dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
Are you gonna do anything for a step???
CK5
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and so it has begun I need ideas!
- Thread starter blazinzuk
- Start date
Yep that big flat peice of steel that is now the rocker
admittedly its a tall step but I am 6'2" and my wife is 5'10" Comfort getting in and out of this thing is way down on the priority list. Wheeling capability is what its all about and you have to sacrifice alot of comfort along the way
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
So, you're not gonna skin it???
Kind of, that will be a winter project thing. Right now my plan is too put the front fenders back on, and use the bedsides I had orginally built for it.
I have plans to put ammo cans in various places and some mounts for coolers. I want to make sure I have all the storage taken care before I start messing around with skins. I also want do do aluminum, part of my goal with this was to lose weight. It will have a top but it will be some sort of fabric. I don't mind not having a top, my blazer in the summer time never had a top and the sun beating down never really bothered me, although it did my wife hence the top.
So yes some sort of skinning will take place but I want to keep it to a minimum in order to keep weight down as much as possible.
I am also planning on building some sort of rear fender for it, I like mud and since this is my only 4 wd right now I will still be going to the local mud hole to play. I don't like getting hit with mud in the back of the head.
When I get them done the bedsides will be two clips and off, the fenders will be the same deal 2 clips and off fenders will probably be 3 clips
Other than the cage work I have lots more planned for this. If I ever roll it I dont' want anything coming out of its place. Been hit in the head more than once in a roll over never hurt me just didn't feel really good
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
Nice... I'm following you...
Did you weigh it before you put it back under the knife???
I really wish that I had weighed mine before... I was pleasantly surprised that it only weighed 5300 lbs after the build... I was shooting for under 5k, but I'll take 5300...
None of my skins are removable, everything over here stays pretty wet even in the summer... We might get a month or two of really dry trails...
I picked up some water tight night vision cases from a guy over here that I'm still trying to figure out mounting for... Just bungeed for now... And yes, I agree, having everything land on you after a roll sucks...
I was topless for years and didn't mind it most of the time, but rain/snow and pine needles down the back of your neck sucks... I only added something like 90lbs with the 1/8" plate that I skinned the top of the roll cage with... So far I love it... It's like a giant gusset and it keeps crap off of me and everyone else...
I'm digging the build so far...
Did you weigh it before you put it back under the knife???
I really wish that I had weighed mine before... I was pleasantly surprised that it only weighed 5300 lbs after the build... I was shooting for under 5k, but I'll take 5300...
None of my skins are removable, everything over here stays pretty wet even in the summer... We might get a month or two of really dry trails...
I picked up some water tight night vision cases from a guy over here that I'm still trying to figure out mounting for... Just bungeed for now... And yes, I agree, having everything land on you after a roll sucks...
I was topless for years and didn't mind it most of the time, but rain/snow and pine needles down the back of your neck sucks... I only added something like 90lbs with the 1/8" plate that I skinned the top of the roll cage with... So far I love it... It's like a giant gusset and it keeps crap off of me and everyone else...
I'm digging the build so far...
IN order to accommodate a new rear seat (remember this is a pickup not a blazer) I needed to move my gas tank. My gas tank was originally right behind the cab mounted in between the frame rails. Worked out really well there for a while, until I decided I needed to cut the cab off.
So there is no really good place for a 31 gallon gas tank to go. I need it to be up above the framerails for now because I plan suspension work in the near future. So the plan is now is to just build a cover right to the backseat over the gas tank to put stuff up on.
Heres tonights pics, this is where the gas tank and the TJ seat is going to end up. Some changes in plan and I decided to keep the TJ seat, got to figure out a floor and a gas tank cover tomorrow
Here is my new seating arrangement
So there is no really good place for a 31 gallon gas tank to go. I need it to be up above the framerails for now because I plan suspension work in the near future. So the plan is now is to just build a cover right to the backseat over the gas tank to put stuff up on.
Heres tonights pics, this is where the gas tank and the TJ seat is going to end up. Some changes in plan and I decided to keep the TJ seat, got to figure out a floor and a gas tank cover tomorrow
Here is my new seating arrangement
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
Have you looked into running an after market fuel cell???
I would have liked to have gotten one but that money is destined for another spot on my rig. I have the gas tank, its a factory fuel injected tank and I really like the durability and reliability of having factory stuff in there. Yes it takes up a lot of room and looks ugly. Hopefully I can hide it well enough to make it look not so ugly, tomorrow is going to be a lot of sheet metal being put on. I want to make a shelf on top of the gas tank, that I can put a large cooler or camping stuff on.
