"Lock Jaw" the 1979 stepside

[warrpath4x4]

Todays update

fuel tanks are out

rear bumper is off

started removing brackets and cutting the welds on the hitch

Originally I was going to put 64" springs and a shackle flip in it but I was looking at it yesterday and want to keep it low, so I think i might go with the 64's but keep the stock bracketry.

and heres the tires, they are in pretty good shape and were cheap but shipping was not.

 

[warrpath4x4]

I need some decision making help. I have 64 inch springs and I have 56 inch springs I can use. I want to try to keep this around a 2-3 inch lift, from what i have read 56 inch will basically keep it about stock but i have some other springs I can mix in to make a bastard pack. Ive read 64 inch springs comes out to about a 4 inch lift which wouldnt be ideal but I can manage. with 56 inch springs I just have to move the rear spring hanger back 4 inches and with 64 inch springs I have to move the front 6 inches and the rear 6 inches (if my thinking is correct) which is going to put my rear hanger at the very end of the frame.

Which might also interfere with moving the rear cross member to put the blazer tank in and interfere with any bumper mounts (which would be custom built anyways)

But I did get the rear hangers removed and the hitch (which ended up bending the bottom of the passenger frame rail removing it)

 

[warrpath4x4]

Just a little bit of cleaning last night, sanded the dirt and surface rust off the frame and put some primer down

brushed on some paint, and no I didnt do anything to the inside of the frame rails, I didnt want to mess with the brake lines and wiring.

Then I started changing bushing out in the springs.

 

[redthies]

You are like me. Too many projects! I’m selling 3 of my rigs and just going to one truck. Well, one truck, one Land Cruiser, one motorbike, one ‘63 VW Manx clone, 2 boats, 3 Airstreams etc etc.

Where would you go in Wyoming?

 

[warrpath4x4]

You are like me. Too many projects! I’m selling 3 of my rigs and just going to one truck. Well, one truck, one Land Cruiser, one motorbike, one ‘63 VW Manx clone, 2 boats, 3 Airstreams etc etc.

Where would you go in Wyoming?

We lived in Rock Springs before but looking to move to Riverton area or maybe Pinedale, more in the mountains but not too close to Jackson lol.

 

[redthies]

We lived in Rock Springs before but looking to move to Riverton area or maybe Pinedale, more in the mountains but not too close to Jackson lol.

I was just in Jackson again last month for the first time in a long while. Shame what a ********-hole it’s become! I won’t ever go back. I’ll drive through but I won’t go into “town”. I like it down in Afton area. Anywhere south of Alpine really. We were through Lander last year (well, Cody south through Thermopolis to Lander then to Rawlins). I loved the Wind River gorge and Riverton/Lander were ok, but I struggle to figure out why people settled in Rawlin. I guess it was behind the one hill enough to get out of the wind?🤣

 

[warrpath4x4]

I was just in Jackson again last month for the first time in a long while. Shame what a ********-hole it’s become! I won’t ever go back. I’ll drive through but I won’t go into “town”. I like it down in Afton area. Anywhere south of Alpine really. We were through Lander last year (well, Cody south through Thermopolis to Lander then to Rawlins). I loved the Wind River gorge and Riverton/Lander were ok, but I struggle to figure out why people settled in Rawlin. I guess it was behind the one hill enough to get out of the wind?🤣

well they say when the wind quits in Wyoming everyone falls over lol

 

[warrpath4x4]

The key component to changing leaf spring bushings... a ball joint press. Push the metal sleeve out (which half still had the bolt rusted in it), push, tear the rubber out, and air chisel the outer busing sleeve. Don't get me wrong, it still wasn't easy.

Unfortunately I wont be able to work on anything else till maybe Sunday afternoon or Monday night as the wife and I are headed to Salem Tomorrow after work.

 

[redthies]

Here’s a trick for leaf bushings. A big drill (I use a 1/2” Makita with the top and bottom handles and D handle on the end (BIG torque). Take a 1/4” bit and drill into the rubber bushing. The torque of the drill will spin the bit to the outside and spin it around the spring eye/wrap. It literally takes 15 seconds per bushing, and once the bit does a lap around, you can pound out the bushing and sleeve super easily.

 

[warrpath4x4]

Here’s a trick for leaf bushings. A big drill (I use a 1/2” Makita with the top and bottom handles and D handle on the end (BIG torque). Take a 1/4” bit and drill into the rubber bushing. The torque of the drill will spin the bit to the outside and spin it around the spring eye/wrap. It literally takes 15 seconds per bushing, and once the bit does a lap around, you can pound out the bushing and sleeve super easily.

I have seen videos of people doing that and ive tried it on two different sets of springs and its never worked for me lol

 

[warrpath4x4]

So that took way longer than expected, I bought a bushing kit for the suspension, turns out only 2 bushings in the whole kit were right (and I had to modify those), so I had to order the correct ones and wait.

right now I just have one side of the springs mocked (bracket is clamped on) up as I was deciding if using the old brackets or doing a shackle flip was going to put me where I wanted, its definitely using the original brackets.

 

[warrpath4x4]

went out tonight after work and got the rear shackle mounts bolted on but I still have to add the bracing under the frame, to do that I have to remove the rear crossmember. The crossmember will be moved anyways to run the 31 gallon tank back there.

But its on all four for the first time in at least 8 months