Mid-build on the sliders... *NEED AN IDEA RE: POST #3*

[colbystephens]

so supersize86k5... or whatever the heck shawn's screen name is... wanted to help me (read, do most of the work while i wished i had the skills to help) build some sliders into my truck. my door sills were a bit rusty, so we decided to cut the door sills out and really improve my ground clearance under the body. we got one side mostly finished today, but no pics of it in the semi-finished state.

the rectangular tube is welded into the body, and braces will be made which go to the frame, which should help body flex a bit, which will be nice since i'm running a mechanical clutch pedal.

the pics are in teh following order:

• before
• the shop cat
• during, after the cuts and the box tube is mocked up in place
• welding
• showing the space created
• filling the space

these are also intended to help ward off trees a bit, but they don't stick out too far, so they won't be of much help in this area in many cases, unless the doors were removed. this requires significant door modification, which was nice because i got to get rid of even more rust. the one door we've done so far, we just cut straight across the most inside panel a couple inches below the line under the vent (essentially even to one inch below the hinge.) then the outside is another inch or so below that. we will weld in a panel to fill the hole under the inner panel of the door.

when we do the second door, another method will be considered, where instead of cutting straight across the bottom of the inner-boxyness of the door (sorry - lack of better words, the part where the window goes into), we'll cut just a bit under neath, and then try folding the box back to the door and welding it - this should make it easier. i'll post pics so you can understand.

i plan to paint them army green, which is the color i intend to do the tube bumpers/cage when i get to that point. should be a real nice color scheme. enjoy the pics. i'll do some before/after shots when we finish on Tuesday nite.

 

[NateInChandler]

that looks good colby, just be glad you can get him to do something for you. as i hafta threaten him to get him to help me.. HAHA, looks good man, was nice wheeling with you and claire and i hope to see youguys again.. nate

 

[colbystephens]

need an idea!

i was thinking it would be cool to fab up some way to attatch a D-ring to each slider such that if winching from the side were ever necessary, i could attatch there. how could this be done w/ out sacrificing the smoothness of the surface and thereby the slider effect of the unit?

i've got a couple of hooks - maybe i should drill two holes in the side of the slider near the front and rear of the slider so that my hooks could be placed in such a way as the hook would stick out of the tube when needed for pulling, but could be removed easily so as not to sacrifice wheel-space for flexing. hmmmm. now i've got a couple other ideas for that too. i could leave the bolts in the holes when the hook is removed so that the structure of the slider is less affected. perhaps this structure is only more important near the front tires, as this would proably recieve the most thrashing - coming down off of a rock real hard or something. what thoughts do you all have??

 

[colbystephens]

another idea! maybe if i have a cap built on each of the ends of the rectangular tube, i can drill holes in the cap and have nuts welded to teh back of the cap so that the hooks can be removed and re-installed as needed. that sounds better than my other ideas.

 

[Confedneck79K30]

why not make them pin-able like a hitch? 2 2" square holes that you can put a hook into...

 

[colbystephens]

ahhh - that's a better idea! no bolting/screwing reqd!

 

[Confedneck79K30]

cuz they make round hooks that are built off solid 2" stock to fit in a hitch hole drilled and all, all you need is a gusseted, sleeved 2" opening for them, post pics!!

 

[Drey]

Shawns workin on Colbys truck...i bettin on 2 months...any takers?

 

[supersize75k5]

bwhahahahaha

 

[Drey]

bwhahahahaha

 

[colbystephens]

so i just measured, looks like this raises the clearance of the body by 4" when you put the top of the 2" thick tubing at one inch below the bottom hinge.

couple shots - still not done, finishing tomorrow nite, but it gives you a good idea.

 

[muddybuddy]

looks good

 

[KGsK5]

looks good. and didnt seem all that difficult. how hard was it to make the doors fit?

 

[colbystephens]

doors are the hardest part - i'll get back to you after we do teh second one b/c it'll be different and possibly easier.

 

[KGsK5]

cool thanks

 

[MaxPF]

Looks great! Maybe I'll cut my rockers out

 

[Chrisblazzer89]

I was wondering if u had pics of the welds cas i want to do something like this and need a good boast in the right direction

 

[supersize75k5]

phase 2 in progress..


its 3 am and he leaves at 9am for the grand canyon..


I think he is as crazy as I am..

 

[supersize75k5]

5:20 am... still working! goal is to be done in one hour.

 

[supersize75k5]

well colby just left at 7:30..


I ended up with a nast piece of metal in my eye and yes I was wearing goggles, so off to the doctor I go this morning pretty big piece.


damn it took forever it seems, I am walking dead right now, alot of work since we cut and raised the door bottoms as well l