4.21 UPDATE Topless Suburban on Rocks - NARROWED Front ROCK

[54inches]

Thanks guys!

I started thinking about it and I have ALOT of work that CAN be done, before I need to spend some money, well any real money that is.

I spent some time this weekend media blasting parts in my cabinet and it gave me the fortitude to go grab the rock and Narrow it.

As promised:

Rolling her into the garage; and yes that is an Air over hydraulic lift. Love it!

The tops are for the Rear and the bottoms are for the front.

I am using Dan's formula fro Pirate, with more pictures.

Here is the side of the axle showing the knuckle end to the right with the perimeter weld where we are going to make our cut inboard from that.

The tools of choice and yes I did the mock-up in flip flops.

The crosshatch is the perimeter weld and the large X is the 7 15/16" area that we are going to remove.

Scoring the perimeter with a cutoff wheel.

This is the bottom showing my two scores from opposite sides coming together just as planned.

Progress; take your time and slowly work around evenly and you will have a nice edge.

This is to show the jack supporting the knuckle while I am making the through cut.

Measure from the cut down 7 15/16", make the same marks and cut again.

The section removed weighed 16 lbs.

 

[54inches]

You will need these two 1" x 4 3/4" metal strips bent at a 90 degree at 2 1/4".

Now I need to disassemble the other side to get reference angles so as to weld everything back on square and plumb.

Tacking up the bent strips.

The rest, is measure, measure, remeasure and measure again to make sure all of the angles are correct. Invest in a magnetic angle finder and if the budget allows, a digital level. If you have facilities to make a jig and through bar to center everything, then that is best.

I did the best with what I had and it came REAL close and I think is going to work very well.

I welded with a Hobart 187, with .035 wire, 75/25 Argon CO2 on power 7 with a wire speed of 60 iirc.

I did top left, bottom right, front left, back right and then top right, bottom left, front right and finished with back left.

These were the first passes.

I ran two more on each side the same pattern and then a final slower passes.


Top

Back

Front

Through the smoke you can see through to the other side.

I hope this helps!

 

[54inches]

The 2nd to last picture looks off, but it is just the angle of the outer increasing and being at an odd angle; everything is square and plumb.

 

[63chevyll]

Please tell us you didn't do all that work in sandals.

Besides the potential for a broken toe,looks good

 

[Big Ray]

Yay!!! best news I heard all day!!

 

[54inches]

No sir, as mentioned, jsut the mock up, then I put on overalls, steel toes, and a welding jacket.....lol

 

[54inches]

Thanks guys!

The truth is, besides the little bit of tech in one thread over at pirate there are literally no other how-tos out there,so I said why not.

 

[kgblazerfive]

Looks like it work to me, sandal flash would have been painful

 

[ashman]

I love the in depth write-ups on stuff like this. thanks for doing it. look forward to more.

 

[54inches]

Looks like it work to me, sandal flash would have been painful

I have welded with no shirt or shoes on right before I headed out to go to the beach, so I would have a nice tan. I was single then. lol

I love the in depth write-ups on stuff like this. thanks for doing it. look forward to more.

You are welcome and thank you! I hope to have more!

 

[munepit]

Awesome! Looking good!!

 

[Chevy305]

Beautiful welds

 

[imiceman44]

Been there done that, I learned the hard way not to do it again.
Especially welding with sandals.

I have welded with no shirt or shoes on right before I headed out to go to the beach, so I would have a nice tan. I was single then. lol

 

[54inches]

Thanks guys!

 

[jt512]

Awesome to see your back at it

Those rocks are huge, really puts it in perspective to see how much that "little " chunk weighs

Keep the progress going

 

[54inches]

I am think about getting 4" spring perches from chuckstrucks, but I think they kinda look retarded. What do ya'll think?

So, let's have a math lesson here:

Front B52 bracket: 3"
Sheetmetal work: 4"
Chuckstrucks SP: 4"
4" lift 52" Rear Springs: 8"

That would be a Grand Total of 19" of some LIFT.

Now for the Rear:

ORD Shackle Flip: 6"
(with longer Front hanger)
ChucksTrcuks 4"SP: 4"
Sheetmetal work: 4"
6" lift Springs" 6"

And that would be 20" of Lift.

With that combo or something resembling that the ride should be that of a
Cadillac, but I am really rethinking those Spring Perches......maybe just some
2" ones and more Sheet metal work.....

Again, any opinions?

Just quoting some stuff so I can keep up with the math; don't mind me.

good to see you online, The dana 60 is still occupying space in my garage, haven't had time to get it under my K5 yet either

You still around jimmy?

 

[54inches]

I boxed up alot of the Burb/Blazer engine brackets and wiring for the move, but I hope to get to work on stitching up the body and working on the front fenders.

I want to raise the fender-wells, move forward about 4-5", delete the front fangs, delete the rear portion of the fenders to the height of the deleted rockers. Time will tell, with the National Races in town and tickets, I will be busy Saturday.

 

[54inches]

Just got my Rockwell ubolts, plates, perches, shock mounts and rear lift springs. I have to get the springs brought down to Houston, but I have some blasting, grinding and painting to do first before I hang anything.

 

[54inches]

Decisions, decisions....

Rockwell Mounting SEX!

Also sand blasted most of the front axle parts, so I can throw it back together.

 

[kgblazerfive]

My vote is for the middle ones