7T7...Ive got a few pic requests please

[87 Shortwide]

Hey, Im loving the pics you posted, but I am REALLY interested in seeing the firewall after you smoothed it. Would you mind taking a few pics under the hood for me at a few different angles and such? I would really appreciate it, since I have basically decided to smooth the firewall. Thanks man

[AirMale]

.....and while the camera is out can we see more detailed pics of the rear set-up? Thanks, Jay

[bigblock73]

I too would like to see some firewall pics. I shaved mine as well, and love it. I think it is one of the best mods I have had done, I can't wait to see what it looks like finished. Here is a pic of mine if interested.

[87 Shortwide]

Bigblock, that is basically exactly what I am looking to do. I just wasnt sure whether to shave those small angled body creases in the top corners that point in and downward. But they look like if they are cleaned up a bit, they will be OK in there. Did you just put a flat panel over that whole side, or did you only fill the hole in. Ive never had that heater assy out, so I didnt know what it was like under it yet.

[bigblock73]

I actually had the individual holes filled. Here is a pic of what I started with, keep in mind, my truck originally has A/C...which has more holes.

[87 Shortwide]

Ive got factory air on my 87 also, so I imagine the firewall will look exactly like that. Thanks again man, that really gives me the final say that I want to smooth it. Ant 7t7, please post the pics of yours also, Its impossible to look at too many when Im deciding this, so the more the better.

[BodyShopDropOut12]

When you shave your firewall, are you gonna still be needing to reuse that caulking type stuff along the seam? I remember someone posting a while back about it. Got the product name, forget it though, and they were told that you have to reapply it again. I've seen a few pics of shaved firewalls and never seen this. Either they painted over it or huh?

[87 Shortwide]

Originally Posted by BodyShopDropOut12

When you shave your firewall, are you gonna still be needing to reuse that caulking type stuff along the seam? I remember someone posting a while back about it. Got the product name, forget it though, and they were told that you have to reapply it again. I've seen a few pics of shaved firewalls and never seen this. Either they painted over it or huh?

if you shave it, you will usually fill over the seams anyhow...so the caulking isnt needed.

[7T7]

My firewall is just a piece of 1/8" aluminum covering up everything.
If I get a wild hair I will do it the right way like Jeff.

[7T7]

Originally Posted by AirMale

.....and while the camera is out can we see more detailed pics of the rear set-up? Thanks, Jay

Here ya go.
The first pic is the original notch.
We added a anti-sway bar so we had to redo the notch and rear frame rails.
That means moving the bed floor up nowinsed of a hump in the floor. I really didn't want a big hump in the bed, but it is a hell of a lot easier than this bed chopping I'm now doing. The bed floor will be a little over a foot deep when I'm done. Too freaky! huh?

[low 84]

very trick way to do the sway bar!

[love it loud]

wow, what an awesome 4-link setup.. uses the stock hangers!!! how does the panhord work when it's just across the 2 upper 4-link bars?? Looks 100% custom-fabricated too.. so I don't see much chance of being able to get something like this?

[87 Shortwide]

Why exactly do you have the 3rd disc brake on the rearend?

Also, did you just hammer those seams in the top corners of the firewall on that passenger side down when you covered it? That seems to be an easier way to go, that looks nice as well. I am not sure what I want to do just yet

[Grande Rojo]

parking brake??????

7T7, very nice looking truck I had never seen it before

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 87 Shortwide

Why exactly do you have the 3rd disc brake on the rearend?

Streetrod style parking brake. Using this set-up allows more freedom when selecting your rear discs.

[7T7]

Originally Posted by love it loud

wow, what an awesome 4-link setup.. uses the stock hangers!!! how does the panhord work when it's just across the 2 upper 4-link bars?? Looks 100% custom-fabricated too.. so I don't see much chance of being able to get something like this?

Yeah, the panhard bar is basically a diagonal link just like Art Morrison uses on drag cars. We just beefed it up so it would hold up to cornering.
It works like a panhard but doesn't give the side to side deflection a normal panhard would give you. This is the first time we have put one on the top bars.
The 73-87 doesn't allow us to run it on the bottom bars as we have done in the past on other vehicles.


Email coming your way, 87 Shortwide

[love it loud]

did you custom-fabricate all of the 4-link? Looks like an awesome easy to install setup if it was available!

[7T7]

Originally Posted by love it loud

did you custom-fabricate all of the 4-link? Looks like an awesome easy to install setup if it was available!

It was fairly easy to build. The only thing that was purchased was the top links.
Jason at ***************** makes a killer adjustable bar. The thickness of the top bars enabled us to run a diagonal link on the top instead of the bottom bars.
If you keep the lower 2 bars 26” from spring perch center bolt hole, to center of axle housing the rest is very easy.
You can see in the photos that the bag brackets are beefed up to limit frame flex. It’s an area we thought may weaken over time with this type of bag placement. That was probably the most time consuming part of the entire project. Lots of cutting and grinding in that area.
Let me know if you need any close ups of any of the components, and I’ll post them for ya.