Gramp's Old Guy Build - Agnus the GX

OK. Got a ton of work done this weekend. All Pro Spindle Gussets are welded on. Pics coming of that(CALLING BOB). And I got the new Extended Shackles from Defined Engineering installed. Took a bit of grinding to get them to fully extend upward into the Flip design I have installed. But once I ground down enough on the hanger they clearanced just fine. The zert even clears the top of the hanger.



Along with installing them I had to bore out the hole to 3/4" to accept some Greasable Shackle bolts that I got from Low Range Off Road.



Also drilled out the front hangers (what a bitch to do) to 3/4" to also accept greasable Shackle bolts.



Got it all back together and will be testing it next weekend. It appears that I got about another 1/4" to 1/2" of lift in the rear after everything settled down. Can't wait to test these puppies out.

 

In the beginning when I installed the Freelance Fabrication Shackle Flip kit on my truck the design was taking quite a bit flak from some members on here and I was told that I would be tearing up my factory rubber bushing in my factory shackle hangers requiring replacement in the near future.

The below picture is of my factory shackle that was removed today in favor of a greasable extended shackle. This bushing has 50k miles on it with the factory hangers and another 20k on it installed with the flip kit. All 4 bushings looked just like this. They are ready for another 100k easily. So this proves, at least to me, that the design will not eat rubber bushings like some said.

 

Looks good op

 

here ya go bud

 

didn't get any of the fully welded shots without the tire on..


excited to see those new shackles working on your truck...

 

Thanks man

THANKS BOB! Yeah we will see what next weekend brings.

 

Looks good Eric! You ready for Moab now?

 

Almost. Need to paint the armor up and do a bit of clearancing on a front part of the bumper. And I might pull the trigger on a vinyl decal idea that is bouncing around in my head. Just not certain yet.

 

The shackle flip is a good mod for sure, I am debating if I now want to do large shocks in the rear... Hmmm
You will enjoy the new travel you gained for sure.

Question about the spindle gussets? Did your welder heat the spindles before hand and after the welding did he gradually bring the temp down?
Reason I ask is I have a good friend who is a welder by trade and thats how he did it on a few trucks he's done.

 

No pre - heat other then the grinding that was done to remove the paint but once the welding was done they were allowed to cool on their own. Now that you mention it though since the spindle is cast heating it up would improve the bond of the weld. But I watched the welding go on and feel that it was done with great skill. I am not worried.

 

Went and adjusted the alignment today to better fit 35's in the future and we flexed it out to make sure nothing was touching.




Not to shabby!

 

Nice! Impressive

 

Making me Jealous....

 

No need to be jelly. Finish up school and then we will have time to build yours.

 

Only 6 more weeks... fastest "school" ever!

 

Cool and then what dept will you be going for?

 

I'm already hired on Aurora Fire. So I'm getting paid through the academy

 

Alright I am looking at these wheels when I go to 35's:



However I learned today that they only come in 16x9. Not a deal killer but they also only come in these backspacings 4.50 or 3.50. With spindle gussets I cannot do a 4.50" backspacing. So is 3.50" too far out????

Also not a bad price through National Wheel and Tire $188.95 per wheel.

 

why do u like those? just the design or r they abnormally strong? steel or aluminium?

 

Those are bad ass.