My 40 Dodge Truck Build - Maybe a 41 LOL

[Couper]

Some pics of where I'm at. I'm bugging cause I have to pull it apart now to get the frame back on the rack to weld in the cross members. Actually I have 2 questions...

1) The 6 degree caster setting. Where is the best location to take that measurement. The x-member that the spring clamps to or the king pins? I bought one of those digital angle finders.....it's pretty cool.

2) My 4 link set up came with rear tube brackets and frame brackets with 3" cutouts for the 3" square tubing that's going to weld up to the frame kick ups. The brackets have the same distance spacing on the tube mountng holes so the tubes will be parallel. Should they be angled up, down or parallel to the ground?

Thanks

[MercuryMac]

I try to measure mine at the kingpin, or ball joints.
I like mock-ups.

[zzrodder]

I think you would want to have the link bars close to level at ride height, so that would mean you have to make an educated guess how much the coil overs will be compressed under load.
The truck is looking good

[Couper]

Thanks Merc

[Couper]

Perfect ZZ.....

Thank you.

[Couper]

Tacking in the rear x-members and the rear framing that will take the 4 link tabs today. Tomorrow I'll tack in the front x-member to obtain the 7 - 8 degree required caster....... Merc.

That Digital Angle finder I bought is cool....everything at zero to 1 degree.

[Old Iron]

Nice work

[Couper]

Thanks Old Iron!

Have another question. I have my cross member tacked in at 7 degrees. I'm going to mount my spring and axle up with the U-bolts. Should my final check of the caster be performed with the front end under load? Think it'll make a difference if it isn't?. Since the ceilings are low in my shop there's not enough headroom to get my cab on the rack and the motor would be a chore.

I could ratchet strap the spring into load location if you think that might be helpful. Jerry at Pete & Jake's said to take the measurement at the cross member but am wondering if all 7 degrees at the member is going to get transfered to the axle / king pins.

Thanks!

[Old Iron]

If the vehicle is going to be lower in the front then the back, the camber will have to be set at ride height.

[Couper]

That's a bit of a brain buster for me. The rear tires are 29", front's are 26".
My cab frame rails are going to be level at about 5.5", the front angle up at about 5.5 degrees to give me enough spring travel with out a c notch.

I'm not sure if this means higher in the back or not. Would center of wheels be the dictator of higher in the back even though my cab rails are level?

I have a headache now! LOL