Coil over conversion

[j.stanton2009]

There is a guy on performance trucks.net who put coilovers in the front of his 2500hd.
It was a 2wd vortec, but the ending principle is the same.

Here is the link:
m.performancetrucks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=504605&styleid=5#

He used the following:
1. 2x QA1 DS501 Coilover Shocks
2. 2x 1200-250-0850 Hypercoil coils- (for diesels he indicated that we should use 1000# springs).
3. Procomp shock adapters- 690001
4. 2x 1/4" shims.

He set the preload at 2.5".
Used a 1/4" shim up top and cut the bump stops off.
Utilizing the stock mounts with no additional reinforcement, and claims to have done 20k miles worth of daily driving and mild off roading with no issues. The truck is leveled.
$475 total in this setup.

I personally would want to leave the bump stops in place and just grind the potential contact spots.

Any thoughts on whether or not this setup has any merit?

Thanks!

 

[PACougar]

You may want to do some searching on here, weve been there done that

 

[j.stanton2009]

Thanks! I'll check it out!

 

[Chevy1925]

Whole different ball game when you have 4k lbs on the front end.

 

[duratothemax]

There is a guy on performance trucks.net who put coilovers in the front of his 2500hd.
It was a 2wd vortec, but the ending principle is the same.

Yeah I guess the "principal is the same"…..except a 4wd duramax/allison is probably twice as much weight on the front suspension…...

 

[moparkxracer]

Abt the same setup here, did weld in gussets for front mounts though. Some say you don't need them but I didn't want to hit a pot hole and bent or break a stock mounting position

 

[slowski03]

so this is pretty much everything I would need to convert over to coilovers?

 

[j.stanton2009]

I haven't done this. I think it's just better to use a proper lift kit to get the ride quality back.

 

[Chevy1925]

you will not be able to go to stock height or leveled height with this setup. you weigh too much and will run into major coil bind. this setup is best for a 2" lowered front end and even still, the QA1 spherical bearings may not last as long as you hoped they would.

your frame bracket will hold up just fine unbraced on a street truck

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Whole different ball game when you have 4k lbs on the front end.

???????





Allison-340lbs
4L80E- 180lbs

160lb difference

LQ9/4- roughly 600lbs
LBZ duramax- 960lbs

360lb difference

So I'd estimate there to be a 520lb difference between the two engine/trans configurations...
Add the weight of the intercooler, bigger rad and added weight of the coolant, some extra tin on a D-max

I could see an estimated 600+ pounds of added weight on the nose of a D-max over a 6.0L.
An 8.1L/4L80E would be a closer match to a D-max/Allison combo for weight, but it would probably still be around +400lbs lighter

 

[Chevy1925]

???????





Allison-340lbs
4L80E- 180lbs

160lb difference

LQ9/4- roughly 600lbs
LBZ duramax- 960lbs

360lb difference

So I'd estimate there to be a 520lb difference between the two engine/trans configurations...
Add the weight of the intercooler, bigger rad and added weight of the coolant, some extra tin on a D-max

I could see an estimated 600+ pounds of added weight on the nose of a D-max over a 6.0L.
An 8.1L/4L80E would be a closer match to a D-max/Allison combo for weight, but it would probably still be around +400lbs lighter

im not talking weight differences, didnt state it that way . you have 4k worth of weight on the front of our trucks, that is ALOT of weight on particular parts being used not intended for the DD use or that weight under a DD.

this guy claims being leveled, i dont buy it. if it is, he killing the shock. if it isnt, thats why hes getting away with it. as i said before, you wont be able to get the hieght needed to reach stock or leveled due to coil bind.

 

[valleyduramax]

If only there were aftermarket lower control arms with dual shock mounts where a shock could be mounted on either side of the cv shaft and it would allow each shock to run say a 600 or 700 lbs spring which would collectively add up to 1200-1400 lbs overall rate or higher if needed. Only issue would be relocating the sway bar end link and the need for dual shock mount hoop

 

[Chevy1925]

If only there were aftermarket lower control arms with dual shock mounts where a shock could be mounted on either side of the cv shaft and it would allow each shock to run say a 600 or 700 lbs spring which would collectively add up to 1200-1400 lbs overall rate or higher if needed. Only issue would be relocating the sway bar end link and the need for dual shock mount hoop

Still wouldn't solve the whole issue of running stock or leveled height

 

[valleyduramax]

Is that due to the shock length required and no shocks available in said length? Or top mount location? From everything ive read over, the common issue seems to be spring rate. Or am I missing something?