Snip snip

[XXL]

Last night I made cardboard templates for skinning the bedsides. You know... that cardboard sure looked good up there. I'm thinking maybe the cardboard version of the "Woodie" look. Hmmm... I may be on to something.

I picked up a sheet of 18ga today and started cutting it up. I hope to have the skins finished tomorrow, and clamped in place. Fred T posted on MOT the other day that he had recently used some 3M panel adhesive on his truck. I used VHB on a project many years ago, but wasn't impressed. This 3M product sounds like a vast improvement. So, I'm going to pick some up, and borrow the applicator gun, and glue these skins in place. It'll be much easier than the plug welding I was going to do. Once the skins are on, I'll drill out the skin and 1x1 frame where the fenders bolt up, and then stud it. That way I don't have a bolt head on the inside of the bed.

Next up... I need to find someone to make me an ~ 50" x 8" 18ga panel with a simple rectangle (rounded corners) bead roll in it. Anyone???

[XXL]

Second pic shows the new outer bed wall skin in place and the studs that replace the fender bolts.

Third is a quick shot of the fender back on. Note the obvious wheel offset difference on the rear wheels.

#4 is just a side view of the same thing. The black rust inhibitor I sprayed on makes the fender line a little deceptive since it's sprayed on the first 2" or so of the fender too (to knock out some 37 year old surface rust). From this view, the bed side looks pretty much stock.

However, on the last pic, you can see how much wider it is now. Note the gap between the fender and the rolled pan. Those used to abut each other. Ultimately, I'll extend the rolled pan with a nice rounded shape to fill that gap and soften what is currently a hard edge.

I'm going to try to get the other side skinned tomorrow and get that fender back on as well. I've got to get this thing back together for an upcoming move.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by XXL

Second pic shows the new outer bed wall skin in place and the studs that replace the fender bolts.

Third is a quick shot of the fender back on. Note the obvious wheel offset difference on the rear wheels.

#4 is just a side view of the same thing. The black rust inhibitor I sprayed on makes the fender line a little deceptive since it's sprayed on the first 2" or so of the fender too (to knock out some 37 year old surface rust). From this view, the bed side looks pretty much stock.

However, on the last pic, you can see how much wider it is now. Note the gap between the fender and the rolled pan. Those used to abut each other. Ultimately, I'll extend the rolled pan with a nice rounded shape to fill that gap and soften what is currently a hard edge.

I'm going to try to get the other side skinned tomorrow and get that fender back on as well. I've got to get this thing back together for an upcoming move.

Arg, where are these pics???

[XXL]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Arg, where are these pics???

...

[XXL]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Arg, where are these pics???

....

[Mad Rods]

This is coming out bad a$$! Can't wait to see it complete in paint.

[Mad Rods]

I was talking about the truck not the FAIRYS. LOL!!!

[Frizzle Fry]

I gotta say the chop top looks 100x better now that it's sitting at the right stance. Sinister

[XXL]

Side 2 is now back together. Welder wire kept jamming up, and now it looks completely dead... may have to replace the cable that carries the wire to the tip), so I didn't get all the studs welded on the second side. For now, I've got 4 bolts in it, which will be fine for rolling around.

[jay-dawg]

dat looks slick! How are you gonna do the front bed panel?

[ed455]

That's so simple it's brilliant! I've been wanting to widen my stepside fenders but dreading the work of cutting and widening them. They make fiberglass fenders that are 3" wider but they're pricey and I hate 'glass body parts. I thought about mini-tubbing to the frame but then I have to buy pricey custom offset wheels. Dude, I'm inspired!

[bagged69c10]

Looks nice. However you might want to be careful mounting the bags on the side of the trailing arm. I had mine almost centered on the trailing arms and they twisted. Maybe mine were just crap I dunno.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by bagged69c10

Looks nice. However you might want to be careful mounting the bags on the side of the trailing arm. I had mine almost centered on the trailing arms and they twisted.

Yeah, I'm already experiencing this. I had originally contemplated a basic-ish cantilever setup, and now that I've seen this twisting issue, I'm back to considering it again. In either case, I'll at least have to cut down the mounting brackets as the bag folds up before I get the full drop I'm after (about 1.5" more).

[camaro__thunder]

*COUGH* update.... *COUGH* *COUGH*

[ICUDOGG]

Got any finished pics of the watts link?

Nice job man!

Later
C

[XXL]

Originally Posted by camaro__thunder

*COUGH* update.... *COUGH* *COUGH*

I'm stuck in the middle of honey-dos. We just relocated to Color-adder, and so new house, lawn, hanging pictures, moving furniture BACK AND FORTH, and so on. New Lincoln MIG should be here in next few days... and then I'll get back to work on the truck.

[Shane]

Wow ... you moved ... again??? New job I assume?

Beautiful country out that way ... enjoy and good luck with the new place.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Shane

Wow ... you moved ... again??? New job I assume?

Beautiful country out that way ... enjoy and good luck with the new place.

It's tough staying ahead of the law.

This move is the last one. Not like the last move that was the last one... this one is really the last one. Really. (I'll let you know when the next move comes along ).

Thanks!

[camaro__thunder]

Make your way to TX ! lol

[XXL]

Originally Posted by camaro__thunder

Make your way to TX ! lol

That's where I started.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by camaro__thunder

Make your way to TX ! lol

We ran him out years ago. All this moving nonsense is starting to worry people of this big state . . .... (notice he keeps moving a little closer each time ).

[XXL]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

All this moving nonsense is starting to worry people of this big state . . .... (notice he keeps moving a little closer each time ).

All trend indicators suggest you're safe. Based on data analysis, my next stop should be somewhere near Lincoln, Montana, where some believe I will begin writing my manifesto.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by XXL

All trend indicators suggest you're safe. Based on data analysis, my next stop should be somewhere near Lincoln, Montana, where some believe I will begin writing my manifesto.

While using the board's SEARCH feature to find information before creating a new post, I stumbled across this old thread... looks like I took a wrong turn.

[JameslovesJammie]

Dude!

I'm from Montana!

Don't make fun of Uncle Ted!

[Tony@AirRideTech]

if you are only wanting a 1:1 ratio..... why did you move them forward on the trailing arm. For a 1:1... you could have just gone with a sleeve style airpsirng on the axle?