Moparmat2000
I'm Awesome
Well i ended up moving my tie down straps to the middle stake holes, and lifting the bed off and leaving it attached to the chain hoist, then i lowered it onto some saw horses and left some tension on the straps in case a saw horse failed. On the 8 foot bed without a tailgate on, its just about evenly balanced at the center stake holes just slightly more heavy in the front
Removing it completely it easier to cut 2 more bed floor U channels at the back end where the 2" rear drop shackles are. With just the 2" drop at the rear there were rub marks on my springs and on the U channels, so i notched them out to give the springs some travel without hitting. I probably should have removed it completely from the get go.
I also sprayed down the frame and knocked off a bunch of fine clumped dust that was stuck to everything. Knocked out dents in bed floor from underneath, welded up a couple pulled thru spot welds, and welded up some old drilled holes for accessories i no longer have. Did some inner bed bodywork prior to taking it for a spray in bed liner. Frame has minor surface rust on it beneath all the dust and dirt i washed off it, but not the deep assed pitting like the northern trucks end up with.
In closing, i had 3 days of fun working on it. Its fun doing upgrade mods instead of just maintenance repair work. 3rd day was mostly prepping the bed for the Armorthane coating i am going to get sprayed in probably next week. Would i do another one of these? Absolutely not !! LOL however i am pretty happy with height of the 2-4 drop as it sits now. Theres an even space between the tire and wheel openings at the front and back. Truck looks nice and level. I will drive it this way for awhile before i decide on installing 1" drop springs.
Removing it completely it easier to cut 2 more bed floor U channels at the back end where the 2" rear drop shackles are. With just the 2" drop at the rear there were rub marks on my springs and on the U channels, so i notched them out to give the springs some travel without hitting. I probably should have removed it completely from the get go.
I also sprayed down the frame and knocked off a bunch of fine clumped dust that was stuck to everything. Knocked out dents in bed floor from underneath, welded up a couple pulled thru spot welds, and welded up some old drilled holes for accessories i no longer have. Did some inner bed bodywork prior to taking it for a spray in bed liner. Frame has minor surface rust on it beneath all the dust and dirt i washed off it, but not the deep assed pitting like the northern trucks end up with.
In closing, i had 3 days of fun working on it. Its fun doing upgrade mods instead of just maintenance repair work. 3rd day was mostly prepping the bed for the Armorthane coating i am going to get sprayed in probably next week. Would i do another one of these? Absolutely not !! LOL however i am pretty happy with height of the 2-4 drop as it sits now. Theres an even space between the tire and wheel openings at the front and back. Truck looks nice and level. I will drive it this way for awhile before i decide on installing 1" drop springs.
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