The truck we're building as part of the CRAFTSMAN Ultimate Truck Buildout is already one of the biggest dogs on the block: A 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500 with the latest Duramax and Allison automatic transmission. But bigger is better, so our first order of business is to increase the altitude and attitude with a BSD suspension lift.
The specific BDS kit that Lingenfelter Performance Engineering is installing is a 6.5-inch High Clearance System. Highlights of the system are crossmembers made from 1/4-inch steel, CNC machined replacement steering knuckles to maintain track width and skid plates. The new steering knuckles also keep the turning radius in check. We especially like their No Torsion Bar Drop design that keeps the torsion bars high in the chassis to maximize ground clearance.
The BDS kit for the rear uses 5-inch lift blocks and the factory leafsprings to retain the factory cargo-carrying capacity. BDS has worked with Fox shocks to offer performance shocks for many of their applications.
Now it's time for you to get involved. Go to the CRAFTSMAN Facebook page to vote for the truck that's your favorite. To top that off, you could win a trip to Las Vegas, courtesy of CRAFTSMAN! The winner is going to be chosen October 18, 2011, and CRAFTSMAN is giving away daily prizes as well as a 53-piece CRAFTSMAN tool set every week until November 4, 2011!
The BDS 6.5-inch lift kit for the 2011 Chevrolet 3500 relocates the front differential while keeping the torsion bars nice and high in the chassis. The system includes crossmember, drop brackets, new spindles and lift blocks.
The original spring pack is reused in the rear, and BDS supplies 5-inch lift blocks and new U-bolts. We like the look and quality of the Fox shocks, and we look forward to romping on this truck to see how they perform.
In front, the factory differential mounts need a bit of trimming, and tab on the differential needs to be cut off before the system can be installed. The team at Lingenfelter made quick work of this with a CRAFTSMAN reciprocating saw.
With the differential relocation brackets bolted in place, the differential can be reinstalled in the truck. Then the front and rear crossmembers bolt into the factory lower A-arm mounting location.
With the original A-arms bolted to the new crossmembers, the CNC machined spindles can be attached and bolted to the upper control arms. We didn't quite finish the front suspension for this photo shoot, so we'll include a complete front suspension shot in a later update.