Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I'm aware of how it 'should' go. Good luck getting those numbers w/o cutting up the entire floorpan (Z up front + step notched rear).

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

That's actually extremely helpful. Thanks!

I can already see that I'll have to do some work on the trans hump. I hope to be able to make use of the high hump that's in the donor burb.

The carrier has to move up anyhow...even without a Z. It hangs a good 2" below the (new) frame.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I moved forward on the one side that I had material for. Got it all burned in and cut the lower frame off.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...B720377D3B.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...63FE5B0FC5.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...FCF3B8213D.jpg

The remaining stock frame looks like Swiss cheese. I'll have to put some time in welding the holes up.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Frame is looking good. I was gonna do 4x2 for my frame, but I'm really starting to think about doing 4x3 instead.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I hear ya, packaging always ends up making things like this a compromise. The crank center-line on my Cummins is ridiculously tall, my floor-pan will most likely have to be channeled from the huge hole I'll need for the trans all the way to back, even after taking 2" out of the oil pan.

4x3 makes for a nice, easy weld joint along the top of the tube.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Yep, what Ghostwhite said. Plus, our trucks are a long span (11' 1" on mine), and the additional size should help to curb the flex. I'd have actually gone taller if I could have fit it. My stock frame varies in width from 2 1/4" - 3" (a product of poor quality control in the factory it seems), so the 3" wide cleans all of that up.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I hear ya about the 4x3, I already have 40' of 4x2.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Can any of you guys point me to some more info on Z'ing the frame? I've seen straight Z's and the inch forward Z's. My wheels appear to be centered in the fender already. The forum search function doesn't like just "Z" as a search and most everything I bring up doesn't touch on what I need to know; is the inch forward really needed?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Try "Z'd" "Z'ing"

I did 1 inch forward. The wheels looked more centered. I wouldn't have cleared the firewall of I didnt.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Like tiny said its all up to you whether you want to or not. Most trucks do not have the front wheels centered in the fenderwell but if yours are I wouldn't worry about it. The clearance for big wheels is also a huge factor, I had thought about Z'n forward on my build and still am not decided. The dropmember I have should have moved it forward enough but the few times I've glanced at it it looked back a bit. I am also going to tub the firewall as much as I need to gain some turning clearance.

The best search utility for me to use google's site specific searches. Enter "site:67-72chevytrucks.com" without quotes before your search terms and it will search only this site. It is not perfect and will not order the results by date but I use it for searching forums every day.

Here is an example ->
site:67-72chevytrucks.com frame z

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Thanks guys. I think I've got enough knowledge to do the Z correctly now. 😉

Since I'm still without material, I decided to move into the next logical step and did some tear down today. Front clip is off and engine/trans are out. Now I need to figure out how I'm going to get these cleaned with it being 10* outside...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...452FA1BD34.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...9DF04FC49D.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...C2C765F821.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Finally got the rest of my material. I finished putting the driver's side rail in and tied in the remaining (very little) part of the original frame. Now I'm measuring and getting ready to do the Z. I was able to get the slip on the driveshaft to break free, so I'm moving the Z an inch forward.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...F619D3933B.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...EB8C5D30C1.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...B7F9EC45D1.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Post measurements if you can

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Which measurements do you want?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...4375F4EBE8.jpg

Here's the (updated) Z measurements. Guessing that's what you're looking for?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Finished for today. I got the Z in place and started on the bracing and tying into the front part of the frame. I can't decide at this point if I'm going to put another piece of tube under the one that's in place or if I'll just trim and plate the underside before I do the fishplates. I've been staring at it for too long, so it's time to quit and ponder for a while...

Anyway, here's what I got done today.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1D18B2CC9E.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...D455194323.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...B5B4E3C1BA.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Made some filler plates and started finishing off the Z.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...960C9273AE.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...1BD1BA34A0.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...15C46AB126.jpg

Still need to do some cleanup and make a small sliver of a filler for the top of the frame where it goes from 3" to 2". I plan to grind it all down and smooth it when I'm done.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Yes sir. Those are what I was looking for. Truck is looking good.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Nice clean work!!

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Thanks guys...

I finished up the filler plates today and smoothed all of the welds. The whole thing was incredibly time consuming...did I mention how much I loathe grinding?

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...40648F9F_1.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...C3192B1B_1.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...6339612C_1.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...0452A4EC_1.jpg

There's some kind of shmutz on the 3/16" plate that I got from Pacific; it was a drop from their plasma table, so something must have gotten on it...whatever it is, it doesn't grind for sh!t. I may have to hit it with the sand blaster before I paint it...

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I hate grinding too but man that looks good.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Nice smooth work thank you for posting the info, I have the front end apart on mine right now and am looking for info on this.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Alright fellas...I can use a little help with the steering. Tinydb84, I know that you did yours a while back. I also remember Scott or Scotty or something from another thread that has a shop that sells the parts...

