Lift blocks & my spring-over

[Tom Mandera <tsm1@domain.elided>]

OK, still trying to decide what I'm doing with my spring-over that only
netted 3" of lift (a little *less* than the Skyjackers and shackles
did!).

I'm going to add the 4th '73 leaf (shortest) in.  It has a slight arch
to it, and is 3/8" thick.  That should be good for a little more lift
(3/8" anyhow).

Hmm.. I want a little more, but I can't bring myself to use the 5/8"
thick VERY flat overload from an XLC spring pack.. 

At-rest my springs are FLAT.  

How to get more.. I didn't think I could find a lift block to fit..
since I relocated my center pin forward..

Then I had an idea, and I don't even need to hit the steel shop again
(which is good, they close soon).

I'll take the remains of Fleck's shackles (made from 2"x3/8" strap,
about 6" long) and clean up the two solid sides I still have.  Should
yield a 2"x6"x3/8" piece.

I'll then drill a hole for the center pin - 7/8" from the center.  Make
this 3/8" just like the spring pin already is.

My spring perches are about 5" long end to end.. I'll make sure the
strap matches.

*THEN* take the springs apart again, put the 4th stock leaf in, and THEN
put this piece of 3/8" strap under the overload leaf, and cinch it all
together with the new 3/8" center pin.  Now install.

Should yield 3/8" lift from the strap, plus 3/8" or a little better from
the extra leaf, without using a long and thick overload leaf, and it
shouldn't hurt up-travel much/any over what I have now.

So.. at least 3/4" of lift, putting me at 3.75", maybe up to the 4"
mark.  I think I could be happy with that (for a while)

Anyone see a problem with using mild-steel as a lift-block and bolting
it to the springs?

I also made a new upper rear shock mount last night.

Took 2x2x3/16 angle, cut an inch off one side (to make ~ 1x2x3/16, which
I couldn't buy).  I then drilled either end so that I could place this
piece of angle inside the rear-shock crossmember, with the 1" side
horizontal and pointing forward.  Use the stock shock mounts to bolt
this piece in place.  I then drilled a series of holes 1.5" apart along
the length of the angle.  Now I can relocate my upper shock mounts
inboard as much as I need to keep the shocks from holding the truck up
at-rest.

-Tom Mandera, Helena MT
http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout