78 downlow-littledough

[cooperhw]

Mocking up the trianglulated 4 link. Just barely sitting there but something to look at.

[tinydb84]

Do you plan on welding to the pumpkin?

[SCOTI]

Ditto? Parallel 4-bar & a Panhard bar.

[cooperhw]

No, "I don't plan to weld to the pumpkin". It could be done by a very skilled welder following a strict pattern after heating the entire pumpkin, and slowly cooling it down, etc. but not by me. I was just looking at the option.
I will probably be installing a crossmember and pointing the bars inward to where they intersect (imaginary lines) near the front bumper.
I have not ruled out the parallel bars and panhard yet either. Should have something in place by tomorrow evening.

[cooperhw]

Little project progress. Got the chassis together and bolted the cab back in place. Was sitting down on the pinch weld, so we pulled it back off and trimmed it down. Welded it up, and the cab back in place.
Without further ado,

[cooperhw]

few more,

[cooperhw]

last but not least,

[flashed]

Wow ,you have been busy .

[hewittca]

She's low! Good to see the motor in there and that there's still a few inches to work with. What do you plan on running for wheels?

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by flashed

Wow ,you have been busy .

Yup. Like a chess match, I just keep advancing the pieces one step at a time and sometimes have to retreat a step or two, but just keep pointing towards the finish line.
Something about this stage of a build I just love. I think it's the whole creative juice thing. Hoping to cut the bed floor out this next weekend and sit it back in place.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by hewittca

She's low! Good to see the motor in there and that there's still a few inches to work with. What do you plan on running for wheels?

Yeah, I am pretty happy with the results so far. Still some more work to do at the front frame drop.
As to wheels, "I am not sure yet". I usually go for flashy chrome ones but I might be trying to go another route on this truck. More of a bomber look. ??
I bought a set of stock 15 inch wheels so I can mock em up in place and have something to measure off of.
I have the lower control arm sitting on a 4"X6" layed flat (3.5") to space it up at rest height. Still have a few inches under the crossmember and my pan is up from there.

[tinydb84]

Looks good nice and low. You can lower your engine like I did and save some tunnel work.

How was welding up that pinch? I need to do mine but haven't crawled under there to take a look at what I need to do.

[rusty76]

Too cool. I like progress.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Looks good nice and low. You can lower your engine like I did and save some tunnel work.
Thanks. I am still on the fence on lowering the motor or not. Right now it's got a ton of clearance to both the crossmember and the ground. Gotta raise the tunnel anyways. We'll see. Once I put that T56 six speed in there I will know for sure.

How was welding up that pinch? I need to do mine but haven't crawled under there to take a look at what I need to do.

Welding the pinch wasn't too bad. If you discount the sunburn I got to my forehead when I made the 200 or some tiny spot welds. I also didn't like leaving that remaining pinch with only a 1/4 of material left so I went inside the pinch and welded a 3/4" X 3/4" angle just above for strength. Also nice to have something solid to weld to other that the sheet metal. Probably not needed but I felt better afterwards. I bolted the front clip back on a realized that also has a pinch that the truck was sitting on, so off it came. Much easier to cut and weld it with it laying on the grill. Also took the time to trim off the fender lip. I figure to lay a piece of brake line tubing inside that area to weld to and roll that lip up so it doesn't try to cut the tire.

Originally Posted by rusty76

Too cool. I like progress.

Thanks. Me too. To tell you the truth, that's the only reason I post updates. To share with those out there (like me) who enjoy seeing progress. For me, it makes me want to get out there and get busy.

[NewType72]

I always enjoy doing updates myself and love doing full write ups but then you realize that the forum is becoming like newspaper these days and there's only the die hard left that really respond anymore haha. It's still fun to do though for sure and helps a ton if I don't feel like crawling under the truck to remember how I built something.

[flashed]

I may not always comment but Im always watching ,too much going on on my end these days healthwise .

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by NewType72

I always enjoy doing updates myself and love doing full write ups but then you realize that the forum is becoming like newspaper these days and there's only the die hard left that really respond anymore haha. It's still fun to do though for sure and helps a ton if I don't feel like crawling under the truck to remember how I built something.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by flashed

I may not always comment but Im always watching ,too much going on on my end these days healthwise .

Boy health is something we never think of till it goes south on us. we just keep on plugging away as we can.
Keep your chin up Flashed.

[cooperhw]

Well, I had to mount the core support to be able to see what I had room for and what I didn't. Took all friggin day, but I was able to get her hung well, and braced up stout. Put the core support and front fenders back on to stay for a while this time. Hopefully I will be able to get the bed on there tomorrow. We'll see. Takes more time that I think it should, but gotta have a goal.
I will post up some pics for anybody wanting to take a look.

[tinydb84]

Can I offer a bit of style advice?

[cooperhw]

few more;


Last pic is a before shot for height reference (before and after).

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Can I offer a bit of style advice?

Sure

[tinydb84]

When boxing (like your frame horns) cut a radius instead of a straight cut. It looks cleaner and it's less likely to crack.

On you welds, bevel your joints. You'll get more penetration and welds that are less proud.

On your tube joints, try to weld straight on. It looks like you were getting a bit too much torch angle as you came around the tube.

Hopefully that was helpful.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

When boxing (like your frame horns) cut a radius instead of a straight cut. It looks cleaner and it's less likely to crack.

On you welds, bevel your joints. You'll get more penetration and welds that are less proud.

On your tube joints, try to weld straight on. It looks like you were getting a bit too much torch angle as you came around the tube.

Hopefully that was helpful.

Thanks. I'll try.

[cooperhw]

Doesn't seem like much progress, but I first had to empty the bed as I have been using it as a catch all of both good parts, junk, scrap iron, etc. (aka cr*p).
Then rolled the truck out onto the driveway, bed on the body dolly out in the driveway, lifted bed up on my camper jacks, and rolled the truck underneath it. Of course those stupid fat tires don't clear the rear any better than they do the front fenders so I had to space it up just so I could get it back into the garage for the night.
Anyhow, had a goal to get the bed on today and "kinda" made it,

[cooperhw]

bed fail,,,