Big Bertha Build thread x2

[buggy5872]

My progress slowed down since I am not under the gun to get it functional. I worked for months till 1 am every night and then back up at 5am to go to work. I would not suggest anyone tortre them selves like this. Anyhow....back to the progress. I had to make the running boards from scratch since the old ones were trashed and about four feet too short. Luck I have a friend that had a fabrication shop and we were able to bend up some that look pretty stock. The fender extension piece was very difficult to make. It bends in curves in 5 different directions and is only about 10" long. I had to completely hand form them with some clamps, various diameter rods for bending around and at one point bending them over my thigh to get the right shape. They turned out nice though.

[buggy5872]

We took a 10 day trip to Ocean City MD the last 2 weeks. My goal before going was to get the gauges figured out, ac working, and a stereo system. At some point someone hacked into the wiring harness and made some adjustments to the wiring. Not sure why but there were 6 wires soldered together just before the fuse box. Power was not getting to where it should and some were getting power all the time. Once I had that all sorted out, All kinds of things worked that did not before. It even cured my AC problem. I spent 4 days working on getting the stereo in. amps , subs, speakers, tweeters and about 200 feet of wire. Lucky I stuffed most of it in under the carpet before. It sounds fantastic. Sorry no pics. Tonight I worked on the power windows. I bought a switch kit that had 8 switches and about 50 wires. It also came with some wiring diagrams that looked like an 8 year old made. I figured it out and tomorrow night I will get all the switches mounted and wiring tucked away neatly. All that's left on the inside are door panels and console. I will get some pics posted once I get it all buttoned

[buggy5872]

last thing will be the bed. I already started on it and have about 50% of the fab work done. I took a 58 fleetside bed and molded stretched stepside fenders into it. The sides were too high so I cut them down to the factory seam just above the rocket on the sides. Here is how far I am with it now.



the drivers side is not quite as far along but it wont take long to finish it. That is where I am at this point and will update this as I progress along. I am hoping to have the bed done and on by mid September but we will see. I have 3 more camping trips before then.

As soon as this one is done, I can get back on my NAPCO that got put on hold until this gets done.



I will do a build thread on it when I start back on it. I do not have a lot of pics of it in progress to this point but will take more as I go. The wife also said something about wanting a Task force Burb so my projects will never end but I am running out of room!!!! Hopefully the kids will be big enough soon to help rather than slow me down. They are fun to have in the garage helping though

[arturo7]

COE and a Napco?

Some guys have all the fun...

Keep the pics comin'!

[98layinframe]

Love the quality of the sheet metal work! Im assuming you didnt have to alter the wheel base of the truck at all?
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[buggy5872]

I got lucky on the wheel base and was able to leave it as it was.

[R.A.D]

this great i love the progress

[buggy5872]

Worked on the bed this weekend. Most of the fab work is done at this point. Need to put it on the truck to figure out a couple more things. Still have two more camping trips so its tough to find time to put the bed on and take it back off in between trips.

[buggy5872]

Fit the bed to the truck. Everything lined up pretty good. Now to do the body work.



I have to adjust the running board on the passenger side of the truck to line up better.

[R.A.D]

Looking good
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[buggy5872]

Shot the first coat of primer on the bed. Needed to get it back together so I could use the truck to run up to NY to help some friends move their campers to a new campground.

[buggy5872]

Here is what I picked up in NY. My new daily driver.....

[buggy5872]

I took the next couple months off and helped the neighbor build a deck. I was going to wait until spring to finish Big Bertha but I had a promoter from World of wheels car show wanting me bring Big Bertha. I put the truck in storage and pulled the bed off. it was a lot easier to get it off with a fork truck.

[cAlvis165]

Are you happy with the power from the 350 to move your camper? Love the way the bed came together!!

[duallyjams]

What a cool tow rig.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by cAlvis165

Are you happy with the power from the 350 to move your camper? Love the way the bed came together!!

Its not the most powerful. It does ok but I wish there was more power. I get 9 mpg towing and 13 empty and I know with a big block that would be way worse. I am looking at a supercharger set up right now but am having troubles with fitting it. the supercharger mounts next to the alternator and next to my alternator is my front cab mount......friend of mine are trying to get me to go diesel....

[cAlvis165]

Originally Posted by buggy5872

Its not the most powerful. It does ok but I wish there was more power. I get 9 mpg towing and 13 empty and I know with a big block that would be way worse. I am looking at a supercharger set up right now but am having troubles with fitting it. the supercharger mounts next to the alternator and next to my alternator is my front cab mount......friend of mine are trying to get me to go diesel....

Either option would be awesome. (say that 10 times fast ) The whole rig is incredible just how it sits, though. You have done a great job. Trying to talk the wife into driving to Pittsburg for the show. We'll see...

[buggy5872]

I needed a short tailgate and wanted to have he chevrolet script on it. I took a rusty fleetside tailgate and cut the center section out of it. I took square tubing and made the top and sides. Then used a round tube and half a square tube for the bottom.







I welded some latches on the inside and put the limit chains on the inside also for the clean look. Turned out pretty good.

[6BT 56]

You truely are an excellent fabricator . Your fit and finish are beyond excellent .

Cant wait to see your napco .

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

You truely are an excellent fabricator . Your fit and finish are beyond excellent .

Cant wait to see your napco .

Thanks....

[buggy5872]

I blocked down the bed and an took a front bumper and welded in the middle section where the license plate goes since my bed has the roll pan on it. forgot to take any pic of it. Here is the bed in final primer before paint.




Here is a pic of the latches and limit chains

[buggy5872]

I shot some color on it last weekend and sprayed in bed liner. It came out pretty good. I am working on getting on the truck this weekend.





Here is a pic of the bumper that I filled the license plate section in.

[_Ogre]

looks good buggy, can't wait to see it all together

[BlueJeep]

Looks great! I see the box of Raptor liner there, what did you think of it? Did you do the color match? Would you mind posting some pictures of how it turned out?

[Mayo]

Awesome build!
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