Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[Dean'smeanmachine]

sweet

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Nice and tidy and well thought out!

That's Vic for you... if you ever had a chance to see his work in person you can really see how meticulous he really if...

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Dean'smeanmachine

sweet

Originally Posted by Elliot949

That's Vic for you... if you ever had a chance to see his work in person you can really see how meticulous he really is...

Thanks, guys!

Today I moved over to the passenger side, tack welded the bag spacer in, attached the bag and put the lower control arm back on. After marking my reference lines, I removed the upper plate to drill the new hole pattern for the top of the bag. At that point, I realized that one of the new holes was in a bad place. I either needed to patch the original plate or build a new one. After mulling it over I came to the conclusion that putting Porterbuilt parts on CRLS is like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

So off to Metal By the Foot I went to procure some 3/16" mild steel plate. I traced the outer pattern and used transfer punches to locate the holes. Plasma cut and bandsawed the outer edge then cleaned it up on the belt sander. Drilled and milled the holes I needed and I'm almost home free. The forward attachment bolt for the bag hits the crossmember, so I'll countersink the hole in the plate and swap the bolt for an 82* flat head socket screw. While I'm at it, I'll probably do the same for the two front bolts that attach the plate to the crossmember. Right now, the nuts hanging down could possibly rub a hole in the bag ...and that ain't a good thing.

[Xeen]

Hmm I must be missing something here.
I don't understand why you had to fabricate a new upper bag mounting plate for this side but not the other side.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Xeen

Hmm I must be missing something here.
I don't understand why you had to fabricate a new upper bag mounting plate for this side but not the other side.

Hey Brian, I just happened to pull the upper plate from this side first. I'm sure I'll need to do the same thing on the other side. I made sure I bought enough material to do just that, in fact. So you aren't missing anything but the untold part of the story.

[Xeen]

Lol ok now it makes sense.

[Low Elco]

Hey Vic, there's a Metal by the foot type place on 69 in Claycomo, if you don't wanna drive that far. Boppa knows where it is. Didn't know if you knew or not.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Hey Vic, there's a Metal by the foot type place on 69 in Claycomo, if you don't wanna drive that far. Boppa knows where it is. Didn't know if you knew or not.

Yes, Metal Cut to Length, I've been there two or three times. They have better prices but not quite as great a selection. I was in a hurry and really wanted the material, so I didn't take the time to swing by there, but since I found out about it I try to shop there when I can be flexible about the material.

[Vic1947]

Airbag deployment continued... The sway bar was originally meant to attach to a pad on the tubular lower control arms. Had to cut that off, which mandated a new sway bar mount. First order of business was to mark the sway bar parallel to the control arm. Moved back 3/4" and marked a cut line. Dusted off my cheap Chinese cutoff saw, put on a new disc and severed about 4" off the ends of the bar. No going back now. I ordered up some spherical rod ends from Speedy Bill and tubing weld bungs from some cats called Speed Dealer Chassis in Joplin. While they were enroute, I fixtured up the bar in the mill. Faced off the chop saw cut, then drilled and tapped the bar to accept a 7/16 bolt for the rod end.

[Vic1947]

When the weld bungs arrived, I fabbed up the links with RH and LH ends to make them infinitely adjustable. The camera angle isn't real great, but there is actually about 3/16" clearance between the link and the control arm. After measuring the length and angle I needed for the control arm mount, I tacked the spuds in place then removed the lower arm and finished welding out the mount. Added a gusset for good measure. Put some additional weld around the lower bag spacer and started cleaning up the burned paint and grease pencil marks. Will repaint with Chassis Black when all done with both sides.

[Vic1947]

I've finally compromised on the mounting location for the compressors, tank and actuator. After spending way too much time online researching, I came to the conclusion these parts would have to go in the front of the bed. I'll just have to throw a tarp over them when I haul gravel. There are alternatives that allow an "under the bed" mount, but involve considerable expense. I've spent about all I want to on this airbag deal, and so homemade mounts are my new best option.

I built a flat mount with some legs on each side to mount the compressors and the tank. Then made a little piggyback mount for the actuator that will attach with a couple of large diameter worm clamps. It's compact, positions the wiring and plumbing in decent locations and will end up costing a whopping $25.

