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Is that a CNC mill or is some one REALLY awesome with an etchiscetch :)
 
2016.03.21 - UPDATE! - M.P.S. DAYS ARE BACK AGAIN.....!!!!!


Yessir! I'm happy to say that it's just a matter of time until "Man-Points Sundays" are back in effect. @NorCal69 is back in the house with his truck and build, and I expect that he'll be announcing the next competition before too much longer.

Remember kids..... it's only 896 more days until BlazerBash 2018. It's never too early to start building and planning your trip! :waytogo:


While I wait for the "official" start of MPS events, there was still time to knock out a few items over the weekend.


I decided that instead of drilling out my wheel centers for a 16-lug setup, it would make more sense to just trim and file the studs on my existing hub so that the newly machined adapters would fit properly. Everything bolted up nice, and I'm just about ready to start burning in some welds to mate the wheel hoops to my lovingly prepared wheel centers..!!!

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From a different angle. Notice that these are my first build photos WITHOUT that big stupid steel column right in the way!!! :D

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It was pretty mind-numbing work, so instead of doing all 4 hubs in one day I rewarded myself with something more FUN.

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The new floor looks really great. It's 152 Lbs as it sits, so it's not the simplest thing to move around the shop with one good arm (OK, at this point it's more like 1.5 good arms since it's feeling mostly better). The original floor appears to be a 16GA stamping, and this one appears to be just slightly thinner than that... but when comparing a fresh, EPDM-coated stamping to a rusted-out original.... I'll take the reproduction part EVERY time. In fact, it looks so nice that I'm tempted to just pick up the reproduction wheeltubs next. It seems like a shame to bolt those crusty old ones on....and at this point, every rusty part that I decide NOT to use is hours of time saved in sandblasting and patching!! :thinking:

The first order of business is laying out all of the cage plate locations on the new bedfloor...

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By my last count, the cage on this truck will have a total of 14 points that connect from the upper cage down into the frame structure below. I also need to cut this lovely new floorpan in a few place to allow me to shift those wheeltubs by 3.5" rearward on each side. The longer wheelbase of this truck created interferences with the factory location of the wheeltub, so I need to make some changes not only to the floor, but also to the inner bedsides where the wheeltubs bolt in...

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More progress tonight!.... I have to say that working with clean, fresh metal is a NICE change of pace and I really enjoy it.


-G
 
Progress look great as always!

Quick question as it relates to something i'm having issues with... It looks like you have modified your fenders and surrounding area to the point a factory inner fender won't bolt in without major modification. Are you going to run inner fenders? If so, modify factory one? Or build something from scratch?
 
Progress look great as always!

Quick question as it relates to something i'm having issues with... It looks like you have modified your fenders and surrounding area to the point a factory inner fender won't bolt in without major modification. Are you going to run inner fenders? If so, modify factory one? Or build something from scratch?

Definitely going to run inner fenders... At this point I think the best method will be to build a wireframe model based on the clearance the tires will need at full stuff / articulation. Then I can either lay up fiberglass over the wire frames or try to use it as a template to build some steel ones. I would need a huge English wheel for that project when the time comes! :)

-G
 
Definitely going to run inner fenders... At this point I think the best method will be to build a wireframe model based on the clearance the tires will need at full stuff / articulation. Then I can either lay up fiberglass over the wire frames or try to use it as a template to build some steel ones. I would need a huge English wheel for that project when the time comes! :)

-G


I'd suggest not doing that easy kindergarten type fab on a a genuine MPS day. You'd be lucky if you even end up with positive points at the end of the day using my highly complex scoring system. :deal:

Just saying times are different and points aren't just given away by sending me a 12 pack the week before to insure your win, like the old days. :D








It's at least a case now. :smile1: :haha:
 
Damn.... I just some some great new headshots done. I was going to going to send you a new one for your garbage can lid.


-G
 
a shame to bolt those crusty old ones on....and at this point, every rusty part that I decide NOT to use is hours of time saved in sandblasting and patching!! :thinking:

Might as well!
 
So.....


A little more doodling and planning on the new bedfloor last night... trying to come up with a good set of templates for all my convoluted cage plates (topside and underneath)... so far I've got 10 figured out, but I still have 2 more to go. The ones nearest the wheeltubs still need some more effort.

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The "catch" is that I first have to cut into the new sheetmetal and shift the entire wheeltub opening by 3-1/2" toward the rear of the truck. This is for two reasons: First, the wheelbase was extended by 2" on my rear suspension design so the axle is further back than normal. Secondly, the factory didn't bother to center the wheeltub to the original 104" wheelbase either!!! :dunno: Even from the factory, the wheel tub was pushed forward by 1-1/2". But I suppose it didn't really matter all that much when the trucks were running around on 29" diameter tires. There's no way the tire would ever full-stuff up into the wheelwell and hit those fenderwells anyway.

With the wheeltub shifted, the end result is much better....

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I have a lot of measuring and double-checking to do, but I'll be dropping the angle grinder down onto the new sheetmetal before well before the VISA bill ever arrives!!! :haha:



-G
 
Your K5's cool factor shouldn't be understated, correction warranted. :waytogo:

It is safe to say coolest in our Solar System and most likely the Universe too.
 

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