Ready to go 1 Ton/K5

[swyfor5]

Need more info on the crossover steering. Want to eliminate the king pin spring setup, but don't want to do high steer. Just want to do something like a crossover/ with a 2wd steering box, hydro assist ram, etc. Leaning towards ORD's setup with PSC. Talking some major greenbacks so want to do it right the first time! Any help here?

[FRENCHBLUE72]

If you wanna do it right do the hy-steer cross over with hydro assist...

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

If you wanna do it right do the hy-steer cross over with hydro assist...

I totally agree!

Even if you don't believe you'll ever need it, it "WILL" someday save your arse.

[swyfor5]

Ok, can do. Talked to ORD and they said they are working on designing new steering arms that eliminate the king pin spring. They said if you buy now they will offer a retro fit kit in the future. Time is on my side, and it doesn't seem like it would take them that long to get them into production. Basic crossover setup runs about $440.00, with high steer jacks it up to about $800.00. Add onto that the hyro assist and here we go! Hey honey, can I have just a little bit of that tax return money? Any thoughts?

[FRENCHBLUE72]

http://www.westtexasoffroadcenter.com/ try these guys they even have lay a way I got my stuff there..

[swyfor5]

Thank's for the link, FB72.

[Yukon Jack]

From what I can tell, the hi-steer setup from Ballistic Fab comes in lower than the high steer kit from ORD. Ballistic Fab's 2 arm kit is $280, then the draglink and tierod plus ends kit is $240, add a pitman arm already reamed out from another vendor for about $70 to $85 and that brings the whole price for the Ballistic Fab hi-steer to $590 to $605. Assuming I'm not missing something - that beats the heck out of ORD's $800 hi-steer kit plus you've deleted the king pin springs.

I can't say I need hi-steer for the use of my truck but Ballistic Fab's hi-steer setup ends up being about $150 more than ORD's standard $440 crossover kit, plus if you go replace the king pin spring and bushing, that raised the price to $460 and lowers the difference to just $130.

At this point I'm leaning towards Ballistic Fab's setup.

[swyfor5]

Right on! When you look at it that way, Ballistic does look like the way to go. I guess I should have known, VT already tipped me off to them. Thank's for all the advice everybody!

[swyfor5]

Wow, I just downloaded Ballistic's complete catalog. I didn't realize they make everything from A to Z. From what I see, it all looks good.

[swyfor5]

Good news for me, Boss just let my crew know, prepare to live at the plant. Major overtime coming up for next few months. Very good for the K5 cash fund, should be able to set up some upgrades for these 1 ton axles. Still have to find a building for my build! Gonna work on getting the axles out of the yard and into my small garage until spring. Not enough room in garage for wife's Envoy, snowmobiles and etc. Not to mention the garage header is too low for my K5 as it sits. Has anybody used Ballistic fabrications 14 bolt rear disc brake adapter bracket setups? They look good, and the price is right. Just wondering if anyone has used them on a 1st Gen yet?

[swyfor5]

Been sitting here making a list of stuff that I'm going to sell as I upgrade. The list is getting pretty long, and looks good for some of you guy's looking for more "stock" type buildups. I hate to get rid of anything, packrat that I am, but am not going to need some of this stuff soon. Have to offset some costs somehow, list of stuff coming soon!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

They are a vendor here and from what I have heard they have great customer service.

[swyfor5]

Right on French! Plan on going with the Blackbird setup. Just wanting to see if anyone has used the new larger rear rotor kit. Anybody got any new pic's of rear disc conversion swaps?

[swyfor5]

Spent a couple hours cleaning up my NP205 crossmember and my t-case skid plate crossmember. Bought both online, and both were real dirty and greasy. Shop just up the road does sandblasting, so gonna drop them both off first of the week. Already cleaned up the t-case skid plate and primered it black. Went out to the storage barn and took some pic's of K5. Been there since 1999, and it's time to get it back out! Any pic's of rear disc conversions yet?

[swyfor5]

Dropped off the np205 crossmember and the skidplate crossmember at the blast shop. Should be ready for pickup tomorrow. I will spray them black when I get them home. Will try and get some pic's posted up soon. Again anyone running the Blackbird rear disc setup on a 14 bolt?

[swyfor5]

Got the crossmembers back and they look good! Hard to believe 40 year old steel could look like new! Sprayed them flat black and both of them are ready to bolt on. Will post up pic's asap.

[1970CustomC10350]

POR-15 should go on before the primer. You might be talking about their POR prep. Its designed to go on bare metal. If you put something between it and bare metal it will only be as effective as what is underneath it. It is UV sensitive and should be top coated if concerned with appearence. I guess it has no effect on its preventive qualities it just fades or what not. It will bond with the metal, I tried sandblasting some of off a car last summer and it was alot more difficult to remove than regular paint, rust, ect.

[swyfor5]

Thank's for the info-but say what bro? Anyone else swapping to 1 ton axles now?

[Burt4x4]

Originally Posted by swyfor5

Thank's for the info-but say what bro? Anyone else swapping to 1 ton axles now?

I got my rig up on 4 jackstands right now and tore it apart..does that count?

[swyfor5]

Yes, it counts! At least your wrenching on yours! What ya tearing down?

[Burt4x4]

Winter ta-do list:
Swap out leaky oil pan gasket, bought a fancy 1-piece to replace old-school 3 piece. Oh and my oil cooler is leaking a bit, clean & repair. Got too peak at my crank and see the cylender walls for the first time sence I installed the 454. Still looks nice and "fresh" up there Paint the pan & X-member while it's out. I love spray paint!
Rear diff fluid swap & add DIY Guardsman pinion skid plate.
Pass-side front U-bold swap, old used & too short for new better fitting Ubolt.
H1 wheels are showin rust were the welded insert touches the wheel on the opposite side of the weld Adding POR-15 to that "crack/groove" to seal it for good! I love POR just don't gett that stuff on your skin, it has to wear off, it won't wash off for nothin!
PSC gearbox leak One of the male connecters for the ram has developed a leak. I am affraid it may bee the weld that holds the fitting into the gear box, I haven't got that far yet.
I'll roll around under my rig for quite some time and just look for stuff, this also helps me remeber how & what I did over the years, tighten & clean stuff up...rolling around on a creeper with beer is fun! hahah until the wife yells at me for being in the grarage "all Day" damn woman! Ha! Cheeper to keep her right! hehe J/K

[Yukon Jack]

For starters pull the plugs and shoot some penetrating oil in each cylinder and let it sit maybe over night, then with the plugs pulled you can hit the starter and get it to turn over and prime the oil. Might want to then drain the oil and put in fresh with new filter. You might even pull the distributor and prime the oil with a primer tool and drill before hitting the starter to turn the motor over. Of course start with some fresh gas in the tank and some starter spray in the carb when your ready to try to fire it up would be wise.

[swyfor5]

Thank's for the tips YJ! Man, went crazy buying stuff this weekend. Ordered up the shackle flip, cross-tied shackles, disc conversion kit for the 14 bolt rear, u-bolt plates for the dana60 frt, new weld on spring perches for the rear, proper pitman arm for my soon to be high steer-crossover setup, 32 lug nuts for the cheap set of stock 8 lug wheels and tires I picked up to make it a roller for now, must have forgot something! Still need to find a set of u-bolts for the 14 bolt rear. Gonna get a hold of my bud and get it out of storage this week!

[swyfor5]

Just got back from the shop. Looks like friday night were gonna take the rollback wrecker out to the storage barn and bring it in. I am pumped! Charging up the video camera battery now!

[Burt4x4]

Ya you need some pics in this thread!!