Front 60 Install Begins!

[SC74]

I got the bottom of the frame painted this past week and we started on the Dana 60 HP install yesterday. I'm using CAGE arms and BC 5.5" coils up front. The CAGE arms were a pain to install since nothing fit. After hours of grinding, pounding, prying, using really long leverage bars (used the foot of a cherry picker) they are on. I got the ones used for a SAS with weld on brackets rather than using the C-bushings. We tapped the top of the weld-on bracket and used the stock bottom coil cups. The stock cups are not flat on the bottom though since they mount on a "ridge" on the stock C's so we're going to weld a 3/8" riser on the mount so they will fit like they are designed to and then we won't have to always worry about shims. For a mock up, the cups are mounted with washer shims for now.

We're having trouble getting the axle centered under the frame. It seems like if you center it from the center of axle to center of frame, the coil to king pin measurement is aprox. 2" off from side to side (with the coils perfectly plumb). I assume I'll have to adjust each coil cup an inch (give it an inch "bow") to make the measurements work) - is that ok to do?

It's going slowly, but surely. Hopefully another couple Saturdays and the front will be done. I gotta find some DOM to make the tie-rods and trac-bar after we get the axle tacked into place. Then I can bolt up the Redneck Ram set-up too!

I've got a Sag PS pump, but no bracket - any creative brackets out there to save from buying an expensive one?

Here are a few pics from yesterday.