superlift install

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 7:34 pm

i got started on the install today and it's quite the project. we're almost 14hrs into the install and we still have a few things that need to be done on the front before starting on the rear. the rear will be a walk in the park compared to the front and it should only take a few hours. i don't know how superlift comes up with thier time est. because even 4 wheel parts said they would need 3 days (24 hrs. labor) to do the kit and nobody does more lift installs than them....by the way they wanted $700. i took a few pics but to be honest the camera was the last thing on my mind today but i'll try and let you guys know where we ran into trouble on the install. so far it hasn't been too bad....just very slow going. i've found several things in the directions that should be corrected because they confused us a little. there is an option for a steering stabilizer that no one said anything about so now i'll have to try and oreder it and then rip the frontend apart again to put it on after the fact....that kinda made me mad. the directions say nothing about having to move the exhaust so the front drive shaft can clear but i can tell you it's got to be done. that diddn't really come as a shock though....i knew it was one of the things that needed to be done in the trailmaster kit. oh don't bother calling superlift because they can't help you if you run into trouble. i called once and they couldn't answer my question and never called back with the info. they said they didn't know anything about the kit. so fyi your kinda on your own with this one. i'm hoping to have it done tomorrow but we'll have to see how the day goes. i'll keep everyone posted on the progress
jeff

edited title -HJ

coffeedrnkr · Post by **coffeedrnkr** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:24 pm

Don't worry too much about the steering stabilizer, I thought I would need one when I put on my lift but you really dont, it isn't bad and I am running 33x12.5's. sometimes if you get in a rut or something going fast it will try to follow it but you really dont need one. Actually I bought one but the kit said to cut the stock ss bracket off so then I didnt have anywhere to mount it and I got lazy and forgot about it but it really isnt needed.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:41 am

Can't wait to hear/see how it turns out!

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:52 am

the front is done! now i just have to finish up the rear and then adjust the ride height. the truck is alot bigger than stock but i still wish i would have bought a full size. i'm running 31X12.50 pro comp mud terrains on 15x10 eagle alloy 589's and they seem to clear ok. i was worried about them looking too small but i don't think you could fit anything bigger without rubbing ( unless you use 7" wheels with a mile of backspacing....and i'd rather leave the truck stock than do that) well back to work...it shouldn't be too much longer til it's done.

jeggers65 · Post by **jeggers65** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:08 pm

thanks for the info on the install i was'nt thinking that long for the install. Are u working in a shop with a lift or on the ground?

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:16 pm

i'm working at my neighbors house. he's a street rod guys and he's got an 8 car garage with a hoist. it's alot better than crawling around on the floor! we used a trans jack to lower/lift all the heavy parts.....he's got every tool you'd ever need so i'm getting spoiled working over there. i wouldn't want to cut the frame with out a plasma cutter,it's the only way to do it! we're just about done...only a few loose ends to tie up and then i get to try driving it!

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:40 pm

jeffc wrote:i'm working at my neighbors house. he's a street rod guys and he's got an 8 car garage with a hoist. it's alot better than crawling around on the floor! we used a trans jack to lower/lift all the heavy parts.....he's got every tool you'd ever need so i'm getting spoiled working over there. i wouldn't want to cut the frame with out a plasma cutter,it's the only way to do it! we're just about done...only a few loose ends to tie up and then i get to try driving it!

8 car garage? I'm jealous! All I have is a lousy 2 car garage! I have a plasma cutter, welder, air compressor, hoist, jacks, stands, roll around boxes full of tools, etc, etc, etc, but when you have it all jammed in a 20x23' garage, it sure doesn't leave much room left to work on anything.

So how's the project going? Almost done yet?

2bunik · Post by **2bunik** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:13 pm

try one car garage over here

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:36 pm

Sloping gravel at 20 degrees here

Not degrees in angle, 20 degrees in temp

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:25 am

I know, I know. I shouldn't complain! It could be a lot worse.

So Jeff, you done with that thing? Come on man! We wanna see pics!

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:48 am

i'll be done soon. we called it a night at 10:00 and i'm about to go back over there and finish up. we're having trouble with the parking brake...it's locked on for some reason and the cable is very very loose and we manually released the brakes right at the disk/ parking brake drum but it's still stuck. i'll get pics up soon.

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:24 am

i started looking into posting pics on this site....something i've never done before and i'm confused. at this point i'd rather do another ifs lift than have to figure out this computer stuff! i use the internet to look at stuff and buy things and thats about it. so if someone would like to post the pics for me i'd gladly send them in an email to anyone that knows what they're doing....because i sure don't!

Read this one to resize your photos- Resizing photos, this one to create an album in the gallery- How to post pics? ( instructions for posting pictures ), then this one to learn haow to use the img tags- Posting images -HJ

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:32 am

From a post elsewhere:

It is , maybe, not as user friendly as it could be, but with a little playing around you should be able to get it working.

