is it possbile to improve a BL?

[cantspell]

Hi there, i could of sworn that i had already posted this, but who konws?

Anyways, i'd liek to know if i can do any sort of improvments with regards for isolating the body more (for noise if possbile) and/or for body rigidity? i was thinking perhaps one could brace the body some how,etc?\

Thanks, oncd again, if this is a double post, i'm sorry.

 

[Doug]

The only thing you could really do while putting the body lift in is putting in new body mounts. you can either get new factory ones or i beleive energy suspension makes new polyurethane bushings.

 

[hiridin]

I was wondering the same thing and had asked my dad about that... he owns a body shop and works the frame machine... vehicles wrecked that have a B/L will shift (the body) stretching the area the body is mounted to sometimes causing permanent damage. the metal will flex and stretch giving the body even more ability to move. causing noises, body position shifting, etc... can cause many problems after a wreck. we plan on ratcheting the body with heavy duty straps or bracing it somehow to atleast give a little more strentgh and making much more difficult for the body to shift. if that makes any sense don't know that helps... but there ya go

 

[Doug]

In theory you could add more body mounts to help steady the body some more but it would be alot of work. Any sort of metal bracing, or straps between the body and the frame will actually defeat the purpose of the body mounts and transfer sound and vibration from the frame to the body.

 

[hiridin]

I didn't think about that... either way i going 2 give it a shot and see how it turns out. find something that works. i let u know how it goes if anyone is interested...

 

[Doug]

Not for nothin but what your suggesting to do is more of a band aid rather than fixing the actual problem. What part of the body mounts are damaged? is the body it's self streched? or are the mounting pads on the frame damaged? Either way that's seemingly something that can be repaired. If the mounts in the body are damaged I'd cut out and replace the damaged section or weld a peice of steel plate in place. or if the mount on the frame is damaged it could be cut off and replaced. These are definantly more expensive options but they're going to be safer and in the end a more satisfactory repair.

 

[hiridin]

its the body itself that stretches... and the frame itself where the body mount is mounted. the body mounts themselves were fine. body and frame gave instead on a 2001 Z71 inparticular... this happened. yes the body body and frame part were repaired... to the extent that insurance would pay... u are right that the stretched area should be cut out and replaced... but few people can afford out of pocket to have that done. high $$$$ for mechanical and frame work. and insurance does not see it fit to do that. they would total it before they paid for it. and u really don't have a say most of the time. the body does squeek and shift and is not %100 level/straight. the best it could be for what was done. i myself could do it the right way... without paying for labor... for most it could be a costly thing to have happen. what would u see as the best way to do that? would it be adding bodymounts as u said?

 

[Hotweels]

you need to tie the body mount bolts into the body a lil better, i seem to recall that there is only a 2" washer under the bolt head on the in-cab side of thing's......
you could plate the area a bit better so you would have less chance of ripping the sheetmetal but if you hit anything that hard i wonder what the rest of yer X would look like.

If you are worried about the structure of the vehicle you would get way better results adding a 2"x2" 1/4" wall X brace between the rear frame rails under the cargo area to replace the stock tire carrier and rear crossmember that would also allow better shock placement and increase the chances of being pushed in a accident instead of a crumple.

you can also add a crossmember to the front under the rad support to help tie in the frame rail's toghether thru the factory crumple zone there seem's to be quite a bit of flex in that area.

if you just want to improve on cabin noise dont use poly bushing's get the factory ford rubber ones and while you have the interrior appart for the lift install lay out as much dynomat as you can if you want to get real carried away you could take some of the plastic trim off in the cargo area and fill some of the void's with hi-dense expanding foam in a can.

 

[Doug]

True I never considered the beauracry of the insurance company i'm more of a do it yourself kinda guy. As far as add more body mounts in theory you could add more body mounts which again in theory would help stiffen the body and frame. However I don't quite understand why he would want to do this. I've had a 3" body lift on my truck for over a year now and i havent noticed any extra noise or ill affects from it. but then again i'm not very picky.

 

[cantspell]

I wasn't thinking of fortifying the frame, i was under the impression that it was sufficently stiff, but if it's not, you have a point with wleding in a brace there.

I was more concerned about getting the cab quiet (which rubber bushings would do, as well as the simple increase in bushings) and bracing the body...is the body steel? Can one weld to it? What about getting something really soft for the spacers?

 

[Hotweels]

if you just want to improve on cabin noise dont use poly bushing's get the factory ford rubber ones and while you have the interrior appart for the lift install lay out as much dynomat as you can if you want to get real carried away you could take some of the plastic trim off in the cargo area and fill some of the void's with hi-dense expanding foam in a can.

I wasn't thinking of fortifying the frame, i was under the impression that it was sufficently stiff, but if it's not, you have a point with wleding in a brace there.

dont worry about the frame it is more than ridgid for most application's we are just a lil harder on equipment up north here and in my case a link suspension requires some creative modification's, please forget i even mentioned doing that

I was more concerned about getting the cab quiet (which rubber bushings would do, as well as the simple increase in bushings) and bracing the body...is the body steel? Can one weld to it? What about getting something really soft for the spacers?

yes
yes
no
i have seen a 3" hocky puck body lift they are fairly ridgid material but the truck had a slinkey effect.... i could rock the body onto of the frame side to side 2".
DONT MESS WITH THE MOUNT'S (except replaceing worn out parts with good quality replacements)
DONT PUT ANYTHING BUT REAL LIFT BLOCKS IN YOUR TRUCK
DONT ATTEMPT TO DOUBLE UP THE BUSHINGS

lay out the coin for dynomat you will be much happy'r in the end

 

[cantspell]

OK, i think i know what Dynomat is - it s a sound insulation right? Does it come in actual mat form, or can it be sprayed on? And where the hell you do actully put this suff? On the underside fo the body? Or remove the panels and spray on the inside of the body, under the panels?

And so to improve the isolation, should i buy new body mounts from ford (well the bushings) and replace the one on the truck. I"m a little confused here - do the lift "pucks" replace the bushings? Or do that just sit on top, with a longer bolt that bolts to the body?

 

[Hotweels]

body mount bushing's are available thru ford you will need all of em i think 10 in total.

the lift blocks sit between the body and the bushing the lift kit comes with the longer bolts you will need.

car audio stores will sell dynomat, you will need to remove the seat's in your truck to do the body lift when your that far into it you may as well pull the carpet out and lay the dynomat on the floor then put the carpet back down i am sure if you posted asking about dynomat in the audio forum you would get a well written response.

this site sell's the stuff and there are also a few other option's out there that are mentioned on colorado K5 website just start searching http://www.secondskinaudio.com/

 

[cantspell]

any feedback on bracing he body? I'k not even sure if our bodies are steel, but if they are - can we not weld or bolt soething to them? It increase rigidity?