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I definitely want to divide my future shop into a clean and dirty side with those heavy duty plastic flap curtains
 
Same post.

Martin

1) That was not directed at any individual
2) It was not used as a direct insult
3) I said "typically", meaning not all of them but most
4) As an electrician, I can make fun of other electricians, duh
 
The frame under my truck has always been questionable with a least one front impact in it's history which was fixed poorly in the steering box area. I had to repair the rear of the frame last spring around the shock mount and now I've found some other cracks that I could repair however I don't see the point when I have a farm fresh frame sitting on the side of the house. I actually bought this a few years ago when I first got the truck because my original plan was to swap frames and I ran across this for under $100.

IMG_4308sm_zpsqnhip3bn.jpg


I'm taking a step backwards but I'll feel better welding hoops and brackets, crossmembers etc. on this straight crack free frame rather than the old junk I'm on now.
 
Big project, you going to "build" the frame first (boxing, blast, paint, etc,) before or just swap-a-roo??
 
Big project, you going to "build" the frame first (boxing, blast, paint, etc,) before or just swap-a-roo??

Yep.

Need to strip all the unneeded brackets and crap off it first.


Smart to do this now rather than after you've done even more work to the old one.

I figure the only real work I'm losing is the sliders. Sure I spent some time removing rivets and installing the flip, A-Bomb, rear shock crossmember, fuel tank etc. but that stuff all unbolts and swaps over.

Rear driveshaft will need to be shortened, the front purchased because I'm adding the eco box/th400 so it's a good time to also reevaluate the wheelbase.

I don't want to get too stupid here as I plan to wheel this truck all summer but I want to be smart about it as well.
 
Yep.

Need to strip all the unneeded brackets and crap off it first.




I figure the only real work I'm losing is the sliders. Sure I spent some time removing rivets and installing the flip, A-Bomb, rear shock crossmember, fuel tank etc. but that stuff all unbolts and swaps over.

Rear driveshaft will need to be shortened, the front purchased because I'm adding the eco box/th400 so it's a good time to also reevaluate the wheelbase.

I don't want to get too stupid here as I plan to wheel this truck all summer but I want to be smart about it as well.

The plasma works awesome on those stupid rivets. Fastest thing I've used yet.
 
I was thinking about trying that....

If you had to box the frame again would you buy DIY's kit or pick up a sheet and cut your own with a plasma? I'm leaning toward just doing it myself.

Try it. It's awesome if you just make circular patterns on the rivet head, it goes away and anything left is slag.

I'm 50 50 on the frame kit. It's convenient but then not. Every frame is a bit different so it's hard for them to nail it perfectly. You're starting with basic shapes but it's not split around the areas like the motor mounts.

I say do your own. It's gonna take a little longer but you'll be closer to what you need. Can't beat the cardboard cut outs.
 
Try it. It's awesome if you just make circular patterns on the rivet head, it goes away and anything left is slag.

I'll give it a shot :D

I'm 50 50 on the frame kit. It's convenient but then not. Every frame is a bit different so it's hard for them to nail it perfectly. You're starting with basic shapes but it's not split around the areas like the motor mounts.

I say do your own. It's gonna take a little longer but you'll be closer to what you need. Can't beat the cardboard cut outs.

That was more or less what I was thinking and planned to do. I know I can save some money and I'll end up spending more time however I have all the right tools to do the job.

I know the frame contours are a bitch...
 
I'll give it a shot :D



That was more or less what I was thinking and planned to do. I know I can save some money and I'll end up spending more time however I have all the right tools to do the job.

I know the frame contours are a bitch...

The contours definitely suck. So much grinding and checking! I don't even have a front crossmember in yet and when I shake one of the front horns on the truck the entire truck shakes. I was really surprised at how much of a difference even doing the front made. I'll finish it off after I LQ swap haha!
 
I received my TP Tools blast gun upgrade kit which was a HUGE improvement over the POS HF gun that came with the cabinet. Made quick work of the crusty th400/np208 adapter.

Here's the adapter blasted, primed, painted and installed on the th400
IMG_0420sm_zpsvrra2htn.jpg


Then I found out the eco box holes weren't lining up with the adapter, in fact 5 out 6 were lined up so I had to play with clocking a little more. This is what I ended up with, for now anyway....
IMG_0421sm_zpseuslhwxr.jpg


here it is all snugged up

IMG_0424sm_zpsg7l1okab.jpg


IMG_0423sm_zpsitbkjtjf.jpg


As you can see in this configuration the NWF foot appears to be flat with the t-case clocked up 1.5"-2" (roughly). I'm going to start with this configuration and see how it lays out in the chassis.

I don't particularly care for the location of the eco box shifter as it will likely interfere with the cab floor sitting at the 1 o'clock position. There is one other mounting configuration for the other half of the eco case and that would rotate the shifter clockwise 100sh degrees or so down putting it in a 4-5 o'clock position. Not sure if the JB fab shifters will work with that orientation anyway, more on that later.

While I had the compressor warmed up and the vacuum running on the blast cabinet I went back to an old project I stopped because of the crappy HF gun.

IMG_0427sm_zpswpuiwzkd.jpg


I bought these covers at the Pomona Swap meet a couple years ago and they had been sprayed with black semi gloss paint and looked like shit. So I stripped and blasted them so they could get a coat of black texture paint and I'll sand the top for the machined look.

IMG_0430sm_zpshhtahcye.jpg
 
Wish I would of known I have a mod Harbor Freight blasting cabinet that works awesome and someone with knowledge to get all parts needed anytime.
 
Valve covers look good!

So does that drive train set up :bow:

Thanks. I actually started sanding the tops of the covers last night, they'll look even better soon.

Wish I would of known I have a mod Harbor Freight blasting cabinet that works awesome and someone with knowledge to get all parts needed anytime.

It wasn't really anything all that technical, it's well known that the HF gun is junk. Several product reviews including some on garage journal recommended the TP Tools upgrade so I went for it. $100 well spent :thumb:

That drivetrain is awesome looking. Should be beef!

Thanks, I'm excited to beat on it :D
 
:popcorn:


Way late to the party as usual, but here I am
 

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