BigMike's Big Summer Project: REVIVED!

[gotrocks]

mike you never cease to amaze me

[BigMike]

Got the Pivot Blocks installed tonight

Measurements:

Vertical Distance beneath passengers tire before drivers tire lifts off the ground:
Before: 27.0"
After: 38 1/8"

Amount of Shock Showing Before:

	Passenger	Driver
Rear	2 1/8"	5 7/8"
Front	8 3/8"	0" (bottomed out)

Amount of Shock Showing After:

	Passenger	Driver
Rear	1 1/4"	7 3/4"
Front	8 7/8"	0"

[BigMike]

Yes, you read that right, I gained just over TEN INCHES OF ARTICULATION IN THE REAR.

But, this, unfortunately, can not be completely credited to the Pivot Blocks... I removed the #3 Leaf as well making the spring pack quite a bit more soft.

So from the extra height I gained from the Block, I effectively lowered my truck nearly back to its prior height by removing 1 leaf, which not only lowered the rear by the thickness of the leaf, but also reduced the springs ability to carry weight, thus causing it to "sag" more.

Height measurements from an arbitrary point:
Before: 29 1/2"
After: 30 7/8"

So I gained 1 3/8" of height in the back, which doesn't seem to look all that bad. I'll try to remember to take some pics of it in the day time tomorrow, but I am sure that with the lower spring rate, it will sit perfectly level with my camping gear in the bed

So on to the pics! And for a bit of a Spoiler, just let me say that I am rather disappointed with the initial observations once I was finished......

Here is the #3 Leaf (as I am calling it, counting up from the bottom leaf) being removed from the pack. I have already removed the #1 Leaf (bottom one that is missing) so I have now removed a total of two leafs from the rear packs. If you are counting in this picture, then it would be the 2nd leaf from the bottom that I removed tonight.

FYI these are our USA 4" Springs. My truck is very light and I do not even carry a spare, so that is why I have removed two leafs, because they are rated for a vehicle heavier than mine, in my opinion.

[BigMike]

Once I got both sides out, it was time to install the Pivot Blocks.

This must have been the most simple and easist suspension-related object that I have installed. In fact, it required less work then my lower Shock mounts. Go figure. The lower plate was EXACTLY the same length as our Spring Pirch that Dean and I installed when I rotated my axle, so front-to-rear alignment was a sinch, just make it sit square with the pirch. So all I needed to do was make sure the side-to-side alignment was ok and weld that suck'a up

Like always I spent way more time setting things up and learning how to do stuff I've never done before then actually installing the dang thing

[BigMike]

1.. 2.. 3.. 4

[BigMike]

Now here is where I got dissapointed.....

[BigMike]

They just don't really seem to be doing much.... It must be because our springs have such a strong front section (for axle-wrap control, we've added an extra 1/4-ellipt).

But when you sway the truck back and forth, MAN!!!!! THEY REALLY MOVE!!!!!!! I need to take a video of it because it is pretty crazy to watch.

So basically I softened up my spring pack and also installed pivot blocks at the same time. I drove it up and down the street and if I take a hard corner while on the throttle, I can easily get inside wheel spin much much much sooner than before. As for an emergency lane change, sheesh, I hope I never have to make one of those! This thing sways and dives all over the place, yet it feels very solid and definitely controllable? Strange.. All of my shackles and bushings are good and tight, it's just that I have a soft spring pack with a sweet pivot system.

Of course I am definitely happy with the results thus far. The rear suspension is much much smoother and it takes off camber bumps, such as entering a steep driveway at an angle, much smoother and less noticeable. My rear suspension has always jarred me around, unlike the front, so I am very happy with how it rides now.

Now I just need to address my front shocks bottoming out under articulation. There is still more flex to be had in the rear, but the front end bottoms out so soon that the rear is doing all of the work just to keep the down side tire on the ground.

