Help: Solid Front Axle Conversion/4 Link Rear Help?

[SgtKilroy]

Anyone have any experience doing a solid axle conversion on the front end of an 05 LLY? So far I'm looking at leaf springs at a 3" lift, over a KingPin Dana60, panhard bar, and fabricating leaf spring mounts. The mounts are where I run into a problem. I know it would be easier, but not cheaper to just buy a kit, but that takes all the fun out of it! At the same time, I'm not looking to screw this up and trash my baby on the interstate...
The triangulated 4 link is pretty straight forward, weld tabs to the axle and frame/crossmember then take DOM tubing and weld on some adjustable heim joints to dial in the suspension... Big thing is just to keep the measurements the same. That ought to take care of any axle wrap (squat).
Thanks yall.

 

[408.Luke]

go coilovers not leaf's they ride like crap, theres also alot of geometry that goes into this sort of thing it takes quite a bit of math and id have to look through my notes from school remember everything on front 4x4 suspension. It is something that you can do yourself you just need to know how to weld/metalfab/do all the math... It would be nice though im a sucker for solid axles id like one even if i was only on 33's

 

[SgtKilroy]

go coilovers not leaf's they ride like crap, theres also alot of geometry that goes into this sort of thing it takes quite a bit of math and id have to look through my notes from school remember everything on front 4x4 suspension. It is something that you can do yourself you just need to know how to weld/metalfab/do all the math... It would be nice though im a sucker for solid axles id like one even if i was only on 33's

Well I have 33s on stock rims now, and plan to keep them. I just detest IFS. Chevy's only mistake with their HD trucks, in my opinion. My welding skills are on par, and my math skills are pretty good. Everything I've read says that the exact measurement of the triangle (upper links) don't matter as long as they are equal. I may end up doing a straight 4 link instead though since I don't exactly take the ol girl over many boulder filled creeks.
As for leaf packs vs coilovers, I always tell my wife, it's a truck, not a cadillac. haha
I plan on using 1/4" steel for all the shackles/hangers, but is there a specific grade of metal I should be using?
And what about the measurements for the leaf springs for a 3" lift?
If I can get a hold of that kingpin Dana 60 I've been hunting, I will definitely go straight to crossover steering with a springless arm aswell.

 

[Noreaster]

I always wanted to swap axles to the 9.25 AAM straight axle thats used in the dodge trucks. If I had a shop & a 2nd vehicle I would be all about it.
The only kit Ive seen close to that is offroad unlimited for $18000 no thanks.

 

[8lug]

I have a good buddy that has done this and now sells the kits, it rides better than his IFS and turns sharper, he is the guy from bullet proof bumpers http://bulletproofbumpers.ca/ Talk to Justin, Tell him Escalade Ryan sent you, he can help you out. PS He has been trying to get me to do this for about a year now, I told him if I wanted SFA I'da bought a DODGE!!!! (I was lying but I made my point) For me, since I work my truck in Northern Alberta (that winch isn't for show )I need the clearence.

 

[TrentNell]

I dont think you can do a SFA swap and keep it at a 3" lift , if i remember right the minimum lift for a SFA is 5-6 " maybe more ?

 

[mmangels22]

I think its 5-6 inches also. Get the coilovers and do it right the first time, spend the extra dollar to get it done right. The suspension, especially if your planning a big lift needs all the support you can give it. Can't wait to see some pics.

 

[SgtKilroy]

I think its 5-6 inches also. Get the coilovers and do it right the first time, spend the extra dollar to get it done right. The suspension, especially if your planning a big lift needs all the support you can give it. Can't wait to see some pics.

I've actually read about a kit under development that is spring under axle.... Leaving the truck at stock ride hight. Nuts huh? As far as the coilovers, I'm not really looking for all the flex or the price tag that comes with them. Uncle sam doesn't pay that well. haha
I know a guy up here who has a kingpin dana 60 that he will sell me for $400, and rebuild kits for them are cheap, especially if you go springless on the knuckle and go straight to crossover steering. Last I saw was $150?
All that's left would be the spring shackles and hangers, and the actual springs. As for the ORU kits, they just add 3" of lift to whetever size spring you already have, so I'm translating that into stock springs+ 3" drop shackles and hangers = 3" lift. I believe it uses the stock springs from a 99ish Super Duty.
I'm really excited to do that build, and I will take tons of pictures (or at least get my wife to). It's just a matter of collecting all the parts. Until I do I am gonna focus on fabricating some 3" intercooler tubes, a 3" down pipe, and my straight pipe 4" exhaust.

