Official Start of my IFS project

[BigBlueChevy]

Hey all,

Browsing around for new projects for the truck I stumbled on a site that makes special heavy duty front coil springs for my truck. They are direct replacemtents, but heres the catch - they have an aditional 1000lbs of carrying capacity compared to the OEMs. Very useful for people who add heavy front bumpers and plows to the fronts of there trucks. But what if the truck has neither of these...

This is where my IFS project comes into place. Naturally, with more carrying capacity this WILL lift the front of the truck. So I decided to work some numbers and see what came up with what kind of lifting.

Stock-
Front of license plate holder is 16.5" from the ground
Wheel well(measured from outside at bottom of chrome outline) is 34" to ground
Coil springs measure 6" between control arms and frame rail.

The image below the steering and suspension assembly under a stock setup. No lift, and no aftermarket loads(IE plow, bumper brushguard) Notice angles of steering linkage and control arm to wheel assembly.

By jacking up the front end using the "skid plate", I was able to simulate what a 3" lift would not only look like, but what it would do to a stock suspension and steering parts.

The only concern to me right now is the steering linkage and control arm to wheel linkage angle. Here are pictures I took of the whole assembly under 3" "lift". Notice the angle of the steering linkage as well as the connection from the control arm to the wheel assembly itself

Sway bars show no signs of stress or strain. Only problem right now is the above mentioned. The control arms after the "lift" are now 7" apart from the frame rail. Seems to be for every 1" added to the coils it adds 3" to the truck itself, or a 3:1 ratio, thanks to coil placement.

Rear end is easy. Measurments showed that there is already a 2" difference in height between the front and back.(Damn racecar stance). So longer U-bolts and a 1" spacer block will fix that up no problem.

I'd say a 3" lift on the old girl looks good, how bout you guys?:thumbsup:

 

[BigBlueChevy]

currently my only concern is with the 2 linkages I mentioned. I'd post this in the suspension section but seeing as this is a 6.5 truck I'd like the have people familiar with the 6.5 and its IFS to see if this is even possible.

Lemme know whether or not you think/know the linkage angles will be a problem. Who knows, this all works out and we may finally have a low cost, IFS lift for our trucks as this seems to come up every now and then.

 

[qwomack]

A friend of mine many years ago found some springs similar to yours that we attempted to install. I say attempted because when we got everything apart, the springs were so stiff, we could not get the ball joints bolted back to the spindles.

As far as angles are concerned, they are a little steep but worth a try in my opinion. Just keep an eye on things.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[bk95td]

The springs you mentioned will make the front of your truck very very stiff. I've seen spring spacers that you add to the top or bottom of your exsisting coils. Ride would stay the same with added height. A longer spring of the same rate would be better.

 

[BigBlueChevy]

The coil spacers I've looked into. They have a set for 1.5" and 2.5" The 2.5" require after market control arms apparently.

Longer springs was another option I was thinking of. Question is where?

 

[Matt Bachand]

As long as nothing becomes out of alignment spec wise.

I agree it looks much better up a lil' higher.

 

[BigBlueChevy]

I'm going to present the idea to the mechanic I trust and see what he says reguarding angles of the linkages(seeing as he can see them right there VS over a computer screen) and whether or not he thinks it can be aligned safely.

The way everything seems theres a definate chance this will work out.

 

[mattthebrat]

I would be concerned about your balljoints with that setup, you have to remember that you will have more suspension travel on top of the angle you already. Plus, if the spring rate increase is anywhere near the same as torsion bars your ride will horrific! I cranked the bars enough to get 2" of lift and the damn thing threw me through the windshield on every little crack in the road.

 

[Z79outlaw]

Your going to get tire wear like that of the lifted Fords with the TTB front suspension, most likely you wont even be able to come close to bring the chamber back in to anywhere near stock specs. I realize you dont have a ford but here is a good example of out one of your outcomes will be. I like the body lift route on the GMT-400 platform personally

 

[Bullseye240]

:iagree:
and not only that it will ride just like that jack is still under there!!!!

 

[Turbine Doc]

Just out of curiosity, what is desire of the project, just to add more load capability, if that is the aim might I suggest www.activesuspension.com it is what is under my truck, and is passive until you load the truck up, and nothing with ride or alignment is compromised, and is zero maintenance compared to air bags, with no need to air up or down either

If wanting to lift front end, would it be beneicial to get stuff for a K3500 front end, just run the hubs & no xfer case/half shafts, I'm going to be doing that soon with a engine/trans swap of my C1500 burb stuff into a better condition body/frame from a k2500 burb, running it as a 2wd with torsion suspension up front