84 Crew Cab - Project - "The Tank"

[Matman2010]

Well I have been working on the latch system for the gn hitch. So far so good. I needed a long pin and I couldnt find a really long pin so I took two pins and welded them together. The weld does not have any kind of force on it other than when you pull on the pin to release the ball. So it should be good to go.

Here is the pin. It is two 5/8s hitch pins welded together. You can see the bracket that I made that the springs will push on to push the pin in. It also acts as the stop when the springs bottom out. I put a 5/8s shaft collar on the end of the springs to allow for the pin to be replaced if I ever need to replace it.

Here is a video of how it works. I took it with my phone so sorry about the quality of it.

It does not slide in and out as good as it should right now because I dont have the stopping plate mounted.

 

[Matman2010]

I got the handle started. As you can see I bent it into a U shape. The part that is not connected to the pin will be used to hold the pin out. It will get cut down and when the pin is push in all the way that part will set on top of he frame. When I pull the pin out I will turn the handle and use the frame to hold the pin out. I have to get the rear cross member welded in and then I will mount the stop for the pin.

 

[stan1688]

I was wondering how you were going to keep the pin out while you climbed in the bed to pull the ball. Clever.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Matman2010]

Got the stopping plate and handle all done here is a video of how it works.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/...23401672-356-00000001FC9E6F99_zps321cd152.mp4

 

[Matman2010]

Well tonight I was going to start on welding all of the nuts for the bolts that hold on all of my rear suspension brackets but started looking at some things that i should probably get done before I start doing the boxing.

First off here is a picture of the steel that I will be using

The first problem I noticed was one of the cross members in the truck. The way it is factory made is really going to make it hard to go about boxing in that part of the frame. So I am going to cut it out and replace it with some 2x1/4.

I then also have to push my front rear spring hangers in toward the frame some. When I first mounted them they I did not notice that they where not flat against the frame and so I need to fix that and probably going to add 2 more bolts into the bracket to the frame.

The last thing I need to do is add some support for the bottom of the shackle flip bracket to the bottom of the frame.

One step forward three steps back it seems. Just gotta keep plugging along!

 

[stan1688]

The first problem I noticed was one of the cross members in the truck. The way it is factory made is really going to make it hard to go about boxing in that part of the frame. So I am going to cut it out and replace it with some 2x1/4.

Are you going to mount the new cross member before you take out the factory one? It looks like it could be mounted forward of the factory one since the gooseneck is right behind it. Although, I'm not sure it would be that big of a deal if you didn't. At least the rivets will be easy to get to.

 

[Matman2010]

Yes I think I am going to mount it in the front of that. Because if I mount it right where the cross member is now I will have to drill holes for the bed bolt to pass through and I think it would be best to cut the cross member out after I get the new one in.

 

[82355]

He probably wants it right there, it is between the spring hangers.

Martin

 

[Matman2010]

He probably wants it right there, it is between the spring hangers.

Martin

Ive thought about this but with the cross member just a little farther forward and the boxed frame I really dont see an issue with it.

 

[stan1688]

That, and you could always run some braces back from the middle of the new cross member to the frame rails (kind of a like this: >I ) if it became a concern.

 

[Matman2010]

True but I think this cross member I replaced it with is over kill like most of the stuff in doing.

 

[Matman2010]

Well today I got the cross member cut out and got a new one tacked in place. I seemed to have forgoten to take pictures of it. I will tomorrow. I also added 2 more bolts to my front rear spring hangers and got them all pulled up tight to the frame so they are now correctly mounted. Should hopefully have all the templates I need made tomorrow so I can start cutting some steel!

 

[y5mgisi]

This has been a fun project to watch!

 

[Matman2010]

Thanks man, Im hoping I can get the frame done pretty soon and get it all painted and start putting this thing back together.

 

[Matman2010]

Here is a picture of the new cross member tacked into place.

I was also able to make the templates for the steel for the rear part of the frame.

 

[BAYBLAZER]

nice build up

 

[Matman2010]

nice build up

Thanks man!

Well I started cutting out the steel for the rear. I hate using card board as templates as it flexes to much so when you transfer it to steel its usually to big. But it is probably better to have to grind it to fit so that it is a tighter fit.

 

[Matman2010]

Got the two other pieces cut that I need to cut for the driver side of the frame.

Got one on the passenger side cut and fitted into the frame, have one more cut out for the passenger side still needs fitted and the last one still needs cut out and fitted. Going to head back to the shop here soon.

 

[Matman2010]

And here are the last pieces cut and fitted.

 

[Matman2010]

Well first up my shop is a mess!

I then drilled all of my bed bolts through the bottom of the frame as well.

And I finally got my plates all tacked into place.

Now to just sling 32 feet worth of weld bead at it!