83/84 swb stepside long time build

[rip2174]

Got the transmission mount out the way today. Then aired it out and noticed it was leaning to the left . Got underneath and noticed this. They must have been out in the woods and hit a stump or something. Frame is rolled down about 3/4 in. I tried to bend it back with a C-clamp, no luck with that. Think I'll drill a hole in top and bottom rail and take a piece of all thread with a wide plate on top and small one on bottom and see if can't get to bend back.

[rip2174]

Pulled it out the garage and laid it down in the driveway t get a better look at it.
Also noticed the nose was higher than the rear.

[rip2174]

If I cut this part off even with the frame, will it effect the mount strength?
I don't think it will. Just want feedback if any have cut this.

[rip2174]

well the past weekend I tried to fix the problems in the photos. Boy did I get my butt kicked on time. I tried to C-lamp the frame issue. NOTHING. next tried to use a couple all threads and there is a heat shield in place effecting where I was trying to bend frame. So I decided to pull cab. BTW 1st for me alone W/O DAD or step-dad to help. I now see where they did an ass ton of up front work! All four cab bolts turned in the cab mount nuts. Was a sinking feeling knowing what was coming next. So I cut first hole in cab and had no success with holding nut while trying to remove bolt. Went to try and Sawzallz the cab bolt and no luck. Have to say it was two's try at 2 hours each and fail. I jammed chisels, punches and even washers to try and keep the nut from turning and nothing. Went to work on Tues and the guys said did you try tack the nut to cab? I went NO, DUH, not sure that will work, but going to try SAT morn. Going to try and get cab off this weekend and start cleaning frame for a paint job.

[jpnh]

gonna be nice/might take some heat to get that frame tweaked back where you want it.i like it. its gonna be low. good luck-jeff

[rip2174]

Thank you

[tinydb84]

Couple things:

Your welder should be strong enough to tack stuff. I would ever weld the steering notches in with it. You are welding uphill and both sides. (But if you don't feel comfortable by all means don't do it).

You can cut that part of the body mount off (I cut half mine off when I did my sfbd).

For the tweak in the frame I would cut relief cuts on each side along the bottom of the frame and use something to bend it up then weld the cuts back together.

For the body bolts, just cut the heads off of them. Once the cab is off you can heat them and use a pair of vice grips on them.

[rip2174]

gonna be nice/might take some heat to get that frame tweaked back where you want it.i like it. its gonna be low. good luck-jeff

Thank you

[rip2174]

Couple things:

Your welder should be strong enough to tack stuff. I would ever weld the steering notches in with it. You are welding uphill and both sides. (But if you don't feel comfortable by all means don't do it).

You can cut that part of the body mount off (I cut half mine off when I did my sfbd).

For the tweak in the frame I would cut relief cuts on each side along the bottom of the frame and use something to bend it up then weld the cuts back together.

For the body bolts, just cut the heads off of them. Once the cab is off you can heat them and use a pair of vice grips on them.

Thanks for the advice. I'll see what I can get done this weekend. But the wife and kids want to go to a show this weekend. "Rims on the River"

[rip2174]

Looking for some advice. Going to get the cab off this weekend and start cleaning up the frame for paint. Trying to keep cost down here for stuff later. Going to clean frame with grinder and sanding paper and a little sand blasting. Thinking of hitting frame with Eastwood's rust inhibator and then there chasis black for a top coat. Any used these products and any feedback would be cool?

[tinydb84]

I believe it is a moisture cured urethane like Por15. I used Por15 and was very meticulous with the prep and my frame looks great.

[aotte1]

Rip,

There are lots of different methods for painting/protecting your frame from corrosion. The discussions here are very detailed and a little heated from the many posts I have read. There are some strong beliefs held . Several factors will also effect your decision, use, level of appearance you are looking for, environment stored and driven in, and desired durability.
I use Rustoleum satin or gloss oil based paint. You can get the gloss in an industrial blend. " in my option ", what you use is a personal preference. Sure lots of different systems work and of course cost is a big factor, in which material you use, along with condition of your frame. I store my truck inside, and do not drive in winter weather.

