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Re: Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread
Mike if you come up empty on places to have tubing bent I can see if some places I know can do it. I called on the chassis out your way but it sounds pretty rusty. I'm almost out of texts for the month. Just a matter of time before I get out your way and check out your projects, maybe I can time it with a couple junkyard visits.
Spinning bolts are no fun. I was afraid that would happen when I was pulling the box off a 2500hd this weekend but luckily the nuts held while the 1/2" bolts twisted off :) |
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Another board member is gonna help me out with a bender. He built the one in those plans from gottrikes.com and knows someone with the correct dies. Looks like I'm one step closer to making the dream a reality.
Cripes I have a lot of stuff to learn in a short amount of time. |
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Heeeerrrrrre comesssss the THUNDA! Muahahahhah!
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I've mostly been working lately and not doing much in the garage. I've been buying tool stuff and I finally have everything together for me to try my TIG set up. I have the bender now, but not the dies, those will be available fairly soon I think. I have a chop saw, band saw, belt sander, disc sander, tube notcher, MIG/TIG/Stick welder options, cutting torch, levels, squares, angle finders, clamps and just about anything else I can think of that I may need.
I've been thinking about how all this needs to come together and I think I'm gonna start with the cage work in order to get the frame stabilized. Then do the suspension/steering. I have a good idea of where I think the link brackets on the frame should go, but haven't had the chance to mock that up yet to see how/if it will work. Just mind exercises at this point. I keep reading and researching and I'm finding that there is good info on what NOT to do when building a cage, but as for how it should be done is fairly wide open. Basically make it fit, make it out of the right materials, triangulate, gusset, make good welds and don't do the things you're NOT supposed to do. If anyone has a good book or other resource they think will help me out then please share. The only books I have found are for building race cars, which I'm sure have good info, but nothing so far truck/offroad related that has any specifics on cage fabrication. Even the sanctioning bodies aren't much help. Their rules are basically that the weight of the vehicle determines tube size and that it should be well built and engineered and if the tech inspector doesn't like it then you're SOL. So as of now the plan is to use 2" .120 wall tubing. Probably an 8 point cage minimum with tie in to the frame by the radiator, the A and B pillars and behind the rear axle. I may add some boxing plates into key areas of the frame. I may replace some cross members and/or add some to help stiffen it. I will re-inforce the steering box area and where the link brackets attach to the frame. |
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Awesome build
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Not much to update here but I did buy a couple books (kindle editions) off amazon that I think are a huge help. I've learned more in the hour or so last night reading the trophy truck rebuild book than just about all my accumulated knowledge of these trucks before that. Tons of good info on how they are built and why they are done a certain way. I'm not building a trophy truck obviously but the design principles and much of the execution are similar on a lot of my build.  Monster Garage Trophy Truck Chassis Rebuild -... Welding for Off-Road Fabrication - Kindle edition... |
Re: Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread
I bought a crossover steering set up today. Its something I know I'll need and I think I found a good deal here...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251637875298...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Just need the DOM tube, which I can get much cheaper locally, and then decide what to do for a pitman arm. Should use a dropped one for better geometry but I want to wait and see where things actually line up. And also if I use my current 4wd steering box or swap to the 2wd box. Maybe I don't have an option for that, but they are easy enough to find. I have an idea I'm working on for all of the frame brackets for the links. I spent a lot of time measuring and laying under it looking and thinking. I've got a drawing of the frame frome my chassis manual and have marked off the important dimensions. Next I'll draw up my idea and try to mock it up. If it works I'll start gathering materials. A couple things I've figured out so far is that I will probably need to change to a cable type shifter or a direct linkage like Lokar sells. I used it on my C-10 and it works good. And shorty headers. The passenger side header is directly in line with the front driveshaft and yoke of the D60 differential. Its about 2" further back and 1.5" outboard of the D44 yoke. So the cost of this transformation will be higher just for those 2 items. Just an idea of whats on my shopping list: Tubing (for steering arm, track bar, links, bumpers and cage) Rod ends/bushings Plate steel (for brackets, gussets, etc.) 1 matching tire (Dick Cepek FC-II 35x12.5x17) 4 - 17" 8 lug wheels Coilover shocks with springs Bump stops Drive shafts (length to be determined) Brake lines Limit straps Headers Shifter Fuel cell I'm sure there's more, theres always more. Total spent so far $5060 with the steering kit. |
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Here's the basic idea of where I'm going with this. The idea anyway, pending actual test fitting, etc.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps0pyzbvxj.jpg The middle section in tan would be a fabricated piece wrapping the frame with the body mount and link mounts built onto it. The inside of the frame rail will be reinforced. The rear upper links would be incorporated into a new cross member with a driveshaft hoop and tie into the fabbed frame section that I'm calling a cradle for now. Triangulated rear 4 link. Parallel front 4 link with a track bar. Lots to still figure out. |
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The design and drawing look great.
