Slam Specialty(UPDATE: 7-21-08)

Lookin very NICE!! Nice idea on the front upper link tabs. And as speedster said, you may need the jamb nuts. If I remember right, you only got 2 bushings for the bottom bars. It is entirely possible that the 6 remaining heims are all right hand thread (they are on both of my trucks). If you only had jamb nuts at the axel on the top bars that would be fine. If both ends are RH thread and no jamb nuts at either end the vibration COULD cause the bar to thread itself to one end or the other (this may not necessarily be bad). The other thing that MAY happen without the jamb nut would be vibration and constant movement of the threads could wear out the threaded portion and ultimately you would end up with a stripped out heim or link.

EDIT: after looking more closely at the pics, if the heims at both ends are threaded tightly into the upper link bar you should be ok. The downside to that though is you cannot adjust the axel side to side.

Looking great man...

Welds look good, and the setup is looking clean!



Dev

that looks good i like the way you put the uppers on the x-member like that

r u sure the lower link tabs arent goin to drag? cant really tell from the pics but it looks close. might just wanna double check them.






-justin

You need jam nuts on heims, period, end of story. Without them your heims will seize in the bar, and your bar and heim will be junk. It only takes one trip around the block.

Thanks for the approval guys!

No, my driveline does'nt interfere and that is why my x-member looks so big, IMO. It was to allow clearance for the link mounts so that I could get it that way it sits now. Lol, hence why I took so much time tryign to figure out how to get it mounted! The x-member also allows enough clearance for driveshaft travel as well with an extra 1 1/2" when laid out. Just like the notches...

I have the upper link end threaded all the way into the bars. The axle end has jam nuts but the x-member end does'nt. All the bars link ends are RH thread. And yes, all the bars are adjustable except for the bushing end on the lowers.

I'm almost thinking about adding the jam nuts back into the equation at the crossmember to see if that will remedy my pinion angle.. Might and up being too much change though!

Thanks dev! not bad for a first timer, eh? I'm actually not top thrilled about my x-member. I mau have it built right for functionality, but IMO I could have made it look better... eh.

Haha, yea, dropped. I took my 4ft level across the frame rail and the lower links gussets hung below a little. But that is when it is at ride height. They won't drag cause my ride height is 5" from the ground! So when I lay out, it should pivot enough to give clearance for the bars. And vice versa for full lift but that wont matter, lol.

Now, that I read your post, Seth, I guess I'll add the jam nuts back in and see what I get. I was thinking about this all the other day too and was gonna resort to cutting the uppers down a bit and then add some steel in the hole in the link and weld it back up so its "sleeved". Not totally sure about it all yet...

Well, more to come soon today! Just had to get some feedback, but Seth pretty much put it into stone for me!

Its off to work I goooo! *whistle to the tune of the dwarves in snow white*

i wasnt talkin about the gussets i was talking about the lower link tabs on the crossmember.






-justin

UPDATE! AGAIN!

Boyo'! I'm reeeallly happy this 4-link is done! I think this is starting to get on my nerves, lol. It definitely changed my perception of fun! I REALLY HATE overhead welding, lol... Well, I know using flux sucks atleast! I think I spend alot more time using the hammer and brush than the welding gun!

That must be why it takes me so stinking long to get something done too!

Well, I got it all finalized and only worked 8hrs on it today and some breaks here and there you know... I got the 4-link tabs welded in and that was the only thing I got to after final tuning the 4-link so the reear sat right and pinion was right, etc...

I actually did'nt have to do much to make it sit pretty much perfect, IMO. I added the jam nuts back to the upper links and that pretty much corrected my pinion problem by 1 degree! Gave the lowers 1 turn in and bolted it back in and vuala! Now I've got my jam nuts and the right pinion angle!

I've got some pics for ya whores and all to show my articulation and all. Sorry about some being blurry and all! You'll get the bigger picture! BTW, when I let the jack down and the rear sits down all the way, the pinion only changes by 4.5 degrees! I would have to say, thats phenomenal?!









It reads 1.5 degrees about. Thats a 4.5 degree change from -3 degrees!


Haha, yea, I don't think it will travel this extent cause I don't think I'll get THAT much lift, lol!

Tomorrow, its on to modifying the frame to fit the fuel tank and air tank!

EDIT: Hmm, lol, I don't believe that the lower link tabs will hit the ground. But now I should double check that tomorrow.

looks really good

looking great