Les

[rip2174]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm still fighting the cab bolts. They are kicking my butt. Going for round four this afternoon when I get back from the gym.

[rip2174]

Well I finally got the cab bolts off. Well at least the heads. LOL

[rip2174]

There sure is a lot of travel in this suspension.Just behind front cab mount.

[rip2174]

here she lay down with no cab. Still waiting on drop spindles.

[rip2174]

still working on driver side bent lower frame. Cut some reliefs and bent it back a little. Going to cut a long slot in a piece of flat stock and see if I can't get all of the bend out of the frame to get it to lay all the way down.

[rip2174]

Tomorrow having some friends over to cook out and help me put cab and other stuff out the garage in storage unit. Free up some space to start cleaning frame for paint. Love it. Almost done with all the greasy stuff. LOL wife is pissed about the greasy clothes.

[rip2174]

Ok. have a rear brake question. Really thinking about Willwood brakes all the way around. Not sure what size yet. But, when converting drums to Willwood discs. Does it widen the rear trac and by how much? Really wanting to install a set of deep dish 10 inch wheels. So was wondering if it is needed to narrow the rear end? Also my bed is a step-side. Thinking about staying at an 18 in wheel to help with overall height on the stepper.

[rip2174]

got home form work today and the new drop spindles were on the porch.

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by rip2174

Ok. have a rear brake question. Really thinking about Willwood brakes all the way around. Not sure what size yet. But, when converting drums to Willwood discs. Does it widen the rear trac and by how much? Really wanting to install a set of deep dish 10 inch wheels. So was wondering if it is needed to narrow the rear end? Also my bed is a step-side. Thinking about staying at an 18 in wheel to help with overall height on the stepper.

i was noticing you were looking for ideas on backspacing for 15x10 wheels on your stepside. i just went through that to get some on mine.but my application is different than yours.i have a static drop and my wheel doesnt have to drop inside the fender. you want to be able to drop yours inside the fender i take it. without rubbing on the inside lip of the fender(too little backspacing)or the bedside (too much backspacing). from the bedside to the inside lip of the rear fender on a stepside is a little over 14 inches. a 295/50/15 tire on a 15x10 rim is 12 inches wide so you have to center that 12 in between the 14 gives you an inch on either side of the tire not much room for error im thinking 4.5 backspacing but double /triple check. look around and see if you can find someone running the setup you want to run and ask.use the wheel you have on there now as a reference and take a couple measurements.(measure 2x cut once)-jeff

[rip2174]

Originally Posted by jpnh

i was noticing you were looking for ideas on backspacing for 15x10 wheels on your stepside. i just went through that to get some on mine.but my application is different than yours.i have a static drop and my wheel doesnt have to drop inside the fender. you want to be able to drop yours inside the fender i take it. without rubbing on the inside lip of the fender(too little backspacing)or the bedside (too much backspacing). from the bedside to the inside lip of the rear fender on a stepside is a little over 14 inches. a 295/50/15 tire on a 15x10 rim is 12 inches wide so you have to center that 12 in between the 14 gives you an inch on either side of the tire not much room for error im thinking 4.5 backspacing but double /triple check. look around and see if you can find someone running the setup you want to run and ask.use the wheel you have on there now as a reference and take a couple measurements.(measure 2x cut once)-jeff

Thank you for the input. I'm going to measure a few times and even thinking of making a jig to bolt to drums/ rotors to get the wheels right where I want them. My biggest concern is the bed wall. If I have to cut it to get what tire I want under there is fine. Was just trying to see what the widest any has stuffed under rear fender w/o cutting bed wall and tucked when layin out on 18 to 20 in wheels.

[tinydb84]

Looking good!

[rip2174]

Finally got the bends out of the lower frame under the cab. This helped it sit down better.

[rip2174]

Have to take it across town to a weld shop to get all the welds done. My stupid little welder won't even tack the front channels in where the rack and pinion goes. It handles sheet metal just fine. Must have power issues. Those are my little helpers. Almost ran over the littlest one when rolling frame up on trailer. LOL.