[67chevy1series]

That's awesome! Great work! I love the idea of machining/fabricating your own parts to fix a tough situation. Keep the progress coming!

[jeh]

Vic, some very nice fab work going on

[Bennett68C10]

Awesome job on the sway bar Vic, I'm amazed at how you basically engineered new control arms and made the sway bar fit.

[bguild]

Vic looks great.. Have you thought about making a small tool box in the front of the bed that is lockable to hide the compressor? It would like nice if you made some nice bead rolled design on it and had some extra room for some tire shine etc.. I think I will do something like that for mine.

[mx289]

Originally Posted by jeh

Vic, some very nice fab work going on

Awesome work Vic.

[bguild]

Something similar but a box with a hinged door that would hide the air compressor and valves..

[Xeen]

The front suspension looks great Vic.
I have never installed one of these air ride suspensions before so I don't understand why it is more expensive to mount the compressors and tank under the bed vs. in the bed, what all is involved?

[sduckworth13]

Great work Vic! That sway bar mode is definitely cool looking. Can't wait to see the air ride install.

[Vic1947]

Thanks everyone, I'm just happy to make some decisions and a little forward progress.

Originally Posted by bguild

Vic looks great.. Have you thought about making a small tool box in the front of the bed that is lockable to hide the compressor? It would like nice if you made some nice bead rolled design on it and had some extra room for some tire shine etc.. I think I will do something like that for mine.

I like the idea, Brian, however the compressor literature says they get quite hot. Do you think they would overheat in a closed box?

Originally Posted by Xeen

The front suspension looks great Vic.
I have never installed one of these air ride suspensions before so I don't understand why it is more expensive to mount the compressors and tank under the bed vs. in the bed, what all is involved?

Those setups require some specific mounts and tanks for both sides. The tank I have won't fit in the same spot, so I'd need to buy two smaller ones. Might be able to reverse engineer the mounts, but you'd spend $500 worth of time and materials to save $200. The other problem I've got is that I'm already invested in the exhaust and AFR setup. The electronics for those are right in the way of possible frame mounts. Therefore, I'm just going to work with what I have. I'll be running a Truxedo bed cover anyway, so you won't typically see inside the bed.

[jlsanborn]

Sano work on the swaybar deal! I had one of them chop-saws around here for a while then the owner took it back. Came with China's finest wheels to boot (wrong size arbor but close!). Man, I could lay stuff out +/- 1/4"!!! Can't believe one didn't blow apart and take out both my eyes choppin that 3x3 at 45. You're dialed with the end millin', center drillin, tap drillin, counter-sinkin, oily-oily, tig-weldin super clean. You're just like my machine-tools instructor. Smarter not harder, right tool for the job kinda thing. I love following your work for inspiration, not what color you picked, the wheels you got, what motor you're running, etc... Sometimes Snap-On is what you need, sometimes HFT is just perfect. This is a hobby, not a $$$$ job-shop and you're tooled perfectly and know how to usem.

You gotta stash the compressor Vic. I can't believe that you'll be working that thing to it's thermal limits. I bet you could bolt it to an exhaust manifold. Gotta be some space out back for it. Big deal to separate the valves and reservoir? Motor/Pump out front (copper wire is spendy), tank / valves wherever? Show us how it's done man!

[jlsanborn]

You could make sushi rolls on your workbench Vic!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

You gotta stash the compressor Vic. I can't believe that you'll be working that thing to it's thermal limits. I bet you could bolt it to an exhaust manifold. Gotta be some space out back for it. Big deal to separate the valves and reservoir? Motor/Pump out front (copper wire is spendy), tank / valves wherever? Show us how it's done man!

Thanks, John! I need you guys to keep me from taking the lazy way out. I'll have another look to see what, if anything, I can shuffle around to free up some space. I did see a build photo where they looped the exhaust tubing over the frame and ran it along the outside. Something like that might work. Will keep you posted.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

You could make sushi rolls on your workbench Vic!

I wish I knew how to make those. When I see them at Costco, I gotta have 'em.

[Low Elco]

Great work, as Always! I gotta get over there soon.

[mcbassin]

Looking good Vic