Chico: 06 frame swap/super-mega rebuild

Your truck is looking really good with those new tires! Made me think a few extra times before going the other direction size wise.

 

Just did my first tire rotation on the new treads at about 5k. I definitely need to get an alignment but they are doing well and I should be able to push that down the road a little... There's always this thought of "when I have time", but that time rarely shows it's face, and there are more things waiting than that time allows.

Anyway, here are some shots of these tires if anyone is interested in going a budget route. They ride great and seem to be wearing normally, sans what's caused by my poor alignment. Good in the snow and ice. We've been getting a decent amount of snow and the roads are never cleared here the morning after, and I feel pretty confident plowing through it.

I do wish I stuck with a 285 now, as my mileage didn't really get any bump from going to a 265. Pickup is a little more responsive though.

 

We have a wood boiler system and are heating primarily with wood. I didn't get any time to get stocked up before winter so I am constantly playing catch up. I could give up and run the LP, but heating with wood is just so much more satisfying for me/us.

As such, the truck has been getting a workout hauling wood as many days as I have extra time to do so.



Hard to see in this image but the suspension was about an inch from the bumps.



I've been mulling around heavier duty spring options, thinking ATS HD was the smart move, then thinking about a bastard pack, then air bags, etc. etc. I've been kicking around some HD leaves that I pulled off a dodge a year or so ago, so when I was rotating the tires the other day, I decided to try to shoehorn them in there. Instead, I found that the u-bolts I installed a year ago seem to be already seized, and knowing this is really a single use item anyway, I decided to stop rather that get myself down a road where the truck was inoperable.

Ever budget oriented, after a few hours of interneting this morning, I decided to pull the trigger on some new u-bolts and spring clamps, and do a semi-good job of installing the extra leaves instead. I cut the longer leaf down to the correct length, and diamond cut the ends (ate up 6.5 cutoff wheels!) on all of them. I also ordered a knockoff set of Timbren SES springs off electronic-bay to replace the bumps. We shall see how it all works out. I may or may not paint them... it's cold af so nothing is going to stick well right now anyway, but I should.





If I'm feeling crazy I may add those flat leaves in this last pic as an extra overload, but probably not. In total that will be 5 leaves plus overload, plus faux timbrens, which I'm hoping will put me where I want to be.

Finally, the bumpy country roads have really accelerated some minor dash and interior creaks and rattles to be crazy-making. I shoved some 1/2" backer rod in front of the dash and behind the rear seat trim in hopes that will help. Haven't driven it yet so idk. Also slapped some grease on the door checks while I was in there.

 

And a full shot of the truck in the garage rn. I'll try to take measurements and pictures as I get the springs slapped together.

 

Awesome work!