Forced to order Smarty and Pipe!!!!

238mph · 11-02-2009, 06:33 PM

Dammit I was forced to order a Smarty and Pipe for my '09 Dually!!!

How it happened... I was installing a 3.5 inch lift in the front, and wanted the front axle moved forward as everyone knows the larger tires rub by the firewall. And as u lift the truck, the arms swing down and back...

Since I have a machine shop, I decided to run a 3.5" longer arm on top and a 3" longer lower... Well, I got the left side done, and realized that to get the right side upper arm out, ya have to remove the downpipe!!!

Crap! So all the exhaust came off, and while it was removed, it made sense to add the Smarty and pipe/egr.

I wanted to do it anyway, but not today!!!

So it's all ordered!!! Can't wait...

Damn, I hate it when I HAVE to buy upgrades for my truck!

I've also added the fender flairs off a 5500... and I'm going to run std offset front rims rather than the dually rims so the front tire will move out to fill the flares...

I'll post some pics when she's all done.

__________________
www.jd3.com Just build it!

Last edited by 238mph : 11-08-2009 at 11:35 PM.

agalaczy · 11-02-2009, 06:50 PM

Did I understand correctly,you made your control arms longer by 3.5 inches to compensate for your 3.5 inch lift?
Reason i'm asking is that for a 2.5 inch lift the control arms are aproximately 1/2 - 5/8 inch longer than stock.I may be wrong.

__________________
2007 5.9 CTD QUAD SPORT,A/T,4.10 GEARS AFE STAGE 1,MBRP COOL DUALS,2 INCH SPACERS,TRACTION BARS,ISSPRO GUAGES,KATZKIN CUSTOM LEATHER,BUSHWACKER POCKET FLARES.YOKOHAMA GEOLANDAR AT/S 315-70-17.

cmns2500 · 11-02-2009, 06:56 PM

i hope them arms are super strong....they get lots of forces put on em....

__________________
CJ's truck....got a problem w/ your VP powered truck?? click===>>this link
02 5 speed/stock ish...

w/ a Scan Gauge II monitorin stuff...

TCW3 Two Stroke lubin er up...

238mph · 11-02-2009, 08:04 PM

Agalczy:

You read my post correctly...

The upper arm is 17" and the lower is 19"
They make a different arc as they travel up and down.

The more u raise the truck, the faster the upper arc
pulls back towards the cab. So if u lift a truck, the upper
needs to be lengthened more than the lower.

Autocad/Solidworks is easy to map it in...

So the STOCK setup by Dodge sucks... the qrtr panel is too close to the door, and that's why no one makes a cutout fender flare for the Dodge. On top of that, the suspension is setup where the pivot point on a dually is pretty far inboard. So as you turn the tire hard one way or the other, the tire swings back into the cab area.

An easy fix for this is to move the front bumper out 2.5 inches... and then re-center the front axle in the new and wider wheel-well.

So I lengthen the upper 3.5" and the lower 3.25".

Since the arms are so cheesy to begin with, I use 2"x3/16 plate and add two fishplates on the INSIDE of the arms, and button weld through the two holes already in the arms, and then I box the entire outside of the arm with 3/16" plate.

Even if I wasn't going to extend the arms, I would have taken them off and boxed them in with heavier steel.
It's scary how thin the metal is that holds that front axle.

I will post pics when this one is finished.

As for my fab skills, I'm a mechanical engineer, and have a well equipped shop. Check out my website, Custom fabrication of Lifted Trucks and Jeeps. Just a hobby, but I build all kinds of vehicles, race cars, rockcrawlers, modified Jeeps, semi trucks etc.

I love all the stuff posted on here... can't wait to get my Smarty in...!

__________________
www.jd3.com Just build it!

Big Silver · 11-02-2009, 08:12 PM

238mph After checking that web site out, you just keep doin what you're doin cause I do believe you have it all figured out as far as lifted trucks go.

__________________
2007 SLT Quad cab 3500, DRW, 6.7L, AZ flash, H&S XRT 60HP, S&B intake, 4" Flo Pro into 5" Silverline exhaust, Edge Insight, EGR and cooler gone. (Shibby boost tube waiting for install) http://www.hsperformance.com/ http://www.rollinsmokediesel.com/

ken white · 11-02-2009, 08:13 PM

Post pictures for sure...

