help with king shocks

[briggs]

just bought four King from a kit, two coil overs and two by pass, originally for working together in a four link rear for a Ford Ranger. the shocks are new and want to use them in a 4x4 s10 (the brazilian model, crew cab). the coil overs in the front (I will make the A arms and necessary mods), and the by pass for the rear with stock suspension (leaf)

the coil overs are 14", 450 over 350 with 10/8 valving (they have a tag that says so)

the by pass are 16", 20/10 with two bay pass tubes.

my doubt is if I can use it as they are or must change the valving, if so, please recommend.

also, the spring seems too much for the front of a s10 (around 2200lbs), I was thinking of 450 over 250.

I know that much depends in the final design and position of the front, but any general comment will be great, have experience with fabrication but this is my first time doing such a modification.

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[scottm]

The spring rate and valving is a secondary consideration, right now you need to worry about designing the front suspension - the subframe, lower arms, upright/spindles, upper arms, steering. Your design will tell you how long your shocks need to be, and King can recommend initial spring rates based on the travel numbers, arm length, and engine package. I-beam trucks can use a longer shock than an a-arm design, so 14" may be longer than you need for the front. There are many threads on here about susp design, so search on words like camber, caster, geometry, bump steer, etc. FYI, building a truck susp from scratch is a huge amount of work. I spent two years making sample parts and just learning about suspension before I made final parts.

[Kritter]

just bought four King from a kit, two coil overs and two by pass, originally for working together in a four link rear for a Ford Ranger. the shocks are new and want to use them in a 4x4 s10 (the brazilian model, crew cab). the coil overs in the front (I will make the A arms and necessary mods), and the by pass for the rear with stock suspension (leaf)

the coil overs are 14", 450 over 350 with 10/8 valving (they have a tag that says so)

the by pass are 16", 20/10 with two bay pass tubes.

my doubt is if I can use it as they are or must change the valving, if so, please recommend.

also, the spring seems too much for the front of a s10 (around 2200lbs), I was thinking of 450 over 250.

I know that much depends in the final design and position of the front, but any general comment will be great, have experience with fabrication but this is my first time doing such a modification.

You will find that rate combo to be low for an A Arm S10...long travel or stock travel.

[briggs]

ok, so much better if I change the S10 for a 4x2 Ranger, and use this combo as intended, for the rear in a four link. then work in the front, probably I beams, that will be much easier and cheaper.

[Justin]

I'm sure it's not easy to get springs down there, but it's a lot better to get springs to match the truck instead of making the truck match the springs.

[briggs]

OK, finally I have a 1980 F150 to start working!


after reading many articles, I decided to buy a F150 that is in fairly good shape. it has the 302 that will remain there with some reinforcements and will make the necessary modifications for installing the Kings, Coils in front and the By pass in the rear, using the stock or improved leafs.

please correct me if I am wrong, but the steps for a decent (basic) pre runner, considering what I have (only the shocks) is:

Front
1- bending front beams as required
2- making longer radius arms
3- fabricate the shock mounts

Rear

1- just fabricate the shock mounts

33 or 35?



I am just naming the basic part of this, must consider the necessary repairs and also the cage and reinforcements, but would like any comments about this setup that I think will behave well in off road. What do you think of the spring and shock rates I have now? will they work or must make changes?

In the future and depending on the results, I will probably go to by pass on the front and linked rear, but not soon.


will post photos as soon as I start with something.