Rear suspension setup questions

[big_moss]

Whats up guys ive gotta a pretty rookie question but I'm on the process of trying to decide what rear suspension setup to run on my 51 that will be bagged on a s10 frame. I'm planning on knotching the frame or completely rebuilding the back half just dont know weather to run a triangulated 4 link with a track bar or a 2 link with a pan hard par. Jusf wondering if anyone's had any experience with these same ideas I'm trying to figure out thanks guys

[big_moss]

And I'll be doing an ls swap on the truck as well. So my 2nd question is would this kit work with the way our beds lay on the frame

[b-mac]

So, don't do what I did...

8.8, 3.73 out of an '01 Explorer, triangulated 4 link, QA1 coil overs (sorry, no bags, but I thought about it). Because of the design of an 8.8, I flipped the top links in, and built a cross member...and a second for the coil overs. Also boxed the frame in that area. I also squeezed the rear end forward a bit to perfectly match the '49 wheel base. Probably not worth all the effort.

[b-mac]

iPad doesn't like uploading pictures

[b-mac]

Boxing and Xmember

[b-mac]

Links

[joedoh]

have you decided how you will mount the body? there are generally two ways people do it, either mounting the body high so the bottom of the frame is even with the bottom of the running boards, or mounting the body lower so the running boards are the lowest part of the truck and the frame is tucked up inside the body a bit.

with the first way, if you bag the truck to lay out flat, you will need a big notch and lots of extra parts, tubular control arms, drop spindles, tie rod notch kit, toe correction steering, especially if you plan to run a decent sized wheel. the s10 front suspension gets wonky at a big drop, the front wheels splay out and the control arms hit the frame.

with the second way, you will need a trans tunnel and maybe a driveshaft tunnel. but almost every s10 in the world will take a 5" drop (which is about how far the truck will need to drop to lay on the running boards, which will need reinforced mounts not to bend) without any special parts and you will only need a 2-3" notch in the rear even with decent sized wheels.

I hope you dont take this the wrong way because I dont mean it wrong, but do what comes first before worrying what comes next. get a rolling body swapped truck and then worry about installing a late model engine. get it running and driving and then bag it. worrying about the rear suspension at the beginning shows forethought, but is about as useful as buying a hamster ball for the hamster you will buy after you buy a cage. after you move into an apartment that allows hamsters. lots of guys tackle building a truck as a big project with lots of big and clearly defined goals when they probably should look at it as multiple projects with much smaller goals.

oh and dont run a two link.

[big_moss]

B-mac that's a pretty simple setup idea. I've decided after talking to a few friends of mine definitely gonna run the triangulated 4 link. And Joseph I hear what your saying man but that is what I'm building a bagged 51 that lays hard and low with a late model engine in it. So I'm just gonna bite the bullet and tackle the build one step at a time

[b-mac]

Beware. I'm 4 years in and I estimate another year before I crank it.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by big_moss

B-mac that's a pretty simple setup idea. I've decided after talking to a few friends of mine definitely gonna run the triangulated 4 link. And Joseph I hear what your saying man but that is what I'm building a bagged 51 that lays hard and low with a late model engine in it. So I'm just gonna bite the bullet and tackle the build one step at a time

roll --> run --> bag

this way you know exactly how much drop you need based on your body mounts and wheel sizes, and if life gets in the way at least you have a running driving truck. a good bag setup is >3k, thats a lot to sink before driving.

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by joedoh

roll --> run --> bag

this way you know exactly how much drop you need based on your body mounts and wheel sizes, and if life gets in the way at least you have a running driving truck. a good bag setup is >3k, thats a lot to sink before driving.

smart dude ^^^

[b-mac]

Thought this deserved updated pictures after paint.

In hindsight, I like Joe's idea...

[joedoh]

wow that looks really great! do you have a project thread? I would love to follow this one