from beginning to end!"Project: Big Nell"(11/1/07)

[layedout72]

the one i got the truck with is a beast battery, its huge. it barely fits on the tray. i just need to charge it.

[marz68]

wow you really have a lot of work to do and done a lot since the last time I checked in.
Looks like you'll be getting your 4 link today.

[layedout72]

just got my firestone sleeves today as well. the link setup should be at the office here shortly. i hoping to turn it over tomorrow or friday night. at latest, saturday. depending when i can get the gauges i need!

[marz68]

just got my firestone sleeves today as well. the link setup should be at the office here shortly. i hoping to turn it over tomorrow or friday night. at latest, saturday. depending when i can get the gauges i need!

so your running sleeves not dual belows for the rear?

[layedout72]

yah, im running f9000's for the rear. in front of the axle, but "below" it. i ordered the mounts for under/behind, but with the panhard bar in the back, im going to run them in front. it shouldnt make any difference at all whether its behind or in front of it.

[layedout72]

well, its something I have to post because I have once again run into a somewhat large problem with the truck it seems, hopefully we can downscale the damage by unwrapping the harness and saving what we can. Most of you knwo the troubles I have had with it lately, but some good news now. Check out the pictures below for what it is. Marz really hooked up me good on the 4 link setup! THANKS a TON! I wouldn't have been able to order everything if he wouldn't have come through with such a great offer, let alone the shipping was super quick. So kudos to him all around. I ordered that, my firestone f9000's (from a buddy), and then I placed an order with street issue customs (streetissuecustoms.com) for all my brackets/valves/fittings/air line and they got that out super quick as well. As stated earlier, pictures below!

bags and parallel 4 link. bolt on brackets.


the whole deal, brackets and crap


up close on brackets. i bought these as the bags are somewhat tall (4 inches collapsed), and they mount below the axle here, I may be able to keep a stock bedflloor, other than over the pumpkin, and the wheel tubs.


valves and fittings. running 3/8 line, 3/8 fittings for lift, and drilling out the dump fitting for 1/8 inch first, then moving up from there. I want a slow dump, so I can set it perfect to where I want it on smooth roads, but a decently quick fill valve to pop up if need be.

[marz68]

Those are some nice brackets! are they 5/8 thick or 1/4. I'm glad your happy with the 4 link.
Remember when setting up the axle brackets to measure from the brake drum plate to center and not from the pumpkin.
Just so that you know the link bars are welded in a way that it helps keep the links away from the frame so that when they articulate they wont rub on the frame.

[layedout72]

So they are triangulated a bit?

i honestly dont know how thick the brackets are, but they are beefy! i saw them and it made me smile how bulky they are, yet not ugly. . thanks again man. should get started soon, im pulling the bed to get the new wiring harness wired. I think I am anyways, thats my latest idea haha.

[marz68]

you could say that they are triangulated but not very noticeable but enough that you have to make sure you put them in right. You should check the bolt holes on those brackets to make sure the bolts I sent you will work with them. Good luck with your build, looking good!

[layedout72]

Yah, I plan on working on it here in the next week or so. I will probably have my harness ordered tonite or tomorrow. Once that's ordered, I am going to pull the bed and store it in my aunts garage. That lets me bag the truck, and do the wiring.

You don't know If I will have to notch the cab for the driveshaft do you?

[marz68]

When I had that 4 link on my truck it sat 3 1/2" from the rocker to the ground airedout with out having to cut the back of the cab so if thats how low you want to go then your ok without cutting it.
My truck used to be a long bed so I don't know if they have the same amount of cross members as a short bed but right behind the cab there is a crossmember that I had to notch and also the cab it's self has a brace that runs along the bottom from door to door that also needs notching.

[layedout72]

well, I want it to lay rocker once its bagged. I believe I can just cut the frame and plate it to site flat with the rockers. It's not much lower than them stock anyways. Maybe an inch or 2. If I plate the frame rails, and cut out that dip, clip it with a toyota clip, it should lay out hard, and allow me to turn fully almost layed out, as the toyota's are fairly narrow.

[marz68]

What size toyota? atleast make it as wide as the mustang II cause if you make it to narrow your 22's are going to rub on the frame when you steer.

[layedout72]

the older toyota, like 93 i think. maybe the body before. I am going to have to see what all is available and what everyone has done to lay them out. I say toyota, because it's rear steer, but I may can just use a u joint type deal to reach for the front steer chevy clip, as the rear steer would still call for one, just shorter.

[marz68]

if it's been done before then go for it but I don't know about putting all that weight on a small truck suspension.