Project '66 Dirtrod: K-30 Extended Cab

[oklahomaduner]

Originally Posted by highperf4x4

Yeah I guess so. You going to have any weight adders in the rear too?

Just a stock-ish bumper and 37 gallons of gas...

[LILRED66]

Austin:

You and your father are doing some real cutting edge fabrication for this year truck. Thanks for sharing. I feel like I am watching a full-length feature film everytime I see you have posted an update to the thread.

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by oklahomaduner

Just a stock-ish bumper and 37 gallons of gas...

Ok well if you mount me a chair in the center of the tailgate I'll ride back there and add another 275lbs for ya

[oklahomaduner]

Originally Posted by highperf4x4

Ok well if you mount me a chair in the center of the tailgate I'll ride back there and add another 275lbs for ya

How about I mount one to the front bumper and give you 20 bucks and a fly swatter so you can keep the bugs off?

[oklahomaduner]

Originally Posted by LILRED66

Austin:

You and your father are doing some real cutting edge fabrication for this year truck. Thanks for sharing. I feel like I am watching a full-length feature film everytime I see you have posted an update to the thread.

Thanks Tony, I always enjoy seeing what you have to say, especially having the experience and knowledge that you do with these trucks.

[jason65]

Evil looking truck dude. You and your dad are doing a greal job.

[oklahomaduner]

We got the winch mount primed, painted, and put back on for the last time. (hopefully) We went ahead and put the winch, fairlead, and clevises back on also to finish it all up.




Here is a shot with the core support bolted up, we are using early jeep body bushings to mount this and the bed.



And now the time has come to take the cabs to our body man. With the help of a couple buddies we got the cabs out of the garage and loaded up on the truck last night, this morning we dropped them off at the shop where all the work will be going on at.

[joe231]

That loos sweet!
i can't wait to see the cab extended!

maybe I missed it, but what paint did you use on the frame and winch mount?

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by joe231

That loos sweet!
i can't wait to see the cab extended!

maybe I missed it, but what paint did you use on the frame and winch mount?

x2

[oklahomaduner]

Rustoleum Professional primer for light-medium rusted metals and then a Rustoleum professional Gloss Black. Available at your neighborhood Home Depot Lol. It stays on great and is easy to touchup if it does scratch.

[highperf4x4]

Right on

Can ya drop any info on the shop that's doing your cabs?

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice work! Keep it up. I would love to have your Dad's welder too. I just got my plaz back and I wished they would have hurried up repairing it because I have missed it so bad! I can't wait to see your extended cab. It will be awesome for sure.

[Joey~AP]

Ive been away too long!

You and your dad's craftsmanship are top notch! I wish me and my boy had taken the time to put the level of detail in his truck that yall have put into yours.


I do have a question/concern about your shackle angle on the front and rear. I dont think it will flex. On compression, the bottom of your shackle looks like it will rotate forward, causing the leaf spring eye to hit the frame and stop. There will be know room for the length of the spring to grow as it compresses. The shackle would have to be at an angle and length so that it will rotate rearward on compression and forward on extension.

Not tryin to disrespect. Just makin an observation.

Keep up the good work! Lookin forward to seeing the finished product.

[oklahomaduner]

Joey, we appreciate any and all input!
Couple things to remember...8" springs aren't known for their flex, and we still have alot of weight to add to both the front and rear. But, depending on what picture you are referring to, some changes have been made.
We relocated the front axle rearward 1/2" and went from a 4" long shackle to a 5" as we built the winch mount. This helps roll the shackle back and gives the spring room to extend.
Stay tuned, I think (hope) you'll see those shackles come around just fine.

[oklahomaduner]

Originally Posted by highperf4x4

Right on

Can ya drop any info on the shop that's doing your cabs?

A friend of my Dad is an auto body repair instructor at a large vo-tech in OKC and has agreed to do the work at his home shop. I hope to be able to help as much as he'll let me and learn whatever I can.

[highperf4x4]

Awesome. I'll be looking for the pics!

I checked around a few shops locally last summer and couldn't find one that wanted to replace rockers, corners, supports, etc and do a complete repaint too. It seems like they all want to replace fenders and grilles for insurance companies. I see now why everyone does their own sheetmetal work. Fortunately, Joe is going to do mine for me!

[joe231]

yeah all the money is in collision repair, get them in and out as fast as possible....quality? we don't need no stinking quality!

disclaimer: this is by no means a condemnation of all collision repair shops or the techs that work there.....


dang I guess I got my work cut out, huh?

[highperf4x4]

yessir

[Dieselwrencher]

Yeah most body shops count on the insurance jobs for weekly income. The larger resto's and repaints and such are a big burden usually because there is such a gap in payment. I am going to make a 6 door ford here soon, but it will be a lot easier than this style cab. I just got lucky, I think.

[highperf4x4]

Wrencher, my spychick abilities tell me that you have a thing for diesel engines.

Wait a minute........ I'm getting something here ........... AH YES! Especially Cummins engines!!

Man, that really sapped my energy!

[Dieselwrencher]

Yeah I have taken a liking to them. I only have 4 spark plugged vehicles, and will be down to three soon.......................... I'll leave the 40 alone and the wife's 69 will stay gas powered as long as I can help it. She wants it to be diesel now but I want to leave it alone. The buick will stay as close to original as a muscle car should be.

[highperf4x4]

Right on!

[oklahomaduner]

With the bodywork on the cab out of our hands and having to wait, we started playing with the bed. We don't have everything fiqured out yet but got the bed back apart and are tossing a few ideas around.

Rather than dropping 700$ on new bed sides we are going to play with these and see if we can make them work.

We have had a 2.5 gallon air tank and compressor sitting on a shelf for awhile now, so we decided to go ahead and mount it to the frame. (Maybe a few air horns in my future. We came up with a simple and stout way to mount it and of course added a few holes.






We also ran the 3/8 Al. fuel line. We wrapped the first 9 feet from pump back with a heat reflective sleeve since it was pretty close to the exhaust.

[Mr Pops]

WOW.. cool build! Your attention to detail is amazing! cant wait to see the work on the cab. Here's a pic of mine. I bought it as it sits, and haven't decided if I'm going to do it up or sell it.. I got too many other trucks on the go. It looks a little funny in this pic since its being stored loose on a 67 chassis and it isn't really lined up with the front wheels..

[highperf4x4]

Man that looks awesome! One thing is for sure, you'll never run out of places to hook your tow straps on when it's time to pull me out of the mud.

I have a questoin though, how will you be able to see the gauge on that tank once the bed is on?