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Nice drawing, I hope it goes smoothly.
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Parts showed up. The main piece here looks even better than I expected. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psplpu95op.jpg Comes with everything I need for the crossover steering except the tube for the drag link. And the last piece I needed to get my TIG welder up and running got delivered last week. The foot pedal amptrol... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psmkttgvih.jpg I finally had time yesterday to try it out. I did some checking and its been 16 years since my last TIG weld, and it shows. Looks like I have to relearn just about everything all over. :waah: Its not really a big deal as far as this project is concerned. Most of the welding can be done with my MIG welder. Pretty much all of the cage anyway. On the thicker plate work I can get everything tacked up and hopefully my skills make a comeback by then. Worst case is taking the parts to a friend of mine that gets paid to be a damn good welder. Was kinda planning on him doing the welding on the axles in any case. Still waiting on dies for the bender, and money. Once my tax return hits the bank I'm gonna order some tubing, and other steel to get started. It's March, the weather forecast is finally starting to show a warming trend and I'm past the worst of my workload crunch I've been stuck in since the beginning of the year. S&%$@ getting real. :metal: |
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Still working on the design stuff, drawing it out, etc. But some things are pretty well set on how it will be done. So I started ordering some steel. On the bottom left of this drawing you can see how I'm going to build the frame sections. Basically I'm sandwiching the stock frame between 2 pieces. The frame is about 1/8" thick. I'm having a C channel made that is 2-3/8" x 5". Then I'm getting 3" x 6" x .25" wall tube. I will cut off one of the short sides and it will push up and wrap the frame and C channel. I can through bolt it all in place. A new body mount will go on the tube, and the frame ends of the links will get mounted to it also. Then I can tie the roll cage into it and it should be rock solid.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pshbcs8eii.jpg Today I got the driver side body mount off, removed the shifter linkage and the driver side header. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psulg7hjtg.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psr61ktsnm.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psnvfntzy1.jpg Nice open stretch of frame to work with. Plenty of room for the exhaust to route between the transfer case and frame. That rear body mount will probably be removed also. I'm thinking I should replace the tranny crossmember also. Have it tie into the new frame rail pieces, like the new rear crossmember will. That rear one will incorporate the upper rear link mounts and a driveshaft hoop and stabilize the frame more. I put on the shortened top I had so I work around it for roll cage fitting. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pspytlqd1b.jpg |
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Good progress Mike, I like those proportions. Its always a little tough to sit down and do a drawing since it doesn't feel as productive at first, but it always pays off in spades! What program are you using to draw and get the dimensions with?
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Dimensions by tape measure. :lol::lol: Using autocad would be nice but its been 20 years and now I can't even draw a line without relearning a new program. Had to go with the hi-tech old school. Tore the front axle apart yesterday. One hub is shot. Bad threads on one spindle. Needs new seals all around. Otherwise it looks good. I will replace the u-joints since its apart. A big win for me though. The $200 axles remain the biggest bargain on this project so far. |
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I've been chipping away at it slowly but somewhat steadily. Heres a cpl pics of axle parts laying all over...:lol::lol:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pshlbapdhy.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psmiffrwmv.jpg I started cutting brackets off the axle that are in the way or no longer needed. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psyes8hakj.jpg I ordered some bits and pieces that will help me out with the cage and transfer case mounting in the near future from DIY4X. I'm hoping its $118 well spent. Total spent up to $5178 now. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psikphffav.jpg Those are cage mounts with anti sheer pins and yes I could have made them myself but the cost isn't bad and saves me time and drill bits and cutting wheels/blades. The items on top right are for the transfer case mount. Since I'm changing that crossmember for the tranny and the OEM transfer case mount is in the frame rail I think this will make a great substitute and strengthen it up. http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...product_id=202 The first order of steel tubing and the channels I need for my frame sandwich should be ready today to pick up. It won't be all I need but a big start. I don't have a cost for that yet but will update later. I ordered it thru a guy I know here in town that has a welding business. Free delivery and he has the nice big hydraulic brake for custom bending the C channels I need to fit in the frame rails. He goes thru a lot of DOM tubing himself but not for building on trucks/cars. He's also my go to guy for any major welding I'm not equipped or skilled enuf for myself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VrFV5r8cs0 |
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I still plan on getting this frame reinforcement for the steering box...
