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Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

You've got more guts than I do. That looks good sof ar,cant' wait to see the finished product.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

Thanks everyone :) And I don't mind opinions, for, against, or even suggestions.

Now for the 3rd door...

This side obviously takes a different approach than the drivers side. I did the driver's side first because I wanted to build some experience level before tackling the pass side.

Here you can see I already started cutting. The blue line (center one) is level reference:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

Again, this ledge/cap has to go:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

Prep'ing for surgery:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

Here we go...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334
Rust repair via elimination of the area :lol:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67sub (Post 2162921)

You've got more guts than I do. That looks good sof ar,cant' wait to see the finished product.

X2

Your "test fit" looks better than the majority of body work I've ever done, so I'm sure it'll be sweet once you get done.

Thanks for sharing.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

On to the rocker.

Old one removed (left the front turn up section in place):

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

POR 15:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

I had a front/pass side rocker replacement laying around, so...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

You can see here that I had to extent the rear of this rocker by about an inch. Also added the outer lip to the wheel tub:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

On to the door.

Here's where the wheel well will come through (black line) and some blue cut lines:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

I didn't take a lot of pics of this, but here's the door cut and POR 15'ed:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

I moved the inner door corner forward and tilted it back slightly to line up with the rocker:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

Last shot of this rig with a square 3rd door...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

Cut the outer skin to accept the panel I cut from the wheel arch earlier:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

It's coming together now... :metal:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178562334

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

Man this thing is looking good! Cant wait to see it finished.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

Crazy, just crazy! Gonna be a sick ride when it's done.

Mike

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

For those who have yet to replace your body mounts :lol:

These are the rears:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

12" from between the trailing arm member and tranny member:

I envy you guys that got to do this on a bare frame...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

Coming together. I used a floor jack on the trailing-arm member and a trailer strap between that and the front susp member. Getting this all to line up took several hours and some help. I don't have a shot of it, but 12" put the trailing arm member just in front of a floor support. Like it was meant to be...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

ECE Boxing plates in. I was only able to use 13" of it. Not sure what the other guys are doing?
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

All POR 15'ed up
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178566233

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

Sweet project I will be watching this one.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

To make room for the rear frame kick-up I had to notch the body/floor brace (front of cargo area) pretty severely. I also had to take quite a bit out of the rear passenger floor and seat mount (front of middle row seat).

The body mounts for this position were on the side of the frame before; like the ones in the previous post. But because I notched the body member to clear the frame I had to do something to restore strength in those areas.

I came up with one solution for both issues: Reinforce with 1/4" plate and use that as the new body mount location. So now, the body mounts sit on top of the frame like the rear do.

You can see in this pic where I cut 1-1/4" holes in the frame for this purpose (already POR 15'ed). You can also see the Flintstone treatment in the rear floor...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

Here's how that all came together:

The plate is angled to match the frame.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

AWESOME!!!!!!
makes me want to start cutting , better get a plan 1st
how long did you sit and stare and invision this before you cut ?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

Time to lose 20 inches...
I made my cut lines on the inside of the roof because I was able to use one of the roof support members as a guide.

I wanted to make the cut as far forward as possible, but also wanted to keep it slightly back from the C-pillar to ease future bodywork/sanding. On the inside I noticed the factory 3-point seatbelt mounts and decided to make the forward cut just behind those. The rear is 20" behind that.

You can see here that I cut some wood scraps to use as a guide for the sharpie with the roof member as the fence:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

After making the cuts from the inside I move to the outside and figured out where to cut based on the previous cuts:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

...and there she goes:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

That thing is heavier than you'd expect; 50-60lbs I think.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1178567653

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

Quote:

Originally Posted by NONHOG (Post 2163059)

AWESOME!!!!!!
makes me want to start cutting , better get a plan 1st
how long did you sit and stare and invision this before you cut ?

Thanks, over a year at least!

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

I have to admit I was tempted to drive it around the block like that :lol: But there was no gas tank in it:o

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

That's like the most amazing thing I've ever seen! I wish I had half the talent it would take to do that! And you're updating like every 10 mintes, with what seems like giant progress! You're the man!