My new build thread: Stage 4!

[swyfor5]

Oh man, got a fever, the K5 fever! Just ordered up 2 weld on shackle mounts for the rear bumper and 4 HD d rings for the front and rear bumpers! When they arrive I will have almost everything I need to have my rear bumper/tire carrier fabbed up. Oh, except maybe some cash to get it all done at once! Gotta talk to my bud about ordering up the tubing I need to weld up the spare tire carrier this weekend! Will post up some parts pic's when the stuff arrives!

[swyfor5]

Waiting on AtoZ parts to arrive. Looked through my parts pile and found a real nice stock battery tray I picked up somewhere off ebay. It will clean up nice with a little sandblasting and fresh paint. Just need to find a stock auxilary battery tray for the winch battery. Got the new core support, so want it to look right and clean! I am going with optima or the like batteries, so am also looking at custom holddown brackets for the stock trays with that type of battery? Anybody got any pic's of red tops or the like bolted in?

[coggonobrien]

Originally Posted by swyfor5

Waiting on AtoZ parts to arrive. Looked through my parts pile and found a real nice stock battery tray I picked up somewhere off ebay. It will clean up nice with a little sandblasting and fresh paint. Just need to find a stock auxilary battery tray for the winch battery. Got the new core support, so want it to look right and clean! I am going with optima or the like batteries, so am also looking at custom holddown brackets for the stock trays with that type of battery? Anybody got any pic's of red tops or the like bolted in?

my red top bolted right in with stock hardware and held tight.

David

[RossRinSD]

Hey, is it really necessary to run a battery isolator with dual batteries? I've been told that they discharge each other??

Have you considered dual alternators, too? Is there a kit to do something like that?

[coggonobrien]

Originally Posted by RossRinSD

Hey, is it really necessary to run a battery isolator with dual batteries? I've been told that they discharge each other??

Have you considered dual alternators, too? Is there a kit to do something like that?

NO You don't, tractors never have

[swyfor5]

Been saving this tip from Burt4x4, and am going this way when funds allow! Website is hellroaring.com Definitely going with that setup! Simple, but a little pricey, oh well! Actually went wheeling with the S10 today, down some trails I have'nt been down in about 25 years! FUN, FUN FUN! Weekend off for a change, must take the wife for a ride out there! Still waiting on AtoZ delivery of parts!

[swyfor5]

Got the grass seed today, just waiting on the guy to drop the topsoil! A couple more days and the backfill will be done! Working on organizing all my tools so I can set up my shop.

[bigbadchev72]

Can you get some pics of the backside of your bumper? I am gonna be making my own take on something similar. Is it one pice of steel bent at the angles or was it all welded out of seperate pieces? What thickness is it?

The shop looks awesome! You are gonna wish you made it bigger by the time you start tearing your k5 apart. I swear these things grow 3 times there size when taken apart!

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by coggonobrien

my red top bolted right in with stock hardware and held tight.

David

X2, will get pics when I get home, course I havent had it upside down yet

[swyfor5]

Bbc72, Kennesaw front bumper I have-the Wincher. Winch box area is made of 1/4" steel, and has 3/16" formed wings on the outside corners. I still need to have the smaller front tubes redone to my liking. Kyle did ending up sending me the correct tubes, I just have to cut the ones off and weld on the new ones. Here's some pic's of the back of the wincher for ya!

[swyfor5]

Here's a few more!

[RossRinSD]

Thanks for the pics, I've studied there website pics since you posted the link. Those rear pics help a lot. I picked up 188lbs of 1/4 inch plate yesterday with the intention of building one very similer. I also used your other vendro AtoZ and ordered clevis mounts, and a couple of clevis, too.

[swyfor5]

Thinking of having my fab buddy box the outer edges of the bumper up on the inside, will make it stouter! Also some bracing supports around the winch box! Also gonna drill 2 holes in the top of it for my KC off road lights! Hope the pic's help, just don't buy one from Kennesaw mtn acc!

[swyfor5]

Got my first order in from AtoZ fab, the spindle/carrier spare tire mount kit, it is real beefy,am happy with it. Waiting on the next order, shackle mounts for the rear bumper fab up and etc! Got a boost from my Dad today, more funds from the Pontiac sales! Oh ya, I am on a roll now! Will post up some pic's of new parts asap!

