'72 K5 - Greg's @MightAsWellK5 Build

[blazinzuk]

I like the new fender idea. I actually like the increasing radius idea ( top shorter, sides wider.

Nothing cooler in my mind than a fender that fits the tire perfectly.

Although the one thing I hope you never find Greg I found. I made the body work on Horton ( at one time many moons and hundreds of feet of tubing ago) removable easily, then I proceeded to smash most all of my mounting points

I kind of don't think you will be hitting the types of trails that I do though.

Even though its a second gen my dually will be getting some type of this fender treatment to fit someday 38s or 40s with only 2" of lift

 

[Greg72]

Updates....

Welding up the new shape:

Wireframe pattern complete...

Installed, with axle set at 104" and some backing paper to help improve visibility of the new shape... (full bump)

At ride height:

...and a 3/4 shot for a different perspective.

Not perfect, but heading in the right direction... I think this is a promising start.


-G

 

[blazinzuk]

Something about the trailing edge and the leading edge is off to me. Proportions not quite right.

Lets see full bump with the tires turned

 

[Greg72]

Hard right...

Left turn from above...

I agree... The shape needs to be improved on the two ends. Maybe a slightly larger radius, raised 1" and then more "squared off" at the ends like the stock fender....


-G

 

[ashman]

I agree... The shape needs to be improved on the two ends. Maybe a slightly larger radius, raised 1" and then more "squared off" at the ends like the stock fender....


-G

yeah, I was thinking the same thing. At least in the front I think the angle needs to be almost vertical for the last couple of inches before it reaches the bottom of the fender.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Greg, you might want to stuff one tire at a time (if you haven't already) as i'll bet it stuffs tighter than you think.

 

[chulisohombre]

Lookin good. All kinds of stuff I've been missing. Subscribed again. Lol. I keep forgetting all these driveway builds.

 

[Greg72]

Changing gears for a second.

This is a boss on the engine block that is already giving me trouble (as evidenced by the scratched paint). It's on the forward part of the passenger side and although it has a drilled hole into the bottom of it, it does not appear to have a plug installed for anything.

Can I feel confident grinding this down to match the angle of the surrounding block area or am I going to end up cutting into a cooling passage, oiling passage or whatever?

EDIT: Is this the mechanical fuel pump boss? That would make sense... This engine requires an electric fuel pump so maybe the was just left behind from the older block casting they based this engine on?




-G

 

[colbystephens]

Greg, you might want to stuff one tire at a time (if you haven't already) as i'll bet it stuffs tighter than you think.

I was going to suggest the same thing, because as I'm sure you're aware, you introduce angle into the equation when one tire is raised and the other is at droop. The more the angle of the axle, the more the outside corner of the high tire is going to rise, and thus require more tire clearance..

 

[76zimmer]

Greg a couple things...how much clearance is there at turned full stuff between the tire and floorpan...I know it can be an issue on 2nd gen trucks, also have you stuffed the pass side while allowing max droop on the drivers....that articulation has wasted a few fender lines from what I've seen.

That boss on the block isn't the fuel pump. The fuel pump is similar to shape and placement as a SBC is. I'm thinking it may be a mounting point for another non automotive application?

 

[tRustyK5]

Those appear to be image tags...or the worst ascii art I've ever seen.

 

[max 02]

Those appear to be image tags...or the worst ascii art I've ever seen.

Was that because of me you said that? I was trying to post pics of your old 454 block were the fuel pump boss is!

Focking new photobucket is screwing with me... I give up for tonight!

 

[ryoken]

I've gotten used to the new pb, but by far the biggest issue I've found is where before my main album with 2500 pics was all broken down into pages that you could pick from, now it has to load all on one page.... which takes eleventy yrs to do with 2500 pics... so all my older stuff is like impossible to view...

loving the new project Greg... I look for projects to do with round rod, it's fun to work with!

 

[tRustyK5]

Was that because of me you said that? I was trying to post pics of your old 454 block were the fuel pump boss is!

Focking new photobucket is screwing with me... I give up for tonight!

Yeah...it was sorta funny until you deleted the posts.

 

[Greg72]

Greg a couple things...how much clearance is there at turned full stuff between the tire and floorpan...I know it can be an issue on 2nd gen trucks, also have you stuffed the pass side while allowing max droop on the drivers....that articulation has wasted a few fender lines from what I've seen.

