'83 K10 SB "L1TSBFIBBC" build

[folkenheath]

I can't bend tube and can barely even get my stick welder running but you're telling me YOU can't make some sort of cage assembly that would either include mounting points for your tailgate or allow the bedsides to still be functional?

I'm not saying it can't be done I just haven't decided what I am going to do yet. Once I decide if I will cage and link it I may need to raise the bed floor up for clearance reasons. I could eliminate the whole floor but without inner fenders you end up spitting crap everywhere off the tires and reducing visibility. Everything is a compromise of something else and I just haven't decided which direction I want to take the back of the truck now.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Well, after reading this thread I bet I'm not alone in saying you'll figure it out.

I know the lose in function would be troubling to me. Then again I wouldn't need a suspension like yours or a big block. Guess you'll have to figure out where to compromise between "regular truck" and "long travel suspension and beef".

 

[folkenheath]

Well, after reading this thread I bet I'm not alone in saying you'll figure it out.

I know the lose in function would be troubling to me. Then again I wouldn't need a suspension like yours or a big block. Guess you'll have to figure out where to compromise between "regular truck" and "long travel suspension and beef".

Well thank you. Up to this point it's remained looking pretty stock and fully functional as a truck. I can tow the boat with it, I can haul a quad or whatever in it, stock looking interior with bench seat, easy access, etc.

But once you go cage and eliminate a bed floor it loses a lot of that. And a tailgate with no bed floor would just be weird. So I have some thinking to do. If I could fit the dual 3" exhaust in and still have a bed floor with shocks sticking through it (but still a functioning bed and tailgate) that might be the best solution for me. But I don't know if there is enough room, because if I do cut holes for shocks to stick through they sure won't be less than 18" travel back there, which is a lot of uptravel and comes up close to the bed.

Oh, and the big block, that's the best part for me. My BIL Jason was laughing because since I tuned the governor for better WOT upshifts, on the sand drags I just mash the throttle and steer. And with that front suspension and trackbar setup steering is a breeze, even with one arm. So Jason was cracking up because during several sand drag races I didn't realize it, but I was driving with 1 arm and had my left arm resting on the window sill. So he thought it was funny that everyone was 10 and 2 and super concentrated and there I would be out front of the race just cruising with my elbow sticking out the window going for a drive. I never thought about it that way. But I don't have any bump steer and I don't have to shift, so it's easy now. I was going to put a ratchet shifter on the floor but my wife wanted to keep the floor space because sometimes she rides in the middle if we have 3 people in the truck. So instead I just modded the governor so I don't need to shift. Got to keep her happy so she wants to keep wheelin'!

There was a Jeep there, I never got a close look at it because it never stopped long enough, but he was insanely fast, he would just about flip it over backwards every time when he launched he was so fast, he would have to let off and feather the throttle on the way back down to slow the decent. It was fun to watch him. Was burnt orange color with paddles on the back and some large tube fenderwell headers I believe.

Also, there was a super nice red/white K5 there. Looked like a complete frameoff, he even had the frame gloss black with red accents on a lot of the suspension/bracket pieces. Had a 383 stroker/700R4/NP208. Looked beautiful with the new paint. The 1st thing he said after we raced was, you have a big block?

 

[AJMBLAZER]

No replacement for displacement.

 

[dune jump]

Well, the more time that goes by since this happened the more I consider linking the back this winter, just not sure yet. And the front of my frame was in a crash before I ever got the truck, so it's not like the truck was an all original, pristine frame or anything, the front left frame horn I had to bend back with a bottle jack and a sledgehammer after I bought the truck so I could get that body mount in for the core support.

To be honest, I think the only way I am going to get the strength I need for the truck frame is to put a cage in it. And after that ordeal I should probably have a cage anyway for safety. You can only get so much strength with the height limitations of a ladder frame without creating a "bridge" up top to support it all. That bridge is best utilized as a cage.

I really like having a tailgate and bed though. I used that tailgate as a "bench" when I am wheeling all the time.

We'll see, for now I would still like to get the frame/bed straightened assuming it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

That's what I was hoping you would say...

Let's see those sketches I know you're working on - knowing what you want out of your truck, I would back half the truck, skin your steel bedsides, sell your rear F-O-A's and get some 18" kings, either keep your leaves (you know I love 'em even if they are ancient tech) or link it for ~20" travel, and build a nice fuel cell/tire mount/storage bed and forget about hauling stuff back there. You've proven you like the benefits of wheel travel and love to go fast on the sand. Just give in and go all out - if you want to pull a quad, borrow my trailer. In my opinion you're now past the point of the bed still being useful for what you're trying to do. I may be way off here, but I don't think so...

