Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Looks good bro.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Travlinman - I stumbled across these. Thought you might be interested:

http://ktperformance.net/i-10767016-...FYZefgod910JwQ

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

That's a pretty expensive price for just front adapters. http://www.tnwheelandtire.com/site/7...8X10CHEV73-200 builds them for little over $900 for fronts and back.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Thanks. I checked them out and ya 550 for just the 2 front adapters is quite expensive. That Tennessee wheel sells all 4 for 900 shipped. Probably where I'll order them from. I've had my wheels cut and polished in my garage for almost a year now

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I guess I should have read that closer! Haha. I didn't realize it was only the front two.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

KT does have the full set for a better price. Currently $850 with the 40 lugs for the wheels..
http://ktperformance.net/i-19722311-...ront-rear.html

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I'm heading to buy materials this morning. Going a different route on the notch and rear frame. I read through the thread over on the C10 forum with the guy from Canada that was building "Dool Eh". He used 4x3 1/4" and it looks way cleaner than the traditional step frame that I did. I'll keep mine a little more tame, but I plan to lop the frame off right in front of the existing notch and rebuild from scratch. Then I can tie in the same material when I do the SFBD and Z the front.

So...this step notch will be available in one big piece if anyone wants to come get it!! Lol

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

"Dool Eh" was one of the cleanest frame builds I've ever seen. I based my frame off of his because I liked the way he tied the front together. He put his cab on, went to a couple shows, haven't seen it since.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Do you have a thread going or any pics of yours?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I'll take the notch and 4 link off ur hands lol . What size did u order? Wanna come do mine too?I'm starting to get tired of staring at it at stock height lol

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

4x3 1/4 wall. It's not cheap. The plated step I have now was considerably less.

Buy me a plane ticket when it gets unbearably cold and I'm buried in 2ft of snow. I'll come build yours in the sunshine. :)

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

For a plane ticket and material cost that's something I'd really consider to finally get my truck on the ground lol. Not sure what u would do in this 65deg winter weather in CA lol

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Took a break from the truck today to build a welding table. No more welding on the floor! Plus, now I'll be set when I start tig welding the smaller bits.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...32C3A5F338.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Planning out my new notch with consideration for the SFBD. Keeping in mind that I'll have 4" from the inside of the top of the frame, I can see that my rear frame is going to actually be hanging 2" lower than stock if I run a straight rail from the front. This seems like the simplest method. It is, however, going to make my frame nearly 10" tall behind the cab.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...FF8ADA3CA4.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...C28A139EDD.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Ok..... SFBD's happen diff ways. What is your approach going to be?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

3x4 in the top of the rails under the cab tied into a Z up front. Very similar to what Dool Eh did, but not quite as radical.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Gotcha.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Didn't start a thread yet, mostly been collecting parts but i'm gonna go full bore starting 2016. Will start a thread then

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Finally had some time to get back at this thing after putting in over 60hrs at work this week...

Got most of my material cut:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...6241B4B3B3.jpg

Started burning the new notch together:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...183C1C449D.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

**** you, old notch!

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...B4BB7DD98A.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...C5BA677E47.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...3EB0E1D5BF.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...FC584A3CB7.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Done for today...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...683BE7482C.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...A46F71A666.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...C86B62D8B2.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Lookin good! Now I'm really going to have to fly but out to do mine lol! What's the specs on the 4 link u ordered?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

It's the Thorbros "fat" kit with 36" bar length. I could have gone longer, but since I'm going bag-on-bar, I wanted to keep it shorter so I didn't have too much flex. My lower bag mounts and gussets should be coming soon, I hope.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I picked up another stick of the 3x4" steel this morning. They only had one 12' piece for me. I needed two, so I guess I'll be starting on just one side of the frame this weekend.

To those that have done the SFBD, are there any pitfalls or tips that I should be aware of before I start cutting and fitting into the midsection of the frame?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I ended up using one piece of 3x4x.250 and splitting it in two:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...413_192234.jpg
Fit it in the frame:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...419_174559.jpg[/QUOTE]
I welded the top in first completely (the white paint is weldable primer, I knew I wouldn't get around to painting it for a bit and didn't want to deal with rust after I cleaned everything). Then removed 6 inch sections at a time from the bottom as I welded it in so that way I knew the frame would flex or move too much:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...429_200313.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...429_200034.jpg
Then I welded in some L shaped fishplates because I am paranoid:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...118_080502.jpg
Take the body off if you have the space. That probably was the worst part.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Those fishplates are a good idea. I think I'll steal that from you. :)

Is there a big risk of warp/flex when burning these in? It seems like the 1/4 wall tube would be pretty resistant to that.

