front and the rear. They look big on the rear, and absolutely humongous on the front!

For the rest of my air ride components I am using the eLevel Accuride controller, iLevel wifi interface, 1/2" Airbaggit valve assembly, 5 gallon stainless steel tank, and York 210 compressor assembly for the air source.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Only "problem" with going dually for me is changing the bed out, rear end, four tires for the rear, rear rims and everything else haha that's why I was thinking maybe just go wide ass ties in the back haha besides I have an idea for widening the rear fenders to give it that wide body look in the back. we'll see about that later though haha

Looks good. Really good, definitely not much angle to the bag at all, just slightly but it doesn't look enough to effect the bags performance like some that I've seen.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Thanks for the info on the air ride. They say the larger diameter bag gives a better ride since it can be set at a lower pressure.

Can't wait for your feedback on the ride!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Your bag set up and control arm mods look great. Nice work!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Been very busy in the shop today. I got the passenger lower and upper a-arms completed. :D

I also got the cross member just about done. All I have left to do is finish the upper bag mounting plate. Then I will clean up the cross member and give it a good coat of paint.

However before the paint flies I am going to mock it up back on the truck with the complete suspension, rim/tire, and have it moved forward 1" and test the fitment of the complete assembly. I want to make sure that everything works and see what else needs to be modified so I can button up this portion of the build.

Oh yeah my rims (so says the UPS website) are supposed to be here on Monday. Thanks again Trevor!! Can't wait to see them!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Got some more work done tonight. I marked off the 1" and 1 1/2" forward marks on the frame. Then I got the cross member up in place and put it on the 1 1/2" mark first. The pictures below are on that mark. You can see the fully lowered and the fully raised. I am really happy with the initial range of movement.

From what I can tell without having the rim and tire in place it looks fairly centered. BTW I got 5 of my 6 rims in today. Another stellar day for the guys at UPS! I mean come on guys! The tags say 6 boxes, not 5!! Maybe we should use both hands in the future to count. Oh well maybe tomorrow my loan solider will show up... Again thanks to Trevor at Tenn. Wheel.

So once I get my tires mounted tomorrow I can start on finalizing the setup.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Oh yeah, that's going to be sweet!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

So that's @ the 1" or 1.5" forward mark?

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Don't forget you still gotta fit tires on the wheels haha looks good!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Yeah I remembered that I had to fit wheel and tire up in there... Tight fit, but it works!

Stopped by the tire shop on the way home today and got the front tire mounted. The below pics show the suspension at full raise, what I think right now as real world driving height (that will change I am sure...), and how close at full raise I am to the fan (dang close!). I will most likely go to a Vintage Air AC system and do like everyone else and smooth the firewall. I just don't really want to spend another $800 right now, yeah I know cry me a river!

So I did some initial measurements with the cross member at 1 1/2" forward. At full raise the tire is dead center, but as I lower the suspension naturally it moves forward. So I am going to have to find a middle ground. I will let you know where I end up.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Cool. The wheel looks very good in the opening. Can't remember if you were 100% on a specific size. What size was your final tire?

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Looks great! I think I would center the wheel at ride height. I do not think it would be off much laid out or raised up...

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Karl - That is what I was thinking as well. I am going to move it back to the 1" line and see what that gives me. I will play around with it and see where I get the best results. I will let everyone know where I end up, that way it might help someone in the future doing the same modification.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Tire size in the pic?

Re: 75 Dually build
 

265/35/22

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Thanks.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Food for thought.... I think I'd do the 1.25" if feasible since it allows more clearance @ the fan motor. Not as much of a concern if the firewall is shaved but that real-estate is much desired w/the OE stuff (which is already paid for).

Re: 75 Dually build
 

I will play around with several measurements and see what works best, but thanks for the idea!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

The thought of replacing the entire AC system was just driving me nuts. Don't get me wrong I have a Vintage Air system in another ride and it is great.

However my whole issue is that the tire at full drop was going to touch the plastic housing as I have shown in previous pics. To solve this I thought why don't I just rotate the blower assembly up out of the way. So after taking it apart and seeing the room I had available I went for it. Got out the sawzall and cut the housing. As you can see in the pics below it is a tight but nice fit.

With the housing in the new location I had to cut out the hole in the firewall larger for the fresh air, and I also welded up the lower portion that was now outside of the housing. I did not take a pic of that, but might tomorrow. So now I have to glass in the new air tunnel. That should be fun! Not!

I know the tire has a ton more room now. I may have to do some small trimming here and there to get it perfect, but this I feel is a much better solution because the factory AC systems on these truck works very good and I wanted to keep as much of the stock system as possible. I might be all wrong on this and if so I will put an aftermarket system in and call it good, but I hope not...

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Tonight I finished up the blower motor modification. I laid aluminum adhesive foil on the inside of the structure. This gave me a firm inner structure as well as some additional heat reflective properties. Then I laid a couple of layers of fiberglass. Yes I got out all the air bubbles after these pics were taken...

I will sand it smooth tomorrow and shoot some paint on it.

Now it's on to some other jobs...

Re: 75 Dually build
 

eLevel! Today I have been working on mounting the sensors for my Accuair eLevel system on the front suspension. I have mounted them on the backside of the cross member, and then I drilled and tapped the lower a-arm for the lower mount. I have the passenger side completed, and now I will now copy it on the other side to finish the job.

