72 K30 Build

[RedRoad]

Ive seen guys put 3 or 4 car batteries in series and weld broken frames on the trail in a pinch.

[swamp rat]

Ok, i hope you didn't take my post badly as i didn't mean to come off in a bad manner, i know when it comes to body i can't weld for crap. i probably wouldn't have posted that at all but your comments about nipples and scar tissue earlyer made me feel you wouldn't get upset about it.

EDIT, Overhead welding isn't easy, i suck at it.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by RedRoad

Ive seen guys put 3 or 4 car batteries in series and weld broken frames on the trail in a pinch.

No kidding that's resourceful! I wouldn't have thought there was enough current, good to know.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Ok, i hope you didn't take my post badly as i didn't mean to come off in a bad manner, i know when it comes to body i can't weld for crap. i probably wouldn't have posted that at all but your comments about nipples and scar tissue earlyer made me feel you wouldn't get upset about it.

EDIT, Overhead welding isn't easy, i suck at it.

No worries and yes I was pocking fun at us it looked like a tumor was forming!

You know he did have to listen to me whine when I saw it and we had a little talk about trying to keep weld puddle down.

[7dee2]

A shot of weld thru and we’re ready to screw them into place for the final time.

[7dee2]

Goodbye pass thru, upper is ready to weld.

[7dee2]

I just hope I can get my grips back from there. If not then I’ll cut’em off and fish the pieces out.

[mjensen]

Looking good Brett! I'm hoping to get something going this weekend...

[Trekster]

Great work! I'll be watching this build.

[swamp rat]

Inspiring work, makes me think i may be able to do it myself if i ever get to that point with my current progress..

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by mjensen

Looking good Brett! I'm hoping to get something going this weekend...

Thanks Mike you going to make some more linkage progress? I updated your thread with an idea.

Originally Posted by Trekster

Great work! I'll be watching this build.

Thanks Trekster.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Inspiring work, makes me think i may be able to do it myself if i ever get to that point with my current progress..

I'm sure you can especially if the opening doesn't go too far into the roof area.

[7dee2]

1st round weld, weld, weld.

[swamp rat]

Knocking it out!

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Knocking it out!

Thanks man.

[7dee2]

And weld some more. We did manage to get the grips backs without cutting them. A telescoping magnet was the ticket!

[7dee2]

Now that we are getting down to starting the frame shortening process I’m having second thoughts about all the frame splices and frame repair on my trailer towing 4x4/work type truck. I now know its doable with the K3500 frame and would probably be fine but I’m debating if we should or if just using a C30 frame is the better option? The K3500 splice job is going to have to be a farm out for us (started the quote process) as we just don’t want to be plagued with frame problems after the K30 is built.

[7dee2]

No comments on the frame statement above? Just thinking out loud and starting to finalize plans for the next phase.

So back to the cab after 2 rounds of weld, grind, weld & grind this is how the inner upper patch is looking (tumor removed).

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Now that we are getting down to starting the frame shortening process I’m having second thoughts about all the frame splices and frame repair on my trailer towing 4x4/work type truck. I now know its doable with the K3500 frame and would probably be fine but I’m debating if we should or if just using a C30 frame is the better option? The K3500 splice job is going to have to be a farm out for us (started the quote process) as we just don’t want to be plagued with frame problems after the K30 is built.

Cutting down the K3500 frame should not be terrible, and can be plenty strong (in fact stronger than factory) if done with correct fish plates and a good welder.

That said, when you start getting into multiple cuts and splices, you increase the probability of something going amiss. With the C30 frame, a lot of the hangars and so forth line up with factory holes, which allows you to keep things aligned pretty well.

Either way, what's best is what you're comfortable with. On my last project (as you know) I did the original frame with modified hangars and such. On my current one, I'm building a hybrid frame from a different generation truck and a metric G-body. So I'm not really biased

[Dieselwrencher]

I agree with what Jjorgensen52 said. On my 76 I did a step cut to help make it stronger. I used to work in a heavy truck frame shop and we used to straight cut them up to a certain length. All the ones we did got sleeved with minimum of 1/4" cold rolled. On super long rigs, we angle cut them. None of them ever got fish plates either. They never had any come back and they had been doing truck stretching/shortening and frame altering since 1979. We had a dump truck come in that they built in the mid 90's that had been rolled. The frame was straight where they stretched it and didn't start to be roled and twisted until after the sleeve ended. We saw all kinds of mangled trucks, and fixed 98% of them.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Cutting down the K3500 frame should not be terrible, and can be plenty strong (in fact stronger than factory) if done with correct fish plates and a good welder.

That said, when you start getting into multiple cuts and splices, you increase the probability of something going amiss. With the C30 frame, a lot of the hangars and so forth line up with factory holes, which allows you to keep things aligned pretty well.

Either way, what's best is what you're comfortable with. On my last project (as you know) I did the original frame with modified hangars and such. On my current one, I'm building a hybrid frame from a different generation truck and a metric G-body. So I'm not really biased

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I agree with what Jjorgensen52 said. On my 76 I did a step cut to help make it stronger. I used to work in a heavy truck frame shop and we used to straight cut them up to a certain length. All the ones we did got sleeved with minimum of 1/4" cold rolled. On super long rigs, we angle cut them. None of them ever got fish plates either. They never had any come back and they had been doing truck stretching/shortening and frame altering since 1979. We had a dump truck come in that they built in the mid 90's that had been rolled. The frame was straight where they stretched it and didn't start to be roled and twisted until after the sleeve ended. We saw all kinds of mangled trucks, and fixed 98% of them.

I agree 100% so after a lot of consideration and a pretty big frame fab quote (6 splices w/fish plate and the right rail repair, 2 of the splices were to add 72 frame horns) from one of the better welders in my area I have decided to finish scrapping the K3500 frame.

We are going to try and acquire another C30 133" frame (new plan A?) and if that doesn't fly then we'll go with standby plan B (use my blue C30) for the frame. This new direction does simplify some things and complicate others but its all good cuz there is a plan right???

[7dee2]

More cab progress, the large back patch is looking fairly flat! Saweet!

[Dieselwrencher]

It's coming along nicely!

[swamp rat]

Nice!

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

It's coming along nicely!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Nice!

Thanks you guys! We’re thinking it should hold a window OK, here’s how the upper is looking just needs a little more luv on the lip and filler will catch the rest.

[Dieselwrencher]

Looks like it should hold the window gasket just fine.

[7dee2]

This is how the entire back panel looks.