 

[shady]

You can still have a full cage/bridge AND have a fully functional bed and tailgate. All it takes is general creative fab skills. You know if you cant handle it theres always people on here that can help. Ryokens cage will do that.


I'm sure you can figure out a way to cage it front to back and still leave it looking like a normal truck. I've already come up with a visualization it my head on how to do it and what it would look like. And I havent built a rig on the level of yours yet. Come on man,


YOU CAN DOO EET!

 

[folkenheath]

That's what I was hoping you would say...

Let's see those sketches I know you're working on - knowing what you want out of your truck, I would back half the truck, skin your steel bedsides, sell your rear F-O-A's and get some 18" kings, either keep your leaves (you know I love 'em even if they are ancient tech) or link it for ~20" travel, and build a nice fuel cell/tire mount/storage bed and forget about hauling stuff back there. You've proven you like the benefits of wheel travel and love to go fast on the sand. Just give in and go all out - if you want to pull a quad, borrow my trailer. In my opinion you're now past the point of the bed still being useful for what you're trying to do. I may be way off here, but I don't think so...

I'm not far enough to have sketches yet. Haven't crossed that threshhold. But as you can see, I am becoming more open to possible quite extensive modifications. Although I think the bed can still be useful, it may require some tubes inside of it.

You can still have a full cage/bridge AND have a fully functional bed and tailgate. All it takes is general creative fab skills. You know if you cant handle it theres always people on here that can help. Ryokens cage will do that.


I'm sure you can figure out a way to cage it front to back and still leave it looking like a normal truck. I've already come up with a visualization it my head on how to do it and what it would look like. And I havent built a rig on the level of yours yet. Come on man,


YOU CAN DOO EET!

You don't like my cage/bridge comparison? That's OK...

Just messin Rick, I can take it.

On a more serious note, it's not that I haven't thought of ideas to do what I am saying, it's just I am not sure if I want to go there at this point. And if I do, will I ditch the floor/tailgate and skin it, or leave the bed and make the shocks poke through.

I'll figure it out this winter. In the meantime I need to get the boat back in action, haven't been able to ski for two weeks. And then I want to tinker with the regal at the dragstrip this summer yet too.

Hopefully sometime very soon I can get the frame bent back and still be able to lightly wheel the truck in the meantime while I figure out what the next step is. Because obviously it isn't going to cut the mustard the way it is!

 

[jekquistk5]

I'm not far enough to have sketches yet. Haven't crossed that threshhold. But as you can see, I am becoming more open to possible quite extensive modifications. Although I think the bed can still be useful, it may require some tubes inside of it.




You don't like my cage/bridge comparison? That's OK...

Just messin Rick, I can take it.

On a more serious note, it's not that I haven't thought of ideas to do what I am saying, it's just I am not sure if I want to go there at this point. And if I do, will I ditch the floor/tailgate and skin it, or leave the bed and make the shocks poke through.

I'll figure it out this winter. In the meantime I need to get the boat back in action, haven't been able to ski for two weeks. And then I want to tinker with the regal at the dragstrip this summer yet too.

Hopefully sometime very soon I can get the frame bent back and still be able to lightly wheel the truck in the meantime while I figure out what the next step is. Because obviously it isn't going to cut the mustard the way it is!

I have a pro tools bender and dies and am only about an hour and a half away


Oh yah i will travel as well

 

[ryoken]

"Will travel for Fab"


Heath.. as to the frame machine.. I don't know what the response will be... having rollers on it will definitely help... I've only done a stock 80's F-250, but my boss at the time was a Bigfoot junkie, and I know if I had to do a pull on his lifted Furd on 36's, it would have been more of a pain.....

it's all about anchor points and fulcrums... the higher off the table, the harder that is....

 

[Deuling]

Hey heath wheres the pics?? Everyone is waiting to see how bad it really is.......

 

[max 02]

I`m real sorry you focked up your frame... glad you didn`t get hurt though.

One of the vids you had showed the truck bounceing in the back quite high, I can imagine the last dance was a thrill ride.

Hope you can get it back in shape soon.

BTW off topic but I would love to see any more pics of your dads Willys.


GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Chevy305]

awsome build! That is one sexy short bed. I'm ordering my FAST EFI kit today and I'll be doing the same mods to a factory TBI sending unit as you did. Thanks for the guide

 

[Bent77]

I'm sure with the skill displayed here, the frame fix will be no biggie. This thread is a "how to" for all the guys on here, especially with the detailed explaination of the fuel system and suspension set-ups.

Subscribed

 

[folkenheath]

I have a pro tools bender and dies and am only about an hour and a half away


Oh yah i will travel as well

Thanks for the offer Jess, we'll see what happens this winter I might have to take you up on that.

