Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Looks sweet..:metal:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I am going to be interested to see how the seats go into the truck, I really want to upgrade my 85, it will be good being able to see you do it first.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin,

You are a fast worker! It has come a long way from yesterday when I saw it. Eveything looks sweet! When you're ready to do my rear suspension let me know. Hopefully I get a discounted hourly rate cause I'm a local. I'm glad you decided to go with the 20-22 combo anything else would have looked to small! I'll have to come check it out soon.

Tony from Norcal

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

You'll be happy with that wheel/tire combo. A little more sidewall gives a nicer ride (and looks better to IMO). The IRS might help too... :metal:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I have no idea how you went so long with out the net! Glad you are back, I will be out in the shop most of Friday and then again some on Sunday. When you are ready and I am freed up we will get your SWB hooked up. And yes you get the Local discount:lol:

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

The tank is cut sliced and welded back together and I only had one pin hole leak. Now that is fixed and ready to be cleaned and painted in the morning. I ended up finding a tank out of an 85 Blazer and I will just use an 87-91 sending unit and EFI pump. It is a 25 gal tank and I had to notch the front corners around my notch:lol: I also swapped the fill neck over to the drivers side. I then PSI tested it to 6lbs and was good to go.
After painting the tank in the morning I plan on finishing the tube bracing and start mounting the seats then if time allows I will start trimming the new rear floor.

I almost forgot I ordered my rims today, I went with the coy C5's in Gun metal but the rears are 6 wks out but the fronts should be here next week. SO IF MY DROPMEMBER EVER SHOWS UP:devil: that was for Nate! I will have my C4 DM by the 15th of March (2009) then the front can begin as well as my tubular cross members and frame boxing.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/tank1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ln/tank2-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ln/tank3-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ln/tank4-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ln/tank5-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ln/tank6-1.jpg[/IMG]

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

i have not checked up on you in a while kevin, the burb is looking great, that is using your nogin and creating as much room as you possibly can still, i like it, just out of curiosity, how much did the front and rear suspensions set you back if you do not mind me askin, thanks.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin, did u flush the gas tank before any welding? I have heard that u got to take precautions before doing welding on tanks that had being used. As usual, u are doing a kick ass job on your hoe, Im starting to pay more attention now, since this is where the 5.3 efi conversion begins ( my dream mod for my truck ) anyways, I hope that u keep showing pictures and descriptions of your project, keep up the bad ass custom/fab work! :metal:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I got a good deal on the rear being it is a Dana 44 and not the normal 36 but still set me back $1500 Normally around 2k and the front was $600. Now keep in mind the front still needs $1400 worth of DropMember and $700 worth of shock waves. The rear will need about $600-$1000 in links, bags, shocks and misc parts plus what ever it cost to get that diff cover Mag surfaced so it is good and flat. So by no means is it a cheap or even affordable way to go but that is what LowBuck was for, now it's time to play!

Yes you always need to be extremely careful. This tank sat out side for years with some gas and water in side of it. So first thing I did was checked the inside with a small flashlight and saw their was no rust at all so I knew it was a good start. Then I poured out the fluid into a bucket and checked to see if it would light, it would not even try. Then I added some out eater to the tank, sloshed it around and washed it out for about 5 min. Now I felt same it was evacuated of fumes but I was still care full and with the sender off and all tubes open I took my torch and from a distance passed the flame over the opening, nothing so I tipped the flame into the tank and was good to go.

Now the proper way to to have it boiled out by a radiator shop but this worked well for me. I then made my cuts, capped off one corner, moved the filler neck, capped the old one and de-bured my last corner and then cleaned it out through the last hole using my arm and a scotch brite pad and more oil eater. I then flushed it out with high psi water, air then welded my last corner. Then I plugged all holes and added 6psi of air and checked it with soapy water and only had one pin hole leak right under the bend of the filler so I tigged over that spot and it is air tight. I will add some tank sealer to the inside to seal over the welds and prevent rust down the road but all in all I am happy with the results. I paid $65 for the tank, $80 for a new EFI sending unit, and the pump is $120 for the right one to run my 5.3 Vortec plus a can of sealer say $20. So $285 I got a 25 gal EFI ready in tank pump custom fit tank!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin, that is nice work you have done on that rear suspension. I'm curious on how that will be bolted in the frame. I'm guessing that you still have some braces/brackets that you have not made yet. I hope you don't mind, but I think I will try to duplicate this to the best of my abilities when it comes time to do my Blazer.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I am waiting on some bushings to show up before I build my mounts for the diff. It will still have the Bat Wing style mount but just a new one that will fit under my notch and bolt on the out side of the frame. I felt it was a good idea to keep it as wide as I could to help in limiting any flex. The front will also have a mount that I have not finalized yet but all of it will be done with Polly bushings I ordered from SD.

As far as duplicating what I have done, go for it that is why I post so much and show what I have done is to enrage others and to keep more of these old vehicles on the road.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Only thing left on the notch now are the diff mounts once I get my parts. I finished up the bracing with nothing fancy just a modified back bone style to give it more than needed rigidity. As I complete the rest of my frame boxing and tubular center section it will all tie into the rear section you see now. The main center section back bone will tie into the two top center tubes you see over the diff. This combined with everything else I will be doing should make for one very rigid frame.
I have the tank in Zinc Primmer waiting for its liner coat then off to the seat mounting.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oeC4rear36.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oeC4rear37.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...oeC4rear38.jpg[/IMG]

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Must have missed this thread. Awesome build, keep it up.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

this Tahoe is awesome

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Instead of a "C notch" i'd call that the "waffle notch"

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Thanks guys it really is turning out cool, even my wife is really digging it and she hated it when it came home!