So next on my list is to raise my engine up a good inch or so, build an angled drag link, and probably pull out the 14"s and go with 12"s in the front. I dont want to do that, so I will just see how things go next time I pull out the tool box and get down to business. The problem is that I mounted the 3RZ a bit too low, and I am lucky that the 14"s bottom out before the drag link gets acquainted with the oil pan and the #1 connecting rod & crank. So before I can get any more up travel in the front end, I first need to raise the engine a bit..

Looking forward to Rubithon in two weeks!! Can't wait to see how she does!! One thing is for sure, I have NEVER been able to stuff the rear tires up towards the fenders, and now they nearly hit!! If it wasn't for the 1" body lift, I would have 35" tire to fender love going on with nothing in the bed, unweighted! Hopefully with a bit more tweaking and adjusting, I can get it to that point

More to come

G'Night
BigMike

[MiniSimp]

Unbeleivable flex improvement!
I really should have done full measurements before I installed mine.
I think the reason yours don't pivot as much as mine is because I'm running chevys which are stiff as hell, so the block has to do most of the work. (total guess)
When is the first trail test Mike?
Who made the blocks?

[BigMike]

I think the reason yours don't pivot as much as mine is because I'm running chevys which are stiff as hell, so the block has to do most of the work. (total guess)
When is the first trail test Mike?

Hmmmmmm.......... That could be. Right now, as for up and down movement, my springs are pretty darn soft, but I think they are really good at preventing spring pack axial twist and that is whats holding the blocks back.

Who made the blocks?

Same as you, Mr Dave Wong

Dave´s Off Road Outlet
14361 Tuolumne Road
Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 588-1880

[yotadork83]

poor crawl box! ther not ment to be wheel chocks.

[BigMike]

poor crawl box! ther not ment to be wheel chocks.

[Ramrod]

just noticed the crawlboxes thats hilarious good job

[6.72:1]

HA! That is funny Mike, with the crawl box and all.

It is quite amazing to see how much flex you actually have just right now.

Should be even better with some tweaking!

[Cheesemaker]

Hopefully they were crawlboxes that were garbage!   If not, BAD Mike!

Mike, what type of wheel studs and lugnuts you using?  The studs look longer for some reason!

[BigMike]

Mike, what type of wheel studs and lugnuts you using?  The studs look longer for some reason!

I have 2" Wheel spacers in the front and 1.5" Wheel spacers in the back. They are just the regular wheel spacers that we sell. Steel wheels...

[BigMike]

Don't know if you saw my reply and update to the Truck leans with new Marlins thread of not, but after doing these modifications to my rear suspension, the truck has been leaning to the drivers side more.

So I decided to fix the problem, which I did, and you may read all about that at the link above

Here are some pictures from that thread:

[BigMike]

I've gotten more chances to drive my truck around, and here are my thoughts...

With the bed empty, it really isn't that bad at all. Once the suspension loads, I've found it to react rather stable, although it is definitely easy to get inside tire spin now while cornering.

But I had to carry some parts across town, that really wasn't all that heavy, and let me tell ya, the truck really rolls around and is pretty loose. I am worried about how its gonna feel in the mountains with a full load of gear back there. Especially the way I drive. I often forget that I am in a 25 year old carbureted truck.


Next on the list is to get my cooling fan back in there. Remember, ever since I did the Supercharger install, I have been driving it around without any kind of cooling fan, not mechanical nor electrical. That is now over two months of constant daily driving without any engine fan what-so-ever. Its not that I recommend doing this, or that I want to do it, but its because I ran into a huge belt and pulley dilemma when I installed the SC, and I just have not resolved it yet. Of course the truck is in NO WAY ready to go wheeling without the fan!! So with Rubicon just two weeks away, I am going to get the fan back on, hook my Power Steering Lock Idle up circuit back up, and replace the high-side fuel line that feeds the fuel filter, since the used Supercharger did not come with the TuRD-supplied replacement fuel line. Yes, I had to improvise on that too

So I figure while I am down there, I might as well replace the fuel filter since that has been on there for two years now, approaching 30,000 miles. Might as well change it just for shits and giggles.

