my build thread

[coulter]

thats good news man!!! looking forward to seeing some new updates

[Ta2Don]

Scoring a short wide bed!!!

[sams60gmc]

set the bed on there today so i can start planning mounts... waited a long time to see this...
Ran into a problem with the axle width tho...The tires rub at the body line after I trimmed all the inner bed away... Not sure what to do...

[sams60gmc]

well ive decided for a new rebuild... i decided i wont be happy until i build a whole new tube frame. I want something completely custom and to get rid of the factory crossmember. I want to do new tube lowers to match my uppers and maybe be able to move my rack to be able to set my motor a bit further. Also going with 3/16 wall tube this time to make things a littler more heavy duty because I want to have the option to tow a trailer. It will still have the 2'' body drop and 3'' Z built in. Maybe a bigger notch in the back for the option to go lower over bigger wheels.

[sams60gmc]

Starting on the front crossmember. It's built out of 1.5 1/4 wall dom. I'll finish this then build a frame around it.

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks cool!

[sams60gmc]

Got some time to work on this thing today. I've got a set of mock up rails done that I'll build my whole front suspension and steering off of. Machined my cross shafts today and got some of the crossmember tacked up.

[creep]

Good to see some work on that thing. Serious skills, man.

[sams60gmc]

got the crossmember all welded up yesterday and stuck it in the mill to make sure everything was flat... it moves the suspension mounting points up about 3'' and the lower arms in about an inch per side. now ill start working on the upper mounts and lower arms.

[sams60gmc]

one more

[coulter]

wow i cant believe nobody replyed to that!!! killer work man!! i really wanted to try that but i dont think my fabs skills are quite on that level yet. Sick work man keep it up

[sams60gmc]

Thank you man, it was actually pretty simple, just a few fancy tools and a ton of measuring...
got some more work done, on to lower arms now.

[laynrockers]

Just read through the whole build, Great job. You definitely got skills brotha!!

[Bomp]

You definitely changed direction to a Seriously Intense build. Dig it!

[Jmorales3181]

Nice work!

[sams60gmc]

Thats what its all about BOMP!! thanks!

[sams60gmc]

fairly un productive weekend, not mych to report, just been working with scale drawings of the front suspension trying to figure out control arm lengths to end up with the best caster camber throught the suspension travel. Also did a quick scale sketch of my current frame, ill make another drawing on top of it with revisions to make sure everything will work...

[Bomp]

What size of tubing stock are you going to use on the a-arms?
You have got my full attention. I totally dig what you're doing!

[sams60gmc]

thanks bomp. the uppers i made a few years ago out of 1 1/4, 1/4 wall, if i need to re do those again they will be 3/16 wall. the lowers are going to be made out of 1 1/4 1/4 wall most likely, as i already have a bit of it around left over from my uppers...
hopefully this week i can get around t turning my ball joint cups so I can start them..but I may have to put them off for another week,
I recently built a cage for a friends RZR in trade for a 55 6? plymouth plaza. the car is pretty neat, all factory trim and hub caps and a factory V8 wich I read is pretty rare, so ill hopefully get that this week, planning on just getting it running and throwing new tires on it and cruising it daily.
Here are some pics, it was the first cage ive ever built, turned out nice i think, and i even tigged most of it.

[sams60gmc]

well i finally did a final revision of the backhalf to my frame and picked up steel today... cant wait to knock it out this weekend... also been spit shinin the Plymouth a little since getting it towed home

[Bomp]

Woooo Hooooo another addition to the collection!!!!

Totally dig the mapped out plan for the back half.

[Jeff La]

Man you guys have some really great brains to lay out all this and the patience to boot. Along for the ride.

[sams60gmc]

Well i cut some tubing and threw these together last night and today. Turned out nice. I drilled them and plug welded internal fish plates to keep them nice and smooth. Fully welded them with the 251 Miller, then went back in and Tigged any small areas affected by the heat and smoothed them out. One rail is done completely, ground with 36-120 and then with a surface conditioning disc

[TJ's Chevy]

Me thinks were gonna have ta start callin ya Mister Tube! LOL! Nice work so far!!! Looks forward to watching this build go! Hope all goes well! T.J.

[sams60gmc]

Got the rear rails done and smoothed out, still contemplating building a frame table, but I know ill build more trucks on it so i guess i will start on one...
worked on a lower control arm jig today, still waiting on DOM for those to come into stock...

also threw together some threaded link ends. Building a wishbone 4 link with a bridge over the pumpkin...
enough talk. on to the pics...