HISTORY OF THE SUV
July 16, 2023
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Golden Anniversary Special
Just about any gearhead would be thrilled by the opportunity to work with legendary automotive collector and all-around funny guy Jay Leno. Dave Killackey, owner of Performance Transmissions in Azusa, California, not only had the opportunity to work on a number of Leno’s projects, but along the way he’s developed a friendship with the late-night TV host. It’s a close enough friendship that Leno teamed with automotive designer Chip Foose and his “Overhaulin’” TV show to completely transform his rusted-out ’56 Chevrolet Nomad. So yes, you did read this correctly; Dave Killackey is indeed one of the luckiest car guys on the planet—he’s friends with Jay Leno, and he owns a ’56 Nomad that has been overhauled by Chip Foose and the rest of his team.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft from Brian Tooley Racing
Every once in a while a part drops that isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a movement. That’s BTR’s Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft — the martial-arts master of Gen III HEMI valvetrain violence. If the name sounds familiar, it should. This is the HEMI evolution of the wildly successful Truck Norris LS cam. It’s been dyno-proven, driveway-tested, and it just works.
Killer Chiller
There was a time when most hot rods had only stick shift transmissions. We can remember running a ’39 Ford transmission behind several different engine combinations, which quite often ended up with gear teeth on the bottom of the transmission case. If the transmission didn’t break the rear axle in the ’40 Ford, the rearend would. It wasn’t a solution, but it was a start.
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STOP, DROP, AND ROLL
Installing Drop Spindles and Disc Brakes on a Classic Chevy Pickup
Author
Josh Kaylor
Words & Photography
The Evolution of Trucks
Until the early ’70s, trucks were raw workhorses, and they rode high and hard. They were fundamentally designed to work hard. Overly simplistic suspensions were stiff but built to last. These trucks hauled loads around the farm and into town, carried work materials to jobs and even home goods and foodstuffs, much like the wagons of old. They performed their jobs well and for a long time.
Modern Comfort Meets Classic Design
Over the years, trucks have evolved and gradually become more and more luxurious, much like automobiles. They were eventually equipped with anti-skid and anti-lock braking, four-wheel disc brakes, anti-roll systems, power steering, and auto-track, with interiors that call for full leather appointments as standard interiors, complete with heated and power seats. Since the introduction of these car-like luxury ergonomics in new pickups, truck owners have been looking for ways to retrofit these components onto their classic trucks.
A Solid Starting Point: The ’68 Chevy Truck
The ’68 Chevy truck pictured here came from the factory with power steering and independent front suspension, which for a project truck is not a bad start. The truck didn’t, however, come with disc brakes but rather large drum brakes. Not only do drum brakes require an excessive amount of pedal force to apply, but they are also dangerous when running through deep water in any serious rainstorm.
Lowering and Upgrading Braking Performance
For this project, the plan was to not only improve the braking but also lower the front of the truck using a set of 2-1/2-inch-dropped spindles. The dropped spindles will lower this classic truck while maintaining proper suspension geometry. After the decision was made to lower the pickup and to improve braking, the search ended at No Limit Engineering, as it offered a dropped spindle/disc brake conversion kit.
The No Limit Engineering Kit: What’s Included?
The drop spindle/disc brake kit includes all of the components needed to complete the swap, including new steel 2-1/2-inch-dropped spindles, wheel bearings, seals, calipers, rotors, pads, hoses, and all the attachment hardware. These kits come in both five- and six-lug, so you have a choice if you already have nice wheels and tires in a certain lug size.
Installation Process
The kit is straightforward, the components are high quality, and thanks to the included instructions, the kit is a breeze to install. The spindles and brakes can either be assembled and installed or installed as one component step by step. The complete installation took about four hours, thanks to a few nasty, rusty bolts that took time to dislodge. During the installation, a set of 2-inch drop springs was also installed and will help drop the truck closer to the ground.
The Final Result
Once the truck was completely back together, it was tested for braking, which had greatly improved. The look of the truck is wonderful!
1 One and a half coils were previously cut, yet there was 4 inches between the tire and the fender. The plan was to close this gap for a low ride height.
2 A breaker bar was used to break the lug nuts loose that had been on for a long time. The wheels were removed and the work began.
3 Everything you need is included in the No Limit Engineering kit. This saves both time and trouble when lowering your truck. In addition to the kit, a set of KYB shocks was used.
4 The first components removed were the old shocks. They were shot and headed for the dumpster.
5 After removing the shocks, the lower ball-joint castle-nut cotter pins were removed. The kit included new cotter pins for reassembly. The old ones should not be reused.
6 A floor jack was placed beneath the lower control arm to ensure the spring does not push the control arm down. The lower spindle nut was removed.
7 The outer tie-rod-to-spindle cotter pin and nut were next to go. New cotter pins will be used. The tie rod must be removed before the lower control arm can be lowered down.
8 The brake lines were disconnected. They were shot, so a set of Vise Grip pliers had to be used to break the seal between the old hoses and the steel lines.
9 With the jack beneath the control arm, a small sledgehammer was used to strike the control arm and break the seal. The lower ball joint began to slide free as the jack was slowly lowered, and the springs were removed.
10 The upper ball-joint cotter pin and nut were removed. Again, a sledgehammer was used to knock the spindle loose.
11 Here’s the entire assembly removed from the truck. While this may bring 10 or so bucks on eBay, it all was tossed.
12 The new lowered coil springs were set in place, along with the drop spindles. The jack was slid into place. This will hold the assembly in place while the new spindle is set into the control arms, but a spring compressor is safer.
13 The upper ball-joint nut is installed and tightened first. Before assembly, the control arms were cleaned and painted.
14 Next, the lower castle nut is installed onto the ball joint. Once tight, the floor jack is lowered and removed from beneath the control arm. The jack is let down slowly.
15 The new cotter pins were installed into the castle nuts and bent. This ensures that the castle nuts will not come loose, which could lead to catastrophic failure.
16 The tie rod is slid into the spindle arm, and the nut is installed and tightened. It is then set using a new cotter pin.
17 The kit includes new inner and outer bearings, which are fully greased before installation.
18 The inner bearing is installed first. A bearing installer or a brass drift should be used. When it seats, you will hear a thunk.
19 The outer bearing along with the retaining plate and spindle nut are then installed onto the spindle. Be patient, as the bearing can be a little difficult to slide onto the spindle.
20 After tightening the spindle nut, the new cotter pin is installed into the spindle.
21 The kit includes a set of new wheel bearing dust caps. Simply tap them into place. Be sure to use them, as they will keep dirt and dust from damaging the bearings.
22 The pads are loaded into the calipers and bolted into place. The calipers are held in place with two long attachment bolts that bolt through the spindle.
23 After installing the calipers, the new lines are connected. Crush washers and banjo bolts are included in the kit.
24 Once the brake lines are connected to the calipers, the hard lines are connected to the flex lines. The small clip then reinstalls between the flex line and bracket to hold the assembly into place.
25 The calipers are bled and the new KYB shocks are installed. When installed, the kit looks great and should provide a great improvement in braking.
Editor’s Note
Got a classic car or truck you want to lower for that perfect stance but prefer to leave the hard work to the pros? Look no further than the experts at R.S.Restorations. Renowned for their specialized skills in customizing C10s, they deliver the impeccable low ride that enthusiasts crave. Trust them to transform your vehicle into a head-turning masterpiece.
ARTICLE SOURCES
No Limit Engineering
1001 Epco Drive
Dandridge, TN 37725
(865) 940-1503
