Re: progress pics
 

I'm leaving the tank in the cab for now.

Re: progress pics
 

Heres a couple new pics:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1266/...e365f4b8f6.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1317/...c5bbe93cd5.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1220/...69586ba337.jpg

Re: progress pics
 

nice!!!!:metal: :metal:

Re: progress pics
 

Jlaird, I think I see a Porterbuilt dropmember in your near future. I just installed mine, I highly recommend it. Great quality.

Re: progress pics
 

It's been very hard to resist, TRUST ME!

Re: progress pics
 

Looks Sick!!!! These trucks looks so good low like that! I will be watching this build thread for sure!!!

Re: progress pics
 

a little progress, actually it looks like I went backwards, because I took the cab off, but had to to chop the trailing arm crossmember. So that is what I finished (except for the exhaust cutouts). She cant go any lower, shes on the ground! Heres some pics. Next up is to make a crossmember that goes between the trailing arm x-member and the axle.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/...0d48411957.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1059/...d8dff298a9.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1266/...746afdf6da.jpg

Re: progress pics
 

Looking awesome, can't wait to see the body on that frame ;)

Re: progress pics
 

Got the driveshaft loop x-member finished as well as the exhaust cutouts almost done. Some pics:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1247/...2335145881.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1235/...34c4f3cae4.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1092/...e3542cc032.jpg

Re: progress pics
 

Very nice work, keep it up. How did u determine the drive shaft loop height? Without transmission in.

Re: progress pics
 

I've got a two piece drive shaft which means it's at a fixed height at the carrier bearing.

Re: progress pics
 

Nice looking truck!

Re: progress pics
 

That's good, becuase I was gonna tell you that I had to raise the upper "hoop" on the TA X-Member for my one-piece driveshaft + 8" notch. With that notch you definately would too, but a two pice DS takes care of that! Nice work :metal:

What's the dia. on your exhaust cut-outs?

Re: progress pics
 

They have a 4" inner diameter, so will be good for something like a 3" exhaust pipe.

Re: progress pics
 

i know its a little bite late but heres a crappy pic of my steering linkage made from 2 astro van linkages :)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j5..._631/zach3.jpg

Re: progress pics
 

great work man. glad to see some progress.

on the topic of the split drive shaft. Are you concerned at all that the travel of the axle will pull on the carrier bearing? obviously normal up and down is fine, but with the extra travel that you'd get with air bags, i'm curious if the axle will put more preasure on the CB.

in my application (bagged with a split shaft) it didn't seem to put any additional pressure on the CB, but i only have a C-notch, not a step. Also, my bags are mounted on the T-arms, so my travel is not much.

Re: progress pics
 

I'm really not worried about that at all. I set up the driveshaft and CB to work properly with the frame rails only being 5 inches off the ground. This truck is not going to see a lot of vertical travel(especially at cruising speeds) that will be putting any sort of stress on the CB. I'm not suspension expert, just seems like common sense to me.

Re: progress pics
 

wheres the progress??????????????????

Re: progress pics
 

frame and all the suspension parts are going to the powder coater tomorrow. It will be nice to see something in my garage that is one color! Cant wait....

I will post pictures when I get it back. They said two weeks.

Re: progress pics
 

Uh oh... that's a notorious statement. Do you know how many times I've heard "two [more] weeks" from body shops and "body shops?" :eek:

Hopefully your powder guys can handle it.

Re: progress pics
 

Couple questions, how long is your 4 link? How big of a notch did you install? Keep up the good work.

Re: progress pics
 

If memory serves me correctly (can't go out and measure because everything is at the powdercoaters), the 4link bars are 32 inches long and the notch ended up being about 9-10 inches.

Re: progress pics
 

Nice! I havent been up here in a while I must say! Real Clean work!

Re: progress pics
 

why leave the trailing arm crossmember in if your not using the trailing arms?

Re: progress pics
 

Two reasons: Strength and holds my two-piece driveshaft bracket.


