Well I "finished" the front parabolic spring/shock upgrade today (I ended up finding the original shocks were dead, so did a quick check and found some Monroe semi shocks that fit, and I could get them overnight). Unfortunately now the front is riding a bit high. The spring pack we got was 4 leaves. Now wondering if we should have just 3, but the amount of work.... Will re-measure our height, maybe we can just lift the rear. We had to remove the factory spacer blocks in the rear when we replaced the rear leaf springs, maybe we need to put them back.
Nice shiny parabolic springs and shocks, tomorrow is the test ride. Luckily there are plenty of corrugated roads around here.
The old springs and shocks, when I removed the load on the springs the leaves popped and separated. The shocks, well they pretty much were not doing anything.
I have to say I am no mechanic, it took me a couple of days to work out how to get the work done with limited tools. The front lug nuts were so tight my 550 ft/lbs impact would not budge them. So the springs were replaced with the wheels on. I do have a "torque multiplier" but had not taken the time to get a 1" drive 27mm socket for it. Ends up a friend made one for me and as of today (when the springs were done) I was able to loosen the lugs (with the multiplier) and torque to the correct amount. Those multipliers are pretty slick, I think mine is 58 to 1.
Not too bad of a place to work on the truck, even had a shade tree for the mechanic and a friendly barn cat.
And another project is nearing completion, the center console has been painted and the lid upholstered, now I just need to do a bit of wiring. We used rattle can bed liner for paint to give it the textured look. We will likely add a fabric pocket on the side for Heather's tablet once we get access to a sewing machine. The square hole in the back is for the remote battery disconnect switch.
So, enough of these projects for a bit. Time to start heading south as the overnight temps have been below freezing. First stop will be the "City of Rocks" in southern Idaho.
Oh yeah, still need to get the engine preheat done. Pretty close on that, with help from Stefan, I am planning on tapping into the top of the head and the block coolant drain plug. Should be a tidy install, I measured for the needed hose today so once I order it up I will get going on it.
