Help with long arm kit plus ford 88 swap

[4.3LXJ]

Looks fun Wayne. Nice pile of parts. Get the front suspension done and be able to support the front with the axle. Install rear springs. Next, strip the brackets on the axle down to just the tubes, pumpkin and you can keep the brakes on if you are half handy with the welder. Get some spring pads from someone like BDS or JKS etc from the builder part section. Then put the pads on top of the tubes and put the U bolts on very loosely and support the weight of it with the axle. Set the driveline angle. You have the thread here on how to do it. Tack the spring pads on the axle. Drop the axle down far enough to weld the pads on. Just a decent weld is needed. You don't have to reforge the thing. Put on shock mounts. Use some rectangular tubing notched on the back side and if you can find them, the front upper studs from a Chevy C or K series pickup. Those will fit the lower shock bushing. Then take care of the brake hard lines. They probably didn't like those U bolts being there anyway. Don't forget to paint it pink in honor of Barbie.

You will need an adapter flange to bolt up the Spicer driveline to the Ford flange. Also check the width. I believe you need some 1" wheel spacers to match the front width.

One other thought on those shock mounts. Cut off the mounts on the turdy five and put them on like this.