Your solution to a very mild lift is interesting to say the least...

__________________
__________________________________________________ ______________________________
2008 Quad Cab 3500, 4x4, Long Bed, DRW, G56, 3.73's, Line-X, P3, lots of camper upgrades...

txag09 · 11-02-2009, 08:15 PM

__________________
2007.5 Patriot Blue 3500 6.7L

QC, 4X4, trippin gears w/ the 6 speed, 3.73, Smarty, Arson Jr, Valair DD, Airdog 150, 5" TBE, GHD,3.5" intercooler tube, EGR & DPF delete. KM2 255/80R17, 470hp-853 torque with smarty, 493hp-883 torque with XRT

Sandaholic · 11-02-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Silver

238mph After checking that web site out, you just keep doin what you're doin cause I do believe you have it all figured out as far as lifted trucks go.

You got that right!!! Damn some of that chit is HOT!

Well I'm sure they are all quality builds, but The international, the jeep and the XR have got me

__________________
05' QCLB 4x4 NV5600,Spec DD clutch,S-06,5" TBE 6" aussie, airdog 150,modded fuel can.,CAI, techni-cooler,mag hytec rear diff. cover,6" lift on truck and fifthwheel,firestone airbags,16gal. of 200 PSI OBA 421HP/1009TQ moves 8000lbs to a 13.88@97.05 SSW

238mph · 11-02-2009, 08:25 PM

Thanks Big Silver...

Ken White... I'm really correcting the mistakes that Dodge made, that's why I go to all the work. 20 hours of fab work for a 3.5" lift seems crazy, but no matter what I do it MUST be done right, and work perfectly.

I've lifted over 100 trucks in the last 20 years... from a 3" lift (seldom) to 24" if lift. NONE of my trucks have bumpsteer, death wobble, pull to one side or the other.

I've seen some really shoddy work out there... stuff I would never ride in.. even from some large manufacturers. So even though it seems like a lot of overkill for a simple 3.5" of lift, I know it will ride good, handle perfect, be much stronger than stock, and I won't ever have to worry about 37's rubbing even if I'm off-road at severe angles.

I enter all my measurements in Solidworks, and put them through motion geometry to make sure everything works well. Sad that a lot of companies with millions of big bucks don't do the same.

I saw one firm selling traction bars that do absolutely NOTHING, but I guess they thought they looked cool.

Sorry for the rant... but no matter what amount of lift is being done, it should be done right. And I'm pissed at Dodge for some of the crap I see under my truck.

I shouldn't have to re-engineer a brand new truck to make it safe.

__________________
www.jd3.com Just build it!

Last edited by 238mph : 11-02-2009 at 08:27 PM.

cmns2500 · 11-02-2009, 08:27 PM

what shocks you plan on runnin?? some Bilstein 2.5's or so??

__________________
CJ's truck....got a problem w/ your VP powered truck?? click===>>this link
02 5 speed/stock ish...

w/ a Scan Gauge II monitorin stuff...

TCW3 Two Stroke lubin er up...

Sandaholic · 11-02-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 238mph

I saw one firm selling traction bars that do absolutely NOTHING, but I guess they thought they looked cool.

Do you have an opinion on Cal-trac's?

__________________
05' QCLB 4x4 NV5600,Spec DD clutch,S-06,5" TBE 6" aussie, airdog 150,modded fuel can.,CAI, techni-cooler,mag hytec rear diff. cover,6" lift on truck and fifthwheel,firestone airbags,16gal. of 200 PSI OBA 421HP/1009TQ moves 8000lbs to a 13.88@97.05 SSW

ken white · 11-02-2009, 08:33 PM

What type of axle upgrades did you do to the Rubicon? Did you 4-link the front and/or rear or are you still using a track-bar? Neither of these axles look to have been moved, it looks like you lengthened the frame center section instead, so is that why the steering wasn't upgraded?

I am in the process of rebuilding my Rubicon so it will be interesting to hear what you had to overcome.

