When replacing stock bags snowballs into a Long Travel '04 Denali

[slow4dr]

Made a few alterations to the 4-link bracket design. The leading edge under the frame is now straight instead of curved. That will make for less welding and a longer straight edge to bend.

That means I need to do another round of mock up so these pieces were cut out of 12 gauge. Hopefully going to put in work tonight with mocking up these & panhard brackets.

 

[slow4dr]

The 4-Link brackets will need two small changes. Figured this out pretty quickly so I moved on to other things. Measured the brake hoses, need something 4" longer than stock. Removed the coil springs so I can test the rates of them and the Skyjackers tomorrow at work.

I've had some ideas for the panhard brackets so I went to town on the axle side tonight. There's not a whole lot of room to go wider and keep the anti-sway bar. I will be able to raise it 2" and move it over 6". Anything more than that and it will run into the frame at full droop.

I just bit the bullet and cut the stock bracket off so I could start mocking up some cardboard.

 

[MadDogDelpho]

Never seen a long travel on one of these trucks. Subbed!

 

[Cattivo]

This is a bad ass build brother

 

[slow4dr]

The stock spring rate is roughly 160 lbs.

Stock spring compressed 1" = 162 lbs


Stock spring compressed 2" = 320 lbs


Stock spring compressed 3" = 476 lbs



The Skyjacker springs are roughly 240 lbs.


Skyjacker spring compressed 1" = 238 lbs



Skyjacker spring compressed 2" = 477 lbs


Skyjacker spring compressed 3" = 718 lbs



I forgot to measure the spring lengths when installed. The new springs are 65% stiffer so a little more than what skyjacker had said but no worries. The new springs show the same rate compressed 2" as the stock ones were at 3". I am sure these will settle a little over time. I just don't want the truck to sit too high. Trying to keep it around 2" over stock in the rear. That should put the rear suspension right in the middle of travel.

 

[iamdub]

Build a prerunner bumper for the looks, function and extra weight and it'll help to counter the higher spring rate AND satisfy your wife. Win-win!

 

[slow4dr]

This is a bad ass build brother

Thanks! It's kind of got out of hand.

Build a prerunner bumper for the looks, function and extra weight and it'll help to counter the higher spring rate AND satisfy your wife. Win-win!

Her main concern was having some sort of step for the kids. Whether it's round tubing or a rollpan I want it to rotate out for a step. She said "The rollpan makes the truck look like an S10".

 

[iamdub]

Her main concern was having some sort of step for the kids. Whether it's round tubing or a rollpan I want it to rotate out for a step. She said "The rollpan makes the truck look like an S10".

I said "prerunner", but I was thinking "fabricated", like this:

I guess you're talking something more like this?:

 

[slow4dr]

I said "prerunner", but I was thinking "fabricated", like this:

I guess you're talking something more like this?:

Definitely not the 1st one. She hates the cut body line as well so I am limited in what I can do back there. She is very particular about her truck. I'd really like to convince her to go with the roll pan and then I'll just fab up some custom round tube mounts so it can rotate down. I'd rather just have a round tube custom bumper but alas gotta keep her happy.

 

[slow4dr]

My work doesn't have bungs big enough for the 1.5" O/D Chro-Moly so I grabbed some bar and made my own.



I put too much heat drilling the one on the left


I'm sure the CNC lathe would have made quick work of these but when you only need two it's quicker to just run them manually.