The first thing is to register for your username and password.
Now you can login.

Then you need to create an album.
After logging in you will see a link to "Create/ order my albums". Go there. Click "new" and name it what you wish, then click "apply modifications" to create the album.

Now when you drag the cursor over the "@" the options show up: " | My gallery | User mode | Upload picture | Logout [username] | "
Upload the pictures

Note: the pictures must be under the 1024 kb limit.

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:49 pm

it's done! it took 23 hrs but it was worth it. the truck drives great! i did have to trim the front fenders a little to stop some rubbing but other than that it's great. i have pics and i tried to upload them in the photo gallery but no luck....it kept saying critical error or something like that. i made sure the pics are well within the allowed size. maybe i'll try again later.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:53 pm

I added all your pics to my gallery -- I think that it was the digital camera that was your problem -- it wasn't attaching the .jpg extension to the image files properly. I renamed them all with a .jpg and they worked.

Post by **Walt** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:20 pm

:Drool: (Brule, we need a Drool Icon

)

Man that looks awesome! What size tires are those again?

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:26 pm

wamason wrote::Drool: (Brule, we need a Drool Icon )

Hmmmm...

...something like this might express your feelings?

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:17 pm

Great looking School bus

Am kidding.......looks great!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:51 pm

HenryJ wrote:
wamason wrote::Drool: (Brule, we need a Drool Icon )
Hmmmm...

...something like this might express your feelings?

Well, while were at it, now we need one along the lines of laughing so hard and then chokes and almost dies! That was my reaction when I figured out what that emoticon with the desk was doing!

Post by **Walt** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:50 pm

oohhhhh!! Shweet!!!

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:12 am

Looks great Jeff! Darn I wish I could have done that to mine!

TheBigFitz · Post by **TheBigFitz** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:13 am

Man, that is a nice ride! If I didn't have 83K miles I would be doing that for sure!

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:16 am

thanks for posting the pics for me. someone asked a few posts up what size the tires are, they're 31x12.50 pro comps on 15x10 eagle alloy 589's with 3-5/8" back spacing. i had to trim the front fender and i still hace a little rub sometimes at full turn so i might turn the torsion a tiny bit more. it really does drive great but i think my gas milage is going to be very poor.....but i knew that before i even started.

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:21 am

I bet your mpg will be bad I lost almost 2mpg with just putting on 30s from the stock 235s. If you get 15mpg that wont be to bad

gocntry · Post by **gocntry** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:24 am

Hey Jeffc...Truck Looks Really Great.....Nice Job

OK Everybody Else...Lets Get A Group Buy On The 6" SL And All Head To Jeff's House..He Knows How To Do It, And He does A Great Job...And It Only Takes 23 Hours Per Truck...

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:27 am

Now that hes done 1 I think he can do another in 15 hours

, I feel cheap now i just ordered the body lift and shocks

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:34 am

gocntry wrote:Hey Jeffc...Truck Looks Really Great.....Nice Job

OK Everybody Else...Lets Get A Group Buy On The 6" SL And All Head To Jeff's House..He Knows How To Do It, And He does A Great Job...And It Only Takes 23 Hours Per Truck...

It's gonna take a heck of a lot longer than 23 hours on mine. FIRST, I have to convince the wife to let me lift it! Since she drives it all the time now, it ain't gonna happen!

barch97 · Post by **barch97** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:39 am

jeffc wrote:it's done! it took 23 hrs but it was worth it. the truck drives great! i did have to trim the front fenders a little to stop some rubbing but other than that it's great. i have pics and i tried to upload them in the photo gallery but no luck....it kept saying critical error or something like that. i made sure the pics are well within the allowed size. maybe i'll try again later.

looks great

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 6:19 am

my neighbor that helped me is a professional mechanic and he thinks we could do another one in close to 12 hours now that he knows how everything works. actually he said he'd throw away the superlift directions and do things alot different. we pulled the upper ca,lower ca,and knuckle off all in one peice and droped the diff with the cv shafts still in it. little things like that can save alot of time. we didn't use all of the little brackets they gave us for brake relocation,we just remounted the stock ones by welding or bolting the to a new position. the otc kent moore tool for unloading the torsion bar worked great and it makes me wonder how you'd even try unloading the t-bar without it. it did help having a hoist to work off of. if you need the truck raised up more for something just hit a button. i was alot of work but i'm glad i did the install....now i know how that whole truck goes toether. although it does sound nice to hand someone your keys and in a few days go pick up a lifted truck with out lifting a finger!

jeggers65 · Post by **jeggers65** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 6:31 am

sweeeeeeeeeeeet! the yellow pain looks great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
summit still does 'nt have my kit in stock, now i really cant wait to install it.
23 hrs is a really long time when i install mine i will have no lift and i don't know about the plasma cutter yet, other than that it is a full shop.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 6:42 am

The truck does look nice

jeggers65 wrote:...summit still does 'nt have my kit in stock...