__________________
__________________________________________________ ______________________________
2008 Quad Cab 3500, 4x4, Long Bed, DRW, G56, 3.73's, Line-X, P3, lots of camper upgrades...

11-02-2009, 06:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
238mph Cummins Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 149 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts 238mph's Truck Pics	Moved front axle forward 3.5", forced to order Smarty and Pipe! Dammit I was forced to order a Smarty and Pipe for my '09 Dually!!! How it happened... I was installing a 3.5 inch lift in the front, and wanted the front axle moved forward as everyone knows the larger tires rub by the firewall. And as u lift the truck, the arms swing down and back... Since I have a machine shop, I decided to run a 3.5" longer arm on top and a 3" longer lower... Well, I got the left side done, and realized that to get the right side upper arm out, ya have to remove the downpipe!!! Crap! So all the exhaust came off, and while it was removed, it made sense to add the Smarty and pipe/egr. I wanted to do it anyway, but not today!!! So it's all ordered!!! Can't wait... Damn, I hate it when I HAVE to buy upgrades for my truck! I've also added the fender flairs off a 5500... and I'm going to run std offset front rims rather than the dually rims so the front tire will move out to fill the flares... I'll post some pics when she's all done. __________________ www.jd3.com Just build it! Last edited by 238mph : 11-08-2009 at 11:35 PM.

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11-02-2009, 06:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
agalaczy Cummins Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NORTHWEST VERMONT Posts: 146 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts agalaczy's Truck Pics	Did I understand correctly,you made your control arms longer by 3.5 inches to compensate for your 3.5 inch lift? Reason i'm asking is that for a 2.5 inch lift the control arms are aproximately 1/2 - 5/8 inch longer than stock.I may be wrong. __________________ 2007 5.9 CTD QUAD SPORT,A/T,4.10 GEARS AFE STAGE 1,MBRP COOL DUALS,2 INCH SPACERS,TRACTION BARS,ISSPRO GUAGES,KATZKIN CUSTOM LEATHER,BUSHWACKER POCKET FLARES.YOKOHAMA GEOLANDAR AT/S 315-70-17.

11-02-2009, 06:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
cmns2500 Diesel Head Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 5,339 Thanks: 544 Thanked 139 Times in 127 Posts cmns2500's Truck Pics	i hope them arms are super strong....they get lots of forces put on em.... __________________ CJ's truck....got a problem w/ your VP powered truck?? click===>>this link 02 5 speed/stock ish... w/ a Scan Gauge II monitorin stuff... TCW3 Two Stroke lubin er up...

11-02-2009, 08:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
238mph Cummins Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 149 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts 238mph's Truck Pics	Agalczy: You read my post correctly... The upper arm is 17" and the lower is 19" They make a different arc as they travel up and down. The more u raise the truck, the faster the upper arc pulls back towards the cab. So if u lift a truck, the upper needs to be lengthened more than the lower. Autocad/Solidworks is easy to map it in... So the STOCK setup by Dodge sucks... the qrtr panel is too close to the door, and that's why no one makes a cutout fender flare for the Dodge. On top of that, the suspension is setup where the pivot point on a dually is pretty far inboard. So as you turn the tire hard one way or the other, the tire swings back into the cab area. An easy fix for this is to move the front bumper out 2.5 inches... and then re-center the front axle in the new and wider wheel-well. So I lengthen the upper 3.5" and the lower 3.25". Since the arms are so cheesy to begin with, I use 2"x3/16 plate and add two fishplates on the INSIDE of the arms, and button weld through the two holes already in the arms, and then I box the entire outside of the arm with 3/16" plate. Even if I wasn't going to extend the arms, I would have taken them off and boxed them in with heavier steel. It's scary how thin the metal is that holds that front axle. I will post pics when this one is finished. As for my fab skills, I'm a mechanical engineer, and have a well equipped shop. Check out my website, Custom fabrication of Lifted Trucks and Jeeps. Just a hobby, but I build all kinds of vehicles, race cars, rockcrawlers, modified Jeeps, semi trucks etc. I love all the stuff posted on here... can't wait to get my Smarty in...! __________________ www.jd3.com Just build it!