I am still waiting for the fuel computer to come in the mail, so I am hoping that comes this next week so I can get it installed and start tuning my ECU *finally*

And I really want to get my boost and water injection pressure gauges mounted into the dash and install a clinometer that I have had forever, so I am going to spend some time on my interior and get it all cleaned up before Rubicon as well.

I don't think I will be doing any work this weekend, I've got other plans, so you'll have to wait until Monday night for any updates.

Until then, I decided to take some on-road video footage from inside the cab on my way home. Here are two videos of me going from 0 to 85 MPH:

6.45 Mb - First Run, 0-85 MPH (where my speedo maxes out)


6.54 Mb - Second Run, 0-85 MPH

It was difficult because I had to hold on to the wheel and the camera at the same time, and believe it or not, I also had a Starbuck$ Grande Ice White Chocolate Mocha between my legs on the seat. I smelled the clutch after that first video. I would like to have a friend ride with me who could hold the camera more steady and get a better angle as well. I'll have to get TURBO to come over next time and help out

It's hard to tell from the video, but it seems that 0-85 is somewhere around 16-17 seconds.

As you can clearly see in the first video, my boost comes on quick to 3psi @ about 3,000 rpm, but then it takes it all the way until about 5,200 rpm to get to 5 psi.

I am trying to locate a cutting bit that has the same serpentine belt grove angle so I can put my pulley in our lathe and turn that sucka down a bit more. It's currently at 2.9", and I know that with a slightly smaller pulley (like ~2.6") it will do much better. Anyone here wouldn't happen to have TRD 3RZ Supercharger experience by any chance? I am really curious how another unit compares to mine. I hope its not my blower

[BigMike]

Ah, I forgot to attach the Speedometer Limiter pictures. I took these pics while on the freeway at 85 + MPH so they are not the greatest, but you get the idea.

I have pegged my speedo so many times its crazy. I peg it just passing on the freeway. I believe the fastest I have gone so far in 5th gear is at 4,500 rpm, which, according to our online speed calculator, should be almost 99 MPH (estimating my worn 35s balloon to about a 34" tire), or somewhere near that. So I would love to remove that darn speedo stop just so I can see how far that speedometer can go. I'll do that when I am working in my interior next week, I hope

And I don't wanna hear anything about my SA-WEET Electrical Tape Dual Gauge & Switch Column Mount Setup

Electrical Tape: The Prefered Choice for all Professional Temporary Gauge Installers!
      Just ask her

[1Bad4Runner]

Hey BigMike! Your crazy! But I like it

[Willy Mammoth]

How do you drive 85 mph shift and hold the camera too.

BTW my boost gauge is held on by electrical tape too, but it reads 20 psi at 2000 rpm.



Good job. 

[unclejpl4x4]

mike your nutz   

[Lady Di]

mike your nutz  

What is the matter with Mike's nutz?

[79coyotefrg]

  What is the matter with Mike's nutz?

[6.72:1]

Dang Mike, that's crazy.

[BUBBA]

  awesome use of electrical tape

[Lady Di]

awesome use of electrical tape

Are you referring to Mike's use of electrical tape? Or the link he shared?

[BUBBA]

Are you referring to Mike's use of electrical tape? Or the link he shared?

Mike used electrical tape for something. 

[BigMike]

Yes, I needed to help my good friend last week at the lake. Good thing I always carry electrical tape with me just for those kinds of emergencies

[Cheesemaker]

Sweet!   That rocks.  There's nothing like having the speedo stop at 85, but the tach still climbs!  I used to bury the needle on my El Camino at about 4200 rpm and still get it to climb up to 6500 to 7000 rpm.  I've had it up to 8000 before, and it was a stk 305 ci chevy!  I miss her!  She was a firecracker from 1500 on!  Mike your my Idol!

[unclejpl4x4]

I had my 84 celica at 105  and 6000rpms and held it there for a while.  The OD sol was bad or i could of gone faster.