"Will travel for Fab"


Heath.. as to the frame machine.. I don't know what the response will be... having rollers on it will definitely help... I've only done a stock 80's F-250, but my boss at the time was a Bigfoot junkie, and I know if I had to do a pull on his lifted Furd on 36's, it would have been more of a pain.....

it's all about anchor points and fulcrums... the higher off the table, the harder that is....

Thanks for the input. I stopped by 3 places on Friday afternoon. The first place said ~10 hours and $560. The next place was closed. The 3rd place said they weren't sure they could do it with their equipment and referred me to a different place.

Hey heath wheres the pics?? Everyone is waiting to see how bad it really is.......

Sorry, I'm slacking on that. I'll try to transfer them to the computer tonight, maybe have them up tomorrow.

I`m real sorry you focked up your frame... glad you didn`t get hurt though.

One of the vids you had showed the truck bounceing in the back quite high, I can imagine the last dance was a thrill ride.

Hope you can get it back in shape soon.

BTW off topic but I would love to see any more pics of your dads Willys.


GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanks, yeah, it could of been much worse if I would of flipped it. I definitely wasn't enjoying that part of the ride.

I'll see if we have any more pics of the Willys. That thing was bada$$ with the blower on it that weekend. His rear springs were hurting when he left though. He had removed some leaves from it and no overload leaf and with that much power they didn't look good, even on just sand they were looking like an S already. He is going to put some other leaves on there and he has some caltracs on the way.

awsome build! That is one sexy short bed. I'm ordering my FAST EFI kit today and I'll be doing the same mods to a factory TBI sending unit as you did. Thanks for the guide

Thanks, and you'll like the EFI. It works great even when you are about to flip over forward! It's like the throttle response of a double pumper too.

I'm sure with the skill displayed here, the frame fix will be no biggie. This thread is a "how to" for all the guys on here, especially with the detailed explaination of the fuel system and suspension set-ups.

Subscribed

Thank you, appreciate it. My head does have some ideas spinning around.

For now I think I will have it straightened and use it but take it easy the rest of the summer/fall. Then after hunting season is over I'll tackle it to fix it right.

 

[ryoken]

. The first place said ~10 hours and $560.

that sounds reasonable... 10 hrs of my time is a grand... sometimes it goes quick, but it's one of those ones ya can't rush... too much of a pull or worse yet, wrong pull and ya cause yourself big problems...

it always boils down to how many pulls you need to make, sometimes it's simple and a pull or 2 does it, other times your setting up 6 or more times.... I had a couple bad hits in the collision shop that probably had over a dozen on each...

 

[folkenheath]

Yeah I told the guy I hoped they could just push the rear of the frame back up while holding the middle section solid. And his response was, "I wish that would work, but it's not going to be that easy". I guess I have to take his word on that but I wanted at least one more quote before I did it. I do know that place does good work.

 

[folkenheath]

Here is a video from the dunes, not a very good location but that me in my truck and my Dad in the Willys. You can hear the blower in the Willys over anything else. It looks like I won but I really didn't, he was 2 - 3 truck lengths in front me with the blown 502 by 300 ft, I just kept going for a partial second after he let off!

And here is my Dad's rig all loaded up to go home. He just bought that trailer used for a smoking deal and put a little fresh black paint on it. He has his Willys and quadzilla, my brothers 450 suzuki and his 800 sportsman, my BILs 450R honda, and my cousins Canam 1000.

 

[folkenheath]

Here is what truck looks like now...

Here you can see the bed misaligned with the cab....

Here is the inside of the passenger frame rail. You can see the new exhaust hanger and brakeline, dented tailpipe (barely part of the dent), and also the fact that the bed is contacted the frame, which is bend down in the back pulling the bed down over the frame in the middle.

It's hard to see much here without the before comparison of the angles. It's easier to see in person.

Closeup of bend in frame behind original shock mount location.

and my new extreme shackle angle and rattling tailpipe courtesy of my custom bent frame...

 

[max 02]

Again sorry about your frame.

But thanks for the pics of the Willys!

You guys race looked fun... you truck is oviously no slouch.

And if I seen that trailer driving down the road with all those toys on it I think I would have to give the driver the finger.

LOL TO COOL!

 

[folkenheath]

Again sorry about your frame.

But thanks for the pics of the Willys!

You guys race looked fun... you truck is oviously no slouch.

And if I seen that trailer driving down the road with all those toys on it I think I would have to give the driver the finger.

LOL TO COOL!

Glad you enjoyed them. Sorry I didn't get more pictures of it, the polished blower with dual carbs on top barely fits under the hood, but it looks real nice. We raced several times that day, my truck is about as fast as it's going to get, but this was the first time out with his blower, se he's just getting his dialed in.

And keep in mind that trailer has toys on it from 4 different people, but it does look like a lot of fun!