Horton, driveshaft opinions wanted

[blazinzuk]

forget the stock core support. run tube from firewall angled in to center of frame on either side. cross in front near rad area, cross near shock mounts. hoop connect to tube for shocks, or just plain tube up to it. tabs for fender mounting. tabs for lights or just run 7in KC or whatever with the nub on em for mounting.


If i go the next level with my rig i think i will do that in the front. i would run a piece of tube out to catch the fenders taht way when i narrowed the front down the road the tube would already be narrowed i would just have to lob the extenders out.


So many things i want to do....

ya know Chris I was exactly where you were at with my 73 too. Except I beat on my a bit harder. Crap gears, hugely wide, no fuel injection etc. etc. etc.

Of course I see where I am at now. Its not that hard to get there buddy it just takes a while.

I rocked my 73 with the 203 4.56s and 42s for a couple years before Horton came along. Loved and hated every single second of it

 

[blazinzuk]

Well since I am going to remount the radiator with tube, it seemed like a good idea to move stuff around a bit.

I plan on mounting the radiator several inches rearward of the stock location.

Doing that will allow me to put my winch that same several inches back.

Tubing work is still a couple days off, I don't have a babysitter lined up tommorow and I also have some other stuff to do in the evening. Hopefully will just work on getting stuff situated with what I got done tonight.

Anyway here is the grille I am going to use

It is from an 89 single headlight blazer. I will have to cut it up to have enough room for the winch but no biggie, a cut up grille is better than no grille at all.

So to move the winch back I had to cut up the old winch mount. So when I did this I guess I didn't want it to ever move. EVER good grief I overbuilt that thing. So cutting part of it away. I got down to a flat plate.

When I get the final location of the radiator I will be able to finalize the position of the winch. It will also allow me to mount the winch like it should be.

A big winch like this needs to be mounted feet forward. So I will built some plate to be able to do that.

So front view of where the winch should end up at

Side view of where it should end up at. The hood is where it should be at this point. I am not dropping it right now because I don't want to mess around with an electric fan right now. I could lean it back and drop my hood about 3 inches but thats for when I put new fenders on it.

Moves the winch way back. Still up higher than you really should have a winch but it works decent like that. Will be nice to have it mounted correctly too

 

[jekquistk5]

Well since I am going to remount the radiator with tube, it seemed like a good idea to move stuff around a bit.

I plan on mounting the radiator several inches rearward of the stock location.

Doing that will allow me to put my winch that same several inches back.

Tubing work is still a couple days off, I don't have a babysitter lined up tommorow and I also have some other stuff to do in the evening. Hopefully will just work on getting stuff situated with what I got done tonight.

Anyway here is the grille I am going to use

It is from an 89 single headlight blazer. I will have to cut it up to have enough room for the winch but no biggie, a cut up grille is better than no grille at all.

So to move the winch back I had to cut up the old winch mount. So when I did this I guess I didn't want it to ever move. EVER good grief I overbuilt that thing. So cutting part of it away. I got down to a flat plate.

When I get the final location of the radiator I will be able to finalize the position of the winch. It will also allow me to mount the winch like it should be.

A big winch like this needs to be mounted feet forward. So I will built some plate to be able to do that.

So front view of where the winch should end up at

Side view of where it should end up at. The hood is where it should be at this point. I am not dropping it right now because I don't want to mess around with an electric fan right now. I could lean it back and drop my hood about 3 inches but thats for when I put new fenders on it.

Moves the winch way back. Still up higher than you really should have a winch but it works decent like that. Will be nice to have it mounted correctly too

ugh ohhh eric you just gave me an idea

 

[blazinzuk]

ugh ohhh eric you just gave me an idea

Exxcelent!

I figured out how to mount the radiator.

Cut the old mounts off, and attach. Stupid simple and it works.

 

[jekquistk5]

Exxcelent!

I figured out how to mount the radiator.

Cut the old mounts off, and attach. Stupid simple and it works.

any plans on protection, then again you don't have as many tree's as we have out here

 

[blazinzuk]

I am going to do some tube work in front of everything, but no plans for protection other than that.

I have seen rocks come up under a truck and hurt the radiator but, out here its not a huge concern having something come in the front.

 

[big dan]

I like where all this is going.

Right now Im running a narrowed factory core support with tubing from the cage running to it and I know its only a matter of time before it starts ripping itself apart. Ill need ideas on what to do when that happens

 

[blazinzuk]

I like where all this is going.

Right now Im running a narrowed factory core support with tubing from the cage running to it and I know its only a matter of time before it starts ripping itself apart. Ill need ideas on what to do when that happens

I will take many pics. I am trying to use the factory parts as much as possible. I have had issues in the past with other mounting systems ( homebrew) on radiators. Only problem I have had with the stock one is the rubber bushings wear out eventually.

So lets back track a bit. When I took this apart I had some goals in mind.

1 Stiffen up the front end.

2 Provide a tube framework to mount a coilover off of.

3. Move the winch back ( which requires moving the radiator back)

4. Loose some more weight ( for both me and Horton )

5. Kill some of the rattles

6. Gain some storage area ( remember I am doing the dash in the cab too)

I think I am well on my way to those goals.

We shall see

 

[blazinzuk]

So as I stated before I have the idea of using the stock lower rad mount along with the uppers, this not only gives me a place to hang the shroud which will most likely be the stock shroud trimmed to fit. But is super easy.

Simply going to weld this to the top of the frame, here is the lower rad mount cut off the core support and trimmed up a bit

In this pic the rad is pretty close to where its going to end up at. I will have to shim the core support up a bit on the leading edge as the frame starts to kick up there but no biggie.