Not an easy job. Tons of measuring, and quadruple checking everything. Even had to pull the lasers out to make sure I was keeping everything straight, but in the end it moves through the arc very smoothly which makes the whole system function correctly.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

I got the drivers side eLevel sensors completed over the weekend. This side took 1/4 of the time, thank goodness something went actually easy for once... Not that this ride has fought me, but more that everything on a 1 ton truck has to be over built (in my opinion). And that takes time...

I got the cross member painted and the holes drilled out for the air lines to exit the cross member as well. I also got the blower box on the firewall painted up as well.

Now my next task that needs to be attacked is all the holes that have to be drilled in the frame so that I can move the cross member up. I have decided to move everything up 1 1/4". Seems like it was the best compromise in the end. I have the passenger side fully drilled out and completed. Now I need to complete the drivers side frame rail, motor mounts, and move the steering box up the same distance as well.

I have decided to push myself to get this truck done by the end of July (budget/job/wife permitting). I am using the Heat Wave show in Austin, TX as my goal. The show is July 26-27, and I plan on being there. So now the crunch is on!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Got all my tires mounted today (finally!). So tonight I put the rear duals on. I was seriously crossing my fingers as I checked out the clearances as I raised the rear end. I was so happy to find out all the hard work paid off!! No clearance issues!!! I have 1/2" total clearance at the top when the rear is at it's lowest point.

The reason for the lack of clearance issues is Tennessee Wheel and Tire machined the face of the rear rims, and that gave me the 3/4" of clearance I needed. I cannot thank Trevor enough. If you want work done for your dually wheels that is the place to go!

I cannot tell you how happy I am that I do not have to modify the rear fenders. That saves me days and days of work. Now I can concentrate on some more important portions of the build.

Stay tuned

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Did TW&T supply your wheels & do the machining or did they just do the machine work?

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Scoti - I supplied the wheels (Accurides), and Trevor did the machine work. Super fast and really good to work with!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Where is a good source for finding big wheels? I like certain styles only but when I google images the sources rarely help me identify the exact p/n for them.

Unfortunately for me, I would have to modify the fenders (widen them). Where you set your bags under the frame, mine sit just out side the rail. I've been negotiating on the sale of some raised/stretched fenders but not sure I want to pull the trigger (I don't really need them raised & really want to see them in person before 100% commiting).

Sticking w/some 16's/17's is sure looking cost effective :lol:

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Or.....

Re: 75 Dually build
 

As far as good sources for the big wheels, go through the phone book (or internet) for local truck salvage yards. That would be my first place to hunt. Plus you live in the DFW area, there are tons of those kind of places around, just check them out and ask those guys if they know someone if you run a ground. If your going to be picky on the brand or style then you can order them from Tennessee Wheel & Tire, and Trevor will do everything in house that you want done.

First of all, and this is just me talking, do what I did with my truck. Go get a 3/4 ton rear end, which are much narrower than what you have in there today, get the rims machined, and you wont have to modify any of the body work. And if you do this swap change the bag location. Trust me when I say that is a great setup and not messing with the fenders is icing on the cake.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Yeah.... I went back & forth on how to set the rear up. What type of link set-up... Where to place the bags... Dana 70HD or a C&C/SRW 14bolt....

Ultimately it came down to being able to purchase a used Ride Tech HD 4-bar kit for about 1/4 of the retail price tag. I knew I was going to modify things to suit my exact set-up; the used kit & used price worked best so I could do my tweaks, have a well engineered set-up, & be budget friendly.

I like the big wheels but not @ the big cost. I checked w/TW&T & the price tag for the Townasty's was significant. That's a bunch of coin I can spend on my other trucks since my 16's/17's will fit as is.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Scoti - This is such a cool hobby, note I did not say cheap hobby, but we can all do our own thing and have our own unique way of having a cool ride.

I do hope you get your big rims someday... Just sayin'

Re: 75 Dually build
 

I got the cross member installed as well as the steering box today. Everything now is 1 1/4" forward!! I also got the brakes and the adapters painted. Tomorrow I need to paint the calipers and then do a lot of the small items to finish up this portion of the build.

The air line is on the floor in these pics. I will run them to the back tomorrow and secure them to the frame rail with OEM clamps. Whew I am beat

Re: 75 Dually build
 

It's on baby! It's on the ground!!!

Got it off the stands tonight, and I got the front suspension completed! In the pic below it is on the cross member and the rear is all the way down.

I will put some video out tonight of the front end and the whole truck raising and lowering.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

OK here is the promised video on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMltUUoQjaY

Check it out!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

sweet!

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Where did you get your 10 lug adapters? And where did you source your wheels from?


thanks

Re: 75 Dually build
 

The adapters I bought from American Force wheels. I looked at a lot of the adapters on the market and they looked to be best. My wheels I got from a local truck bone yard. I dug through bunches of wheels ( and spiders! )to come up with a complete set that were not tore up and abused. Still have to polish them up, but they are in fairly good shape to start with.

Hope that helps.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Aren't there several different versions and sizes of these semi wheels?
How do you know you are getting the correct bolt pattern or hub center?
I'm a 10-lug wheel newbie. Ha

Re: 75 Dually build
 

I've been researching that info & still haven't figured it out... I only like certain wheels but can't seem to determine what/how to determine what' fits what. Not much @ all on the www that lists offsets & such.

Re: 75 Dually build
 

Guys I am doing a separate build thread on my York 210 and Accuair install.

Here is the link to that thread.
http://www.duallyscene.com/forums/su...all-t8529.html