87 K5 Build...Hmmm, whats that Ryoken up to? stay tuned...

[hunterguy86]

That looks so awesome! The work you do is amazing.

 

[CumminsChick]

i'm extermely impressed and the moment i opened this thread and saw your dash all i could think was that is EXACTLY what i want in the burb, just with more/diff guages to run my cummins! excellent work, keep us posted bc i'm very very interested.

 

[ryoken]

Thanks all!

This project was really born of function.. How it ended up looking was pretty inconsequential.. For it's purpose, I think it ended up looking pretty good...

It's certainly rocksolid and built to last... Now I just need to pick up another Windstar setup at some point to have some spare motors...

I do really like how the top comes forward and tucks under the lip of the rad support, it's a nice little shelf... Now I just have to refrain from laying tools on it! I've already found it useful for leaning on...

Once the engine compartment is a little more settled in, I'm gonna hunt down some industrial warning stickers, think it'll add a little comedic smirk to the compartment..

Something lightning boltish over on the electronics box and maybe some "finger-choppy" ones for the shroud... Something rectangular out by the fans...

Anyone know any good sites for that stuff? customizable warning stickers?

 

[fireplug]

Once the engine compartment is a little more settled in, I'm gonna hunt down some industrial warning stickers, think it'll add a little comedic smirk to the compartment..

Something lightning boltish over on the electronics box and maybe some "finger-choppy" ones for the shroud... Something rectangular out by the fans...

Anyone know any good sites for that stuff? customizable warning stickers?

Only place that I know of that you guys have south of the border is Acklands Grainger, though there it might only be called...Grainger? They sell all kinds of industrial 'warning' stickers. I doubt they have customizable ones but it's a good starting point. At my last job we put "This is not a Step" stickers on the steps of equipment and step bars of the trucks. It was excellent to watch the new guys work it out!

 

[ryoken]

 

[NEK5]

 

[ryoken]

Almost forgot.... At some point I'll check amp draw on the 2 motors.. Other priorities at the moment... I'll will say this, they do suck a fair amount of juice.. Makes me glad my bat system is overkill...





maybe this for the electronics box

or

haha, I got it..

 

[Dafey]

Ok you asked what I didnt like or what I`d do diffrent..?

Ok Theres this , I`d make it smaller.I`m not sure how though

Thats it in this thread...I must be thinking of something else from another thread , when I said there was a few things I didnt like.


On the other hand...I am sorta copying your gauge panel. Except on mine I left the a/c controls and radio in.I put the switches in the same place as yours and 2 gauges in the upper right where the vent was.
And Im thinking to copy your head liner.But mine is is 100% original shape I hate to mess with it...

But all that really matters is that YOU like it.

 

[dremu]

I do really like how the top comes forward and tucks under the lip of the rad support, it's a nice little shelf... Now I just have to refrain from laying tools on it! I've already found it useful for leaning on...

Once the engine compartment is a little more settled in, I'm gonna hunt down some industrial warning stickers, think it'll add a little comedic smirk to the compartment..

Yeah, I discovered that leaning on my factory fan shroud led to it becoming fan shred ... doh. So I marked it to remind me:

-- A

 

[1978Blazerk5]

Almost forgot.... At some point I'll check amp draw on the 2 motors.. Other priorities at the moment... I'll will say this, they do suck a fair amount of juice.. Makes me glad my bat system is overkill...





maybe this for the electronics box

or

haha, I got it..

i like the last one

 

[ryoken]

Ok you asked what I didnt like or what I`d do diffrent..?

Ok Theres this , I`d make it smaller.I`m not sure how though

Thats it in this thread...I must be thinking of something else from another thread , when I said there was a few things I didnt like.


On the other hand...I am sorta copying your gauge panel. Except on mine I left the a/c controls and radio in.I put the switches in the same place as yours and 2 gauges in the upper right where the vent was.

But all that really matters is that YOU like it.

hey thanks man.... It's funny you brought up the box size.. When I was originally planning that idea, I was trying to go as wide and deep as I could fit it , to utilize the space... Wasn't quite sure how long to make it... I ended up going with iirc, 14" long or something, to get the back section to a flat spot on the inner fender..

When I made the mock up box and put it in there, I thought the same thing, "Wow, thats pretty big!" and when I first put the real box in, I was thinking the same thing...

But what I've learned since then is that it actually is kinda small inside for all the solenoids, relays and such... It's really taking some planning to fit everything in there neatly... In the end, there'll be 3 solenoids, the relays, welder, etc in there, and I'll be glad I made it the size I did...

The other aspect is, pics are kinda hard to judge at times, if you see it in person, the proportions are pretty good on that side... On the outside of the box (where you see the bat switch, etc) there will be another bank of breakers going in, welder controls, and indicator lights like the glovebox panel, also some switching for underhood lighting and a few other things...

What are you gonna make your dash from?

 

[lak2004]

Man I sure wish my windstar install looked half that good!! Mine is all ghetto, because I didnt have everything I thought I needed. Plus the plastic is so fragile, I think I will try to build something like yours when I replace my radiator. All of your stuff looks great!!!

 

[ryoken]

because I didnt have everything I thought I needed.

No truer words where ever spoken... From the big dollar stuff you can't afford to the bundle of zip-ties you forgot at work...

The piece is exceptionally strong and mounted very well to the rad support... I really like the way the Ford fans worked in the composite opening because they have a lip to em...

But I can definitely see me keeping spare motors in my parts crate...

