My Heap

[AEV_CUMMINS]

I am really curious if you have any thoughts on your radius arm from Carli. I have my own Carli kit on order and left the radius arm off. As well as the steering stabilizers which I am starting to think I may need.. It seems you installed it all at once so it may be hard to tell but do you attribute any ride quality or rigidity improvements from the radius arm or possibly the steering stabilizer if you have them? Low mount/high mount? Thanks!

 

[Brewbud]

It is hard to say with regards to the radius arms. The truck drives fantastic, but from what others have told me it makes the least amount of difference of all the other parts. They are stronger than stock, give a little more clearance and the spherical bushing gives a smoother movement through their cycle and provides more down travel. It does make it easier to add the limit straps. But then again, you may not need limit straps with the stock arms as I believe the stock vulcanized joint limits the downward travel before you would be in danger of damaging the shock. I originally left them off my order but decided to add them at the last minute. Luckily Dan at Carli came through for me. I didn't want to have to take things apart if I decided to add them later. Many run the kits without the arms and have no issues or complaints.

I am running the Carli lower stabilizer. The Carli upper stab is actually designed to be run with a lower stab, either stock or the Carli. I figured I could add it later if needed. At the time I originally ordered I don't think the redesigned upper was available yet. I don't notice any pull with just the lower stab so I will likely not add the upper.

 

[Brewbud]

I have been debating getting the Decked system for a long time now. I know it will be great for camping but I am not sure how well it will hold up to offroad desert use. I pulled the trigger snyway. If it appears it can't take the abuse of desert trips it only takes 20-30 mins to pull it out. Despite what Decked says, the install is easy for a single person to do. I did have one nutsert spin on me before it even started to actually tighten.

I added their L track kit to the top so I can strap items down. I still need to mount the spare back up on the deck.



Happy to see the portable ARB twin air fits in the drawer.

 

[Brewbud]

One other tip. For installing the rear decked wheels I found it was easier to use a clamp than trying to prop up the drawers with clocks. Also, I had to chase the threads on one side as the axle would not thread in past a 1/2".

 

[UglyViking]

Excited to see this build. How do you plan to mount the spare, just flat on top of the decked?

I've got a crossbed toolbox right now I got for cheap, I've been enjoying that with the combo of bed space, although at times I do wish I had more secure storage. The only thing I can't figure out right now is how I want to carry a full sized spare. I really wish that you could get a 37 into the factory location but since that isn't an option I'm left to look elsewhere. Right now I'm hoping I can get by with a tire patch kit and compressor, but that doesn't seem like a great long term plan. I liked the AEV tire mount, but then I can't run the box. I may end up with one of those hitch mounted tire carriers and just slap it on when needed, or maybe I'll go crazy and swap in a flatbed with a storage box like pcor sells.

 

[Brewbud]

I mounted the spare on top with heavy duty straps attached to the L-track sold by Decked. The L-track mounts to the metal cross braces of the Decked top. I also have a metal cable that loops down through the bed loop to provide a way to lock the tire.

 

[UglyViking]

Great looking truck. I'd hate to give up that much bed space, although I suppose with the Decked it's prob not too bad. Can't wait to see what is next!

 

[Brewbud]

Great looking truck. I'd hate to give up that much bed space, although I suppose with the Decked it's prob not too bad. Can't wait to see what is next!

I have an excuse when someone wants to borrow my truck to move something now. I won't tell them it only takes 20-30 minutes to remove. LOL

I now have room to securely carry everyday gear I couldn't carry before and the bed in the back is flat all the way across. It should work well for my needs. If not they seem to seel pretty fast used.

 

[Toyotaguy]

The decked system will hold up to whatever you throw at it. I had one I my tundra and it was absolutely abused for 5 years and the only issue I had was when I moved it from one tundra to another I stripped out a couple of the threaded inserts using an impact and was able to just glue them back in. That truck was worked hard, I always had pallets of crap, big spools of wires and big tools ( pipe threader, benders wire puller). When It wasn’t working it was in the dunes, desert and hills.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

What’s your plan for all that all that space where the spare tire used to be?

I mounted the spare on top with heavy duty straps attached to the L-track sold by Decked. The L-track mounts to the metal cross braces of the Decked top. I also have a metal cable that loops down through the bed loop to provide a way to lock the tire.

View attachment 17155

View attachment 17156

 

[Brewbud]

What’s your plan for all that all that space where the spare tire used to be?

LOL, That stock spare is still there for now. I may need to find a place to weld a nut to a brace under there like I did on my 2007. I can then easily bed mount the spare for when the DEcked system is out.