Here's what I have. Where is the best place to buy and what exactly do I need? I know it's a couple of u joints and a heim or Johnny joint...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...718F1D9F_3.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...356EDAE9_4.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...F6FD17DF_4.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...FC5B78EA_3.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Howdy, When you Zd the frame, you had to lower the core support in front also yes>? Did you have to remove an inch up there since you stretched it an inch>?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Yes. I haven't gotten that far yet, but I will have to drop the horns down 4" and back 1" to account for the changes behind the engine...otherwise the body panels won't line up. The front is simple in comparison.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Mine is different from yours. The steering changed in the late 70's.

You should need a 3/4'' DD shaft, one 3/4'' heim joint, two 3/4"DD x 3/4"DD u-joints, and one 30 spline x 3/4" DD u-joint.

Double check everything though. There were three(?) different steering columns and two steering boxes.

I ordered all my stuff from Travis at AZ Pro Performance. He gave me a discount too if I remember correctly. Just call him and he will know exactly what you need. Just tell him you are Z'ing a truck.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

In spite of a fairly busy weekend, I was able to squeeze in some time this afternoon on the truck.

I built both the trans and carrier bearing crossmembers. The trans was pretty simple; straight bar of 2x3x.25 with a couple of pieces of flat stock on each end, so I can drill them and boot it in place.

The carrier bearing crossmember was a little more complicated to work out and I'm still not sure if it's going to leave me enough clearance for exhaust pipes on either side, but I can work that out once it's in. By flipping the bearing over, I only had to raise the mounting surface 1/2 to match the 4" that I Z'd the front end. Unfortunately, that puts the driveshaft an inch into the floor...so I'll be tunneling all the way back instead of just the trans hump it seems.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...9322AB6456.jpg

So, I finally dropped the whole thing down off the stands and put the four link back in place and started setting it up with the gussets and lower bag brackets. The axle is sitting about 1/4" below the notch with the truck on the ground, so it should be perfect when I mount some lower profile tires...currently 235/85's.

Anyway...it's on pinch.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...9046680A4F.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...51733590C1.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...7281384EE5.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...7CA7B7FD97.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...44BF6116FF.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...78DFFCBACB.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...6AE6CBC120.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

You probably said it before, but what are you doing for the upper bag bracket? Looks like you'll have to cut into the floor a bunch to make the bags fit.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

The bed is going to be raised a ton. I'm already into the bed with the front four link mounts and the driveline. The bridge is about 10" above the floor. With the bodydrop, there's not much choice...if I'd gone bag-over-axle, my bridge would have been almost even with the top bed rail. I plan to cut the floor out when I drop the bed back on and go from there.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Looking amazing!

Progress is coming right along, I need to get some plate to button up my Z and get started out back.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Got my new steering linkage installed. Built a simple bracket to hold the heim joint...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...A91A671FE7.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ECCB3FF10A.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Looks good

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

This body work is tough business...think I've got it figured out.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...E81AD.png.jpeg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Looking good whats the part # on the u joint u used from tge column to the dd shaft

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

It's a 1"DD -> 3/4"DD. I don't have a part #. I ended up buying it from "bro-speed on eBay. The Unisteer stuff was a little more than I wanted to spend and I honestly don't see the reason other than going with a brand name. The parts I got are also a high quality and I have no doubt that they'll do exactly what I need without problems...

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

I really wish I had more time. It seems like as soon as I get moving at pretty good pace, I run out of time...

Nonetheless, I got the rear upper mounts built and burned in today. I'll be tackling some kind of a crossmember to tie them together next weekend.

Ooh look...pics!

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...39CC85812C.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...02EF97F0DB.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...EF706FB310.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...6BF079D3B4.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...E0BAED0318.jpg

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Looks good. I thought the mounts were going to have to be taller. I like it.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

Looking good.

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

That looks good. How's the bag look at ride height?

Re: My 83' Crew Cab Dually project
 

It seems like the little things take up a lot of time and progress just crawls sometimes. I spent quite a bit of time just welding things off that I'd tacked in for mock up once I got everything moving the way I wanted it to. The panhard bar proved to be a major pain in the ass to get positioned with the least movement and still clear everything. It's tight, but it works...

Built a bracket for the panhard - yep, it's a little rusty; I didn't have any clean 1/4" material and 3/16" just didn't seem strong enough:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...360255866A.jpg

Installed:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...2CC6AAFA26.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...22DAA2C172.jpg

Removed a small part of the original frame where it kicks up just ahead of the step for clearance on the bags at full air up.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...4172372C55.jpg

Aired up as requested...this is a little above ride height:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...7166AF5C51.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...823979BF3D.jpg

And hooked up to shop air @80lbs:

http://s82.photobucket.com/user/sbeb...81D09.mp4.html