Br3w City's Project omgwtfbbq

[BR3W CITY]

By popular request, the GrillCraft tag was pullled off. Gotta agree, it does look better.

[BR3W CITY]

Before I get to the meat of this post, I wanna first give a quick thanks to Ryan Duke here on the forum. He contacted me about his LS swap, and ended up coming through in the clutch on a part of my rebuild. I've got video of his swap coming soon to my channel, but in the meantime check out some of his posts on his truck!


He knew of a local junkyard spot that just so happen to have a 4/5/6 out on the back 40. Turns out there was a 4/5/6 fleet small window, as well as a 'burb and a few other vintage scrap piles (video of that coming to the channel TOO, you should be sub'd by now...). Not much was good on the 4/5/6, except the chunk of back panel that I would need to do a patch job on mine...and good rear glass to boot. We cut the whole back off (it WAS NOT worth saving any other part, it was swiss cheese) and I took it home for $40.




My rear cabwall on the passenger side is pretty knackered if you hadn't seen it, here's a flat edge against it.



After much debate on the pull vs patch decision, getting this cab wall pushed us to the patch option. The old panels are just too creased to pull, so we started planning cuts to relieve stress on the metal. This let us return the nearby areas to a more neutral position. We removed a strategic section of the wall (YES there will be challenges, but we have a plan for most of them).

[BR3W CITY]

Paid a visit to another local member to help get his swap up n going. Take an introductory look at Ryan's build!

You Tube

[BR3W CITY]

Another update.
Used a jack and some wood to prop the fuel cell in a rough area where I wanted it. I could move it around as needed while I took measurements. After that, I started laying out some 1/2" square tube for the skeleton.




I tac'd those into place and used the jack again to align the whole thing. I made some tabs for mounting, since I wanted the assembly to be removable and potentially allow for a different cell (alternate fuel possibly?) to be put in on 4 bolts. I also wanted my cell to sit as a certain height, and to naturally counter the rake of the truck.



I gusset the back side with the longer arms, and the whole thing could be set back into place. Then I drilled and tapped the tabs into the frame. The assembly has 4 bolts threaded right into the frame on 3/8-24 fine thread grade 8 hardware.


I also reused my old top strap with a few different bends in it. It hooks to the longitudinal strut I added (where the battery tray will start ...in the next paragrash ) and uses another 3/8 bolt, locking the fuel cell in place should gravity fail, or should I be upside down.


And after a bunch of grinding and some blending, I hit it with a few coats of prime and satin black.



At the same time as all this ^^^^, I was working on the battery tray also. Its a triangular skeleton with a flat stock floor plate welded into it for the hard mounting on the battery box.




I think its strong enough for me, so the battery should be ok.



I had to make a few small trims to the battery box plastic shell, mod the hardware, and narrow the battery hold down (was designed for larger battery than I run). The box and bracket dropped right in and sat firmly and squarely (triangularly? lol) on the base.

[BR3W CITY]

Awwww yeaa. Ryan located a cab for me, so we went to hack the good part off

You Tube

[Ryan Duke]

Whos that awesome Ryan guy in the vids? I like the progress, sometimes we all need alittle push from a complete stranger to get you jump started! It's all looking very good tho. If your ever in need of some help just let me know.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by Ryan Duke

Whos that awesome Ryan guy in the vids? I like the progress, sometimes we all need alittle push from a complete stranger to get you jump started! It's all looking very good tho. If your ever in need of some help just let me know.

Truck community for the win. Your help has been huge so far man, only hope that Dan, myself (and any of the other guys I keep around) can offer the same help getting your stuff on the road too.

btw I have your radio keys to return. They didn't fit the deck

[BR3W CITY]

Finally got the video part done for the initial frame rebuild!

You Tube

[BR3W CITY]

Happy Memorial Day. Learn a damn Trade for America.

You Tube

[BR3W CITY]

Well, it was about time I put up some pics of the work on the cab wall. We sectioned the donor cab out and made a patch. Tons of hammering, dollying, planishing, welding, etc.








The old stuff hitting the scrap trailer.


Coming back to stitch together the seam.

[BR3W CITY]

Got the bumpers put into the fuel cell holder and could put the cell back into it.






Since there has been SO much work done on the frame, it was about time to clear everything off and give it a once over with the wire wheel to clean all the little areas.

[BR3W CITY]

Finishing up the rear frame section!

You Tube

[BR3W CITY]

Pics and extra looks at the frame from the video (PLEASE checkout the vids too!)

[BR3W CITY]

LOL yall got on me for a lack of updates...I hit ya with mad updates....no love

Another NEW video drops tomorrow, on the bodywork updates! In preparation, here's the pic dump. Progressive work on the filler building, leveling, sanding, and glazing.













On a related note, these things work really well.



SO, the new video on the process will drop tomorrow over on the channel. The progressive sanding is wrapping up, she'll be ready for prime and color this week.

[BR3W CITY]

Yay moving pictures

You Tube

[BR3W CITY]

Yes, MORE new videos. Building the fuel cell frame, and a BONUS video on a pretty awesome tool I tried for the first time during the rebuild progress. Are you guys still out there? Its been so quiet

You Tube

You Tube

[SCOTI]

Yes, we're still following your updates.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Yes, we're still following your updates.

My social anxiety has temporarily quieted.

[BR3W CITY]

Trying to keep it coming.

You Tube

[forestb]

Why are you not using washers? Love your truck buy the way.

[BR3W CITY]

I've got a video on these coming, but I wanted to share the install pics on the new headlights. These things are wild, and extremely bright, solid state LED's.


Pulled the old lights out. Due to the size of the big old heat sync on the LED's, I needed to clearance the mounting rings and base (I guess thats what its called?) Used the body saw to trim them up and then painted the thing to keep it clean.








These are standard lights, so they don't have a normal automotive connection. I had to clip off the push connectors and wire on some spades. Then I could clean the wiring up and get it tucked and routed into the grill.









Then I could put everything back in with the trim rings. They still need to be aimed, but damnnnn they look good.

[SCOTI]

It's your ride but I'll go public w/this..... That headlight mod? Not for me. I don't care how bright they might be, they just don't look 'right' on an old truck (regardless of any marginal increase in output).

Just one guys opinion so no worries.

[Grizz1963]

Aaaarrrgghhhh....!!

Photophukit is really frustrating me on the updates I like to follow.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Aaaarrrgghhhh....!!

Photophukit is really frustrating me on the updates I like to follow.

They have hijacked ALL of their content and want nearly $300 a year to get it back. Im hugely dissapointed...since it guarantee's the end of photobucket (people just won't pay that for simple hosting). I'm working on moving my content elsewhere, but it might be a while. Its really a shame.

[BR3W CITY]

Even though Photobucket are garbage humans, there is still NEW stuff over on my YouTube channel! More updates on the truck, finishing up some loose ends, fuel system and more.

You Tube