Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Bed is looking good alright, a lot of work.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

This bed is one of those thing ( you get what you pay for) I picked it up for $400.00 and the floor was rotted out so I picked up a new bed floor $1,000.00 + the other bed I bought $400 back when I was still building a long bed. by the time the body work is done it will have cost me about $3,400. I took parts from both beds to make the one short bed. I am happy with how it's turning out. At least most of the bed is original parts except of the floor. I do have a long bed floor in good shape and bed side that are ok the side have the gas tank door cut in the right and left side.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Bed is looking super, it's gonna be sweet!

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I'm like a kid in candy store. I can't get the sheet metal painted fast enough. With my rear shackles not being the same I ordered a shackle flip kit from ORD and it was sitting on my door step last night when I got home from work. the kit will eliminate the 4" blocks as well. Now I just need my frame back from power coating.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Called my power coater today and they have not started my frame. They said next week. I'm bummed out garage full of part and no place to put them. I did get a new piece of glass and gloves for my medial blasting cabinet so I can get it back up and running.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

The bed looks great! Good luck getting your frame back soon!

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

My favorite restoration saying...."hurry up and wait" If I had a dollar for every promise a company made me regarding time, I would be restoring two trucks instead of one.

Can't wait to see that nice powder coated frame.
Chris

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

This is the first time they let me down on delivering on time. Part of the delay might be I asked for pricing on the 29 part I'm having them power coat. The owner Bob was not in when I dropped off the parts. Got my blasting cabinet back together I installed a sheet of polycarbonate to protect the glass and now I get reflection of what is behind me, I think I will remove the poly and run with out it. I did get some window and door latch part for the drivers door blasted and painted yesterday.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Going to be a cool truck! subscribed

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Just got off the phone with my power coater and I will be able to pick up my fame Friday Morning. only bummer is it is going to be raining Friday through Sunday and I don't have a shop to work in.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Can they blast and prime? A little more out of pocket now may prevent a headach from dealing with flash rust down the road ??

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I picked up my frame and 28 other parts from power coating today. All the parts look great. I can't wait to start putting it back together. but it has been raining sense I brought it home. I picked up some new center bolt for the leaf springs at 4 wheel part and they only had 1 pair. Have to wait until next week to get the other pair. Ya I know my garage is full of tools and part what a mess.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

That stinks it's raining, but at least you got the frame and parts back! My shop is in a similar state. I have to clean it up before I can get a truck in the other side of it.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Do you just leave that overhead hoist in the driveway all the time? I want one bad but no where to put it.

Your garage looks like mine so i decided to spend the last couple weeks with the wet weather building a small lean too shed so i can get some of the stuff out of the garage and out of my way. almost done with it.

Cool that you got your parts back now too.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I just leave the hoist in the drive way. when I'm done with all the work I can lower it down and roll it over to the side yard I have 5' gate it will just fit. I got some work done in-between rain drops today. Installed the shackle flip brackets on the frame along with a couple challenges. I left 2 bracket that supported the stock spring perch on the bottom of the frame and it is interfering with the shackle flip kit so I broke a drill bit drilling out the rivets. finally got them installed had to touch up some paint though. put the rear springs together and started on the front springs but I will have to wait until Monday to get the 2nd pair of center bolts so I can finst putting them together.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

:waah: Raining harder today so I worked on the front leaf springs prepping them to install the center bolts. I'm having a hard time finding new clutch and break peddle bushings attached is a picture of what they look like. LMC sells the smaller bushing for the clutch peddle I have not had any luck with the larger bushing for the break peddle.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I found the break peddle bushing from Classic Parts Inc. and the clutch peddle bushing at LMC Truck. Now I can finish rebuilding the peddle assembly.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Making progress! Sucks having to leave the frame outside.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Might be time for a car cover and weight it down with ropes and heavy objects.. Rain just sucks.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

It's bummer to leave it out side. I had a cheep easy up but I did not tie it down and it cost me $2,000.00 to fix my neighbors car last summer from the wind blowing. Its a pain to move every time I need to lift something heavy with the over head lift or cheery picker. I might do something after the heavy work is done and set up another easy up.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

After installing my front leaf springs I noticed that they are way short the shackle is in the wrong position. Even back in September with the stock shackles they are the same. I bought the 6" lift from 4 Wheel Parts about 2 years ago. Does anybody have dimension of the spring bolt centers. my spring measure 41-1/4" center of bolt to center of bolt. I think they should be around 45" for the correct shackle angle.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

i would bet they look better with the body and drivetrain squishing them. all i have around here for reference is 4" springs and 2.5"