Well I got the front two rows of seats mounted, can't believe it took most of the day. The second row mounts will double as the frame work for the closure plates for my under seat storage. I made mount plates for the front seats to make sure they were good because of the built in seat belts. All seat mounts have weld nuts so it makes things very easy to install and remove.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/seat3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ln/seat1-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ln/seat2-1.jpg[/IMG]

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Nice coffee table..........I mean wheel simulators....:D. The seats look great.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

It's a multi use wheel table. It held my coffee this morning, my soda at lunch and by the time my DropMember shows up my real front wheels will be here. Thanks again for the hitch info it really helped. You will not believe how little space will be left when I am done. The center of the rear frame is filled with the tank, the out side of the frame will have my sway bar links and brackets, my 6 link bag set up, dual shocks and air tanks oh ya and exhaust! It is all going to fit and fit well but very tight.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin, thanks for the advise for proper tank flushing, u mentioned u got your tank off a blazer, was it a full size blazer? How about the sending unit? U said u got it new, but for a 87-91 ?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Yes the tank is off a full size and is a 25gal. This one came from a pre 87 blazer that had a carburetor but it is the same as the 87-91 blazer tanks with TBI so I just ordered a later sending unit so I can do an in tank pump for my 05 Vortec. Now keep in mind it is a passenger side fill tank stock and if you have a SWB truck with coils it is a very tight fit. I installed one of these in LowBuck and show more about how tight it is in that thread. The sending unit will work with a stock 67-72 gauge with out any problems.
Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Great info, please let me know what kind of in tank pump u are going with (Im going to try to get the same set up) I have heard of using a corvette fuel regulator, are u going to use one of those as well for your install?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Is you truck a SWB or LWB and does it have leafs or coils?

For right now I will just be using the stock Truck Vortec fuel system that is on the fuel rails. Down the road I may swap over to the Corvette intake or a small air pumper;) As for the in tank pump we looked up the Vortec PSI and it was like 62.4 PSI and we found another in tank pump that will fit the Blazer 87-91 sender that is 61.8 PSI. So as long as I am not doing the all out race thru Nevada I should be just fine. Plus my cost on the new sender was $80 and the new pump is $93 regular price $165. It's good to have Friends in the right places that need your help as well;)

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I used the corvette FPR on my burb. Here's some pictures.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

kevin so trick! nice work those coys are going to look killer on there

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

What PSI does your pump put out and what does the FPR bring it down to?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

It's a stock pump from a 5.3 truck. Around 50 PSI at the rail. I pretty much copied what Shifty did:

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conver...epside-10.html

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Thanks for the link, I will read up more on it!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

My supercharger is set up for a single feed/no return. So vette FPR simplified the plumbing.

R/

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

hey do you know what do you have to do to change the c4 rear to 5x5 bolt pattern other than using an adapter?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Show off! ;)

Not sure if you can re-drill it because their is not allot of extra meat on that hub. Why the 5x5? What are you going to run for front suspension?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

i have already ordered my rims and i have a scotts hot rod ifs and then today a friend gave me a c4 rear and i am also building a suburban with 24s in the rear and 22s in front so i figured i would ask

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Well I can not go any further until some parts show up for the rear suspension so I started on the rear gate's. I am changing over to a lift gate but keeping the barns doors for the lower half. They will have 180* pocket hinges so they will open out of the way. I am thinking about using small bear claws for the hatch and the two doors to lock to each other. The barn door bottom latches will remain. For the top of the doors I will have a 5' piece broke to match the profile of the piece I made. Doing it in a 5' piece then welding it to the doors as a 5'er then cutting the center gap will insure that everything stays nice and striate.

So for the lift gate I started doing the same mod that Frizzle Fry did for the top hinges and let me tell you he sure made it look easy. I spent the better part of the day and finally got the hinges half mounted.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../TailGate1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/TailGate.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../TailGate3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../TailGate4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../TailGate5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../TailGate6.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../TailGate7.jpg[/IMG]

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Looks great Kevin. I'm sure you've probably already noticed, but the factory liftgates do not curve at the bottom to match the curve in the tailgates and will require some metal work to make it look perfect. I didn't realize this until we had already painted mine.....:(.

r/

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I have not gotten that far yet but in what little I did with the doors they seam to be striate and not curved. I will look into it more before I spend the money having the filler piece made up. Thanks

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Those hinges look somewhat familiar? Looks like you're putting them to good use!

Tony from Norcal

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

[QUOTE=Rokcrln;3173290]Is you truck a SWB or LWB and does it have leafs or coils?

For right now I will just be using the stock Truck Vortec fuel system that is on the fuel rails. Down the road I may swap over to the Corvette intake or a small air pumper;) As for the in tank pump we looked up the Vortec PSI and it was like 62.4 PSI and we found another in tank pump that will fit the Blazer 87-91 sender that is 61.8 PSI.

Kevin, my truck is a SWB with coils, my plans for running the 5.3 are to use the least complicated method(s) out there, I got mine out of an 04 avalanche, I got all the wiring, even the gas pump out of the gas tank (it seems kinda big to fit a blazer tank)

I like your rear tailgate/barn door set up, it kinda reminds me of a ford expedition. Great job :metal:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

looks great as usual

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Now if you plan on running a hidden hitch out back than the tank I used will not fit. Your panard bar makes the space way to small. On my 70 SWB I have the tank mounted to the back of the hitch and still had to bend the front lip just to clear the diff cover and that is on a leaf spring truck. You are right the stock pump assembly is rather large, I will be using just the pump out of that same type of assembly.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

As usual, awesome build!

Oh BTW, Uncle Jim might be pi$$ed he if he knew you had his number displayed to the world!:lol:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

;)

Kevin
LFD Inc.