Project Pro Touring "Ole Blue"

[jonzcustomshop]

looks nice so far... interested to see the look of the medium bed, I have often thought the longs look too long, and the shorts too short...

[Mechanic77]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

looks nice so far... interested to see the look of the medium bed, I have often thought the longs look too long, and the shorts too short...

Thanks....I figured that I was going to have to cut the bed down anyway and I too have thought the shorts were just a little too short It should be pretty subtle with it only being 5" longer overall....we'll see....

[shortbed70]

Awesome work man! Frame and wheels look sick together.
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[willyp]

any updates on blue?

[Mechanic77]

Well, it's funny that you ask.....I finally got off my lazy rear and worked on the truck this weekend No pics, but I did get started on my custom accessory drive for the engine and worked on mounting some of the air ride components (compressor, switch valve assembly, etc.). I'll try and get some pics up in the next week or so

[aggie91]

I just read your thread. What caught my attention is the trucks name. It's he same as mine. Your fab work is great. Looking forward to more.
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[joedoh]

wow super nice work, and nice meeting you.

[BigJoe29]

tagged this build is AWESOME, almost exactly what i want to do with mine

[wutnxt]

Nice work....

I am glad you checked out my one of the builds i have going on right now or i so would have been missing out on yours...You have some great work going on in this build....nicely done

[HulkSmash]

Great looking build, I really like the Watts link setup, and your fab work in top notch.
With the way you triangulated the frame, what are you going to do for exhaust routing?

[Mechanic77]

Originally Posted by HulkSmash

Great looking build, I really like the Watts link setup, and your fab work in top notch.
With the way you triangulated the frame, what are you going to do for exhaust routing?

Thanks for all the compliments As far as exhaust goes, I'm working on it right now....I'm building fenderwell headers and routing the exhaust outside of the frame rails, eliminating the issue of routing around the trailing arms (and my bracing....). I'll post up some pictures sometime this week.......

[HulkSmash]

Originally Posted by Mechanic77

Thanks for all the compliments As far as exhaust goes, I'm working on it right now....I'm building fenderwell headers and routing the exhaust outside of the frame rails, eliminating the issue of routing around the trailing arms (and my bracing....). I'll post up some pictures sometime this week.......

Interesting idea, I look forward to seeing how this comes out, I had thought about the idea of moving the exhaust out side the frame rails, but not fenderwell headers. I like It..

[Mechanic77]

Ok, an update......finally

I've actually gotten quite a bit done, just haven't posted up in a while....

Bodywork/rust repair on the passenger side....



Accessory drive that I've started on, but haven't finished yet (I'm a bit of a scatter-brain.....)

[Mechanic77]

.....and what I did on my week long vacation.....HEADERS!!!!

Driver's side




Passenger side




Before anyone asks, no they are not equal length....but there is only a 4" difference between the longest and shortest tubes (38" for the longest and 34" on the shortest). From all the research I did on header construction I came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth the effort to try to make them perfect.....it's not a race car......yet Without a dyno to test header design it's impossible to know what the ideal primary length is anyway.

As usual, if anyone has any questions, just ask

[Captainfab]

WOW that's a lot of cutting and fitting on those headers! Is there a reason you didn't use mandrel bends? looks good though.

[shortbed70]

Love the headers!!!! I want a set....Send them to me and I will test them
Out for you...
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[coulter]

nice work man!! those headers are badass

[Mechanic77]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

WOW that's a lot of cutting and fitting on those headers! Is there a reason you didn't use mandrel bends? looks good though.

Yeah, it was a ton of work....took me all week I didn't use mandrel bends because doing it this way gives me even more flexibility in routing the tubes exactly where I want them.....and it's just plain different

[Mechanic77]

Originally Posted by shortbed70

Love the headers!!!! I want a set....Send them to me and I will test them
Out for you...
Posted via Mobile Device

LOL....they probably wouldn't fit right anyway, I've got the engine set back as far back and low as possible.......

[Mechanic77]

Originally Posted by coulter

nice work man!! those headers are badass

Thanks coulter, it's actually got me a bit more motivated to get some work done on it now

[68GMCCustom]

Lookin good! how about a close pic of how you mounted the rear shocks outboard of the frame? Can't see how the bottom is done?

[Mechanic77]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

Lookin good! how about a close pic of how you mounted the rear shocks outboard of the frame? Can't see how the bottom is done?

Thanks! Here you go:



I used 1" solid bar that I drilled and tapped for 1/2" coarse thread and just welded right to the trailing arm

And here's a picture that you can better see how it all works:



Let me know if you need anything else......

[protrash64]

Headers? Those look like foot warmers. Nice work.

[Mechanic77]

Ok, now for an update.....

I've actually been working pretty hot and heavy on the truck.....I've shortened the bed and I'm hoping to finish the fuel tank this weekend, and maybe, just maybe , get the framework for the bed floor done too....


And now for some pictures

Before I cut the left bedside.....which, by the way, I just picked up from Joedoh (thanks!!)....much better than the one I was planning on cutting up



.....and mocked up for the first time



.....and as it sits right now




More pics to come......

[Mechanic77]

.....and now what me and buddies would call, the homey hook-up

A good....make it great, friend of mine works at a metal fabrication shop and he hooked me up in a huge way......we went in yesterday morning and cut out and broke a stainless steel fuel tank .....nothing like having access to a massive cnc plasma table and a hydraulic press break that will bend a full 8' x 1/4" plate 90*

Enough of my rambling....on to the pics

Top and bottom pieces:



Welded together:


....working on the filler/vent/gauge sender plate and mounting:


....and where I am as of right now