That boss on the block isn't the fuel pump. The fuel pump is similar to shape and placement as a SBC is. I'm thinking it may be a mounting point for another non automotive application?

Dave,

I haven't spent a lot of time cycling the suspension in a "one wheel up, one wheel down" configuration but I will eventually. A couple of things working in my favor are links instead of leafs and pretty long link lengths (lowers are ~45"). Geometrically that helps insure that the axle stays pretty square to the frame even when cycled fully, so the effect you describe should be minimal. I've still got room between the firewall and the tire under full compression and turning... If I run out of room, there's always the option to put a bulge in the floor to accommodate the tire. The passenger side floor already has a pretty good sized bump in it for the upper link mount!!

The engine boss could very well be for some other application, I think there is a similar one at the same spot on the DS too. It's got a hole machined about 1" deep in it, almost like it was some sort of locating "index" to drop the motor down onto a set of pins or something. I'm hoping I can grind it down flush (or close to it) or my upper link is going to smash it......failing that, I'll have to move the mount a few inches forward so that it's closer to where it was before I pulled the axle back almost 3"!

I've gotten used to the new pb, but by far the biggest issue I've found is where before my main album with 2500 pics was all broken down into pages that you could pick from, now it has to load all on one page.... which takes eleventy yrs to do with 2500 pics... so all my older stuff is like impossible to view...

loving the new project Greg... I look for projects to do with round rod, it's fun to work with!

I am not a fan of the "new and improved" PB either. I've only got 980 photos in my K5 gallery and it loads really slow. I hate how tedious it is to load photos and make sure they don't end up in the "library" directory by accident.

The round rod is fun! I learned a tough lesson last night though... I had a small diameter 1/8" rod bent and welded at both ends of my fender and under tension holding a beautiful curved shape for the fender. I went to tack the center to lock it down and as soon as I put the spot weld on it, the heat relaxed the metal and the rod lost its curved shape immediately! Now I've got a fender curve shape with a big "kink" right in the middle of it!

-G

 

[Greg72]

2013.03.27 - UPDATE! - "FANG-TASTIC" FENDER PROGRESS...

It was obvious to me (and a number of folks here) that my first attempt at a larger fender opening did NOT faithfully reproduce the look of the original 1972 fender. I kept plugging away at it again tonight and feel a lot better about how it's looking.

Things went so well that I was even able to get the signature 1st Gen "fang" back into the design... Take a look!

For those that don't recognize it, that front section adds a subtle little "point" to the side profile of the fender. It's a neat, unique touch that almost always gets chopped off when large tires have been installed. I'm pleased that it is making a comeback on my truck in this build.

Here's as slightly different angle from the inside...

....and now a larger view of the entire new fender layout. (full stuff)

And at ride height:

Astute viewers will also notice that the rear edge of the fender has been reworked as well to incorporate the original "taper" that straightens out the curve as it passes across the style line and heads down toward the rocker area... It looks much more natural and "correct" to the original factory design.

One more "bonus" shot for Zim: (one wheel up / one wheel down) hard right turn...

Overall, it was a very satisfying evening. Now I am much more relaxed about being able to render a good looking set of front fenders that will clear the tires and full suspension travel once everything is completely dialed-in.


-G

 

[westn11]

Awesome stuff!

 

[ashman]

Nailed it!
The extra time put into the front fang really paid off. Nice work again Greg.

 

[kellyjohn]

Very nice work Greg!!

I will admit, most of the 1st gen trucks i have checked out must have eliminated the "fang" as you said.


Your efforts were well worth it.

They add some great character to the rig and show off some nice fab work at the same time!

About the casting sections on the block, I could be wrong, but they do look like dowel holes for a positioning fixture to keep it secure while travelling through the various stages of the machining/production line.
I saw similar when I built and installed the guarding for a new Chrysler engine line in Windsor, back in the early 80's.

 

[Engineered Vintage]

Greg - that looks great. I agree that the fang "needed" to be there.

Looks much better - and with the original fender "flare-bump" that the stock fenders have surrounding the opening - may even pass as a stock fender to non-astute observers! Are you planning on adding those back in? (I was assuming you were?)

Great work!