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71K5 - BP71K5's Just for fun build

Update 6/27/2015

Doing some preparation for some big changes.











Ran out of welding gas so I'm done getting my hands dirty for the week. But if you can't guess what's going on, I'm shopping for some new seat belts. If someone can talk me out of using standard 3 point retractable seat belts and provide some info on street able harness belts, I'd be interested...
 
I'm pretty sure corbeua had a set of 4 point harness that just used a seat belt style click together latch. I used em when I put suspension seats in my k5.
 

I almost pulled the trigger on a set of those, but I've read a lot of feedback that the retractable versions are kinda cheaply made and the locking mechanism is touchy. Since my wife and kids come with me on long trips to moab, they'd mutiny if I only had fixed harness versions for 6 hours of hot freeway driving. My favored option at the moment is to upgrade to a standard type 3 point belt which is legal by government standards, and run another fixed harness type belt in super sketchy off-road occasions when needed. Although even then I've read some people find those unhelpful because it's hard to lean out to see obstacles or back up safely. It seems like one of those things that require two different belt designs, even though I'd like to have just one that does both.
 
Update 7/11/2015:

With the frame supposedly rigid now, I decided it was time to try a third brand of radiator. This one is made for the 69-72 chevy truck and looks to be well made, and has some beefy mounting billet aluminum mounting blocks on top and bottom. It's from Entropy radiator. No comments on it until I've got a few weeks of driving on it. I'm afraid of jinxing it.









I also ditched my custom made radiator mounting brackets and opted for this metal cover that doubles as a mount. Only required some sanding down of the rubber isolator a bit so it didn't clamp too tight.





I got it all buttoned up and let it get up to temp and cool down a few times. It hasn't leaked a drop, hasn't needed any extra clamps, epoxy, or funny sealers. Happily uneventful weekend.



While I had the cage out finishing up the underside body to cage tubes, I cleaned up a squeaky spot that didn't have enough clearance between the dash and the a pillar tube. I had to remove some material and then weld in a bit to fill in a spot that had too much cut away.

 
Also had to move some theatre sets for my daughters musical and one of the dads dropped by to help haul stuff in this super nice deuce and a half (I'm told).


 
Radiator and cover look good Brian! It's definitely a solid piece. Hope it works for you.
 
Update 08/19/2015:

Ordered and received some parts from DIY4X, by way of Southern California. :) If anyone remembers my empty truck interior, all of it was sold off and almost offset the cost of a brand new interior seating.



A couple of these were inside.


and a matching version for the rear passengers.



Pretty happy with the result. It's a daily driver version of PRPs suspension seats, but without the built in head rest so they kinda look like the original low backs. The back is vinyl and the rest is black cordura. The vinyl on my last seats just got tore up from sun, kids, tools in my back pocket, etc. Hoping the cordura is a bit more durable in that respect.

Just pictures for now.






Also picked up some this 1-1/4" tube. I wish I would have used a thinner wall because it's heavy stuff even in smaller diameter.


Everybody needs more tools right? And the tube necessitated another one of these things. Will let me do some engine crossmembers and bumper stuff later.



I've been sandbagging updates on this for a bit so I'll have more to post later..
 
Ok, ok. :)

Finding out a good location and tilt angle.


First step was to locate the bolt down points. That was easy since I want to use the same points as the original seat. Plan was to build a tilt forward seat similar to the stock passenger seat. The tilt lets me allow people into the back seat without forcing them to climb over the bedsides.

Used my normal template of wooden pressboard templates and then transfer them onto some 3/16" plate. (Trying to stay under speedhole mikes 1/4" minimum. :) )


Next step was to get some mounting points on the opposite end of the assembly (the seat). When designing something, I kinda like to figure out the opposite boundaries of the task and then work towards the center. I attached some basic 1/8" angle onto the bottom of the seat mounts. The flat bottom lets me add holes on the bottom side that will let me slide the seat back or forward as I grow shorter with age. :) I don't have a need for the driver seat to slide on a daily basis so I figure bolts are good enough to change when needed.


 
Now on to connecting the dots...

Structure to bolt the seat slider down to and be able to tilt forward. Even with the seat tilting forward, there's not a ton of space to squeeze behind the seat and the roll cage so bending the tube around the back of the seat is my plan to get rid of a sharp point that would stick out if I just welded up a square out of straight pieces. Also shown is my tube bending template with the blue tape.




And here's the idea of how they sit together.






The angle bars on the seat will slide on top of flat area on this tube structure. I used the same angle bar and notched it onto the tube.








And there it sits tacked together on some wood support blocks.
 
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And then started working on the tilting portion.

Made some tabs. Drilled the bolt hole for 8 of them in different lengths and then bolted them together so I could sand down the radius and have them all match. Not sure it was necessary, but looks nice.





And bolted all the tabs together to create the hinge parts. Also bent up another tube to connect those with the floor plates.




And tacked together.






I won't bore everyone with the welding process. Let's just say I need more practice, but it came out ok. Bolted everything together now...






And the finale of where I'm at now.....



Next up is latching the back of the seat down to the floor. I have plans for a snap latch and simple release lever. New seat belts are also coming. Stay tuned.
 
transfer them onto some 3/16" plate. (Trying to stay under speedhole mikes 1/4" minimum. :) )



It's gunna fail. :eek1: :D :haha:





Just kidding man. Those front seat mounts look kick ass. I really like where you are going with those. Hopefully that cordura holds up nice, as I'm running the same stuff. :waytogo:
 

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