Hi All,
[TLDR] I got the suspension on the 79, want advice about mounting the 3.4 (NO F*CKING BODY LIFT)
Great to be back, sorry for the extended delay. I was doing some little stuff like graduating college, getting my first big-boy job, and setting myself up to move out of Portland. So nothing serious
I am happy to say that the suspension aside from a wood block rear perch (long story but I have another perch coming) and the rear shocks are done. Most of the suspension came from AllPro, I know some of you guys hate them but I've had really good luck with them in the past and have no reason to badmouth them. I got a set of frame supports/stiffeners from WFO Concepts to weld on before the shock hoops/supports got welded, and I got Bilstein 5125's in the 12" option for the shocks front and rear. It was a long and somewhat nerve-racking process, but here is the result:
From the front
Passenger shock hoop
Driver shock hoop
And finally, from the side. You'll have to ignore the fact that it looks so high in the front and that the angle of both the front shocks and the shackles are not good. There will eventually be about 650ish pounds added up there to weigh the thing down. We cranked down the suspension with straps and had some boys sitting on it and decided that it will sit between 1.5-"3" back when weighed down and that this would be the ideal angle. Also keep in mind the fact that it is currently on 31"s and I will be running 37"s when all said and done.
I left it unpainted underneath because in a couple of weeks I am going to have both axles trussed and the diff's armored, so I didn't want to do the same job twice- especially since I can store it inside. I have a set of new front fenders for it that are in the primer and I'm pretty sure that's the only "body-work" that I am going to do. The cab, fenders, and hood will be painted, but I am selling the bed and making a flatbed for it with a box.
I also still need to actually mount the damn 3.4 that is just sitting in the shop. I have been wary about attempting this mount because I don't want to have to cut/move the frame mounts but I really don't want to cut the hood to fit it in the bay. I also still need a rear sump oil pan before I can mount it because I have high-steer now and don't want to be bumping pan when I start to tuck...That leads me back to where to mount the engine so that I don't hit the steering arms, don't cut the hood, don't hit the crossover pipe on the firewall, and don't hit the fan on the radiator... does a perfect mounting spot exist? While I contemplate this, please enjoy the picture of my pressure-treated wood perch
Advice about mounting the 3.4 in the 79 would be greatly appreciated, no I will not consider a body lift, thank you in advance for your input,
Noah