So I decided to have a local engine builder build me an engine over buying a crate. I think I'm getting a pretty darn good deal. He's building me a mild 350 with vortec heads for a little more than the cost of GM's 290 horse crate. I should have that by end of December.

XXL was right on the money with the damn powder coaters. They said it should be around two weeks. Two weeks was yesterday. Their yet to call me with my final quote. I hate dealing with people like this... I guess I just have to be patient.

Re: progress pics
 

Just re-reading this thread and I stumbled on this... you're probably getting MORE travel than jlaird. With his bags coming straight off the rearend, he's getting pretty much 1:1 lift. With yours on the trailing arms (assuming at the stock spring location), you're getting a little leaverage since you're "up the lever" a bit from the rearend.

If you're not getting any carrier bearing issues, he should be just fine.

Re: progress pics
 

Makes you want to show up with a trailer and load your stuff up... but they've generally got us by the... uh... throat. So we have to put up with stuff like that. One day somebody with a keen sense of customer satisfaction is going to open a shop to do this stuff, and he's going to grab much of the market. Until then :whine: Bastages!

Re: progress pics
 

Very nice build! I love lowered trucks, mine is a worker so laying frame is out of the Q. One day when I retire the truck from working........:metal: AGAIN, GREAT JOB!

Re: progress pics
 

how bout the powder coating? still havent got it back? any word?

Re: progress pics
 

Got it back on wednesday. What a PITA. These guys took their sweet a$$ time with it. They had it for 2 months. And listen to this, they called me Monday at about 10am to say they were going to start it and to confirm I didn't change my mind on anything which was nice. I actually ended up having them do just the frame and blast everything else for me to paint myself.(I wanted to save some $$) They called me back at around 2pm to tell me it was done. They made me wait 2 MONTHS for about 4 hours of work. They have some workflow/timing issues to say the least.

The frame came out good though. I will post pics soon.

Re: progress pics
 

Cool! At least you finally got it back. Can't wait to see some pics!

Re: progress pics
 

Not any progress on my end. I wanted to show these pics with the chassis put together, but I'm having some painting issues, so all my parts are not finished. So here is just the bare frame. Excuse the dust. Also are pics of my engine I just picked up from the builder. Its a 350 with summit racing vortec heads and an edelbrock intake. I'm going monday to talk with the builder about the exact specs on the internals. Last pic is a shelf of parts waiting to be used.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/...f42d25.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/...3d3a27.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/...43d3ca.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/...95ea07.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2160/...3720e4.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2014/...0551f9.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2356/...48d8a3.jpg?v=0

Re: progress pics
 

That motor looks really good. Nice and clean look. Good Job

Re: progress pics
 

hey i have been following your build for a while and i wanan know any one can give me input how tall is your tires for a "lay frame " truck cause im gonna do it to my 67 thanks send me pm's if possiable thanks guys

Re: progress pics
 

about 29.5" tall

progress pics soon fellas!

Painting sucks!!!!!!

Shoulda, woulda, coulda had it powder coated!

Re: progress pics
 

let me ask another question i know u didnt z your frame thats what im gonna do but what if i zed and sectiond my engine crossmember to the point where i would have to tranny tub the cab do you thiink the motor will be to low. it was just a thought i love your set up mines gonna be a little diff but u give me ideas great build. any one could answear this :new:

Re: progress pics
 

Theres no need to do both a z and a sectioned crossmember. You can lay with either one.

Re: progress pics
 

Nice build. I didn't notice anyone else comment, but I have to tell you that you are laying some nice welds.

Re: progress pics
 

not sctioni it to the point where the crossmember moves up in the frame i wanna section it to moce the motor mounts down basicaly to drop the motor into the crossmember so there is no need to tun the cab and then you can keep your stock drive line set up and your radiator will be in the same spotso you can run a fan but the front member where the pully is will have to be modified. i think it may work but may need shorth headers

i need some input and thoughts i hope you dont mind me doing this i cant start my own threads yet i need to join as a supporting member soon.

Re: progress pics
 

I would start your own thread with this question. You don't need to be a site supporter to start you own thread.