83/84 swb stepside long time build

[rip2174]

Thank you

[rip2174]

gonna be nice/might take some heat to get that frame tweaked back where you want it.i like it. its gonna be low. good luck-jeff

Thank you

[rip2174]

Couple things:

Your welder should be strong enough to tack stuff. I would ever weld the steering notches in with it. You are welding uphill and both sides. (But if you don't feel comfortable by all means don't do it).

You can cut that part of the body mount off (I cut half mine off when I did my sfbd).

For the tweak in the frame I would cut relief cuts on each side along the bottom of the frame and use something to bend it up then weld the cuts back together.

For the body bolts, just cut the heads off of them. Once the cab is off you can heat them and use a pair of vice grips on them.

Thanks for the advice. I'll see what I can get done this weekend. But the wife and kids want to go to a show this weekend. "Rims on the River"

[rip2174]

Looking for some advice. Going to get the cab off this weekend and start cleaning up the frame for paint. Trying to keep cost down here for stuff later. Going to clean frame with grinder and sanding paper and a little sand blasting. Thinking of hitting frame with Eastwood's rust inhibator and then there chasis black for a top coat. Any used these products and any feedback would be cool?

[tinydb84]

I believe it is a moisture cured urethane like Por15. I used Por15 and was very meticulous with the prep and my frame looks great.

[aotte1]

Rip,

There are lots of different methods for painting/protecting your frame from corrosion. The discussions here are very detailed and a little heated from the many posts I have read. There are some strong beliefs held . Several factors will also effect your decision, use, level of appearance you are looking for, environment stored and driven in, and desired durability.
I use Rustoleum satin or gloss oil based paint. You can get the gloss in an industrial blend. " in my option ", what you use is a personal preference. Sure lots of different systems work and of course cost is a big factor, in which material you use, along with condition of your frame. I store my truck inside, and do not drive in winter weather.

Les

[rip2174]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm still fighting the cab bolts. They are kicking my butt. Going for round four this afternoon when I get back from the gym.

[rip2174]

Well I finally got the cab bolts off. Well at least the heads. LOL

[rip2174]

There sure is a lot of travel in this suspension.Just behind front cab mount.

[rip2174]

here she lay down with no cab. Still waiting on drop spindles.

[rip2174]

still working on driver side bent lower frame. Cut some reliefs and bent it back a little. Going to cut a long slot in a piece of flat stock and see if I can't get all of the bend out of the frame to get it to lay all the way down.

[rip2174]

Tomorrow having some friends over to cook out and help me put cab and other stuff out the garage in storage unit. Free up some space to start cleaning frame for paint. Love it. Almost done with all the greasy stuff. LOL wife is pissed about the greasy clothes.

[rip2174]

Ok. have a rear brake question. Really thinking about Willwood brakes all the way around. Not sure what size yet. But, when converting drums to Willwood discs. Does it widen the rear trac and by how much? Really wanting to install a set of deep dish 10 inch wheels. So was wondering if it is needed to narrow the rear end? Also my bed is a step-side. Thinking about staying at an 18 in wheel to help with overall height on the stepper.

[rip2174]

got home form work today and the new drop spindles were on the porch.

[tinydb84]

Looking good!

[rip2174]

Finally got the bends out of the lower frame under the cab. This helped it sit down better.

[rip2174]

Have to take it across town to a weld shop to get all the welds done. My stupid little welder won't even tack the front channels in where the rack and pinion goes. It handles sheet metal just fine. Must have power issues. Those are my little helpers. Almost ran over the littlest one when rolling frame up on trailer. LOL.

[rip2174]

got all the welding done this morning. While I ws gone the new gas tank came.

[tinydb84]

What tank is that?

[rip2174]

universal tank tank from tanksinc.com. 215 and 246 shipped to the house. got it in 3 days. Still need sending unit and fuel pump.

[rip2174]

Test fitted the bed to see how the tires are going to fit under fenders and see how much I have to cut away from bed sides.

[rip2174]

Thinking about mounting tank below bed floor and the compressors and air tank above the bed floor. Going to make the bed floor out of diamond plate.

[rip2174]

went and bought some foam to see what bed would look like.

[rip2174]

There is a metal depot very close to me. They also have a fab shop. Said they could bend that piece in one solid run. Thinking of using black diamond plate.

[aotte1]

Project is looking really nice, diamond plate looks good. That is what my stepper came with, the wood floor was in bad shape. A piece of diamond plate was placed on the floor. Mine was really shinny.

Les