[swyfor5]

Got the second order from AtoZ today. Gotta say, some nice stuff, just as listed on thier website. Quick shipping with USPS too, I like that! Looks like I may have to buy some more stuff from Zack! Will post up some pic's tommorrow night.

[swyfor5]

Really looking at the Painless wiring harnesses. Anybody installed the Painless 18 circuit GM truck wiring harness on a first gen K5 lately? It looks like a perfect fit for my project and real simple to install too. Kinda pricey, but really don't want to rely on the old wiring to power my resto. Could buy and install replacement original type wiring setups, but Painless looks like the way to upgrade. Any feedback?

[swyfor5]

Oh Man, can't stop now, just ordered up a 2" weld on recevier tube for the rear bumper fab! Might as well weld up a custom trailer hitch at the same time! Also from AtoZ!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by swyfor5

Really looking at the Painless wiring harnesses. Anybody installed the Painless 18 circuit GM truck wiring harness on a first gen K5 lately? It looks like a perfect fit for my project and real simple to install too. Kinda pricey, but really don't want to rely on the old wiring to power my resto. Could buy and install replacement original type wiring setups, but Painless looks like the way to upgrade. Any feedback?

I had (sold it because I needed the money) an american autowire harness that looked very similar to painless and had same markings every few inches or so on the wires...and was a lot cheaper than the painless one...the universal kits are even cheaper but will take a little more time to install....

[swyfor5]

Thank's VA! I will look into that. I have been hauling black topsoil for two days trying to finish off the backfill on the barn. 1 more night and I'll have it ready to seed! Looking real good, gotta get the seed started before it really freezes here good. Should be done by saturday!

[swyfor5]

Oh man, black dirt is down! Seed this weekend and done! Waiting on reciever for rear bumper and should be set for the fab up this fall! Work sure gets in the way of everything!

[bigbadchev72]

I have installed 3 different wiring harnesses in my trucks so far. A painless, ez wire, and a summit brand one.

I personally think the painless is overpriced and the only thing you gain is the firewall bulkhead is 3 piece like the factory one. I really like the EZ wire one I installed in the 67, it is like the Summit one and does not have a bulkhead connector and gives a cleaner install. I filled in the factory hole for the fuseblock and then drilled a 1" hole in its place with a bushing for all the engine compartment wires to pass through.

The bad thing is if I wanted to pull the front clip, you would have to unplug all the connectors. I dont really like the summit one since I got the one with the mini fuses and the diagram of what fuses are where is on the lid, a real pain when I accidently mis-placed it.

All of them have labeling on the wires every foot, and were pretty much identical other than the fuseblock unbolting on the painless.

All were made with quality wire.
Dont think that the painless is a plug and play like I originally thought. It is just like the other 3 brands I installed, they leave all the wires long and all have to be trimmed down to fit exact. All light sockets have to be installed, I think all that comes with them is the headlight pigtails and the headlight switch pigtail. All the ignition, gauges, heater, side marker, turn signal, tailight sockets and other misc connectors off the original harness have to be used.


Just dont throw out your factory harness until you have 100% installed your new one, you have to re-use the heater wiring, wipers and some misc. I soldered all connections and heat-shrinked them. If I were to install another on I would go with the EZwire as it is a little under $200 vs the $500 for a painless.


http://www.ezwiring.com/wiring_harness.html

[swyfor5]

Thank's bbc! That wiring info helps.

[swyfor5]

8 lbs of grass seed and 2 bales of straw later- it's done! 3 days of hauling topsoil, and etc., Just running the sprinkler now to water it down! YAAAA! Pole barn is good to go for the winter! Moved the silk fence from the river side to the top just to keep my 2 German shepards off the seed till it get it stabilized. Can't wait till it starts sprouting up, hopefully before it really freezes here! I will try to post some pic's up tommorow after work and the Lions game!

[swyfor5]

Too busy watching football and buying stuff today after work. Back on 10 hour days tommorrow, oh boy! Parts pile is getting bigger everyday!

[swyfor5]

Got the weld in reciever today! Looks good. Just need to have my friend John order up the steel to put it all together. He should be getting laid off for the winter soon and be back in his shop wrenching!