72 chevy short fleetside, DM front, 3-link rear. Pics

[bmeredith]

I think it is time that i start a thread, although i don't have much progress yet, because I have a million questions. i quit my job last month so i've had a lot more time to work on my project. i'll start with some progress pictures and then get to some questions.

I got this truck in june of 08:


a week later on my 20th b-day:

[bmeredith]

i started parting out my old truck, all i'm going to use from it is the cab, maybe the doors, and the 700r tranny. i got the rear portion of the cab cut out to get ready for the back-half.


I built the back-half so i can lay out on a 33" tire. I would love to do a 22/24 combo or could settle for 22s around. but i'll be able to but a bumpstop in between the axle and frame.


It actually ended up with about 1.5" more kick-up than i had planned but it'll work. it's just hard to get the angle set right with my HF bandsaw. i was shooting for 17* cuts and noticed when i was done that i was near 1.5* off. thats why it ended up with more kick-up, i just ended up having to make the two rear pieces that go over the axle a little longer.

[slednD1]

love your start man...that things headin down a nice path.
can't wait to see your front end assembled with the rack in it.i'm looking aftermarket instead of strutin' it.

[bmeredith]

all those joints have little plates to have more surface area for the weld.

the rear half continues over a foot into the frame rails

I then boxed the frame with a piece that is a few inches longer than the backhalf

i was even able to bend up a section of the original frame rail on the bottom and lug weld a bunch of holes for even more weld area

[SactoJim]

Off to a good start....nice work.

looks like you wacked a pole pretty good.....reminds me of my 70 SS Nova that I did the same to....you could tell the diameter of the telephone pole just by looking at the front end of the car!

[bmeredith]

i rebuilt some stock 73+ control arms for mock-up until i can get some tubulars. all i did was weld on a bag plate so it won't lay frame with these lowers just because i didn't have any 8" pipe to weld in a cup.

this is what it looks like now in mock-up. i really need to some kind of shrader valve so that i can control the front.

I haven't been able to get much done with the rear suspension because i need to cut off those TA perches. I also need to know what the wheelbase is supposed to be with a DM and is that with the wheel centered in the bed side? none of this is hooked up i just wanted to look at it.

[slednD1]

Sweet

[bmeredith]

So i need some help at the moment: yes, i have searched and searched and searched. i have spent more hours researching for the past 6 months i have no more room in my favorites folder, and i have post-it notes and notecards everywhere in my room with information i've found. sorry for the defense but i'm used to hanging around pirate4x4.com and if you don't have any experience there, it is brutal.

1. what should my wheelbase be now with the DM?
2. is my tailshaft angle down 3* alright? i need to set my pinion angle and i'm thinking 3* up
3. where can i get some cheap shraders or something like that. the only ones i saw were $5 each
4. how much should i narrow my rear end to fit some tires around 32" tall in the wheel well. 2" each side? 3"?
that's all i can think of now, thanks ahead of time

PS: it was a metal streetlight pole. the ones around subdivisions. i'd say 9" diam and 30' tall. ripped the studs out of the ground and fell right over. also knocked over 8 6x6 wooden post that had a 1" cable ran through them on my way to the pole. the only things i was really mad about was th really nice alum. radiator and i bent the stud that hold the air cleaner on so it's hard to line up

thanks slednD1

[killer71]

Nice Start!!!

[slednD1]

there are factory holes in your frame for squaring and straightening mesurements.i'm using a 65 frame and can measure for you if you want.do you have a tram?

[slednD1]

narrowing the rear you need to get your wheel and tire combo and see what your true backspacing is and how much clearance you want.just bolt tires and wheels on and measure overall width,compare that to the distance you have between your outer fender wells,leave at least 1" per side of tire clearance.my step box measures 6' between "outer fenders".are you gonna go drag meats or what?most wheel ads specify available back spacing also.

