My suburban's Twisted Little Sister

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Good progress with getting the cross bracing out. You guys sure stay at it consistently. I have this week and my knees are pretty sore.

Thanks A.D. We were getting kinda tired of climbing over the bracing so its nice to get them out. I think a little pain is the price we all pay for our trucks.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Always a good feeling when making progress in the right direction. Mad skillz you have.

Thanks Bomp

Originally Posted by lower50's

Nice the rear body is standing by itself When you get there if you want a small seat look for one from a Jeep. My CJ rear seat is small 2 adults= real cozy.

Thanks for the idea Lowers I'll check a Jeep next chance I get. Seats are a ways off but it won't hurt to look.

Originally Posted by Jferrante

Great work! - Builds like these have motivated me to learn how to weld and fabricate, need to start somewhere. Keep up the great work.

Thanks J Remember good welding takes practice and patience .


In the last couple of days we got the sheetmetal for the corners behind the rear wheel tubs fabricated and mostly welded in

[65sub]

I got the prototype door hinge version 2.0 assembled today. This one is smaller and tipped slightly to align the pivot points. I also made a matching nut plate that will be welded into the center roof

[65sub]

Monday and Tuesday we built some mounts and links for the rear sway bar. For the mounts we modified the originals. To mount the links we used the original transverse leaf spring mount and made brackets to hold the bushings. Then we made the links with threaded rod and some 1/8 by 1 steel.

[65sub]

I have been looking for a gas tank to fit in the back of the truck but didn't find any that filled the available space. So today we started to make one to fit. The space for the tank is 38" X 15 X 10. We started with a sheet of stainless and bent a large box 37" X 14.5" X 9". Put a few beads in it to stiffen it a bit. Then we made two baffles and two end panels. Tomorrow we will hopefully start welding.

[lower50's]

That will be a nice tank. What gauge stainless did you use?

[AJCK87]

Nice work! Coming along great

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Looks like you're having lots of fun! I'm curious to see how you close up the end panels.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by lower50's

That will be a nice tank. What gauge stainless did you use?

Thanks Lowers. We're using 18 gauge stainless. Working with it is tough enough I wouldn't want any thing thicker.

Originally Posted by AJCK87

Nice work! Coming along great

Thanks AJ We getting there a bit at a time.

Originally Posted by Johnny_Lamebridge

Looks like you're having lots of fun! I'm curious to see how you close up the end panels.

Hi John Any day in the shop is a good day. The end panels will just be butt welded all around the edge.


Today we got the baffles tacked in and part of the seam welded

[IWanna49]

Love it! Don't have it, can't find it, MAKE it!!!

[62stepside longbox]

Very nice work. Love to see awesome fabrication like this. What some see as just metal others see as an art.

[lower50's]

Nice detail on the tank. I used 16ga for my stainless tank but had it bent up for me. How many liter will the tank be?

[winslowgoodwin]

very nice work!

[Bomp]

Dropped in, got caught up to date.

Yup, Blown away

Always get excited when I see your thread at the top.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by IWanna49

Love it! Don't have it, can't find it, MAKE it!!!

Thanks Greg. Nothing on this truck just fits so everything we do takes so cutting and welding.

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Very nice work. Love to see awesome fabrication like this. What some see as just metal others see as an art.

Thanks Nik. I don't know if it's art but it sure is fun to build.

Originally Posted by lower50's

Nice detail on the tank. I used 16ga for my stainless tank but had it bent up for me. How many liter will the tank be?

Thanks Lowers. My tank is 76.5 litres or for our US friends about 20 gallons

Originally Posted by winslowgoodwin

very nice work!

Thanks Winslow

Originally Posted by Bomp

Dropped in, got caught up to date.

Yup, Blown away

Always get excited when I see your thread at the top.

Glad you got caught up I'm just trying to inspire you to go out and do some welding on Steiner so we can all get a update


We got a bit more done on the tank. We welded in the end panels. Then we used a hole saw to cut three holes in the top. 1 for the filler neck, 1 for the sending unit and one for the in tank fuel pump. Then we drilled the mounting holes and tacked the split rings inside the tank.

[Advanced Design]

Nice work on the tank!

[Bomp]

Diggin' that custom tank and all the other things you take on.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice work on the tank!

Thanks Doug.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Diggin' that custom tank and all the other things you take on.

Thanks Greg



Today we got all the pieces ready to go in the tank. Fuel pump, filler with cap and the sending unit. Then we made the first panel of the floor above the fuel tank.

[62stepside longbox]

lookin good

[65sub]

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

lookin good

Thanks Nik


We did a test fit of the gas tank today. After some trimming of the sway bar bracket it's tight but it fits. We pulled the tank back out and spot welded the panel above the front of the tank. The straps that will hold the tank in will mount to this panel. We also spot welded one of the side panels on.

[piratexpress1369a]

just read your build .. rhis is AWESOME ...i would love to see this up close and trhe speed you are building this blows my mine ....

[Advanced Design]

That tank fits like it was made for that space...oh wait, it was. Great work 65!

Did you make the panel that goes to the front (toward vehicle front) of the tank?

[65sub]

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

just read your build .. rhis is AWESOME ...i would love to see this up close and trhe speed you are building this blows my mine ....

Thanks Pirate. If you're ever in the area let me know and maybe we can get together.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

That tank fits like it was made for that space...oh wait, it was. Great work 65!

Did you make the panel that goes to the front (toward vehicle front) of the tank?

Space is definitely at a premium at the back so making a tank was the best option.
We did make that panel. We just ran a bead around it to stiffen it a bit


We started today making the panels that are beside the back of the tank. Then we spot welded them in. Next made the panel that goes above the gas tank. This panel will go in after the back panel. The last picture is one of the back panels

[62stepside longbox]

Lookin good Dale

[lower50's]

I love the panels you made. Looks like you bought them Will the filler be outside above the bumper?

[65sub]

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Lookin good Dale

Thanks Nik

Originally Posted by lower50's

I love the panels you made. Looks like you bought them Will the filler be outside above the bumper?

Thanks Lower. These panels will never be seen but it's good practice making them. Yes the filler will be above the bumper behind the licence plate.


We worked on the rear sheetmetal some more today. We clamped the rear panels in place. Then we trimmed the floor panel and made some spacer blocks out of plastic. We screwed the spacers to the bottom of the floor panel and then clamped the floor in place.