ok guys, another update...
i took my steering arms to work today to heat and bend them down 1" so the tie rod would clear the oil pan. when me and my boss were looking at them, it seems for us to get a 1" drop in the tie rod end of the arm, and keep the tie rod lug parallel with the two bolt holes on the steering arm, we would have to bend that arm probably almost straight up and down, and we didnt think that would work, since it would have thrown the tie rod right up against or under the axle. so he talked me into taking a section of the arm out, move the forward section up one inch, then add some solid round stock. i TIG welded it all together. hope i explained that well..... here is what the steering arms now look like
http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view¤t=DSC0356a.jpgand here is a couple of pics of how the 3 leaf springs now set in the truck, kind of warped backwards..... and also shows my trimmed bump stop.
http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view¤t=DSC0356c.jpghttp://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view¤t=DSC0356d.jpgi have not driven the truck yet, but hope to do so later this week or by the weekend at the latest. i did pull the cover up enough to take this pic of the new stance..
http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view¤t=DSC0356f.jpgi am now very happy with the way it sets. i have been wanting to do this for 2 years now. taking two more of the shortest leafs out of the front pack gave me right at 1.5" more drop. ( i already had one leaf pulled before all this). my buddy, UnklRod, measured his all stock 57 3100, and mine now sets 7.5 inches lower than his does, front and back.
again, it is now setting with one of Sids 3" front axles with 3 of the 6 leafs pulled out, and out back i have all 7 original leafs in, with a DJM suspensions flip kit, putting the rear on top of the leaf pack.
leonard
