Used Parts Build

[tinydb84]

I picked up some bad habits when I first started welding and the "mig like tig" was the cool thing. Once in awhile I walk out my spacing too much. It was one of the first things my welding instructor pointed out. Thanks for looking out.

[tinydb84]

Well that was fun...

Got the back half welded in. Nice and warm weather but windy as hell. Got to hangout in my fort again!

weld shot

Everything burned in

Back half done

Still need to box the inside and fishplate the front half of the notch

[tinydb84]

Did a little work last night. Wanted to fishplate my notch to frame tie in. Totally not necessary but I figured it couldn't hurt.

Capped the notch/frame

Started cutting the brackets off my Ford 9''. Looks like the guy who welded the tabs on last time thought more was better...All the tabs are 1/4'' thick and have huge multipass weld beads on there.

I noticed a potential problem too. I thought for some reason my pinion was centered, and its not... Not a huge deal but my four link mounts/crossmember is set up for a centered driveshaft. I can shorten one side but I pushed my lower link mounts out as far as I reasonably could for better control. I am going to take some measurements tomorrow and see how much I need to shorten one side to center it and see if I need to move my tabs in or not.

[aggie91]

looks good. I have seen a lot of 9" rears done that the pinion is not centered, but the pumpkin is centered for looks...I think the pinion offset is less than 2"...

[tinydb84]

I would like to keep the pumpkin centered for looks. I need to check the driveshaft to see if it will clear the 4 link mount crossmember. I may set up my Panhard bar to have the pinion move towards center when it airs out if that's necessary to clear.

I'll have to do some mock up this weekend.

[tinydb84]

Started stripping the Ford 9'':

Chopped off the last bit of frame to make it the length I needed:

Started mocking up my rearend and links to get a measurement:

Marked out when I am going to drop it into the frame:

Notched:

Mocking it up:

All welded in!

[aggie91]

Nice progress!

[tinydb84]

Thanks Karl

Trying to chip away at it every chance I get.
Shot a quick coat of primer because it was going to rain.

Welded my lower tabs on the axle:

Still working on tig welding everything I can:


Going to box the backside and cut it to match the frame tabs. Hopefully will get the upper tabs and possibly the Panhard bar installed this weekend.

[tinydb84]

Small update. Did a bit of welding last night.

Welded on some plate to box my links:

Practicing my weaving skills

Wanted to notch it to make match the crossmember tabs

Done!

[68Timber]

Those welds look like art, wish I could weld like that. I don't think I've seen anyone kick the rear frame rails up like that. What are the benefits vs. keeping it at original height?

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Those welds look like art, wish I could weld like that. I don't think I've seen anyone kick the rear frame rails up like that. What are the benefits vs. keeping it at original height?

Thanks man. I have only been tig welding a few months. I just try to weld as often as I can. I am hoping to go to Hobarts welding school in the next few months and take their tig course to get better at it.

No real gain to keeping them high. I didnt want to shorten the frame and then notch it so I just moved the notches forward. The rest of the frame lost all the original mounting points so I figured Id just leave it high. I am going to build a cradle to bolt up underneath that will hold all my air ride and gas tank. That way I can unbolt it and drop it down if I ever need to instead of removing the bed.

[tinydb84]

Today was just not my day....
Mocked up my rear end to lay out my upper tabs

Noticed that my notch didnt line up with the rearend as I measured....

Tossed on a bedside to see if my notch or if my 4 link crossmember was off

Well that sucked...I dont know where I went wrong...The only think I can think of is I measured off the wrong reference point when I was mocking up my crossmember.
So I moved the axle to see where everything should have been.

That black strip is primer so it doesnt rust.
So I proceeded to cut the crossmember out. Patched the frame and move it forward 4.5''. It was dark so I didnt get any pics. I'll be back at it tomorrow.

[Joe Pass]

That's a tuff one.....and frustrating. At least, you caught it now.

[jwilson645]

Always a good idea to tack in and check that everything lines up BEFORE final welding.

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by Joe Pass

That's a tuff one.....and frustrating. At least, you caught it now.

That's what I'm telling myself!

Originally Posted by jwilson645

Always a good idea to tack in and check that everything lines up BEFORE final welding.

I know....Ugh. Lesson learned!

[DblTrbl]

I know all about how that feels...

[daddyjeep]

That sucks, unfortunately that's part of the game when you are doing crazy things.

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by DblTrbl

I know all about how that feels...

When I first saw it I thought the notch was wrong and said screw it and started looking at 2x4 steel to just to a new backhalf.

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

That sucks, unfortunately that's part of the game when you are doing crazy things.

Everything measured so perfectly square I thought it was perfect. One step forward one step back? I'm more embarrassed than anything. Got more momentum on this project than I have had since I got it so I am not going to let it get to me!

[68Timber]

I wouldn't sweat it. That's a small setback at the rate you've been going.

[tinydb84]

And fixed!


Need to clean up the inside of the frame still but at least everything is where it needs to be!

[Joe Pass]

Good your back on track....I thought I was going to have to return watching Street Outlaw re-runs....Saved
I will follow on Instagram also...
Joe

[daddyjeep]

Glad you got it where it needs to be.

New Street New Orleans tonight. No need to watch reruns.

[tinydb84]

I don't think my build thread is that exciting but thanks haha

I was looking at my panhard bar and decided that I wanted something a bit cooler so I ordered this today:

Ordered it from All Day Fab. Seems to have good reviews. 1.5 diameter so it matches my other links and is all tig welded.
I am going to do floating bag cups for the upper mounts using matching 1.5'' tube to hold them in place. Hopefully it comes out cool.

[tinydb84]

I hadn't planned on running a rear sway bar. Then after I started spiraling with the build I decided to do a spindled style bar. I had been putting off buying a rear sway bar because it seems whenever I buy something I don't end up using it forever. So I ordered this today too.

Got my upper tabs welded on

I need to figure out the boxing of them. I need to leave some section of the bottom open so they don't hold water. I have a few ideas going already.
And of course a weld shot

Thats all I got done before I ran out of argon. Man that **** goes fast compared to mig!

[jwilson645]

Are they pieces you cut or pre-fab? Most pre-fab brackets are already this way.

Just trim the bottom of the pieces into a U shape before welding (like the pieces you've already welded to the axle tube) . That'll leave a space for draining.