I cant quite see from your pics; where did you end the tube at the front? Are you into the Z'd area? I'd like to tie my 12' tube right into the Z with as few joints as possible...Less joints: less movement.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

The fishplates ended up not looking bad. I am happy I went with them. If I had welded the frame in a better position and the bead looked better I would have just let it be but I didn't like the look and had to do something.

I wasn't worried about general warping but the weight of the cab possibly flexing the frame downward like how a 2x4 sags a bit if you only support one end. Probably not necessary but didn't hurt.

I tied the Z into the front. This is probably the best pic I got:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...607_152511.jpg

I did the SFBD first so I could just make one plate over the top.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

This is similar to how I want to tie it in (not my truck), but I'd like to have a better joint, meaning cut to angle on both sticks vs. a square cut on one.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...FA9D32C047.jpg

And I agree with how you did the Z last. That's my plan as well.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I forgot about that build thread. I just went back and read it for some inspiration. I wish I had the skill some of these people have.

I did my SFBD and Z when I was new to fab. I would do a few things different now but for the most part I am just building a cruiser. I'll have to step up my game when I get to my 66.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Progress...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...621AA73C4B.jpg

Got my rear squared and burned in. I need to go get some taller stands to get the whole thing up and off the floor and leveled up again before I dig into the rails under the cab.

And I melted my nozzle on the welder by forgetting to kick up the wire speed for overhead.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Started in on the rails under the cab today. Cleared all of the junk out of the way and ditched the fuel tank selector thing. I trimmed the carrier bearing crossmember using a scrap as a scribing pattern, but didn't take into consideration that the 11' piece would have more obstacles to deal with, so I still need to clearance some more to get it to sit all the way in.

Cut the lower edge of the frame off from the cab back:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...92F6D8B7AB.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...324DB5FA79.jpg

Fitting the rail in place:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...5189C56253.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...0C36178F28.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...DFE1F4A77F.jpg

As it turns out, the rear cab mount is just above the rail, so I don't have to make any modifications to it. I'm pretty happy about that. Actually, all of the mounts should be able to stay in place and I can just weld the edges to make up for the rivets I had to remove.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...BBC4A615C8.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Dont you love when something comes out to be easier than you thought it was going to be?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Considering that I had to rebuild the entire step notch, it's a welcome improvement. :)

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Looks good, you didn't mention you had a thread goin lol

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Haha. I thought you had already seen this. I wasn't blowing smoke with all the questions in your thread. I'm at just about the same place as you. :)

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

There's nothing like a lack of materials to spoil plans to get **** done. Steel supplier can't get the rest of my material until next week now. Kinda puts a damper on my plans for the 5 day weekend.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Okay, I've got a question about the Z. I'm seeing where most guys are not just raising the front, but also moving it forward 1" to "center the wheels in the fender." Is a new driveline in order after doing this, or am I missing something? I don't appear to have any slip shafts. I'm also wondering, does the carrier bearing need to be moved the same distance upward?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Your slip may be at the carrier bearing and needing to extend would depend on how much useable slip you have when you cycle everything during mock up. Moving the carrier bearing will put it back into optimal alignment but compromises can be made and usually are in a build like ours. Most put it where it fits first and worry about angles second.

I'm far from an expert in that field but there are plenty of resources online I usually find thru google. The 4x4 forums are usually helpful as they push the driveline angles to the extreme.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I'm dealing w/the driveline angle stuff now. Even w/my drop, I have a vibration. I have my pinion set @ zero but the working angle between the 2 shafts is excessive.

You'll definitely need to move the carrier bearing up if doing a Z. Mine is just a notched x-member w/the motor in the stock location.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

You wouldn't want zero degrees. In a perfect world you would have the trans output aimed downward 3* and the carrier bearing positioned inline between the trans output and pinion but angled with the the front of the carrier up 3*, making the 'output' of the carrier pointing down 3*. Then the pinion up 3* to cancel out the angles. This makes the trans, carrier and pinion parallel angles.

The hardest part is getting the carrier inline between the trans output and the pinion but having the angles cancel is more important.