11-02-2009, 08:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Big Silver Cummins Nut Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Edna, Tx Posts: 345 Thanks: 21 Thanked 19 Times in 19 Posts Big Silver's Truck Pics	238mph After checking that web site out, you just keep doin what you're doin cause I do believe you have it all figured out as far as lifted trucks go. __________________ 2007 SLT Quad cab 3500, DRW, 6.7L, AZ flash, H&S XRT 60HP, S&B intake, 4" Flo Pro into 5" Silverline exhaust, Edge Insight, EGR and cooler gone. (Shibby boost tube waiting for install) http://www.hsperformance.com/ http://www.rollinsmokediesel.com/

11-02-2009, 08:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
ken white Cummins Nut Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Painesville, OH Posts: 484 Thanks: 69 Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts ken white's Truck Pics	Post pictures for sure... Your solution to a very mild lift is interesting to say the least... __________________ __________________________________________________ ______________________________ 2008 Quad Cab 3500, 4x4, Long Bed, DRW, G56, 3.73's, Line-X, P3, lots of camper upgrades...

11-02-2009, 08:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
txag09 Diesel Freak Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: College Station/Georgetown, TX Posts: 646 Thanks: 2 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts txag09's Truck Pics	__________________ 2007.5 Patriot Blue 3500 6.7L QC, 4X4, trippin gears w/ the 6 speed, 3.73, Smarty, Arson Jr, Valair DD, Airdog 150, 5" TBE, GHD,3.5" intercooler tube, EGR & DPF delete. KM2 255/80R17, 470hp-853 torque with smarty, 493hp-883 torque with XRT

11-02-2009, 08:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
238mph Cummins Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 149 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts 238mph's Truck Pics	Thanks Big Silver... Ken White... I'm really correcting the mistakes that Dodge made, that's why I go to all the work. 20 hours of fab work for a 3.5" lift seems crazy, but no matter what I do it MUST be done right, and work perfectly. I've lifted over 100 trucks in the last 20 years... from a 3" lift (seldom) to 24" if lift. NONE of my trucks have bumpsteer, death wobble, pull to one side or the other. I've seen some really shoddy work out there... stuff I would never ride in.. even from some large manufacturers. So even though it seems like a lot of overkill for a simple 3.5" of lift, I know it will ride good, handle perfect, be much stronger than stock, and I won't ever have to worry about 37's rubbing even if I'm off-road at severe angles. I enter all my measurements in Solidworks, and put them through motion geometry to make sure everything works well. Sad that a lot of companies with millions of big bucks don't do the same. I saw one firm selling traction bars that do absolutely NOTHING, but I guess they thought they looked cool. Sorry for the rant... but no matter what amount of lift is being done, it should be done right. And I'm pissed at Dodge for some of the crap I see under my truck. I shouldn't have to re-engineer a brand new truck to make it safe. __________________ www.jd3.com Just build it! Last edited by 238mph : 11-02-2009 at 08:27 PM.

11-02-2009, 08:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
cmns2500 Diesel Head Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 5,339 Thanks: 544 Thanked 139 Times in 127 Posts cmns2500's Truck Pics	what shocks you plan on runnin?? some Bilstein 2.5's or so?? __________________ CJ's truck....got a problem w/ your VP powered truck?? click===>>this link 02 5 speed/stock ish... w/ a Scan Gauge II monitorin stuff... TCW3 Two Stroke lubin er up...

11-02-2009, 08:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
ken white Cummins Nut Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Painesville, OH Posts: 484 Thanks: 69 Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts ken white's Truck Pics	What type of axle upgrades did you do to the Rubicon? Did you 4-link the front and/or rear or are you still using a track-bar? Neither of these axles look to have been moved, it looks like you lengthened the frame center section instead, so is that why the steering wasn't upgraded? I am in the process of rebuilding my Rubicon so it will be interesting to hear what you had to overcome. __________________ __________________________________________________ ______________________________ 2008 Quad Cab 3500, 4x4, Long Bed, DRW, G56, 3.73's, Line-X, P3, lots of camper upgrades...