Have pics up in my build thread but since I was searching in here for advice on bars, figured i'd post up. Always like to give new things a try so I called up Smith Racecraft and got the last set of bars in stock, got them in a week.








These things look fantastic and are very well made. I saw chevrolade's install on an 08 with a flip kit and hoped I wasnt going to run into similar issues but unfortunately its same on the NBS.

- Second leaf in the pack is too long, has to be cut back so that the front mounting bracket of the bar sits flat on the leaf. I ended up reclamping mine after cutting.
- I knew the overload leaf was going to get in the way so it was either pull it or hack it. I went with the latter as opposed to trying to get the center bolt out of the leaf pack.
- The ubolt spacing on the axle mount is off so these holes have to be opened up a bit.
-The opening for the leaf pack center pin is a good inch or so off from center. I just redrilled it using the old flip kit plate as a template.

Installed




I opted to use the upper mounting hole for the front bracket for better clearance on the crappy NJ roads.

Ground clearance with the flip kit





I cant say anything for caltracs as I have never used them but these bars work great. I set them up level, put a quarter turn load on them and hit the street, reduced the tire roasting quite a bit and completely eliminated any wheel hop I had. Despite the mods needed to get these to work I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

They look great man! I really need to order me a set but for a non flip kit. How much did they run you about $400?

 

Thanks, they were $365 shipped to my door.

 

Clean install...thanks for the pics!

 

Clean setup. I like these better than my caltracs because I had to remove the leaf springs completely to install the bushing they come with... I know this is off topic but I really like how u got the chevy hubcaps in those wheels great lookin truck!

 

Good write up!
How low are you sitting? Truck looks perfect. Is it just a flip kit with stock shackles? My 02 is sitting 4/8 and it's rediculous, can't even go over a speed bump..

 

Thanks for the good words guys. I actually just took off the lift shackles to drop it back down to 6" from 5" but for whatever reason it still looks like it did when I was at 3/5

Only negative so far is that since more power is getting to the wheels the stock rear started crying in all of two hours after finishing up the bar install. Rear comes out tonight and a package from Ron's shows up tomorrow.

 

Truck looks good. Have you run it at the track since the install?