how hard are these to change??

 

they're a bitch. They're riveted on. It's not that they're hard but you'll need an air chisel, plasma cutter or something that will bust out I believe 16(give or take) pretty good sized rivets. I'd much rather do a flip kit with a lift shackle.

 

i gotta plasma cutter, torch, grinder, and an air chisel..

 

Yup, like RH said, rivits are a PITA but otherwise simple job. Have at it!

 

Damn... I don't have a Plasma Cutter... which one you got? You Like?

Bill

 

Id recomend taking the bed off. I have done hangers twice. one time on a hoist with the bed on. next time with a floor jack and the bed off. Supporting the rear end when its on the hoist is a pain and i couldnt get the top front bolt in next to the gas tank. this was on a 92 long bed with a huge gas tank. its a whole lot easier on the ground. if u use the plasma to get the majority if the rivet head off then grind it the rest of the way.

 

its a hypertherm..my grandpa bought it about 10 or so years ago for cutting race car bodies and having to do with a race car..its a smaller one and mainly good for thinner stuff..1/4 and bigger is startin to get tuff..but it works just fine..the thinner you get you can go pretty damn fast with it..with thin like a body you can can like a foot in around 5 seconds..id prolly use the torch on the rivit and grind the rest..

 

With plasma it isn't that big of an issue, it will take you time more than anything. It sounds like you have about the same size plasma I have (mine is up to 3/8 but 1/4 is in truth its reasonable limit).


I found it easier to just pull the gas tank off the truck to give myself room. After you do that, just shave the rivets heads off (either using the plasma or flame torch) and punch them through. Then once you have the old hangers off, just bush over the surface with a grinder (LIGHTLY) just to remove any slag/roughness that might hang up things. Touch it with some black paint to keep it from rusting and install your new hangers. I personally found it a necessity to start ALL the bolts (that bolt the hanger to the frame) before tightening any of them down. I would have then welded mine to the frame but I long term plan to convert to a 4-link so I left the bolts as-is (they are plenty strong and will not cause you problems either way).


Plan to spend all day doing this project that way you can take your time and not feel stressed.


I would have to shoot myself if it wasn't for a plasma cutter.....it makes life too damn easy...

 

Just did it friday... take the bed off it's 8 bolts it makes so much room. Then I drilled the heads and used a air chisel, 12 rivets total took only 15 mins for both sides.

 

if you dont have a lift take the bed off if you have a lift leave it on IMO. there not really that hard to do took me only a couple of hours have fun