Liveoffroad's '84 build

balancing beads

I've been fighting tire balancing issues for 2 years now. as my MTR's wear, they seem to constantly be out of balance. last summer i had them re-balanced twice and they never seemed quite right. So i'm through with paying tire shops to do that. i keep reading mixed reviews on balancing beads, mainly equal and dynabeads.... i found a different company called counteract that says they're better than both the others. i can't find much on the forums about this brand, and after i spent some time on the phone with them they convinced me to give them a shot. I picked up enough of the beads to do all 4 tires for 20 bucks on ebay so i don't figure i'm out much if they don't work. i'll update this on their performance.
 
haven't updated in a while cuz i'm about 1/2 way through 3 projects, but i'm hoping to get some things wrapped up in the next day or two. here's a preview:




 
I ordered a t-case cross-member/skid from budbuilt about a month and a half ago, i've called them 2x and each time they tell me "it will ship in a couple days" ive heard nothing but good things about their company so i'm trying to be patient but this is pushing it.
on a positive note, i got back from moab last night...my bro threw me a wheeling bachelor party :biggrin1: i'll post some pics soon
 
did a little wheeling over the long weekend, but once again didn't get good pictures.






Also, i finally got to the bottom of my driveline vibrations. the rear shaft was bent pretty bad. between that and the balancing beads, my truck has NEVER driven so smooth on the highway!!! sure makes the trip to and from the trail a lot more enjoyable.
 
I'm staying in town for most of June to get projects done around the house (married life haha) but me and my buddies are planning a big trip over the 4th of jul so here's the to do list for this month:
1. install bud-built crossmemeber
2. re-do my rear leaf packs again
3. fix my cargo light (broke off in moab last month)
4. finish and install sliders
 
I checked #2 off last night, i'm hoping to get #1 and #3 done over the weekend.
I'm beginning to really hate these chevy springs. i've pulled/replaced leaves in them now, probably 8 times! i can't find a spring rate i'm happy with. i load my truck down when i go camping and these things are WAY too soft, my last trip i was hitting bumpstop on my way to the camp spot!
besides that, they don't have much arch to them so they don't flex that much unless your running stupid long shackles, which is sketchy. i'm half debating cutting them off and just buying some lift springs. Just throwin this out there to help out anyone who is still considering a chevy spring swap. that may have been the cool thing a few years ago but save yourself the trouble and just buy some springs!
.02$
 
That's why I went with OME instead of a Chevy/RUF setup. Everybody I know that runs Chevys and likes them had to put a fair amount of effort into getting them set up just right. That sounds like work, and I hate work.
 
liveoffroad said:
I checked #2 off last night, i'm hoping to get #1 and #3 done over the weekend.
I'm beginning to really hate these chevy springs. i've pulled/replaced leaves in them now, probably 8 times! i can't find a spring rate i'm happy with. i load my truck down when i go camping and these things are WAY too soft, my last trip i was hitting bumpstop on my way to the camp spot!
besides that, they don't have much arch to them so they don't flex that much unless your running stupid long shackles, which is sketchy. i'm half debating cutting them off and just buying some lift springs. Just throwin this out there to help out anyone who is still considering a chevy spring swap. that may have been the cool thing a few years ago but save yourself the trouble and just buy some springs!
.02$
Click to expand...

I have been VERY happy with my TG springs. They flex very well and ride pretty smooth on the street. I never have my hard top on and don't usually have much weight in the back of my runner so I did pull two leafs out of them. I don't remember which leafs I pulled but I had to play with the leaf pack a little till I got it right.

There is a guy that is selling a front and rear set of alcan springs (4" rear 3" front) on the colorado springs craigslist. I have never really heard much about those springs but I wouldn't hesitate to try them out.
 
Ya i've thought about the trail gear springs, seems like there's plenty of folks running them so they've got to be decent, even if they're not top of the line. I hear ya on the OME's kid, I think they're my first choice in suspensions but they don't make springs tall enough for my needs. my bro just put a complete OME setup on his fj80 and it rides better than factory on the roads and trails!
thanks for the lead on the alcans SV, i'll look into it. i've heard really good things about them and they're good guys (They're located in my hometown) but they're usually spendy.
 
Budbuilt Crossmember Install

Wrenched most of the day yesterday. lots of odds and ends done and installed the budbuilt that's been sitting in my garage for 3 weeks. I gained about 3" of clearance using a 1" drive-line lift crossmember.
Unpackaged:




Factory one extended about 6.5" from the bottom of the frame:






Installed. Budbuilt measured about 3.5" from the bottom of the frame:





With the skidplate:




Overall i'm very happy with the product budbuilt makes. seems to be well made, fits as intended, and comes with all the required hardware. They are not timely though, so its a good thing i wasn't in a hurry.
 
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IMG_0328_zpscc9dbb0c.jpg~original
Click to expand...

That is dead sexy, and way better clearance than the skid I've got.

So you don't have a body lift though, right?
 
KidVermicious said:
That is dead sexy, and way better clearance than the skid I've got.

So you don't have a body lift though, right?
Click to expand...

I have a 1/2" body lift that i made so that the engine would clear the hood. so i figured there was enough space in the tunnel to clear a 1" Drivetrain lift. Its darn close but it worked!
 
did some wheelin over the long weekend up by Ouray. should have more pics coming and i'll ad them to my main build thread
Loaded up for the 7 hour drive accross colorado


Black bear was closed so we had to settle for Imogene pass:










came back Osher pass


Had an awesome trip and the trucks ran great, no one broke...not even the land rover guy haha. i did slit a tire but what can ya do
 
i've decided to keep my build thread on yotatech updated so i have everything in 1 place, i'll still throw a few teaser pics up here once in a while but it seems dumb to post everything 2x
 
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