Then build a hoop to mount the orginal top mounts onto and bam radiator will be done. Probably not this week though, unless I can get Sawyer to take long naps

Nothing will be set in stone though tack everything on till you get nearly everything in, make sure it fits won't hit stuff only then do you final weld.

 

[blazinzuk]

Here is the reason for not a ton of progress today.

My winch mount was this plate, the 2 holes you see are the back holes for the winch. You can see on the clevis mounts about where it extended to.

I NEVER wanted this thing to come off it was on dang good. So today much grinding taking place to get it all back into shape looking decent

Would actually love to take this thing off and redo it but like I said it is mounted like I was scared of 1/4 not being strong enough or something.

Good grief sometimes I forget to not just overbuild stuff just for the sake of overbuilding

 

[blazinzuk]

got some stuff done.

Using the stock lower support and the stock uppers for the rad is going to work out bitchen!

I don't think I can use the factory shroud but haven't test fit it yet either. So it still may work.

Lower mount in and nearly done this pic is from the bottom looking up

Pic of how I attached it to the frame and the support tube that will hold the coolers and the upper mounts

Front view with the winch just sitting up there, ends up being about 3" back from where it was, not as much as I wanted but not bad. Pushing it back anymore would have required major surgery on the frame.

And I know I have posted the pic of the grille about a hundred times now but it keeps me motivated to just stick it up there and take a pic. Of course the final product will have a cut out for the winch.

My buddy is bringing over a couple of square off road lights we plan on stacking like the factory headlights, so it should kind of look like factory headlights behind a phantom grille

On tomorrows docket, fan shroud, put more tubing on the front end, winch mounting, cutting out the hood a bit to lower it down just a bit, maybe even looking at remounting fenders. Just going to put a full day in tomorrow with my buddy so hopefully we get lots done

 

[63chevyll]

That's an easy idea.

I did something similar on my race truck. It's almost the same, but I was able to use factory fan shroud.

 

[sixb]

I was looking at possibly shortening the hood and putting the grill behind the winch on mine, may be something to consider. I like it by the way

 

[blazinzuk]

I was looking at possibly shortening the hood and putting the grill behind the winch on mine, may be something to consider. I like it by the way

I am going to eventually shorten my hood to David but not yet, simple because I still have leaf springs up front. So I cant really cut any frame off.

More to come today

 

[76zimmer]

I really like the simplicity of your design Eric....I've said it before your truck is stupid simple and so completely functional that it kicks ass. I love Horton!
Do you think the shroud will be able to be shortened enough to be effective with the fan being 50% in/out of the shroud?

 

[blazinzuk]

Got more done today.

Radiator mount done well almost done still need to add a gusset to the back side of it

These bars connect to my A pillar bars

I plan on putting 2 cross braces in there at some point but am out of tubing and need to get some flanges, might do something else tricky but not sure.

For the time being I am simply going to weld a peice of 1.5 in there, If I need to take the motor out between now and KOH that means I am not going to KOH. I see no need until later to make it removable.

Got the grille cut and mostly positioned, still need to clock the winch lever so I can get to it. I don't want to cut the grille anymore. Really wish I had enough money to get a smaller winch but I certainly can't complain about my huge winch, its never failed me.

Anyway behind the grille

Not attached at all but here is where the grille will actually sit, cut it right along some of the bracing so its actually not very floppy like some other grilles I have cut.

Pretty happy with progress today. Got lots more to do but its coming along nicely

 

[blazinzuk]

I really like the simplicity of your design Eric....I've said it before your truck is stupid simple and so completely functional that it kicks ass. I love Horton!
Do you think the shroud will be able to be shortened enough to be effective with the fan being 50% in/out of the shroud?

Thanks for the props Dave

I am not sure if the shroud will work or not haven't test fit it yet. I am thinking it might just be better to build one.


Simple is usually easy. I like getting out on the trail as often as possible, doesn't allow me time to do some things I might like to do, that and I really dont' have too much money to spend on blingy parts.

Although some bling will appear in the very near future.

 

[jekquistk5]

Got more done today.

Radiator mount done well almost done still need to add a gusset to the back side of it

These bars connect to my A pillar bars

I plan on putting 2 cross braces in there at some point but am out of tubing and need to get some flanges, might do something else tricky but not sure.

For the time being I am simply going to weld a peice of 1.5 in there, If I need to take the motor out between now and KOH that means I am not going to KOH. I see no need until later to make it removable.

Got the grille cut and mostly positioned, still need to clock the winch lever so I can get to it. I don't want to cut the grille anymore. Really wish I had enough money to get a smaller winch but I certainly can't complain about my huge winch, its never failed me.

Anyway behind the grille

Not attached at all but here is where the grille will actually sit, cut it right along some of the bracing so its actually not very floppy like some other grilles I have cut.

Pretty happy with progress today. Got lots more to do but its coming along nicely

Do you plan on running fenders? I am debating if I should run some.

 

[magik235]

Nice work. I like it. The grill looks good.

 

[blazinzuk]

Do you plan on running fenders? I am debating if I should run some.

Absolutely, half the reason I keep the (HEAVY) bedsides is because it makes it look like a Chevy.

I want it to look like a Chevy still so running fenders for sure.

I might make em quick release and not run em all the time.

Oh who am I kidding no I won't. They will stay on.

I want my truck to still look like what it started as.

I have come as close to looking like a buggy as I want to come. I ran with fenders for a couple years before I smashed them into bits and the cool thing about running fenders is I can use just about the most rusted out piece of crap fender out there, I cut most of it away anyway, its good bodywork practice too to mod em, cause I cut em and add a bit to have the first bit be straight.

In fact I think I am going to put new fenders on this time, the old ones are pretty smashed.

Might even add a bumper up front to help protect said new fenders