When I redo the dash its going to be a form follow function kind of thing. I want to be able to fit a cooler close enough to the passenger seat that whoever is in the passenger seat will be able to grab cool drinks, and have it big enough that there will be enough to last most of the day. I also plan on having a dry storage area up there for sandwiches and the such.
But lets not get ahead of ourselves thats a winter project (I will also put seat heaters in this winter lol)
Down to putting a couple things back together and putting the floor in on the front. This is pretty much where its going to be for blazer bash. Reassembly from here.
The cage may change somewhat, I plan on linking the rear and building a gas tank. The rear seat will stay, I ended the cage where I plan to cut the frame off when I link it. I will probably add some to the door bars just haven't decided yet where I want it. I might even do that before blazer bash.
Anyway heres some pics of the battery mount. I will build another one just like it on the other side when I get my other battery. Just don't have enough money to get the other one and the cabling to go to it right now. I have the hold down built just using self tappers for now so no pics of it with the tie down
Like I said I will add some more tube sometime down the line but not sure where yet.
I will build a gas tank cause the gas tank is HUGE and the mount is ugly and not very creative. But that will wait for this winter
The cage may change somewhat, I plan on linking the rear and building a gas tank. The rear seat will stay, I ended the cage where I plan to cut the frame off when I link it. I will probably add some to the door bars just haven't decided yet where I want it. I might even do that before blazer bash.
Anyway heres some pics of the battery mount. I will build another one just like it on the other side when I get my other battery. Just don't have enough money to get the other one and the cabling to go to it right now. I have the hold down built just using self tappers for now so no pics of it with the tie down
Like I said I will add some more tube sometime down the line but not sure where yet.
I will build a gas tank cause the gas tank is HUGE and the mount is ugly and not very creative. But that will wait for this winter
lectric80
3/4 ton status
Nice Eric! Hope you guys all have a great time at the bash
I have a fuel cell not being used its like a 20 gal if that if you need one.
I think I am going to leave the gas tank for now and this winter I will build one. That way I can put baffles in it and make it fit where I want it. Plus I can still use the in tank fuel pump and everything
sixb
1/2 ton status
As always great job Hopefully we can meet up at the bash
Hopefully we can meet up at the bash
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
I can't wait to see it when you cut the back of the frame off...
I can't wait to see it when you cut the back of the frame off...
Soon as they start grooming the trails and locking us out, then it shall happen, thats usually Jan 1 if its normal snow year. Earlier if we get alot of snow. So that depends on the snowfall
As always great job
Thank you sir. I was planning on meeting up with you at some point! Just to say hi
LT.
1/2 ton status
I like the idea of running a stock (ish) fuel tank in your rig. It cuts down on costs and replacement pieces would not be custom or anything like that. I do understand your problem with it being unsightly. I also think I get why you chose to mount it as high as you did (for rear axle movement, right?) But, would you be able to place the fuel tank so that the seam was inside of the frame rails? Or would this get in the way of the rear axle housing? Lowering it 4 - 6 inches I would think would work. If you could make it fit so the seam was tucked inside of the frame rails this should hide the worst part of the looks, and help lower the fuel sloshing COG. I am sure you have thought of this and I am just filling space, but still. Also, on adding more tube, were you going to add two braces to go from the shoulder harness tube to the floor? I did not see any there. Again, I am sure you have thought of all this. Sorry for the rambling.
LT.
LT.
The gas tank when rebuilt will go more into the floor it will also be smaller. It will retain the factory gm fuel sender and pump. Plus it will be shaped to the truck.
I don't have any bars from the harness bar to the floor. The back seat is close I need to get a feel for it where whomever is sitting back there(Bailey mostly) is going to be kicking and such. I also need to build my other battery mount. The cage is strong enough right now it would take a pretty hard roll, it has its weak points as do all cages. I hope to address most of those weak points without testing the cage. I will probably end up adding a couple more braces a bunch of gussets and who knows what else.
I don't have any bars from the harness bar to the floor. The back seat is close I need to get a feel for it where whomever is sitting back there(Bailey mostly) is going to be kicking and such. I also need to build my other battery mount. The cage is strong enough right now it would take a pretty hard roll, it has its weak points as do all cages. I hope to address most of those weak points without testing the cage. I will probably end up adding a couple more braces a bunch of gussets and who knows what else.
