Just about done with my swap. Unfortunately I didn't get any before measurements. A buddy and I started about 6 weeks ago, then I got super busy with school and other things. Finally had some time yesterday to work on it again and got it sitting on it's own wheels.

I'm sure leaving the bed on made it much more difficult. Grinding the rivets off and getting the front hangers off sucked. I removed the overload springs. Had to cut the tail pipe that I just put on in August to get the passenger side spring in. But I'm flipping it around and will now have it going out just forward of the bumper.

When I bought the truck, it had stacked blocks. The stock blocks and another for a total of 4.5 inches. With the new springs and the extended shackles we fab'd up, the blocks are out currently. I measured from the ground to the wheel wells, 38.5 inches on both sides in back and 39 inches in front. Front passenger side a little more but that's due to a banged up fender. I'll be putting the stock blocks back in. I bought new ubolts that are long enough that I could go with or without blocks.

To deal with pinion angle, which wasn't great beforehand, I chopped off the tapered ends of an overload from a ranger leaf and drilled holes. The angle actually looks quite good now.

What's left: install the bracket I made this evening to relocate the parking brake, weld the tailpipe back together, put stock blocks back in (the bump stops probably wouldn't hurt anyway), and torque the ubolts down.

Couple pics I got tonight.

Extended shackles are the stock shackles with 1/4" flat stock welded inside, bent to shape and then a cross brace welded in, now measuring 7.5" on center.

 

Finished it last week, but only had time for a test drive around the block. And it wasn't that much of one since the roads were covered in ice. It seemed to ride better though. I'll have a chance to get a better test on Friday.

Went with the 2 inch blocks instead of the stock 2.5 inch blocks. The locator pin/bump on one of the stock blocks had sheered off and was stuck in one of the 2 inch blocks. It came out after drilling out most of the center of the sheered off portion, without damaging the block it was stuck in. After seeing that, I'm really glad I got rid of the stacked blocks. I'd imagine it was only a matter of time until it failed on me.

 

you will like the enhancements... not so sure about that shackle tho

 

man idk about those shackles they look way to sketchy i can just see your rear end comin out from out of under neath you goin down the road

 

I'd be a bit paranoid about those shackles if i were you. They look pretty legit, but i'd still check them after you do a good test.

 

Most recently, I've taken the truck out into the mountains a few times in the past few weeks. These springs ride so much nicer than the old stock ones. I've been keeping a watchful eye on the shackles and they've held up fine to some moderately rough stuff. I did buy new ones at O'Reilly's, but haven't put them in yet.