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. :)