I am building a Sand/Mud truck. With motor mods and trans mods being completed I am now about ready to install lift. I have 10 inch re-arched lift springs built for the rig and my only confusion is finding the appropriate pitman and drag link system. Any suggestions? I am still using the original spring blocks which will get approximately 14 inches according to the spring manufacturer.

 

ask around about a cross over stearing system

 

Best bet would be a GM (saginaw) style 2wd steering box, with cross over steering. Are you still running the Dana 44 front end?. If so, your options will be limited?

 

Yes I am still running the 44 Heavy. I will look into the GM stuff Thanks for the input.

 

Saginaw box in a Highboy with crossover steering.
Image of saginaw power steering conversion - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
With as much lift as you are about to run, there is no other option. A push pull system will not work. DRag link angles will be far too steep, and the truck will barely turn.

 

Nice Rig. Looking for approximate cost on conversion to this GM system. I am thinking of putting a limiting strap system on the truck as opposed to shocks. What size tires are you running on the truck with wheel size. The red paint was shot well and the grill looks awesome nice job. How do I post pics on the site here.

 

Wow,thank you for the nice words. Well I really did some horse trading for the box, it is a 16:1, 4 turn box from a motorhome, and I picked up two. One for myself, and one for one of out other members that I swap a bunch of stuff with. I can pick up decent saginaw boxes for around $75 to 125 bucks.
The crossover stuff can get a little pricey, depending on which components you wish to use, and this also depends on your confidence in welding. If you have to pay for fab work, your cost will be a little more than some.
3/4" and 7/8" heim joints can also be a little expensive, bu the other option would be to run the chebby 2026, and 2027 TRE's. These should run no more than $100 bucks for the pair. You can get inserts or tap the tube to accomodate the TRE's, and you will have to figureout what you will do to attach the new drag link to the pass. side knuckle. Your D44 will require some work. My photobucket does have some pics of a knuckle for a D44.
I run 39.5 tall boggers that are 18 inches wide on 12 inch wide wheels. Pretty standardr stuff, nothing fancy here. The suspension is a BDS front 8" SD spring with factory front hangers, and a slightly longer shackle that measures 5.25 inches from center to center. These are still in a little bit of development, because I broke one that last weekend after I caught a little air. I smashed the spring into the frame, and busted some parts.
Either way, these springs flex like no others, and I have to make a few accomodations to allow these springs to work to thier full potential. I use a 14" travel shock, and when I jumped the truck, I used 6.5 inches of compression,,,,,yeah, a little more and things could have been real bad. I mean really bad busted parts, but I got lucky.
As far as the paint,,,, man, ley me tell you, it is not all that great,,,,,, i do not recall whether or not I mentioned the fact that the paint job is rustoleum. Yes, my ride is painterd with spray cans! Just about $60.00 in paint, and a little elbow grease ti rub it out. Again, nothing fancy, but looks alright I guess.