Thanks for compliment

 

[original balzer]

Im always impressed with your work. A bit jealous too cuz i dont have access to the matirials. Or the time to do it, im super impressed with your electrical work. One of my biggest rants would be about hamfisted wireing jobs that i always end up with in trucks i aquire. to be honest i have a serious job to rewire my 77 gmc, its all hacked up and some splices had duct tape on them. I got most of it cleaned up, but still have headlight tailight issues and the fact it has glass fuzes that break every time you remove them. i realy wish painless or some other wire company would do a circut breaker system. But with this thread i could probably manage to replicate yours to some degree.

I would LOVE 2 of your dashes just blank no holes at all. I could then customize it to suit my needs. I also moved the sterio to the center and LOVE it. Super handy when your outdoors listening to the radio you can reach it from either side of the truck AND you dont have to look at your feet when driveing and fumbling with the sterio. (catch breath)

Anyway keep up the awesome work.

Balzer

 

[ThaMule]

Ryoken, How is your battery box supported? Did you put some straps on the inside of the firewall for support or is there something underneath it?

 

[ryoken]

Im always impressed with your work. A bit jealous too cuz i dont have access to the matirials. Or the time to do it, im super impressed with your electrical work. One of my biggest rants would be about hamfisted wireing jobs that i always end up with in trucks i aquire. to be honest i have a serious job to rewire my 77 gmc, its all hacked up and some splices had duct tape on them. I got most of it cleaned up, but still have headlight tailight issues and the fact it has glass fuzes that break every time you remove them. i realy wish painless or some other wire company would do a circut breaker system. But with this thread i could probably manage to replicate yours to some degree.

I would LOVE 2 of your dashes just blank no holes at all. I could then customize it to suit my needs. I also moved the sterio to the center and LOVE it. Super handy when your outdoors listening to the radio you can reach it from either side of the truck AND you dont have to look at your feet when driveing and fumbling with the sterio. (catch breath)

Anyway keep up the awesome work.

Balzer

Thanks for the props, and good points....

Thats an advantage to the center stereo I had never expressed before and I find very true.. I use my truck around the marina to do jobs here and there, and I'm always cranking what tunes I have.. And it is convenient...

As for the wiring system... I can't stress how much easier this would have been on a project truck.. 3 months in the garage and a grand in materials would make it sooooo much easier, than DDing it..

I've still got a fair amount to go as I finalize systems in the truck... I still have interior lights, offroad lights, etc to do.. So what I've been doing is getting systems routed, up and running, then just bundling them temporarily, till I figure out what each system route will be.. I've also been leaving stuff a little long.. That way when I go back for final loom, I can route everything perfect and trim as needed...

In the end, with a nice diagram drawn up, it'll be killer... simple circuits, easy to breakdown, diagnose and reset.. Definitely bringing marine tech to the mud!

Quality isn't an issue to me when it comes to wiring.. I'm spoiled with the marine quality wire, connectors, etc, and am required on many of the high-end boats to design and build some SEXY systems.. Heck, some of the Cabo's we do, we put lexan covers over our systems.. I'll have to take pics for you guys...

stuff like this...

That brings me to something else... I know alot of my projects are just kinda "out there" for what most can do at home, especially material-wise... Some may consider it some sort of advantage, I look at it as expanding everyones perception on what can be done...

I hope my projects have given people ideas, material AND design-wise... Inspiring people is fun.. I could have gone steel or aluminum on these projects, but I felt utilizing the composite glass I have available to me was by far the best choice...

Now it's time to play with some steel!!!

 

[ryoken]

Ryoken, How is your battery box supported? Did you put some straps on the inside of the firewall for support or is there something underneath it?

Good questions...

The main strength in the box is the design of the box and it's mounting...

After welding up the holes in the firewall, I just ran BIG fenderwashers for each bolt, well stud now, because they are tack-welded inside.. You could make backing plates, but I haven't found it necessary.. It hasn't budged, I can stand on those mofo's if the hood is off...

The one reason it's so sturdy is the contact area... For Mounting, there are 3 3/8's bolts (studs) at the top, and 3 at the bottom...

the other reason is the box construction.. 1/8" steel....

Here, let me find pics..

In that cr*ppy pic, you can see the backwall extends down below the box.. the lower 3 studs mount to that tab..... And obviously 3 on the top tab.

What you can't see in that pic, well for that matter, this one either

is that, the floor for the batteries is up an inch from the bottom of the side and front walls.. It's recesses upward... Makes the box even stiffer...

I was torn on if I wanted to put some thin neoprene rubber between the firewall and box.. And decide to try it without... Works fine, no squeeks or anything...

Oh, and keep in mind, those batteries are #27's. A tad bigger than 24's, that someone else may be using...

 

[ThaMule]

excellent. i was debating on how to mount my dual battery setup as i didnt want to have a battery on each side of the engine bay because of all that wire. If you say it holds up good then i am sure it does cause all your work looks fantabuloso! I had already taken my a/c out a while back and still have not covered up the hole yet. I was going to just get some thin sheet metal and use some sheet metal screws to cover it. I think now i will get some stronger material to help supports those batteries. Grade A work my friend

 

[ryoken]

iirc, my patches where 18 ga.. Make sure you stitch weld those... Some dainty mig worked good for me...

I suppose it could be done with just an overlapping patch, but I didn't consider it..

Thanks for the support man... I'm getting jumpy about doing the sliders and such... Oh, that reminds me, I need to warn the neighbor in the next week or so about the noisy week coming up... Always like to be preemptive in my asshattery.

 

[Dafey]

Yeah, I discovered that leaning on my factory fan shroud led to it becoming fan shred ... doh. So I marked it to remind me:

Hey Dremu , do you mind if I copy you on this? I'm having the same problem....