[bmeredith]

Originally Posted by slednD1

do you have a tram?

i'm not sure what you mean

assuming that are wheelbases would be the same and that our body mounts are also. why don't you give me a measurement from the rear most cab body mount back to the front of the axle tube. but you know what happens when we assume. so if the body mounts aren't the same maybe something else is. is your tire centered in your wheel well when the truck is low?

i figured that's what i'll have to do with my rear axle but i guess i was just thinking somebody might be able to recommend, say, 3" narrower w/ 3" BS. Mostly because i won't be able to buy 24" rim and tires until i can find another job

[BowTieMan]

Originally Posted by bmeredith

i'm not sure what you mean

assuming that are wheelbases would be the same and that our body mounts are also. why don't you give me a measurement from the rear most cab body mount back to the front of the axle tube. but you know what happens when we assume. so if the body mounts aren't the same maybe something else is. is your tire centered in your wheel well when the truck is low?

i figured that's what i'll have to do with my rear axle but i guess i was just thinking somebody might be able to recommend, say, 3" narrower w/ 3" BS. Mostly because i won't be able to buy 24" rim and tires until i can find another job

A tram is a measuring tool used for doing body work and measuring if something is square on a frame, or body, or anything really.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by bmeredith

1. what should my wheelbase be now with the DM?
~2" longer than stock at ride height- so, 117" or so...
2. is my tailshaft angle down 3* alright? i need to set my pinion angle and i'm thinking 3* up
You're thinking right.
3. where can i get some cheap shraders or something like that. the only ones i saw were $5 each
Unfortunately, that's about the going price. I've heard NAPA has them cheaper...
4. how much should i narrow my rear end to fit some tires around 32" tall in the wheel well. 2" each side? 3"?
Depends on wheel width and backspacing more than tire diameter. Get us some specs and we can help you out.

**

[bmeredith]

thanks for the help bowtieman.
in that case, no, i don't have a tram. but i'm sure you already realized that if i had to ask what it was

[BowTieMan]

Lol ya... I knew cause I used to work at a body shop... but before that I never heard of one.

[bmeredith]

thanks for the help gringoloco, i appreciate it.

I got some work done today on my wishbone. all the links are 2x2x.188 with bushings at all the ends. yes, i know it's not ideal to have bushing at all ends but this truck will never see any side to side action so i'll run these untill i come across some free joints!

[see ten]

Before you spend money having the rear narrowed try looking for a donor that's pretty close to what you need. I think Jkade is using a Ford explorer rear which is 60" from flange to flange. Supposedly they're durable axles and can be found for cheap with disc brakes.

[bmeredith]

i've spent most of this last week digging and pulling a few trucks, including mine, out of a muddy field but i've had some time to work on this truck.

I got the link bars fully welded, smoothed and primered, the frame mounts fully welded, and the bag mounts fully welded. i also bolted my tube bender back down and went crazy with a couple sticks of tubing. half of it is just tacked in to see if i like it there or not. i haven't yet decided on the final layout but either way, it'll be overkill.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Thats lookin sweet

[bmeredith]

it's been a while but i had some time to dust this project off and do some work on in.
Dropped in the 383 and 7004, once i can put new cam bearings in it, i'll put it back together.
built a tranny mount with trick little I.D. tube clamps
and built the front crossmember along with some for frame boxing and smoothing.

on the to-do list before i can tear the frame down and paint it: fab up rear sway bar similiar to currie anti-rock unit. front sway-bar mounts, front bumper mounts, shock mounts, air tank mounts, and cab/bed mounts.

[bigguy69]

looks good!!

[67cheby]

WOW looks amazing !!

[bmeredith]

thanks guys

[CheyenneShop]

[QUOTE=bmeredith;3642264]

on the to-do list before i can tear the frame down and paint it: fab up rear sway bar similiar to currie anti-rock unit. front sway-bar mounts, front bumper mounts, shock mounts, air tank mounts, and cab/bed mounts.

Well get to it!

Awesome project.