Personally I wouldn't hold my breath waiting on backordered parts from Summit. With them it is always just another two weeks. I waited way too long for a blower, before canceling the order

I'd cancel it and order from someone who has it in stock.

barch97 · Post by **barch97** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 6:45 am

yeah, summit's kinda unreliable as far as "ordering" parts. took me almost five weeks to get my centercaps. If you don't mind waiting, I guess the price is right but, if you need it on a schedule, look elsewhere.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 6:50 am

barch97 wrote:yeah, summit's kinda unreliable as far as "ordering" parts. took me almost five weeks to get my centercaps. If you don't mind waiting, I guess the price is right but, if you need it on a schedule, look elsewhere.

I concur. Waited on my center caps. Got 2 "things" that matched no part number they had, called 'em up, they said keep 'em and shipped the correct center caps.

jeggers65 · Post by **jeggers65** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:12 am

I am going to hold out till the end of the month on summit and see. i have had good times and bad with them. in the end the price is good and i have blown the budget on this one.

KCustom · Post by **KCustom** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:57 pm

Looks great!!!

kwalsh · Post by **kwalsh** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 4:25 pm

Jeff,

you have just inspired me.

Thank you.

I know what Santa is going to deliver after my tax returns have cleared!

KCustom · Post by **KCustom** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:34 pm

Do your front shocks rub on the frame with the new lift? My passanger side rubs a little...just curious

THanks

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:41 pm

kwalsh wrote:Jeff,

you have just inspired me.

Thank you.

I know what Santa is going to deliver after my tax returns have cleared!

My tax return is already spent. Just not on what I wanted to spend it on!

KCustom · Post by **KCustom** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:44 pm

I can relate to that...I have a 13 week old daughter..

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:21 pm

i have not noticed the shocks rubbing....just tires! i've only got 31's and even with the torsion cranked up an extra inch (7in over stock now) i rub on the rear of the front wheel well. i know i've got 12.50's on 10" wheels and only 3-5/8" back spacing but i didn't think i'd have this much trouble. i've got a 2in body lift laying around which is going to makes it's way on the truck sooner than later but then i'm gonna want 33's.....it's a never ending cycle! i think my next step is gears. the 3.42's don't like the 31" tires.....not to mention the truck is like a giant sail catching the wind. i'm pretty sure i'm gonna go with 4.10's so i can get 33's and still have alitte power. my gas milage can't get any worse than it is now....i'm thinking it's in the 12mpg range...although it's been very very cold here so thats not helping any.

coffeedrnkr · Post by **coffeedrnkr** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 8:33 pm

NICE lookin truck, glad to see you got it done

I am going to have to burst your bubble now though b/c after the body lift you will have the same amount as lift as me with the same backspacing and I still rub. I did some MAJOR fender cutting and even went with fiberglass fenders and beat the firewall in a little bit and it will still rub a little bit offroad. Definately have to have 4.10's with 33's or it would suck to drive and you would have to almost floor it everywhere. It can be done though, it is just a little easier with more backspacing b/c it wont hit the fenders as much.

KCustom · Post by **KCustom** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:48 am

Back spacing is the key...I am running 5" inches of Backspacing on 9" wide wheels.....The centerlines that I have for sale are 4.5 backspacing on 8" wide wheels.......

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:03 am

KCustom wrote:Back spacing is the key...

Words of wisdom

Post by **Walt** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:56 am

amen!

jeffc · Post by **jeffc** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:09 am

i'll be the first one to admit my back spacing is the problem. to me stance is everything and i really wanted the wide look that i have. i'm just going to have to try a few things to get it working right. i knew everything i was going to be in for when i started this little project, so the rubbing and loss of power came as no suprise.

mickm · Post by **mickm** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:46 am

Hello,
Without requiring removal of material from the upper control arm's inner fascia, the shock absorber's operating box is excessively limited.

Only when using certain cylinders have we experienced minor rubbing of the shock's upper body against the frame.

I have designed new shock brackets addressing this issue. "IF" you experience this, call Superlift and we will issue you a new set of shock brackets ASAP.

KC, your's shipped this morning.

We thank you for your interest in our product and strive to give you the best product and service available.

Happy Holidays,
MickM
Superlift Suspension Systems
Lead Design Engineer, S-10 platform

KCustom · Post by **KCustom** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:32 am

The guys at Superlift rule.....Merry Christmas

S-10CREWCAB.NET

superlift install

superlift install

your truck..

shocks rubbing?

LOL...

Back spacing is the key...

Re: Back spacing is the key...

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