CopyKat's Copy Cat B4

[CopyKat]

Small updates. I pulled out the worn pushrods and rockers and replaced them. I also finally got the Saginaw pump working and have it mounted for testing.

I also changed out the steering gear and gave the truck an oil/filter change while I was at it.

Made a harness to wire up the offroad lights on the front bumper finally.

More to come

 

[CopyKat]

All that work only to have a blown headhasket.

But on a side note I finally got motivated to work on the truck.

Got the durango springs mounted and happy with the way they mocked up. Shackle angle looks good to me.

Now to get the new locked axle in place and see if I need to redrill the spring pads to center the axle. They look to be 1.5" forward from the explorer springs I had previous.

So I got the axle in and somewhat centered. I've got to tweek it a bit so that I can get the top bolts out for the calipers. Ya it's that close to the spring.

It's on the jack right now but I'll be getting it off the stands so that I can set the pinion angle.

I ended up drilling a new hole in the spring pad to relocate the axle back 1.5". It just sits that much better. it was too far forward in the stock point.

The next thing I have to work on is the front bracket. Looks like I'm going to have to do some cutting to make sure the springs clear. I have a feeling they will contact when the rear is at full bump.

Other than that. it's looking pretty good so far.
Shackle angle with some weight. remember it's still on the stands.

Picked this up off e-bay and it finally came in the mail.

Now to get the rest of the parts to go with it.....:icon_hornsup:

 

[mjones97]

Oh gosh...a turbo!

What about flipping the front hanger over Joel?

 

[Batman45]

i just talked to him about it and if you seen his frame, you would see the gazillion holes in it already, he is going with just as simple of a setup but stronger, i'll let him explain the rest if he is up for it

 

[CopyKat]

Oh gosh...a turbo!

What about flipping the front hanger over Joel?

Nope. Already have 3 extra holes in that spot. Don't want to have 3 more. I'll modify this one and later on I'll build new brackets.

 

[mjones97]

build new brackets sounds good!

 

[CopyKat]

build new brackets sounds good!

This summer. I first want to see how these springs work out. If they sag on me then it's time for a 4 link. This is the last leaf pack I'm putting into this thing. 4 is the charm.

 

[CopyKat]

Here are some new pictures.

The torpedo *******. I pulled the leaf packs apart and cycled the suspension to see where the shocks would bottom out. I had the shocks about 1.5" from bottoming and the distance from the axle tube to the frame was a bit shorter than the torpedo ******* (Big Bumpstops) I have. The leaf was relatively straight from eye to eye, maybe 1.4" of negative arc. So I am going to use these big bumpstops out back. You can see the passengerside main leaf in the background. At full droop I measured from the bump to the axle tube and I get 11.5". Not bad for a set of stock durango leaf springs. The shackle swing adds about 2-2.5" of droop to the setup.

The reworked bracket. For how old these things are there is still alot of material and are pretty sound. to modify it I cut a flap so that I could straighten the top rear part. I then welded it all back up and added my offset spacer.

The reason for the spacer is that on the rear bracket I'm at the end of the frame and I plan to put a rear bumper on. I'll have a plate that will get sandwiched between the bracket and frame. This way the reciever will get a good solid mount.

Crappy picture of the leaf springs. This is a full Durango pack that I added a cut down explorer main to along with the overload leaf. I hope the overload will add some extra cushion befor hitting hard on teh bumpstop. I started painting them but once the winter is over they will look all rusty and crappy again.

 

[CopyKat]

Ranger 8.8 is installed. Just a few more things to finish up.

Here are some new pictures.

Driveshaft angle.

Other shots

 

[410Fortune]

nice dude!! Man my shock mounts are not in the stock locations! Its on the list of things to fix, when we did my 8.8 it was a long time ago and I eyeballed the mounts from my old 7.5 onto the new 8.8.... oops I was way off!

If your brake line still mounted to the body? mine is not because it would rip in half at full droop, it floats in mid air, it works great this way

 

[CopyKat]

If your brake line still mounted to the body? mine is not because it would rip in half at full droop, it floats in mid air, it works great this way

Ya it's mounted. I'm only running about a 3.5" lift. I had no probelms with it when the explorer 8.8 was in and I was running about 5.5"

Here is an old pic.

I'll have to double check to make sure it is still of right length. Just to be on the safe side.

 

[410Fortune]

I bet you find its tight tight at full droop, like stretching tight!

 

[CopyKat]

I'll check tonight. I'll be putting the wheels back on it and putting my VMS diff cover on. I've got to fill the diff with fluid, along with a few other little things.

So I'll get it back up on stands and have the suspension droop out. to check it all.

 

[CopyKat]

Gave it a once over and it's good. There is still slack in the hose.

It's all buttoned up just need to add about another quart of gear oil and it's done. I've got it back on it's wheels and off the stands.

Final ride height.

Started on getting the exhaust routed for the turbo.

Once the engine is out I'll rip into the front and get that done. I'm thinking I may ditch the big lift brackets and install a stock set. and C&T the beams to correct the camber. As it is now I my beams are wonky. I've got one bushing near max on the + side and the opposite side is nearly maxed on the - side.

 

[410Fortune]

yikes, my camber shims are sitting at the perfect spot, just about adjusted to 0 with the ball joint stud pointed slightly back towards the rear of the truck, according to my old alignment guy this is the perfect setup.
I had maxed out 2.75 degree shims before the cut and turn, I went back to stock shims

I want to know how the Durango leafs ride!! So far it looks bithin, my BII is begging for something to be done back there......shock locations are off, stock hangers and shackles with a lift block! LOL
I would really love to push my whole axle back about 6-8", I am considering adding 6-8" to bed of the truck too, with sheet metal from another BII and go with a 4 link, but without the WIY trailing arms like the desert guys do, those suckers would just attract rocks

Kudos! I hope it rides like a dream for ya!
Ride height is hard to see in that pic, we gotta see the whole side of the truck

 

[Batman45]

ride height is going to be balling once the turbo is done and the rest is back in, this build is pretty intense, i still remember when it was just an ordinary b2 with round headlights along with factory bumpers, followed up by going from 5" to 4" then 3.5"

 

[CopyKat]

 

[lifeguard379]

what do you plan on doing for the other side?

 

[CopyKat]

what do you plan on doing for the other side?

Still need to route the pipe from the other side.

 

[lifeguard379]

you know if your going in frunt, behind or over under the moter?

i really like the idea. i was thinking about trying to make a tail pipe turbo but didn't know how it would work wile Wheeling.

looks cool so far.