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psvdnxfros.jpg And my rear cross member for the upper link mounts and driveshaft hoop will be similar in design to this set up from Heidts... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psv3jnz7ik.jpg |
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I got a bunch of steel to start cutting and burning. I got some bender dies. I got very little time. :(
Spent $400 on the steel channels, rectangular tubing, 2" DOM tubing, and heavy wall tubing for the front track bar and drag link. He really gave me a great deal. About a 25% discount on the DOM tubing from what I was quoted at the steel supply places. Only charged me about $50 to custom bend C channels and cut my stuff to length etc. So total spent is now $5578 and I need to get busy in the garage. |
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Discounts are always a good thing. Watching your progress, better get at it....;):lol:
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Just so people know, the project is not dead. Just stagnant. Been overloaded with work, had to do some work to my C-10 to get it ready for power tour, bought a couple other trucks, and now I'm deep into trying to buy a farm place. This is turning into a next winter project with everything thats going on.
New place, assuming I get it, is 7 acres, has a nice big house, 3 garages, 2 machine sheds, plus a couple other storage buildings. I hope to build my dream shop in one of the machine sheds. The 3 car garage will be my shop until that becomes reality. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it. Lots of work to do at the new place, getting my current one ready to sell, and that damn job thingy takes up a lot of time too, but it's paying for all of this so I won't complain. Later |
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Hell, I forgot about this thread! Gonna be neat!
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Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping you get the new place
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I have that same gas tank as you
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Almost 2 months later, have you closed yet? When's the big move?
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We are combining 2 full houses of stuff. It's been a challenge to say the least. I think if we get done by the end of the month we'll be doing good. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9qmq7aji.png http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...smzz5hyr3.jpeg The new shop. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...suwbx2sd8.jpeg The future shop... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...sgp8kv2u7.jpeg Another big machine shed I don't even have any ideas for yet. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...srbtdzaju.jpeg These are pics taken earlier this summer. We had to remove a lot of stuff. Clean up truck loads of trash. Piles of appliances and rotten furniture. The house needs work (windows, doors, roof, siding) but is decent inside. The driveway is about 1/4 mile long and I can get to freeway speeds on it and drift around the 1 car garage. I have a separate building that I'm calling the small engine shop just for all the stuff like lawn mowers, motorcycles, ATV's, go cart, etc. |
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From what a few people told me is that it was made by hickey but not sure about that
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A big Congrats.
One of them shops has gotta be a paint booth. |
Congrats, that place has a ton of potential.
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That looks like the perfect place for you Mike, can't wait to see what you do with it!
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Lots of room for hiding toys Mike...awesome:metal::metal::metal:
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Subscribing for suspension details.... ;)
-G |
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I wish I was posting a bunch of progress but unfortunately, nope. Not that I haven't been busy. Far from it. Here's the readers digest version. Bought the farm place (noted above). Got laid off from work in October. Spent the 2 months off time working my ass off between the new and old places. Started working again mid December. Holidays. Spent time getting the 3 car garage set up as a usable shop space (lights, outlets, insulated doors, insulating walls and attic, unpacking and stashing years of accumulated crap). The new job didn't provide a car so I had to find something to drive other than my 71 C-10 so I bought a high mileage 2003 Yukon XL Denali for cheap. Needed lots of maintenance things done to clear codes and replace worn parts. Not economical but very useful to me currently and a future chassis for my 47 Olds body swap. Spent time fixing motorcycles, atv's home repairs, etc.
And dreaming of the days I would get back to this project. Still not quite there but it's getting closer. It's in the shop. It has the original front axle under it so I could roll it from one garage to the next. It's on jackstands. I can work on it now when I get the time. The plan has changed slightly. Not the overall plan for the finished product but the plan on how to get there. I have a borrowed tubing bender and very little knowledge of how to use it. I found a cage kit for around $525 plus freight. It's got 2" .120" wall tubing which is what I was going to do. I think it will be worth the cost compared to my time and expected frustration. I would use it as a base and then use my bender to add to it to fit my needs which will simplify the build quite a bit for me. Thanks to info from Greg72 I have some new suspension geometry calculators to play with some numbers before I actually cut links and build brackets. I need to do some more learning there. Greg, check posts 1329 and 1333 to get an idea for my plan. It's just a rough draft. Originally I wanted to do the cage and front suspension then drive it a while and then do the rear suspension. Now I think I will just jump in and do it all before I put it back on the road (or trail). Going to it's new home... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pshqfvxtcp.jpg The new shop getting cleaned up some... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pszfpsplh5.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pspajjicpl.jpg Drainage issues from the warmer weather melting. Had an inch of water in the garage. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5jjyradp.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psunzsbopc.jpg The cage kit I'm looking at... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pswicu2hol.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9ee39s5w.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psxqpkj3y5.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pspto5akm8.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psjcf4akkm.jpg I also have the 79 2wd crewcab that I'm going to do a LS swap in (bigass farm truck in my signature). I bought the engine and everything I could from the donor truck, bought a 4L80e and my cousin is selling me a 90 suburban for parts. I need to pay my tax bill for last year before I spend much more on parts. And I have a possible work related change coming up in a couple of weeks. If that works out I'll be in a better position going forward. Then once my old house sells I'll be sitting real good. Wish I had more to say regarding this project, but I don't. Outside of the unexpected job change and my tax bill which was complicated and negative because of that change, I'm happy and doing well. I'm never bored. |
Re: Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread
Really glad to see things looking up in your future. Seems as though a bunch of fellas have had the job hiccup lately (me included).
