as there were a few pieces that needed to be fixed 
. so hopefully by wednesday we'll start welding those SOBs on. i hope you guys are a bit more satisfied with the updates. i'll continue posting pics frequently.
) that DIY engine crossmember looks even better in the frame than out!
), check this website I just found. Lots of great tips & tricks for where you're at I especially like the advice of welding your bracket nuts to the inside of the rail. Makes it real easy to assemble everything when you're done coating it. You should also check out Art Morrison as well, because there are some really great shots, details, fab parts, & tips that you could incorporate if you wanted to. 
), I see that you are going to leave in the factory crossmembers & weld in the plate around it. My question is why? 
I just recommend that while you're at this stage to "let it all hang out" Fully box that sucker front to rear, & in the areas where you need crossmembers, have DIY4x build you the same type of crossmember that'll bolt-in in between the rails. Then, not only will you benefit, but all of us first-gen guys will, because there will be more stuff for us to choose from because of the time you & DIY4X have taken as a result of this project. Those custom crossmembers that he builds are awesome as you know, & I'd LOVE to be able to set my truck up with several of them up & down my frame if it's possible. You do the work & I'll benefit from the experience. I'm all about the vicarious living. 
BUDDY said:I really like the work you're doing on this. It really looks great!!
I do have a couple suggestions/questions though
Firstly, (is that a word
I'm especially fond of the through-frame exhaust detail, because I want my exhaust to exit in front of my rear tires up in the quarter panel like you see on the Baja trucks.
Secondly, (I know this is a word
We obviously have access to some fabulous fabricators here on this board, you've got the entire thing broken down, just have some custom crossmembers built up that do EXACTLY what you want to do, where you want to do it.
Don't get me wrong, what you're doing is awesome, & I'd love to have a place to be able to break mine down that far myself. I don't know if I'd have the ambition to finish it, but at least I'd get to work on it that way. Anyways this isn't about me & my lack of workspace, I digress.
You knew there would be some kind of selfish motivation there didn't you.
Anyways, the project is totally awesome, but you're at a point where you can go over the top & it not be obnoxious. I say go for it!
. i hope that answers your questions....
Greg72 said:
Greg72 said:Buddy,
The other reality is that the longer a project takes (by deciding to do more "blingy" stuff) the less likely it is to ever get completed.... you sort of need to decide how far to go and then stick to the plan.
The first link is interesting, but personally it looks bizarre to see a crossmember made of round tubing in a fully boxed frame. Art Morrison does a "boxed looking" crossmember with the exhaust thru-holes which aesthetically looks a not nicer. I doubt it's any more work than the tubular stuff....
The one thing that always concerns me about fully boxing a frame is how to be 100% sure that you don't get water and debris inside the frame somehow....or if there was a way to coat those inside surfaces with a rust-inhibitor that wouldn't burn up as you welded the boxing plates on?? The final challenge is where to locate all the fuel, brake and electrical lines.... the inner frame channel makes for such a nice hiding spot, but you have to give it up once you go with a boxed solution....
Maybe if the rails were completely boxed & sealed, (even in sections), they could be used as air storage & you just blow in some oil every so often to keep it greasy in there, but then you'd have the "oily air" problem & have to have seperators at any outlet. Maybe that's a terrible idea, I don't know, I just like to try to think out of the box.
Greg72 said:
also i hope my 10 pt cage will add more than enough rigidity. i'll also be adding some material to the front end of frame to add some strength when i mount the Sky x-member. in the pics everything is tack welded with an arc welder, as we were having trouble with the MIG last nite, but hopefully those issues will be resolved today & we can get it working and finish off welding everything into place. the pics are of the passenger side.
BUDDY said:You can't powdercoat the inside of the frame with all that primer & paint on it, which is the reason to powdercoat it. You can always touch up the outside of the frame but not the inside once you've done all this work.
Maybe you could try the rust-bullet or POR15 treatment, but you have to be able to apply that stuff to all of the surfaces.
It's a tough situation, I don't know what the solution is.
Good Luck,
Buddy
