CK5
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'90 K5 - Project Betty - LS3 Swap for a DD/Offroad/Utility Build
- Thread starter cliles
- Start date
Dash and Console Mock Up
I thought it would be easier to cut the aluminum inserts if the dash was angular vs being bent. I also thought it would look cooler/break things up a bit. If I had to do it all over again, I would have just bent it. It took so much longer.
Cutting angles in 1 plane, I can do. Cutting in two planes, not as easy, but I can do it. Cutting and notching in a third plane, that is where it really broke down. A lot of trial and error test fitting. Ended up getting it pretty close, and just filling the gaps. It is not like the dash needs to with stand the full weight of the blazer.
I thought it would be easier to cut the aluminum inserts if the dash was angular vs being bent. I also thought it would look cooler/break things up a bit. If I had to do it all over again, I would have just bent it. It took so much longer.
Cutting angles in 1 plane, I can do. Cutting in two planes, not as easy, but I can do it. Cutting and notching in a third plane, that is where it really broke down. A lot of trial and error test fitting. Ended up getting it pretty close, and just filling the gaps. It is not like the dash needs to with stand the full weight of the blazer.
Kaiser85
1/2 ton status
Sub-friggin-scribed! I just read this whole thread. Im pumped! Youre right down the road too!
the console looks familiar... 
and I FREAKIN luv the welding table! idear stolen, thanks!
and I FREAKIN luv the welding table! idear stolen, thanks!
Kaiser85
1/2 ton status
Out of curiosity, (and good ol' 'merican impatience) what are you gonna do about the throw on the t-case shifters? Im assuming the console will be flat aluminum sheet? By the time you have linkage long enough, thatll be quite alot of travel. Not to mention its location with the longer tranny. Or are you using a modern transfer case as well? (I dont recall your plans on this....) im anxious to see more of this scorcery
the console looks familiar...
and I FREAKIN luv the welding table! idear stolen, thanks!
Yeah, I think I said it on here or maybe in a PM, but what I am going for is exactly a poor boy version of your setup. Probably on the thread where I am defending the flanges. The cage is exclusively for a place to mount grab handles (I waiting until I finish with the 1.75" before I change out to the 1.25" die) and to support the dash.
Side note, what angle do you bend your grab handles. I was assuming excess for holding die + stand off then 45 degrees + handle length then 45 degrees + stand off + excess for supporting die.
The welding table was a breeze, other than the top weighs over 1,200 lbs. Have that crane has changed my life. Apparently they are easy to come by a scrap shops because the CNC machines have some sort of gold innards that recylclers love.
my grab handles are not the norm per se... they are solid 1" bar, so the bend is much tighter.. done in a vise with a rosebud..
the main objective was to be parallel to the cage tubes.. A-post and the roof one.. so, parallel to the ground on the bottom short section, and parallel to the A-post tube..
sorry, forget my exact angle, but that was the idea..
the main objective was to be parallel to the cage tubes.. A-post and the roof one.. so, parallel to the ground on the bottom short section, and parallel to the A-post tube..
sorry, forget my exact angle, but that was the idea..
I believe the linkage works out just fine. I had it hooked up prior to the engine/tranny install. I was able to use the stock tranny support because of the dirty dingo sliding brackets. That is basically how/why I decided to position the engine where I did.
As far as the shifter, I googled endlessly but could not find an extension/adapter/etc. I was going to either cut a slot in the aluminum plate like the stock pattern, or maybe just bolt the stock plate to the aluminum, and find some sort of rod that I could bend and either union onto the stock shifter with a bolt or just weld it together.
If all else failed, I was going to look into a cable shifter which I initial was against because of the cost, but now that I have re-googled it, looks like they have some NP241 cable shifters for $200 (for jeeps will have to read more to make sure its compatible).
Hell at this point, $200 bucks is easily worth it, with the limited time I get to work on it because of the baby. I can make more money, but a 3 or 4 hours trying to fab up a shifter is hard to come by.
So to answer you question, I think I am going cable shifter, my even swap the tranny over if I am going to go through the trouble of doing the tcase.
As far as the shifter, I googled endlessly but could not find an extension/adapter/etc. I was going to either cut a slot in the aluminum plate like the stock pattern, or maybe just bolt the stock plate to the aluminum, and find some sort of rod that I could bend and either union onto the stock shifter with a bolt or just weld it together.
If all else failed, I was going to look into a cable shifter which I initial was against because of the cost, but now that I have re-googled it, looks like they have some NP241 cable shifters for $200 (for jeeps will have to read more to make sure its compatible).
Hell at this point, $200 bucks is easily worth it, with the limited time I get to work on it because of the baby. I can make more money, but a 3 or 4 hours trying to fab up a shifter is hard to come by.
So to answer you question, I think I am going cable shifter, my even swap the tranny over if I am going to go through the trouble of doing the tcase.
45 looks close enough. I am going to try to mass produce 8 or so of them. I guess I'll do one and be diligent about the bend lengths and the notching cutoffs then just crank the other 7 out in an assembly line fashion.
I would really like to stick a pair on the outside of the truck as well. Not sure how much weight that pillars skin will hold. Might could try to bolt them through, but that would look pretty tacky on the inside.
I would really like to stick a pair on the outside of the truck as well. Not sure how much weight that pillars skin will hold. Might could try to bolt them through, but that would look pretty tacky on the inside.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Much love for the welding table!
DEMON44
Low-Tech Redneck
still following. I'm picking up a hurt LS3 for a project motor too. 
\never been interested in one for myself till now. should kick ass.
\never been interested in one for myself till now. should kick ass.
DEMON44
Low-Tech Redneck
...... have to resubscribe for some reason......
Ordered a B&M hammer shifter for the tranny and single cable shifter from Northwest Fab along with a clocking ring for the tcase.
Nevermind on the brackets
I just broke down and ordered a pair of reclining Corbeau Baja XRS (heated) with sliding brackets. I figure sliding them and reclining them forward should give sufficient clearance to enter the rear seat.
I just broke down and ordered a pair of reclining Corbeau Baja XRS (heated) with sliding brackets. I figure sliding them and reclining them forward should give sufficient clearance to enter the rear seat.
I figure reclining them forward should give sufficient access for rear entry.
Sorry, I just couldn't leave it alone.
Aluminum Dash
Looks like I am going to have to change directions on the aluminum dash.
The sheet I bought is 4 or so mm thick, and from what I can google I would need a +$5k machine to bend it. I was going to cut and weld it, but spool guns for my welder are a lot more than I remember, probably at least a grand.
I guess I am going to try to take the plate back and see if I can get some trade in credit for thinner steel.
Looks like I am going to have to change directions on the aluminum dash.
The sheet I bought is 4 or so mm thick, and from what I can google I would need a +$5k machine to bend it. I was going to cut and weld it, but spool guns for my welder are a lot more than I remember, probably at least a grand.
I guess I am going to try to take the plate back and see if I can get some trade in credit for thinner steel.
