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I've been away for a long while. In that time I have made two huge career moves and had two kids. The truck hasn't seen any work for a long time. During the winter of 2017/2018, I designed and built a new parallel 4-link.
Below is the original 4 link I built many years back. It rode so badly, so I put 4 inch drop leafs in for a number of years. This was also due to fighting state inspection law. Local laws are still a problem, but whatever.
Early last winter I made a 3D model of my chassis and drew up prints for a new design. Things that needed to change from the old design to the new are, coils outboard of the frame, better coilovers, parallel panhard bar, and rubber bushed rod ends and not steel heim joints. Parts were cut out on a waterjet table. Ridetech coilovers with 200 pound/inch springs. It rides and handles super and it was a nice drop in weight (just a tick over 100 pounds loss). Pics start to finish are below.
Looks impressive! I have a'97 C1500 project going on currently. Will be doing a 4 bar suspension this winter but will most likely get a back half weld in kit. Not a crafty as you in designing and fabricating - very nice!
Do you still happen to have the dimensions of that dash cluster you made? I will be doing a conversion similar to that this winter as well.
This is awesome! I just read this for the first time and am glad you are back at it! Can't wait to see what the new 4 link does for you!
Is that solidworks you're using to design the 4 link? Would you mind sharing the files? I'm interested in the chassis part of it more than anything. Although, I would take the 4 link files of you don't mind sharing. I plan on going with a custom 4 link designed by me at some point as well. I have a 95 ECSB that I am in process of getting going with a 5.3. I'm likely going to end up with Caltracs for now though.
I lived in Mattapoisett for a while. I had to de-tune my truck when I moved there 'cause I couldnt get through emissions (or safety for that matter). Was the roughest state out of the several I lived in on vehicle inspections.
I lived in Mattapoisett for a while. I had to de-tune my truck when I moved there 'cause I couldnt get through emissions (or safety for that matter). Was the roughest state out of the several I lived in on vehicle inspections.
Yup. And its a LOT worse now. All inspections are recorded with a direct video and audio feed to the agency that oversees it. BRUTAL!!
How did you get your truck inspected? Certainly it won't pass a visual inspection with all the mods.
I have heard rumor that NH will have a similar video recording system someday. Bad news, but I don't think it will happen.
The cloth seats I had were a little beat up. I found these Yukon seats from a local yard in descent shape. The seats are bolted to manual seat tracks (Much lighter). I found the Escalade console at a yard in Detroit and shipped it home. I gutted the inside (BCM, CD changer, radio amp, sub woofer, rear heat controls) swiss cheese hole drilled the metal frame, color changed the plastic and dyed the leather the dark color of the Yukon seats.
07-06-2018, 08:41 AM
New 4 Link
