boatside Q

[Clod_King]

How aggressive can a boatsiding get??

I want to do a fairly aggressive boatside soon. But I have a few questions I need to get answered...

Like if I start at the chassis, and work out, how steep of angle can I go before the pedals get in the way???


Plus I read somewhere on here that burbs have crappy frames, so should i box the frame before going through with this??

My plan was to weld in some 3/16, or 1/4" 2x3 tubing where the body mount points are, and then weld a radiused tubes to it for the boat side. I wanted the bring the boatside up the main body line on my sub. Then inbetween the tubing I'd screw some 3/16 or 1/4" aluminum to fill in spaces (to keep the weight down a little bit....

I wanted to ditch the rubber body mounts, and just mount the body through square (well rectangular really) tubing so it would up the rigidity of the frame.

Also, I wanted to incorporate a roll cage into the boatside.

Bad idea?? or good idea?? Gimme your ideas, and thoughts, and flaming if need be....

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

As you said, you can boatside it up as far as you can and still keep the pedals where they are.

All K-series Chevy's have fairly weak and flexy frames. Boxing them is never a bad idea.

I wouldn't tie the body directly to the frame, I would think it would rip the body apart.

 

[gmc4cw]

the easiest way is to wheel the truck. crush the rockers a few times. then make your boatside go just above what you have crushed. its more fun that way.

 

[6.2Blazer]

A couple things to take into consideration:
- do you want to keep the doors
- how hard do you want it to be to get in and out of the truck

Regarding the pedals getting in the way, it doesn't matter as much in regards to how high up on the sides the boatside goes just where you start angling the floor. I would think if you went all the way to the frame and ran a straight angle on the floor up to a high boatside it could cause problems. Even if the pedals had room it would it pretty uncomfortable because you wouldn't have anyplace flat to rest your left foot.

 

[Clod_King]

Yeah I was going to either do a two bend, or a slow arc in the begining, and then bring it up near the doors.

As for the doors, I want them off right now anyways, hahaha. I was thinking of cutting them in half, and just welding the outer skins to the truck with some reinforcment, but I like this idea better.

Getting in and out of the truck would be tricky with such an aggressive boatside, but I think I would learn to cope. I'd need to put in some hefty grab bars, and start doing some pull ups before bed, hahaha.

Now what about incorporating a roll cage into the boatside?? Good idea, bad idea?? And if the cage is fine, then howcome I could tie that to the frame, but not solid mount the body to the frame?? Just a question, I don't want to seem beligerant(sp?) or anything.

 

[Mudstud]

I hear what you're asking- if the cage ties the frame together it's gonna stiffen everything up pretty tight. . . but there will STILL will be some flex and give. The relatively thin sheet metal might hold up for awhile before it begins to crack from fatigue.

 

[Clod_King]

Gotcha.

So if I want to tighten up the frame, I should box it, and tie the roll cage to it. And I am geussing that beef cross members, and skid plates would help out aswell...