Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks A.D. We were getting kinda tired of climbing over the bracing so its nice to get them out. I think a little pain is the price we all pay for our trucks.

Thanks Bomp

Thanks for the idea Lowers I'll check a Jeep next chance I get. Seats are a ways off but it won't hurt to look.

Thanks J Remember good welding takes practice and patience .


In the last couple of days we got the sheetmetal for the corners behind the rear wheel tubs fabricated and mostly welded in

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

I got the prototype door hinge version 2.0 assembled today. This one is smaller and tipped slightly to align the pivot points. I also made a matching nut plate that will be welded into the center roof

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Monday and Tuesday we built some mounts and links for the rear sway bar. For the mounts we modified the originals. To mount the links we used the original transverse leaf spring mount and made brackets to hold the bushings. Then we made the links with threaded rod and some 1/8 by 1 steel.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

I have been looking for a gas tank to fit in the back of the truck but didn't find any that filled the available space. So today we started to make one to fit. The space for the tank is 38" X 15 X 10. We started with a sheet of stainless and bent a large box 37" X 14.5" X 9". Put a few beads in it to stiffen it a bit. Then we made two baffles and two end panels. Tomorrow we will hopefully start welding.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

That will be a nice tank. What gauge stainless did you use?

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Nice work! Coming along great

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Looks like you're having lots of fun! I'm curious to see how you close up the end panels.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Lowers. We're using 18 gauge stainless. Working with it is tough enough I wouldn't want any thing thicker.

Thanks AJ We getting there a bit at a time.

Hi John Any day in the shop is a good day. The end panels will just be butt welded all around the edge.


Today we got the baffles tacked in and part of the seam welded

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Love it! Don't have it, can't find it, MAKE it!!!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Very nice work. Love to see awesome fabrication like this. What some see as just metal others see as an art.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Nice detail on the tank. I used 16ga for my stainless tank but had it bent up for me. How many liter will the tank be?

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

very nice work!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Dropped in, got caught up to date.

Yup, Blown away

Always get excited when I see your thread at the top.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Greg. Nothing on this truck just fits so everything we do takes so cutting and welding.

Thanks Nik. I don't know if it's art but it sure is fun to build.

Thanks Lowers. My tank is 76.5 litres or for our US friends about 20 gallons

Thanks Winslow

Glad you got caught up I'm just trying to inspire you to go out and do some welding on Steiner so we can all get a update


We got a bit more done on the tank. We welded in the end panels. Then we used a hole saw to cut three holes in the top. 1 for the filler neck, 1 for the sending unit and one for the in tank fuel pump. Then we drilled the mounting holes and tacked the split rings inside the tank.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Nice work on the tank!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Diggin' that custom tank and all the other things you take on.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Doug.

Thanks Greg



Today we got all the pieces ready to go in the tank. Fuel pump, filler with cap and the sending unit. Then we made the first panel of the floor above the fuel tank.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

lookin good:metal:

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Nik


We did a test fit of the gas tank today. After some trimming of the sway bar bracket it's tight but it fits. We pulled the tank back out and spot welded the panel above the front of the tank. The straps that will hold the tank in will mount to this panel. We also spot welded one of the side panels on.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

just read your build .. rhis is AWESOME ...i would love to see this up close and trhe speed you are building this blows my mine ....

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

That tank fits like it was made for that space...oh wait, it was. Great work 65!

Did you make the panel that goes to the front (toward vehicle front) of the tank?

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Pirate. If you're ever in the area let me know and maybe we can get together.

Space is definitely at a premium at the back so making a tank was the best option.
We did make that panel. We just ran a bead around it to stiffen it a bit


We started today making the panels that are beside the back of the tank. Then we spot welded them in. Next made the panel that goes above the gas tank. This panel will go in after the back panel. The last picture is one of the back panels

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Lookin good Dale:metal:

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

I love the panels you made. Looks like you bought them :) Will the filler be outside above the bumper?

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Nik

Thanks Lower. These panels will never be seen but it's good practice making them. Yes the filler will be above the bumper behind the licence plate.


We worked on the rear sheetmetal some more today. We clamped the rear panels in place. Then we trimmed the floor panel and made some spacer blocks out of plastic. We screwed the spacers to the bottom of the floor panel and then clamped the floor in place.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Interesting configuration on the back floor section.
Can't wait to see it all together, like the direction, Im just having a hard time fully understanding the whole enchilada.
Dig those beaded panels. Totally envious.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Bomp. I didn't mean to keep my plan a secret, and trust me I do have a plan. The area above the gas tank is for the air tank and compressors. Then the floor with a hinged access panel will go above that. The rear doors will be changed from an upper and lower tailgates to just the upper gate lengthened about 8 inches.


We had short day today but we did make some gas tank straps and mounting brackets. Then since we will be moving on to the firewall soon we dug out the bare block and transmission case to use for mock up

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

finally the V12 is back!!!!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

This is where it really starts to get interesting
V12 power:metal:

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

So cool I forgot your using a jag V12 :metal:

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Yes guys the V12 makes an appearance but just for mock up at the moment.


Our first attempt at installing the motor ran into a few obstacles. The oil pan hit the motor mounts, the cam cover hit the firewall and the transmission hit the tunnel. So out comes the cut off wheels.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Mmm, nice. Looks like some massaging is goin to be in order. I don't think it's going to run right in that position. Lol.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

We started cutting just a little from the firewall above the transmission. We soon realized we needed more more space. Then we cut a larger opening up to the wire gutter.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thats more like it.

Motor/trans in, level. Build truck around it.

I like it.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Sounds familiar: motor, trans, cut body to fit. That looks so cool sitting there. :metal:

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

I always love the newbie question of...Can I fit xxxxx engine in such and such vehicle....and from now on I can answer....sure you can if you can do this....and send them here.

Such cool and skillfully determined fab work 65!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

thats cool ..is the motor sitting on the rack and pinon

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Trixxter. We did have to cut a bit to get the motor level.

Thanks Bomp. Sounds simple doesn't it.

Thanks lower. Kinda like doing a diesel build.

Thanks Doug. Can I .... is a question that never gets asked. Should I ... but never can I ...

Thanks Pirate. The motor is sitting just behind the rack high enough for the harmonic dampener to clear.


To make the motor mounts we started by making bracket to bolt to the block. Next we bolted stock chevy motor mounts to the bracket. Then we bolted them to the block

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Nice work dale:metal:

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Lots of progress... I've been really busy (and stressed :m6:) at work, and busy with family stuff, but I check in whenever i have a chance to see whats happening. I love checking in on your build!