 

[Brewbud]

I did a couple of mods last weekend. I upgraded the rear door speakers to Infinity REF-9633s. The 9633s are a very efficient speaker and work well with the stock Alpine system IMO. The system sounds much better with more lows and highs. I can also now open the back doors and play music just like I did back in high school so many years ago. LOL I have a set for the front doors too, but I may leave it the way it is since the highs are provided by the dash speakers I already upgraded. I'll see how long I can resist giving them a go.

 

[Brewbud]

The 2nd mod was installing a set of Baja Designs backup lights. I really only did this because that cool @Rockcrawlerdude did it and it looked badass. LOL

I didn't do the final wiring until Wednesday night. My wife took my truck into work the day before and she is convinced she would have missed the yellow pole in the parking garage had they been wired up. She is probably right. That garage is dark. She had the bumper rubbed out before I even got home. Can't even tell where it brushed up against the pole. It is probably best I don't look at it too closely though.

 

[Eatonpcat]

She had the bumper rubbed out

My wife backs into a pole, she better be rubbing something out once I get home!! LOL

 

[Brewbud]

Not really a truck mod but I did mod a Smittybilt compressor last weekend. I decided I didn't want to keep moving the portable ARB twin air all the time so I picked up the inexpensive Smittybilt 5.65 CFM compressor off Amazon. Well it was more like drunk Tab bought sober Tab a present one night - but I digress.....

It is bigger than I expected. I almost returned it but I was impressed with how quiet it is and it does move a lot of air. I feel it has two flaws though. It uses Japanese couplers and it does not shut off automatically when it reaches pressure (it pops the safety valve instead). I decided to keep it so I fixed those two flaws by installing a Milton M style coupler and a pressure switch. There are a couple of Youtube videos out there on doing the pressure switch mod. I used those but modified it to be a little cleaner in my opinion. It works very well for such a cheap and easy setup. It took less than 30 minutes.





Size of ARB portable. I should have taken a pic of them next to each other. I still haven't done a comparison between the two yet. 2 tire inflator system also shown. Gauge (not shown) attaches to the Schraeder valve on the yoke splitter.




Parts to make the mods:

Male NPT to M12 x 1.25 M12X1.25 Male Metric Coupling​

70-100 PSI Air Pressure Switch Tank Mount Type Thread 1/4" NPT​

Brass Pipe Fitting, Barstock Tee, 1/4" x 1/4" x 1/4" NPT Female​

 

[Crusty old shellback]

Just read thru your thread. Nice upgrades you've done.
As for the red, I love my Delmonico Red Pearl. It's so much better in person and bright sunlight. It flips some on the body lines with the bright sun.

 

[Brewbud]

Just read thru your thread. Nice upgrades you've done.
As for the red, I love my Delmonico Red Pearl. It's so much better in person and bright sunlight. It flips some on the body lines with the bright sun.

I love way the Delmonico changes in the sun. I have been following your build thread pretty religiously. You do a better job with the details than I do. Part of the fun with these trucks.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

I learned a lot about build threads when I was building my '73 K5 Blazer for playing in the desert and running in Baja. So details are great. I had to look back on that thread several times to remember what I had done.

When I sold the K5, the guy who wound up buying it read the whole thread, some 200 plus pages. He never batted an eye or tried to haggle on price. He told me he knew he couldn't build what I did for the price I was asking.

Deavar springs, King 2.5 smooth body shocks. spartian locker front, Auburn gear posi rear, partial cage, PRP suspension seats, built 350 with Holley EFI pushing 425 HP/475 TQ. 12" front/18" rear travel.

 

[Eatonpcat]

I learned a lot about build threads when I was building my '73 K5 Blazer for playing in the desert and running in Baja. So details are great. I had to look back on that thread several times to remember what I had done.

When I sold the K5, the guy who wound up buying it read the whole thread, some 200 plus pages. He never batted an eye or tried to haggle on price. He told me he knew he couldn't build what I did for the price I was asking.

Deavar springs, King 2.5 smooth body shocks. spartian locker front, Auburn gear posi rear, partial cage, PRP suspension seats, built 350 with Holley EFI pushing 425 HP/475 TQ. 12" front/18" rear travel.

Not to hijack Brewbud's thread, but let's see the Blazer!!

 

[Crusty old shellback]

Hope you don't mind Brewbud.

On the beach in southern Baja during the 50th Baja 1000. This was her maiden voyage after the final motor build. had 200 miles on her when I left home. Broke her in on this trip putting 2K miles on her with only 2 minor issues that were quickly fixed.



Build thread in case you are interested.

Crustys '73 pre runner build

Well here it is, a 1973 K5 built as a pre runner. I'm going to document everything here so it will be easier to keep track of. I picked her up on 07-11-2015. She looks like a good base to start with. P.O. had the suspension, back half of the cage and front bumper/lights done by Solo Mortorsports...

www.chevyk5blazer.com