 

[SgtKilroy]

I have a good buddy that has done this and now sells the kits, it rides better than his IFS and turns sharper, he is the guy from bullet proof bumpers http://bulletproofbumpers.ca/ Talk to Justin, Tell him Escalade Ryan sent you, he can help you out. PS He has been trying to get me to do this for about a year now, I told him if I wanted SFA I'da bought a DODGE!!!! (I was lying but I made my point) For me, since I work my truck in Northern Alberta (that winch isn't for show )I need the clearence.

I will absolutely give him a call. Thanks for the intro. Any idea how much he charges for these kits?

 

[malibu795]

can it be done with less then 3" of lift.. yep.. but you will be realy close to compression bump stops. and depending on how you set it up.. you can work clearance for the pumkin and oil pan.. all would recoemend a panhard par as well.. keep then axle form flexiing side to side.. lower the ride hieght the craftier you will need to be with it.

 

[SgtKilroy]

Yeah , it will be pretty close, I may just add blocks in the rear and play with the height of the spring mounts to get a 5" lift just to make life easier. No need to get too crafty haha. I just don't want to make the new 285's I put on there to look like pizza cutters.
There should actually be a lot of the original IFS cut out with the exception of one cross member, so hopefully that will make life a bit easier too.

 

[malibu795]

when my buddy and i looked at my truck when the engine was out.. both crossmember would have to go.. though i would make a "saddle" to tie both engine mount together..
something along this ideal
this is for the old 73-88 square body chevy pick-ups

 

[giterdirty06]

4wheel parts has a 3 inch solid axle swap

 

[SgtKilroy]

when my buddy and i looked at my truck when the engine was out.. both crossmember would have to go.. though i would make a "saddle" to tie both engine mount together..
something along this ideal
this is for the old 73-88 square body chevy pick-ups

Cool. Looks good. How is it holding up?

 

[SgtKilroy]

4wheel parts has a 3 inch solid axle swap

Awesome, thanks for the tip. I'm not really looking to spend $1500 just on brackets, shock mounts, bump stops and a track bar though. I might be interested in that kit if it was only the spring mounts, and the track bar though. Do you know if anyone sells those parts individually? Kinda like a build your own kit thing?

 

[Noreaster]

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kit...on-Kit.aspx?t_c=1&t_s=389&t_pt=7570&t_pl=9823

 

[SgtKilroy]

That's the kit I looked at earlier for $1500. Thank you though.

 

[malibu795]

Cool. Looks good. How is it holding up?

i persaonally dont know.. its on the list for my 75

i DO know that my 75 have ALOT of frame flex.. especaly with a 383sbc or when i put a 454bbc in there...
see picture.. look at the back bumper to front bumper angles...

 

[Turbo Performance]

I thought it wasn't good to run a 4-link with leaf springs? Aren't they both trying to work on different arcs? I remember something about bind but don't remember the exact set up.

 

[SRomans84]

I would not run leafsprings. If you are looking at a smaller lift height and a
D60, Ballistic Fabrication has all of the brackets needed. axle tabes, coilover mounts, axle and frame mounts for the track bar, heims, bushings ect. You count make a small subframe or try to mount the links to the frame with a control arm style set up. The amount of fabrication if about the same really, in fact a 4 link would be easier in my opinion if you are looking at a smaller lift.

I basically converted my truck to a Ford superduty style front, springs, axle ect..
The duramax sits farther back in the truck than a powerstroke so I needed long shackles to campensate for the extra weigt on the back of the spring

Leafs work but it rides like a ford... tank

Use a pitman arm from an older pre 80's f150 or jeep

I am going to get rid of the leafs and run coilovers front and rear in the near future with 2.5ton or 5 ton rockwells

Dont forget that you will need to do a SYE on the front output on the tanfercase.. Like $5-600 or you can take a piece of DOM and bolt the yoke in place.

Its not that hard. just take your time and get your buds to help. I dont check the site much but if you need help or an opinion when you start working on it PM me and I'll try to help as much as possible
-Steve