Big Bertha Build thread x2

[duallyjams]

Now this is a truck build WOW

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by Wheelie

I showed my wife this and she gave the thumbs up to allow me to build one similar only AFTER I finish the one in the garage first Your truck is just freakin awesome.

If yiou need any pointer I'll be glad to help you out. This was not an easy build.......

[98layinframe]

Wheres the rest of the build pics!?!? Suspense is killing me! Haha
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[buggy5872]

Been working on getting the bed painted to be ready for World of wheels show.......No time to play on the computer....

[OrrieG]

Did you loose all the bed mod pics? Man, I hope not, that was a good how to series.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Did you loose all the bed mod pics? Man, I hope not, that was a good how to series.

I still have all the pictures on my computer so they will make it back in the thread

[buggy5872]

By now it is mid April and I spent the next 2 weeks hooking up wiring, brakes, and steering. The moment of truth was here...turn the key and....it fired right up. I was relieved it was running and moving under its own power. Seeing as I was not going to make it to be able to pick up the camper in time, I borrowed a friends dually and got it home. Now that the camper was at my house, I could figure out the fifth wheel hitch. They do not exactly make a standard bolt on hitch for something like this. I figured it out and test fit it to the trailer.




I had reserved several camping spots through the end of summer and our first one was Memorial Day weekend. Three weeks to go and I was starting to get nervous.

[Russell Ashley]

There's plenty of great builds on this forum but I think this is the most impressive one. I love this truck.

[spinned]

All I can say is... Wow!

[R.A.D]

awsome!!! something that makes you want to see more

[paulspickupparts]

You can ignore my pm as I found your build. Well Done!

[buggy5872]

My progress slowed down since I am not under the gun to get it functional. I worked for months till 1 am every night and then back up at 5am to go to work. I would not suggest anyone tortre them selves like this. Anyhow....back to the progress. I had to make the running boards from scratch since the old ones were trashed and about four feet too short. Luck I have a friend that had a fabrication shop and we were able to bend up some that look pretty stock. The fender extension piece was very difficult to make. It bends in curves in 5 different directions and is only about 10" long. I had to completely hand form them with some clamps, various diameter rods for bending around and at one point bending them over my thigh to get the right shape. They turned out nice though.

[buggy5872]

We took a 10 day trip to Ocean City MD the last 2 weeks. My goal before going was to get the gauges figured out, ac working, and a stereo system. At some point someone hacked into the wiring harness and made some adjustments to the wiring. Not sure why but there were 6 wires soldered together just before the fuse box. Power was not getting to where it should and some were getting power all the time. Once I had that all sorted out, All kinds of things worked that did not before. It even cured my AC problem. I spent 4 days working on getting the stereo in. amps , subs, speakers, tweeters and about 200 feet of wire. Lucky I stuffed most of it in under the carpet before. It sounds fantastic. Sorry no pics. Tonight I worked on the power windows. I bought a switch kit that had 8 switches and about 50 wires. It also came with some wiring diagrams that looked like an 8 year old made. I figured it out and tomorrow night I will get all the switches mounted and wiring tucked away neatly. All that's left on the inside are door panels and console. I will get some pics posted once I get it all buttoned

[buggy5872]

last thing will be the bed. I already started on it and have about 50% of the fab work done. I took a 58 fleetside bed and molded stretched stepside fenders into it. The sides were too high so I cut them down to the factory seam just above the rocket on the sides. Here is how far I am with it now.



the drivers side is not quite as far along but it wont take long to finish it. That is where I am at this point and will update this as I progress along. I am hoping to have the bed done and on by mid September but we will see. I have 3 more camping trips before then.

As soon as this one is done, I can get back on my NAPCO that got put on hold until this gets done.



I will do a build thread on it when I start back on it. I do not have a lot of pics of it in progress to this point but will take more as I go. The wife also said something about wanting a Task force Burb so my projects will never end but I am running out of room!!!! Hopefully the kids will be big enough soon to help rather than slow me down. They are fun to have in the garage helping though

[arturo7]

COE and a Napco?

Some guys have all the fun...

Keep the pics comin'!

[98layinframe]

Love the quality of the sheet metal work! Im assuming you didnt have to alter the wheel base of the truck at all?
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[buggy5872]

I got lucky on the wheel base and was able to leave it as it was.

[R.A.D]

this great i love the progress

[buggy5872]

Worked on the bed this weekend. Most of the fab work is done at this point. Need to put it on the truck to figure out a couple more things. Still have two more camping trips so its tough to find time to put the bed on and take it back off in between trips.

[buggy5872]

Fit the bed to the truck. Everything lined up pretty good. Now to do the body work.



I have to adjust the running board on the passenger side of the truck to line up better.

[buggy5872]

Shot the first coat of primer on the bed. Needed to get it back together so I could use the truck to run up to NY to help some friends move their campers to a new campground.

[buggy5872]

Here is what I picked up in NY. My new daily driver.....

[R.A.D]

Looking good
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[6BT 56]

You truely are an excellent fabricator . Your fit and finish are beyond excellent .

Cant wait to see your napco .

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

You truely are an excellent fabricator . Your fit and finish are beyond excellent .

Cant wait to see your napco .

Thanks....