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77K5. The IronMaiden...9/2 headed for Blazer Bash 20!

jack of all trades build, overland, dunes, rocks, trails
Overview Gallery Discussion
folkenheath said:
Lot's of progress Dave, can't wait to see it move on it's own!
Click to expand...

Its going slow as far as looks right now. been working on the body mounting and getting the cage bolted back to the frame links. not really pic worthy but its gotta be done. Got a family reunion taking place at my house, so I'll have a lot of people around, hopefully I can get them interested enough to turn a wrench or two whille they're here.

colbystephens said:
Looking really good! I dig your engine cage.
Click to expand...

thanks Colby, thats mostly Kerts work right there. I really like how it turned out though, especially the shock mounts.
 
Well, I'm open to ideas for shock mounts! I'd like to run some long shocks when I install the 4" lift on my new rig, and I think doing something minor,perhaps like tRustyk5 did, would be good.
 
Rene' gave me a thought about putting the shocks into the fenderwell on the drivers side to get them away from the steering shaft. Moving them outboard of the shaft gives you many options, but requires a little sheet metal work on the tubs.
 
Colby on my old blazer I just cut off some Ford shock towers, pretty much positioned them in the same orientation that the stock shocks were in just higher, I can't remember but I am pretty sure I had the mostly stock inner fenders in there for a while. Raised the mounting location about 5".

Worked out well was very easy to do
 
[Hijack] I haven't read much about the Ford towers, but I feel like I heard somewhere that they can cause issues due to the extra leverage. Did you do any gusseting/etc.? The engine cage thing adds some bling factor... more "cool" factor than bling, I suppose. But, I could see how it could get annoying to work around, and add unnecessary weight too. It just looks so damn cool! [/Hijack]

P.S.... wouldn't it be cool if [Hijack] and [/Hijack] actually did something to the text?? :D
 
Just put a disclaimer in your signature. Works for me.




BGKYK5 did a bit in his blog and on his build thread a year or so ago about Ford towers and how he modified/upgraded his to better work. It addressed the cracking/stress issues they have caused.
 
colbystephens said:
[Hijack] I haven't read much about the Ford towers, but I feel like I heard somewhere that they can cause issues due to the extra leverage. Did you do any gusseting/etc.? The engine cage thing adds some bling factor... more "cool" factor than bling, I suppose. But, I could see how it could get annoying to work around, and add unnecessary weight too. It just looks so damn cool! [/Hijack]

P.S.... wouldn't it be cool if [Hijack] and [/Hijack] actually did something to the text?? :D
Click to expand...


It is a cool part of the truck I think, but I really wanted the engine cage also Colby....it will tie in the frame/cage from the radiator (and possibly out to the front stinger bumper) to the rear of the frame, and will support the radiator core support when I make the fenders quickly removable. I am running all wiring/junction block/remote solenoid/hoses along the engine cage to accomodate this future mod. Also the more straight up shock position appealed to me, although the shocks are a few degrees forward tilt the way I mounted them, I understand anything up to 15* is ideal for mounting.



I got the body mounts all in, cept the core support, and started on the tie in links to the frame, The 2 I have in went in pretty good with an alignment tool. The body mounts are all still just shy of being snug, so the body can still move around some, until I get everything put on.
Also worked on the top cover.
My old top has the finish weathered off of it, and is down to strands of glass sticking up everywhere, so for now a quick shot of black to make it one color, and cut the sides off it to have a roof over the pass heads.
So I don't like the cut at the seams on the sides, so I figure I'll trim it up to the window edge in the front, and probably in the back too.
Some options are in pics with the blue tape on the sides.
Any opinions?

001-8.jpg


002-7.jpg


003-4.jpg


004-4.jpg
 
Cut the front, and shape the rear. If it looks retarded at least you can always cut it even with the rest of it.
 
At first I liked your last picture with the front straight too, but since the cage is angled forward Rick's picture does look good, except I would probably keep the rear cut vertical and just shorten it.
 
shady said:


I vote more like this:thumb:
Click to expand...


I like that too Rick, maybe with the cut in the same direction as the cage bar though....It sure would lighten that bitch up some too...It was a handful by myself getting it up there...actually that was the easy part, picking it up off the concrete was the hard part.:eek1:
 
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I think the little points left on the ends would look off and get broke when not on the truck:dunno: thats why I went the rounded approach. :thinking: I actually thought more of a full on U shape when looking from the top. but I couldnt figure out how to show that it paint:D
 
I like Ricks pic too, thats going to be cool. maybe try and round out the front cut too.
 
this is my lame attempt, if someone can accomplish a better pic of this, I'd like to see it.

002-7-1.jpg
 
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