2 for 1, My son's first Square Build

[barnold]

Where is your new shop at?
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[aggie91]

Brad - the shop is next door to Gymnastics world on Gilmer Road. We "plan" to be there some later today and most of Monday...

I took some pictures of yesterday's accomplishments, my real job tied me up most of the day and the wife and I had date night so not much got done yesterday.

[Can't kech me]

we got the rack conversion in yesterday! plan on going to talk to a local tuner after school and seein if he will flash my pcm, and goin to the shop afterwards to install this rack hopefully!

[Can't kech me]

Talked to a tuner in town, Bluethunder2 Racing, and he's going to be doing my PCM work when i get ready, and when it comes time to get a real tune, it'll already be $100 off because he already will have the credits.

Started mounting the rack tonight, got the bracket installed, but ran into a few issues that i'll let dad elaborate more on. The biggest thing is that i need an older set of LCA's, older than 72, because the bushings are smaller and the rack will actually fit. my dad has been taking a lot of pics of the install, so when it's done i think he's going to post em.

Also started on engine mounts, should have those done soon too, then it's on to tranny mounts. i want to fire this thing so bad!

[Can't kech me]

got the engine and transmission mounted finally!








going to get my pcm done soon and fire this thing! will have a vid for yall soon

[aggie91]

Korbin had done a great job with his welding. Good strong welds. If he makes a bad one, we go back and fix it, only had to do 2 or 3...

Here are some pics of the rack install. We got the rack from Brothers, but it is a No Limit kit. The only thing the instuctions do not cover is where to drill
the frame for the bearing support. It covers the 63-72 trucks real well, but the frame on an 82 is different in the holes for the motor mounts. Pictures:
Marked the center

Korbin drilling holes

The only issues with mounting the bracket where the control arm U-bolts hits the bracket and at the lower hole on the DS

On the inside of the CM, this flange is in the way of the bolt/nut. We will cut clearence for a nut and socket when we take it apart for sandblasting.

Here are some more showing the interference with the control arm bushing. These are REALLY bigger than the 63-72 style arms. I have a set from
my 65 that we can use to finish the mock up.



Here is another of the start of a motor mounts with the engine in place...


That's all the pics we took at this time. The cab is back off and the engine and trans are mounted in the frame. We are going to work on the core support for the radiator and trans cooler, them back to the cab to finish the floor and firewall.

[JRANGER]

looking good

[made2drag]

good progress

[aggie91]

Got a little done this weekend. Korbin welded up holes in the cab and I worked on getting a couple of broken bolts out of the heads. Bought a new set of bolt extractors, first one worked real well got the bolt out on first try, then it went downhill from there....

The broken bolt was stuck on the extractor, so while tring to get it off I broke the extractor. Crap! I decided to use the next size up on the other bolt, started to turn the bolt (it moved a little) then I turned a little more and SNAP, the extractor broke off in the bolt still stuck in the head. I messed with it some more and poddibly did more damage then good so we called it a day and went home. Next opportunity will be Wednesday at the earliest. We are going to concentrate on the cab for now to get the floor done and the seats mounted...

[bkilgore46]

Hey Karl

This Bobby K. I lost track of you. Give me a call. (903)736-6182. I quit getting notices from this thread. I guess it had been too long since I was logged in. Had to reset my password.

[aggie91]

Bobby - just saw your post, Ill call you this week.

We made some progress this weekend. Korbin fab'd up some mounts for the radiator. We are using the one from the wrecked GMC we had. The tanks line up with the factory '82 mounts at the bottom of the core support, but did not have a place to mount the top. So he made this:

The radiator is in about the same location as it would be for the factory truck, so we are going to try factory hoses first and see what it looks like.

I worked on the floor. Korbin did a lot of the spot welding with the mig, passenger side is nearly done and the driver's side has the inner rocker replaced and the rusted areas cut out. I started the rear part of the floor and this is where we got:

We won't get back on to it till Wednesday at the earliest so I hope to get the floor done enough to set it back on the frame and do the trans hump and center of the rear floor and mock up the seats by this weekend. If we do, then its tear down time for the frame and suspension to send to the blaster.

[aggie91]

Quick post...we are trying to head to the Good Guys show at TWS.

We are now offically members of the Porterbuilt club. Are parts came in yesterday here is a sneak peek:

[gringoloco]

Cool build, guys! If you're still having trouble getting the bolts out of the aluminum heads, try plug welding through the middle of a steel hex nut to the broken bolt. The weld won't stick to the head, you'll have a nut to grab and turn, and the heat helps break it loose...
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[aggie91]

Went to the Good Guys show at TWS yesterday. Good show, but the weather I think sent some home early. Korbin got a good deal on a trans cooler and we had a good time for the day. Korbin's brother Owen saw a few style he likes, he is 11 and ready to get a truck to work on. Maybe in 3 or so more years we will do the same with him.

Anyway, Here are some more pictures of the Porterbuilt Forward Arms we just got in for this project:



Last week I got some more done on the floors:


Got the center jumpseat/console in to see if the trans hump is going to clear with the new flat floor...looks like it will.


More later.....

[76stepside01]

Is your new floor going to clear the frame? we had to notch mine. Looks good, love the porterbuilt stuff

[Can't kech me]

yes we will have to notch it.

[aggie91]

Made it to the shop last night for a short time. We got the seats mocked up in the cab and thru in the steering column. We like where the seats are in relation to the pedals, but the steering wheel is to close. Looks like we are going to modify the steering column or how it is mounted to get more room.

Here are some pictures:

[burb1085]

Man that trucks coming along nicely! Nice build.

[Can't kech me]

Also got an fbody oil pan that wont hang below the frame, mocked up the tranny tunnel with cardboard lastnight also.

[aggie91]

Well the truck is all apart ready to go to the blaster. We have it broken down and in a bunch of pieces.

The oil pan is actually from an LSA engine and is a little different from a F-Body pan. It is 6.75" deep and should work fine for this set up. We will try to put up some pictures tonight....

[aggie91]

here are some pictures..



Parts ready to go to the blaster...

[aggie91]

Got the parts back from the blaster. He did an OK job, they use steel blasting grit instead of sand. It is not a clean as I hoped but it is way better then what I could have done for the money he charged. The frame rails and the bed floor were the worst parts and they still show "stains" where the worst rust was. The surface was really rough from the grit used, so Korbin started on the outside of the frame rails with a DA and 80 grit paper. The parts feel good after that. He is going to start putting on the KBS Frame Coater paint today. For the bed floor, We will put a coat of Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator paint on, then top coat with primer and paint. Should look good when we are done...

Korbin working on the rails:

Here are the rest of the parts:


We have a goal of having the chassis rolling with a cab(no paint) by November 30th, to take to Turkey Drag, wish us luck...

[moregrip]

Awesome build brother, thanks again for the link! subscribed!

Love the fact you're using late model engine trans, interior pieces, etc!

[Moostifer]

Kobin/Karl,

man that truck is coming along great! Korbin, I have welders here at work that cant weld half as good as you!

just throwing an idea out there that you may not have considered yet... notching the trans xmember for exhaust clearance. this is what i did to mine.






guess you wont be dragging it out to TurkeyDrag with most of it going to the blasters?


.

[aggie91]

Thanks, guys!

The trans crossmember did not turn out the way I wanted....I agree that we will need to do something about it for the exhaust. I like yours, but I might do a complete ring/box where the pipe will pass thru.

I talked to the blaster today, we might have it all back by the end of this week. That means we have Thanksgiving break to put it together enough to get it rolling. We will see if it can make turkey drag...we will come over on Saturday even if it is not done...