85 GMC Sierra Classic 1 Ton Crew Cab

[1985-GMC]

Do a big 5" side pipe down the side like that picture someone posted.

[Mattman2010]

NO!
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[Mattman2010]

Well have not been able to mess with the truck that much as I have wanted, but for good reasons. All I got done today was the fitting for the fuel outlet on the tank. I put it on the drivers side and put it at the rear end of the sump.



Hose end fitting screwed on.


Hopefully I can get some more time soon so I can get the two returns welded into the top of the tank and weld the top onto the tank and pressure test it.

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking good buddy!

[Mattman2010]

Worked on the fuel tank some more today. Its getting really close.

Got my drain welded in the bottom.


Got the two return line fittings in and also the auxiliary tank fitting as well.

[bohmankid]

Nice job on the tank man. Pretty ambitious building your own. I wouldn't trust myself

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by bohmankid

Nice job on the tank man. Pretty ambitious building your own. I wouldn't trust myself

Yeah I was not planning on making a custom fuel tank but after looking at all the options I could find for my truck making a custom tank was by far cheaper than getting one made and I have enough confidence in my abilities to try to tackle it. So far it is looking exactly as I designed it and its coming along pretty easy. But I am glad I decided to because I think it's nice to know how to make a tank.
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[Mattman2010]

Got the tank all welded up and got it pressure tested. Did some more work on the tank straps and wanted to make sure everything fit good so I stuck the tank in the truck.







Looks like everything fits just the way that I wanted it to. Going to start working on the filler neck some time soon and get the brake lines made and I should be able to start tearing the truck back down so I can finish up some welding and start spraying some paint.

[Mattman2010]

Well I started relocating my rear shocks but I am not sure exactly where I should mount them. I have two places that I think will work best, but not sure which is better.

I first started making them mount here. It will clear everything with new top mounts.




But after making the lower bracket for mounting there I decided to look at mounting them back inside the frame.

Now on this setup the top bolt would be turned to match the bottom one.

One reason why I like them behind the axle and on the outside of the frame is that it will allow for me to have more room to make an anti-wrap bar.

[Mattman2010]

Got the shocks for the rear mounted.





Next is to work on getting the proportioning valve mounted and getting the brake lines made for the frame. Then I should be about ready to tear it apart and finish a lot of welding and paint the frame.

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking good Matt!

[Mattman2010]

Started on the brake lines yesterday.

Rear



Front passenger side.


Need to buy some extended lines so that I can figure out where I want my front brake lines to hook up. Once this is done its tear down time.

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking nice buddy!

[Mattman2010]

Got my extended brake lines and also started making the mounts for the front and rear lines. Having trouble getting my flares to even look right so I cant finish up the brake lines just yet.

Brake lines


Front brake line mount


Rear brake line mount.


Also started looking at ideas for my safety chains on the gooseneck hitch.

[Mattman2010]

Got my gooseneck safty chain hooks up started. Just need to gusset them and finish welding.



Also started tearing the frame down again so that i can finish up some welding and then start prepping the frame for paint.

Motor and tranny out


Started finishing some welding and also started welding all the factory holes in the frame up.

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking good buddy! About time you got it in the correct section.

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Looking good buddy! About time you got it in the correct section.

Thanks bud. Yeah yeah I know

Well the past two days I have spent probably about 16 hours in the shop. Trying to get the frame painted soon so that I can make it a roller again because its getting warmer outside and if you have noticed there is a pontoon boat stuffed behind my truck and I am sure my uncle is going to want to get it out at some point.

First I rolled the frame on the side so that welding all of the holes in the frame would be easier and to also finish some welding in hard to get parts that I was not comfortable welding upside down.


A whole bunch of holes I was welding up.


Some of the holes were really big so I made a couple plugs to make welding them easier.


After I got all the holes welded and ground down I flipped it over and did the same to the holes on the bottom and also finished some more welds.


When I boxed the frame I had places in the frame that where not even with the top of the frame and there were some big holes left. (Pics are of opposite sides because i forgot to take before and after pics of both sides)


And here it is with a plate welded in.


I then needed to build some braces for the poor man shackle flip that I did. Started out with a piece of steel c-clamped to the back of the bracket so that I could use the bracket to act as an outline for my cutting torch and grinder.


I then drilled the holes and created some gussets.


All I have left to do on the bottom end is grind down some welds, cut the receiver tube for the goose neck hitch down some and then I should be able to flip the frame on its other side and weld on the holes on that side.

[ryanroo]

Nice!

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking good man! Next time before you box your frame, patch the holes so it's easier to weld from the out side. Tired of welding yet?

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

Nice!

Thanks man!

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Looking good man! Next time before you box your frame, patch the holes so it's easier to weld from the out side. Tired of welding yet?

Yeah I wish I would have patched the holes before but this is the first one, didnt think about it at the time. Im not tired of welding but the holes are annoying. I dont understand what 90% of them where even for.

[Dieselwrencher]

I've got a funny feeling GM didn't know either!

[Mattman2010]

Haha I'm starting to believe that too. But then again there were fuel line holders, wiring harness holders and brake line holders, exhaust hangers, fuel tanks, and parking brake brackets. Which all of those are gone now.
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[Mattman2010]

I got an iPhone 5 today and decided to try its panorama view today down at the shop. Kinda thought the pic was cool.



I got all of the holes welded up on the bottom and also cut the receiver hitch for the gooseneck down, and the safety chain mounts gusseted and also finished work on my engine cross member mounts.







I also hate the lower mounts on the rear shocks that I have and after looking at some things I like the idea of outboarding the shocks. And I know this truck will not be articulating a lot and I saw a lot of shock mounts are just sticking straight out on most of the newer vehicles. So I started looking into this setup.

[ryanroo]

you know, that shock location will work well with bags...

[Mattman2010]

Sweet, well let me get it running and then I'll drop it off at your house to let you bag it.
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