Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I figured it might be something like that. Yes, it will make for a much cleaner finished product, as you said. Thanks!

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

hey, some updates again.
I love it, damn nice work. You make it look factory by adding those beads.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Thanks, that was the idea. Glad it came across that way.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Here is the other side and a link to a build thread of the tub side.

Kevin
LFD inc.

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/tub16.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/tub17.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/tub18.jpg[/IMG]

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Well great progress on the seating today. I had to remove my previously welded in second row seat brackets so I could move them forward 2 7/8". Then I had to drill and weld nut the rear seat mount right where the floor kicks up but once that was done it started falling together. I bolted the second row back in and wanted to see if the floor filler pieces could still be used and guess what, they could. So I just trimmed off a bit of material and snapped them right in place and they are nice and flush with the rear floor section. I guess all that time I spent shaving the rear floor for that extra inch really paid off. With the seats in their up right position I have maybe 1/2" of space between the tubs and the back of the seat for carpet.

So I am 6' and with the front seats in place with more room than I would need when driving I still fit in the second row with extra room. Now the third row is another story. I fit as far as head clearance goes but my legs are half way to my chest. It would be ok for cruising around but not for long drives. Now my son and his friends will fit great and be able to stretch out. But what I was most surprised about was with the pass side second row flipped down I could walk (bent over but not bad) right into the back and that was cool.

Now with the seat folded down and the rear seats out I have about 6'8" of bed room and it is 44" wide between the tubs. Then with the rear seats in place I have I think it was 19" to the tail gate for bags and what not. So all in all I guess some planning and a lot of luck this Tahoe is really coming together nicely!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rln/floor1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rln/floor2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rln/floor3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rln/floor4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rln/floor5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rln/floor6.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rln/floor7.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...rln/floor8.jpg[/IMG]

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Very well planned. Looks great.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Well that's rediculously FREAKIN AWESOME! Good work. :c2:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Had you considered turning the rear seat around to look out the back window like the old station wagons? I doubt theres room, but remember the ones that would fold into the rear floor? They were pretty cool. As a kid I loved looking out the back as we cruised the highway.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I remember those days gone bye as well. I grew up climbing around the back of a Ferd wagon with out seat belts, sleeping on the folded down seat on long trips and doing the arm pull for truck drivers to blow their air horns. Good time but not the safest things to be doing. After being an EMT/fire fighter for a few years and seeing what I have, my son will be facing forward and belted;) This rear seat has a good amount of room just not for a 6'er!

Kevin
LFD inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

It's really coming together back there.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

This thing is looking AWESOME!!!

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Rokcrln, I read your posts with great enthusiasm and can hardly wait for the next one. However, it may surprise you that everyone does not share my views, some are even, dare I say it? Board. :mm:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...DSCF0837sm.jpg

The upcoming Thanksgiving trip will decide if Boogers likes trucks or not. :lol:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

YOu are an amazing fabricator , someone needs to pick you up for your own TV show !!

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Diggin it man. Roll with the ADD inspiration bursts and you can't go wrong. Just don't try to keep a schedule :lol:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Amen to that!

Kevin
LFD Inc. or should that be A.D.D. Inc.:lol:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I would take an "ADD inspiration burst" every now and then if I got those kind of results.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

kevin what do you use to bend the DOM tubing? i saw where you post the lazze bead roller, hopeing you could share this info too...also are you still working full time, and this is a 'hobby' still?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I have been full time at home for the last 2-3 months but I will be headed back to work (my union day job) in the next few weeks. Work got slow so I took a leave so some of the other guys could keep working knowing I had plenty of work here to pay the bills. But they just landed two good size framing jobs so it is back to being 60 hour a week baby sitter:lol:

For the DOM and HREW I have a hydraulic tube bender designed for doing roll cages and tube chassis. It is a JD squared model-3 on juice. I started building dune buggies chassis when I was 14 or 15 and have always had tube benders around. The one I have now I bought about 15 years ago and turned it to a full hydro unit about 6-7 years ago. Once I have the body off and start doing the rest of the chassis I will show more on tube bending and chassis work.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

So a "Rumble Seat" probably wont make the next masterpiece?:lol:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

You don't even know how close you are:lol: But no!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Well todays progress was done with phone calls and debit cards:lol: I called Street and performance and ordered my wire harness, Drive by wire pedal and mass air flow thingy. I then sent them my ECU to re-program and should have it all in about 2 weeks. I then spoke with Nate tonight about building me a 1 off set of upper A-arms for my C4 front end to allow me to lay frame with 30.5" tall tires. I can lay right now but my upper ball joints are fully bound up and very stressed. So he is looking into doing a set out of 1" .120 Cromo with 20* of kick added to the ball joint mounts. Also my PB hood hinges should be sent this week as well so keep a look out for another How-To article coming from LFD.

Then lastly I started my fuel tank for this beast. It is being built out of .070 SS and will be right about 28 gal. It will have an intank fuel pump as well. More to come Tuesday.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

You are the one that keeps my motivation going on my suburban. I don't have a bad ADD problem yet but distractions won't leave me alone. May need to start my own build thread so other member will urge me to stay focused.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

You bet get one going!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I gave Rock Valley a call today to see if they could help me with my in-tank pump and sending unit. I spoke with a guy name Chris about what I wanted and I had a few questions for him as well. He had me fax him a drawing of my tank with dimensions and any key point. Then in about 1 hour he called me back and faxed the sheet back to me. We went over what he felt was the best set up and placement for my baffles as to not get in the way of the sending unit or pump. They are going to build a mounting plate that will hold the in tank pump, fuel resivor and sending unit. The mounting plate will be set 1" below the top of my tank (so the lines will clear my tube work) and the lines will exit out the front of the tank. Great company to deal with and if you need a tank or just parts to build your own I highly recommend them.