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Could you measure the center to center as a reference point.
I called ORD this morning a Chris said the stock springs are 44" measuring along the curve. I measured 41" straight across. I will check the dimension along the curve after work.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I just wonder about the "real" length of the springs and shackle angle with the weight of the truck and engine on them, length should increase because they will flatten out and lose some arc ans shackle will move back further also, pretty much a given.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I When i ordered my BDS springs the offroad place had me measure eye to eye but follow the length of the arc and not straight across, they couldn't tell me if i should follow the bottom spring or the top spring and i could never get an exact measurement the spec sheet listed. Here's a link to my front springs part # 001402, they list eyelet to eyelet at 43"

http://bds-suspension.com/product-display?sr=001402

Here's a pic of my truck with the BDS springs installed with ORD shackles, they do lean slightly forward at the bottom. Next pic is the old Rancho 4" springs with the stock shackles, then also have slightly more forward tilt at the bottom. Makes me wanna see a pic of the stock springs and shackles for comparison. One thing i learned was the actual eye to eye dimension never matched the mfgr spec exactly.

Once you get the truck assembled and on its feet the springs will settle (obviously) with the weight, they will settle a little more after its driven a bit too. If you need me too i can go out back and measure the old Rancho springs this weekend.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

A bit screwy trying to figure this out, not many stock trucks around anymore for a reference plus they would have a lot of miles on them for an example.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

ill measure what i have a bit later. gonna head out to the garage in a few

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I grabbed one of my 18 year old 4" Rancho springs and measured it 3 ways:

Straight across eye ctr to eye ctr: 42 9/16"
Following the inside upper spring arch eye to eye ctr: 43 9/16
Following the outside spring pack arch eye to eye ctr: 44 1/4""

EDIT: The last dimension was how the offroad place told me to measure the springs, also keep in mind that after 18 years the springs probably flattened out a little.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I second the thought of adding drivetrain and some settling time before worrying about the springs.

Here are my stocks 1/2ton HD springs

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1181521930
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1182828913

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Thanks for all the replies and the pictures. From what I see in the pictures everybody sent your shackles are just about straight down no load. Mine lean forward 2.5" and after loading the springs they will still be leaning forward. If my eye center to center measurement was 44 inches the shackles would hang straight down. I'm convinced that my springs are short. I will call Superlift Tuesday and see what they say.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Got the rear springs installed today and worked on finishing up the break, clutch peddle assembly. the break peddle bushings are still made by Chevy picture of part number. I finally found the parking break peddle today after looking for it for the last 3 week. It was right where I left it on the shelf. Dam I think I just had a senior moment. the rear shackles are straight down as they should be. I ordered 4 degree wedges for the front and rear axles today for proper angle adjustment. The rear block had the 4 degrees built in and with the shackle flip I don't need the block any more.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Just went out and looked at my 86 with 6" lift springs and hanger is as the picture, straight up and down so believe you are right on them being to short, makes sense.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I talked to Chris and Luke at skyjacker Monday and they said the dimension for the 6" lift front springs are 22-1/4" from the center pin each way fallowing the ark of the spring. I checked my springs a they are 22 1/4" each way. looking at other pictures of truck with lift kits fully loaded the shackles are about straight down. so I will see after loading the rest of the parts on to see what happens.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Guess all you can do is wait and try them loaded, hope it all goes well.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

Glad you got some info. i just got the pile in my garage moved enough to get to those springs tonight, but i wont dig em out from under the bench. my garage is a mess... haha

the details are spectacular. this will be a sweet rig!

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

You and me both have messy garages. as I get part installed on the frame it does free up some space. This week end my Nephew and I are installing engine and trans in my 73 Plymouth satellite this will free up enough room so I can R & R my D60 the fallowing week. Then it's time to clean up the garage for round 4.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

I installed the 4 degree shims today so I can install the rear end Thursday. I'm working swing shift for the next 3 & half months. so I figured out if I get up early I can work on my truck for about 2 or 3 hours before heading off of work.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

That is dedication, good for you.

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

It's really looking nice!

Re: 71 4X4 Frame off Restoration
 

that is quite a bit of work
I made a 6 door burb used the back door section and used a 6' box took some time
thing was long as a freight train
sorry never took pics