Only down side I could see is the water getting in and killing the cardboard boxes. Always keeping an eye out for updates. |
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Nice! Where did you find the cage kit? I've been looking myself, but have never seen that one.
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http://www.broncobob.com/ Look at the roll cage page and scroll to the bottom. |
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Sorry to hear about the job issues! I'm glad to hear you're getting all settled in to the new place and the extra shop space looks great! Keep at it and good luck with the new job!
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Re: Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread
It's been a long time. I have not been slacking off, just had my attention, time and money going everywhere else but here. Quick run down of the last couple years...
August 2015 bought a farm site 9 miles from town. It needed a LOT of work. October 2015, got laid off from work. November 2015, started a new job as part time inspector May 2016 promoted to western region manager July 2016 got engaged September 2016 got married and finally sold my old house in town. December 2016 borrowed piles of money to really fix the house up. Started replacing windows (finished in March 2017, yes it was cold) February 2017, roof replaced, old siding stripped off. May 2017 started to build a large porch onto the house, continued with door replacements and new siding. July 2017 bought a factory five cobra kit car, went to Mass. to pick it up (Happy birthday to me!) Swapped engines in my 71 C-10 for the second time after the one I built last winter died during cam break-in. November 2017 finally finished the siding and porch and door replacement. Daughter wrecks my Jeep Cherokee (she's ok, Jeep, not so much) December 2017 installed laminate floor in kitchen, moved the fridge and installed a cabinet and dishwasher in it's place. (Wife happy) January 2018, bought a roll cage kit... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psuig1ndic.jpg There were several other things that happened the past couple years. Like trying my hand at an LS swap in my 79 C-30 crewcab (still working on that but that garage isn't getting heated this winter), step daughters wedding, busted up my shoulder flipping an ATV doing stupid stuff, cleaning up and fixing every other building on the property, etc. It's time to get back inside the garage instead of on top and around it. Before and after pics of the house... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9ahiy7no.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psqbjzr1ek.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psekqgsrxu.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psdtsvmcvf.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psnuxcqu1t.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psl7jvzhpd.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pswjsykq61.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa0vcmz5f.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psw4cmeaty.jpg New floor, dishwasher and microwave (had to move the fridge because it wouldn't fit there after the new floor was installed)... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6fjfvzc7.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psatkqaqfr.jpg My truck was a wedding prop for the step daughter... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pshvvma3iq.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc8avl4fg.jpg And the chariot for my own wedding... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psspnqld30.jpg Dream car arrives home... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pswsj1uqce.jpg http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psuzdgirrf.jpg The cage should be shipping before the end of the week, but I don't know how long it'll take before it shows up. In the mean time I need to do some prep work on the jimmy. Also, since I looked into it last, Off-road design has added the Dodge Dana 60 axle to their coilover kit as an option. They only had the GM dana 60 brackets before, but maybe my inquiries (and others) about it prompted them to offer it. The dodge axle is narrower and the short side bracket wouldn't fit. So now I can buy the axle brackets I need and not have to do the engineering. I can't afford to buy the complete kit ($3350 plus options) so I will end up making some of the brackets, links, etc. myself. Will also be on the lookout for some good used shocks. I'll be starting again but I have no time line or dead line. Who needs that kind of stress, this is supposed to be fun right? My goal is to work on this, make progress, learn or hone some new skills, and get it done so I can start building my cobra. :devil: |
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Your house turned out amazing! Great job on it. Is that carr siding inside the porch below the windows? I really like that. That has to be a great feeling to be back messing with the Jimmy again!
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Great to see you update this thread Mike. I may bug you with a text or two when I'm hospitalized soon.
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