rocker+22's=?

[bagged01extcab]

Well I thought I would post some pics and info about my current project. The truck will be bagged, body dropped, and shaved on 22's!

I started by modifying my lower control arms.I shaved the lip off of the sides, plated the bottom and added a piece of pipe in the middle for the bag to sit in.

[bagged01extcab]

I then modified the uppers. I didn't really care for the look of them so I tried to make them look a little better by cutting the center out and plating them solid!

[bagged01extcab]

After finishing the control arms, I did an 1.5" crossmember drop. This is a little more than what you can run with stock steering, but I'm planning on running a rack.

[bagged01extcab]

With the control arms modified, 3" drop spindles, and an 1.5 crossmember drop, I was an 1 1/8 from laying frame. BUT, that wasn't low enough!

[bagged01extcab]

So, I removed the cab and welded in some 2x4 tube. This allowed me to cut 2" off the bottom of the frame rail. I then did a 3" z to get the rails to layout!

[copperchevy]

Looks good. Keep the pics coming. Is it just me, or is that front passenger frame rail look a little bent.

[bagged01extcab]

I then reinforced the Z and the area in which i put the tubing and painted the area under the cab.

[72BlckButy]

looks good, keep it up.

[bagged01extcab]

The next step to get a little lower was to raise the body mounts on the bottom of the cab a 1/2". I would make up for this on the front rails, by lowering them an extra 1/2". I also stripped and painted the bottom of the cab while it was off.

[bagged01extcab]

After putting the cab back on, I cutt the pinch weld plus about a 1/4" of the rockers off.The front finally had the stance that I wanted! The tires clear the firewall, but I will be tubing it in the future, so that I will be able to turn at ride height.

[bagged01extcab]

Originally Posted by copperchevy

Looks good. Keep the pics coming. Is it just me, or is that front passenger frame rail look a little bent.

Ya, It was bent some from a previous owners repair. The bumper fit fine, but the rail was just a little tweaked. I did fix this when I z'd the front.

Thanks for the compliments!
Trey

[bagged01extcab]

After getting the stance in front, I finished the z in front of the frame. In order allow more room for the rack, I replaced the crossmember just in front of the engine crossmember with a piece of 2x4 tube. I also reinforced the z in front, and straightend a previously bent passenger rail.

[bagged01extcab]

I test fitted the motor and tranny and built a new tranny crossmember. The tranny is a 6 speed from and LT1 camaro.

[bagged01extcab]

At this point I still needed to setup the rack & pinion, but moved on to the back in order to get a "rolling" chassis. The first thing I did was to remove all of the old crossmembers and brackets. I then put in a piece of 2x4 tube across the back of the frame and built my own notches also out of 2x4 tube. Once I installed the notches, I boxed in most of the rear frame rails.

[bagged01extcab]

Before I reached this point, I decided to order a KP Components rear 6 link and a watts link. I could have fabbed this, but Why? KP has an extremely well designed and well built product. To be honest, If I would have known about the pb crossmember, I would have also went that route on the front. I also ordered a summit racing cell and built a platform for it in the rear frame rails.

*EDIT* I also welded up most of the holes in the frame before painting!

[bagged01extcab]

I went ahead and painted the rear, as you have noticed in the above pic. I still need a little longer dog bone for the canti, so that the shocks will fit. You should also be able to see in the above pic, where I built the crossmember in front of the rear end. I still have to gather the parts for the rear disk conversion (thanks glock35!) and am going to put an lsd in the 3.73 12 bolt.

After going back to the front, I realized there was not enough room between the stock control arms and the harmonic balancer. I ended up buying a set of strong arms. This gives me an extra 1 1/4". IF that's not enough room, I
will have to buy a 6" balancer. Also. switching control arms caused me to be about 9/16" from laying in the front. I have parts to make upper cups. I believe I can use upper cups and do a little trimming on the spring pockets and get what is needed to lay again. In the meanwhile, I welded up everything on the passenger fender and got it in primer. I also stripped all of the paint off of the cab, both front doors and both fenders and primed. Here's some pics of how it sits now! I haven't touched the truck since the 1st of dec, but I hope to be able to work on it again soon. I've just been waiting on it to warm up a little.

[Dinos63]

nice work and man you have done a ton of it ! looks killer

[bagged01extcab]

Originally Posted by Dinos63

nice work and man you have done a ton of it ! looks killer

Thanks! That means alot coming from somebody with the quality & quanity of vehicles that you have! It toke lots of planning and measuring, and lots of late nights. I done all of this in 2 months. I worked on it everyday after work, and all weekend, every weekend!

[chevyrestoguy]

Love it! From the pictures and the verbage, it sounds like you've got alot of energy and the skills to match. Can't wait to see more pictures.

[PBFAB.COM]

Man that's A LOT of work!

The trucks looking great.... how's the rack coming?

[bagged01extcab]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

The trucks looking great.... how's the rack coming?

Thanks for the compliment! I haven't messed with the rack since I got the new control arms mounted. I'm doing all of this in my carport, and it's been a little colder than I'm willing to work on it in. I really need to get off my arse, bite the bullet and work on it even though its been cold!

Thanks again for the compliment!

[kainzien]

Man thats going to be a whipass truck.. I thought about some 22's for my 81 but, I'am not sure I can pull them off without starting over..

[BaddBusa2005]

t56 man, I love it.

[Malo83]

[boatpuller]

Originally Posted by Malo83

i'm with malo on this one.