53 3100 - complete rebuild and upgrade . . . .

[reaper71]

Nice work Dan!


Mark

[youngrodder]

Great detail Dan

[big_dan]

Thanks, fellas. Just taking my time and enjoying the process.

More later -

Dan

[big_dan]

Finished mockup of the panhard and sway bar so the rear suspension is complete, minus finish welding, but I'll pull the housing for that. I do plan to add a few gussets here and there as well. Now for the front sway bar . . . .

Dan

[big_dan]

Continuing along a little progress here and there. Stripped down the axle and finished all the housing welding, then pulled the front clip and started test fitting the front sway bar. Still miles to go, but I'm ready to get started on the 5.3 mockup . . .

Dan

[reaper71]

Looks really nice Dan.


Mark

[mongocanfly]

Looks good Dan

[Scott2]

Very nice!

[big_dan]

Thanks for the interest, fellas. Currently getting the rear finished up.

More later-

Dan

[big_dan]

Trying to focus on getting the rear finished up with an extra day off this week. Starting my braces / gussets for the shock crossmember (a little added support) and added fish plates to the step notches.

More later -

Dan

[youngrodder]

Looks great

Marc

[big_dan]

Thanks, guys. A little more. Braced the shock crossmember first, then the sway bar housing to tie everything together.

Having fun now - more later -

Dan

[mongocanfly]

Real nice..!!

[dsraven]

looks really nice, great attention to detail. I also like the frame table to keep everything square and true.
just curious if you plan to run exhaust out the rear? space is getting filled up. sure looks tidy though.

[dsraven]

all looks great. what will the lowest point on the chassis be, in inches from ground, when at suspension bottom?

[big_dan]

Thanks for looking, fellas.

Most every project I build I like to run the exhaust up to the axle, then use turn downs turned out at a 45, if that makes sense. Saves having to dodge the axle. Just in case, I do make sure I have room; here's 2-1/2" U-bends with no clearance issues at all.

As for ride height, it's at "ride height" now; lowest point of the chassis will be around 9" from the ground, running boards about 5", level.

More later -

Dan

[big_dan]

And just to get my wheels turning - picked up a start for my dash bezel from the steel yard yesterday. 4"×1/2"×35" brass bar - tons of ideas now.

Dan

[big_dan]

A little more . . .

I find if I tackle several items at the same time it's easier to stay motivated. So, after I had my tube bracing tacked in, I shifted gears to bump stops. I wanted something simple, so I grabbed a set of "jeep/ universal" energy suspension stops from Amazon. Took some 1" mild, turned and threaded a slug for the step notch. Drilling was fun but my mag base helped alot. Welded them up, 4-3/4" clearance to the tube, done.

On to the next item -

Dan

[big_dan]

A little more progress.

Got derailed a few days making a jig to notch tubes easier than just coping them with a flapper wheel. Milled a 1-3/4 slot in 2 aluminum blocks to hold the tube in a vise on my lathe table then chucked up a 1-3/4 Hougen bit to make the cuts. Perfect.

Started the last of the tube bracing out back, and yes, there is a purpose. The bed floor will be raised and supported by the perimeter tubes, which will make sense later.

More later-

Dan

[mongocanfly]

,looks good Dan..!!...a buddy of mine used to build race car frames ,had a similar homemade tube notcher...he used a old Bridgeport mill with vert and horizontal heads on it , and he built a tube holder...made some really nice notches...much better than my hole saw tube notcher...
Framework is looking good..

[big_dan]

I figured I'd better post an update in case anyone thought I'd fell off the planet. . . .

Almost finished my knee mill refurb and a few side projects, so I've spent the last little while reorganizing my shop. The 53 is now center stage and ready to get back to it. More soon -

Dan

[olcarguy]

Nice work....

[big_dan]

So after a month or two of side projects, back to the 53. Welded up the front sway bar first, then pulled the 5.3 out of storage. Need a way to hang it while I figure out my firewall cut, so made a block plate out of 1/4×6 plate with 3/8 eye bolts (good for 1000lbs each on a straight pull) to get started there. Mocked up the bed sides in final position also to build mounts for it.

Moving along - thanks for looking-

Dan

[dsraven]

just looking at your tail lights and it reminded me of some I have seen with integrated back up lights. might interest you so less lights on the back but still fully functional.

https://www.grote.com/signal-lightin...rated-back-up/

good thinking on the engine lift. looks great.

[youngrodder]

Dan

It always feels great to get back on a project after a break. Look n good..

Marc