I am looking at about $425 plus shipping for what I bought and I will have the tank ready for it to drop right in and Tig up. I made my tank out of .070 SS and it is right around 27 gal. That should give me about a 500 mile cruising range. With my rear floor and frame I had a lot of things to deal with in the over all size and shape so that I could get the largest tank possible to fit and stay out of the way.

Here are a few pic's of what I ended up with. I still need to figure out what size fill tube I want and how I will be mounting it all up.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03990.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03991.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03992.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03993.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03994.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03996.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03997.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03998.jpg[/IMG]

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

thats a great looking tank man...hey..are you gonna have a floor behind the rear seats? i think it would be kinda cool to leave a plexiglass window on the floor so you can see all the tubing work you did

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin,
I have a little .06" 304 SS stashed out in my "salvage" area. I was thinking about using it to build our gas tank too. Just wondering what you are doing for a pump and bulkhead to mount it? Filler tube should be pretty easy to fab but not too sure if it will need the addition of a vent for making easy fill ups?
Keep up the great builds!:ito:

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Thanks but it has a full floor for the 3rd row seats. I have put way too many hours into keeping this floor as low as humanly possible and still be able to lay frame with a 31.5" tall rear tire. How many C10's have you seen with the frame rails on the ground and only a 2" step in the floor! Also this tube work is nothing compared to what the rest of the frame will look like. It will have a photo shoot before getting the body placed back over it and they will be in the build book to see.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Throw an inverted portal axle under there and do it with no step ;)

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Or front wheel drive and swing axles in the back-NOT!

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

This is where Rock Valley comes into play. They are providing the pump, mounting plate (weld in style), sender unit and pick up screens. I will have a vent in the tank for ease of filling right next to the fill tube and it will tie back into the fill door area. Their is nothing worse than trying to fill a tank that just keeps clicking off on you.:devil:

Frizzle, were have you been hiding, time to get back on the V8 builds don't ya think? :lol:

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Nice tank, but may i ask.... why stainless steel? i have made mine and a few for others out of aluminium. Stainless steel at the thickness you use.07 (1,77 mm) weigths about 14 kg/m2 against 8.3 for aluminium 3 mm thick.(sorry for the metric figures)u can even make the internals out of 2 mm alu.

But as i said, nice tank, like to see it all welded up.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I have done them both ways as well but I have a lot of 2'x4' and 10.5"x6' ss plate from one of my job sites left over and personally I am more comfortable tig'ing up SS then Alum for a fuel tank. Plus this tank is only 2" off the ground when laid out so I figured SS would make a better skid plate:lol: I will weld it all up once the fill neck and pump plate are installed so I can avoid the tank pulling or pushing in one direction.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

As a non structural weld im thinking i can use a spool gun on the tank.. Not sure how the baffels ill go though

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Well I had an hour to kill between honey do's for tomorrow so I made the first 2 mounts. They are 8" long and centered on the sides of the tank front to back. Their are 2 braces per side, the one you can see facing down and one just like it facing up and welded to the first one. This just gives a good "grab" on the side of the tank and a lot of support on the tank in both up and down directions. Next I will do 2 straps running front to back also out of SS. The rear will pin into bracket that will be on the top of the front edge of the trailer hitch and the front mounts will hang off the tube work and have a T-bolt that will tighten the tank up against 1/8" rubber straps between the tank mounts that will go on top for the tank to tighten against. But with just these two side mounts I can stand on the top of the tank with out flex. I used 7/16" bolts with a large square nut welded in side the frame rails.

The first pic is with the system at level 3 (90% up). Second pic is level 2 (ride height 50%) with 8" of tank clearance. Third is level 1 (10%) up and the last is aired out but the front still has 1 1/2" to come down after we put the new front top arms in so that will raise the tank another 1/4"+ or so.
But all in all I feel it will work out great!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC03999.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC04000.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC04001.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/DSC04002.jpg[/IMG]

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

That is a nice looking tank! I think it will work very good. Keep the pictures coming. How much is the kit for the tank going to set you back with the pump and all? I may be interested in one too. thanks,
Mike

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin, how hard is it to tig that stainless? I have been wanting to learn, but just havent got off my bum and done it.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

It is not that hard, it flows nice if you have nice and tight seems.
The only thing i experience is the warping of the material. But that is with every material you weld.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Personally I think SS is by far the easiest to Tig. It is a very clean and takes to welding great. Yes you will get some warpage but that is also why this tank is made out of .070 so it should not be as bad as most. I also find if you have your joints about 1/64" over lapped you don't even need to add filler for a leak free joint.

The mounting plate (8w x 15.5L x 1" deep) correct pump for my LSX motor and the sending unit for my gauge was $425 + shipping. The pump mount is done in SS and has the locking ring like the 73+ tanks do and the Sender is drilled and tapped for easy mounting.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I have been thinking about building one for my tow truck, it only has a 18 gallon tank right now so when things get busy I have had a couple of times I have coasted into a fuel station on fumes.

I think it should be easy enoguh to do using a tank selector for a 70's model with saddle tanks, seeing as how the wrecker has an external fuel pump.

Did you fab the lock ring, or did it come with the kit?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

It is part of the kit that Rock Valley sells. Mine has not been delivered yet but as soon as it is I will post many pics of the unit and the install.

Kevin
LFD Inc.