1997 Chevy Crew Cab Dually

I finally got around to working on my dually I bought a few months back. It had about a 5-7" steel drop on it, but being in a wheelchair, (T-4 paraplegic) I STILL could not get in it. SO, it was time for some air ride.... My best friend J.T. had got nailed head-on in his 1500 extended cab 98 silverado, so I bought all his air-ride stuff, and he put it on for me. I went down to Kentucky to get the truck, so other than a spot in the rollpan where the previous owner backed into something (near license plate) and the inner lips of the front fenders where it looks like an angry beaver chewed on them, (instead of rolling them) there is no rust. It is somehwat cosmetically challenged, as the clear is peeling, it has a broken door handle or two, some old nasty purple tint, and the fact I HATE the front bumper, it is an o.k starting point. 454 Gas motor.... I DID NOT want to C-notch the frame a bunch and cut into the bed. WTF is the point of having a truck this huge if you cannot haul with or use it? THough I do not have a 5th wheel, If I did it again, I would also put a pin in the bed while we did all this. I wanted it to be bag-over-axle, but there just was not room for it, and it turned out bag-over-bar. I plan to drive it for the first time tomm, although my friend drove it home for me....

Thanks!!!! -Rudy

As purchased, after a fun 16.5 hour trip to fetch it.....






Not wanting to relocate the gas tank, J.T. made a truss on top of the axle to bolt the "top bars" to, then to the crossmember on the frame. The lower bars fgo to the leaf spring mounts..


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engine driven compressor


It probably needs a bit shorter tires, at least in the front, but the pig just barelty kisses the bottom of the bed floor.


before we cut the front cups a few more inches, still a little high in the front....








after we cut the front cups, full-size tires :

Switches:





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All done (air ride anyhow)




















All the way up for those suck-ass michigan roads!

Sweet truck man.....looks like some new window tint and new chrome center caps and ride out.....love it

Looks badass! But im biased!

DZL1

Thanks guys! Drove it around 120 miles yesterday, on our wonderful michigan roads.... Had no issues, the only thing I am for sure changing, is that the 3/8" dump valves were wide open, and it came down WAYYYY too fast! (Especially when Im not used to playing with the switches) So I got some hollow plugs today, and drilled them out, I beleive i drilled them at 5/32" to start, and will adjust from there.... But yes, it for sure needs some new center caps, lugs, At least take off the old purple tint, and a set of door handles to start.... I still havent even washed or really cleaned it up yet.... The interior needs a good cleaning.... Gotta start somewhere...

Thanks! Rudy