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1986 GMC 3+3 dually build.- cummins swap.. Round 2, 2024 update.

There's a factory support plate that goes on the back side part of that spring hanger that hangs below the frame. LMC sells them :deal:
 
There's a factory support plate that goes on the back side part of that spring hanger that hangs below the frame. LMC sells them :deal:


I wanted to get this suspension totally done over my vacation time this past week. I can now say its done! All there is left to do is wire wheel, wire wheel and wire wheel and rust bullet the bed and frame.

I found 2 pieces of angle iron that were the same width as the frame and then height of the bracket. Ill post pictures in a few.
 
What have you found to be the best way of removing the rivets?

My best technique is my 4" angle grinder, I cut at a few different angles on the head, then grind it smooth so i can see the rivit. Then I take my BFH and just beat the living hell out of all of the frame/bracket/rivit area to shock it all loose, then finish it off with a punch.
 
Today was my last day of vacation to work on the truck ,tmrw is a car show and need to prep for the week of work. My goal after the late start was to brace my dropped down spring hanger. I had plenty of steel around so i got to work. I also spent WAY to much time grinding off the left over steel/welds from the camper mounts.

My gallon of "gold" silver showed up today!

I decided to cut 2 triangular pieces and clamp them to the existing pieces.


Then added a pieces i can later drill thru to make up for the 2 missing bolts.

In order to have a piece under the frame a large angle iron fit the bill, a lil work with a plasma and it fits, this will bolt through that center bolt and I will be adding one additional hole once I put it back up on the truck.



Im kinda proud of this weld, i havent welded in atleast 6months.



I took them both off the truck to final weld it all and make sure I can paint them properly.. thats all for today. The next update should be after I wire wheel the whole back of the frame, clean it up and rust bullet the entire frame on the backside. Being back to work monday will slow me down a bit!
 
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Cut a hole in that backing plate big enough to get a deep well socket through. You'll thank me later.

Martin
 
Well, I have to say you're doing a great job on the Build. I can appreciate your ingenuity to get things done while on vacation and all with broken thumb. Please dont think I'm an Asshole but I think your rear bracket looks horrible. You should take some time to get some stock 4x4 brackets to replace them since everthing else you've been doing is stock looking. Again, just my .2 still great build.
 
Well, I have to say you're doing a great job on the Build. I can appreciate your ingenuity to get things done while on vacation and all with broken thumb. Please dont think I'm an Asshole but I think your rear bracket looks horrible. You should take some time to get some stock 4x4 brackets to replace them since everthing else you've been doing is stock looking. Again, just my .2 still great build.

Why? Who cares what it looks like? It is under the frame, and is probably stronger than factory.

Martin
 
I think it will look fine once they are all welding into place. Besides, no one will see them anyway.
 
Well, I have to say you're doing a great job on the Build. I can appreciate your ingenuity to get things done while on vacation and all with broken thumb. Please dont think I'm an Asshole but I think your rear bracket looks horrible. You should take some time to get some stock 4x4 brackets to replace them since everthing else you've been doing is stock looking. Again, just my .2 still great build.

Keep your .02 cents his brackets look fine and I'm sure they are saving him some money. I hate it when someone spills their heart into something like this and it's criticized for doing something when their own sweat and not making it look like stamped junk. Every person should try something of this difficulty in their life with their own hands instead of just opening their damn wallet.
 
Well, I have to say you're doing a great job on the Build. I can appreciate your ingenuity to get things done while on vacation and all with broken thumb. Please dont think I'm an Asshole but I think your rear bracket looks horrible. You should take some time to get some stock 4x4 brackets to replace them since everthing else you've been doing is stock looking. Again, just my .2 still great build.


Well I will agree with you that they do look like ass mostly because of the sloppy plasma job, this was done at my brothers work so when I came back to the truck they were not perfect and just angle grinded them to fit round the rivits that were under the frame. I can asssure you tho ,they are definitely stronger than stock, especially under the frame because it is much much thicker than stock, and like others have said it is under the frame and once painted you wont notice that the plasma cuts are sloppy looking.
 
Nothing wrong with someone expressing their opinion on a public forum.

These things come up. I always welcome someones brutal honest opinion, doesn't mean we have to agree with it. But hey, good to at least know what others are thinking. And never know, maybe someday you will get an idea from someone else.
 
Nothing wrong with someone expressing their opinion on a public forum.

These things come up. I always welcome someones brutal honest opinion, doesn't mean we have to agree with it. But hey, good to at least know what others are thinking. And never know, maybe someday you will get an idea from someone else.

yeah i dont mind that at all.
 
Nothing wrong with someone expressing their opinion on a public forum.

These things come up. I always welcome someones brutal honest opinion, doesn't mean we have to agree with it. But hey, good to at least know what others are thinking. And never know, maybe someday you will get an idea from someone else.

Ya just saying what comes to mind. Not poring my heart out or anything. I can appreciate what someone builds with what they have. I have made plenty myself. It will be a strong and hidden bracket.
 
So while im wire wheeling the frame tonight and looking how clean the under belly of the truck is with no saddle tanks, I began to think how it would be really great to have one big single tank, maybe a 44gallon burb tank from a mid 90s burb. I have done a bit of searching and so far not a ton of luck with definite answers.

What do you guys think of this idea? I know that having a single tank in the rear makes having a filler neck a bit of an issue. Also having to fab mounts for it.
 
I plan on using one on mine but I am keeping the saddle tanks too. The factory mounts should just swap over if you got a complete set up.
 

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