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Project: GNARKILL: The dovetail begins!
- Thread starter Madmudder1234
- Start date
I agree, a bad ass rig and bad ass job on the taper. How big is the gap from the fender to door?
K10 KRAWLER
1/2 ton status
Thanks guys!! I feel it turned out pretty good as well! (except for the hood) I got the rear almost done today Ill put more pictures up in the morning.
howdiy I took out 9 inches off each side but I dont have any more pictures of the core support. and the only bad part is that there is a pretty nasty gap between the fenders and doors now, ill take a picture tomorrow
and yes I did gut out the fenders as well, Ill take a picture of them tomorrow as well.
Thanks again guys for the interest!!
howdiy I took out 9 inches off each side but I dont have any more pictures of the core support. and the only bad part is that there is a pretty nasty gap between the fenders and doors now, ill take a picture tomorrow
and yes I did gut out the fenders as well, Ill take a picture of them tomorrow as well.
Thanks again guys for the interest!!
K10 KRAWLER
1/2 ton status
Hey here is some pictures of the rear dovetail now. and I finished the hood, But I had my gaps wrong.... so that kind of sucks. and I will get some pictures for you guys today
The back all full of mud
Hmm maybe I should Do a reverse dovetail?????
The back all full of mud
Hmm maybe I should Do a reverse dovetail?????
nice! sucks about the hood gaps but its not too bad.
are you gonna boat side it?
are you gonna boat side it?
K10 KRAWLER
1/2 ton status
I am not to sure on the boatside as of yet. Today I got started on making a set of half doors, and sorry guys the pics will have to wait until later, I did not go home and thats where the cord to my camera is
mudboggink5
1/2 ton status
WoW. That looks good. Great work. Keep those pics coming.
K10 KRAWLER
1/2 ton status
Ok, here are some more pics for your viewing pleasure. First there are some shots of the door Gaps and Inner fenders. then some of my Half door project. try not to laugh at my welds too hard, I'm doing it with a friends 110 welder and no gas.
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
looks good.not too legal for the road anymore though.haha.depending on your local laws anyway.the seems arent too bad for whar youve done to them.youll definitely see where your tires are hittin now to do better lines.
K10 KRAWLER
1/2 ton status
Hey how about some more pictures!!?!? I always have to take my trucks out and get shots on my "poser pile"
Note to self: acquire poser pile. It is still better than my driveway shots. 
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
id like to have a poser pile also.it would be nice to check out your mods before actually wheeling them somewhere and having a problem.
Randy92782
1 ton status
I just take mine and run it up the road into a ditch or something. Seems to work alright
hell yeah! i dig it bro.my dove tail was easy . i just have old k'5 fenders bolted in.the whole thing comes apart in three easy steps.i am about ready to do the front.gaps mean nothing to me,i just wonder how to cut the core?or should i say where to cut it.i saved a few pics of you'res. i will be PMing you about how much to chop off the core.
you're rig is badass!
my dove tail was easy . i just have old k'5 fenders bolted in.the whole thing comes apart in three easy steps.i am about ready to do the front.gaps mean nothing to me,i just wonder how to cut the core?or should i say where to cut it.i saved a few pics of you'res. i will be PMing you about how much to chop off the core.you're rig is badass!
i have a big rock in the front yard Randy.I just take mine and run it up the road into a ditch or something. Seems to work alright
crawdaddy
1/2 ton status
Nice Job man looks good.
K10 KRAWLER
1/2 ton status
So now That All is mostly said and done, I prove once again that my style of fabrication is:
Step 1- Make it once
Step 2- learn from a bunch of stupid mistakes
Step 3- Buy new body panels
Step 4- Start again but avoid stupid mistakes
So that Being said, Ill give you guys a few pointers so you avoid some silly mistakes Like I did. I didn't make all of these mistakes, But I figure I should bring them up so you don't.
First of all your Rad support cutting:
I wish I took pictures, but for some dumb reason I didn't. When I cut my core I measured 9'' straight in from both sides, But I ended up taking a bit too much off to fit my grille centerpiece (it was off a van and I am not to sure if they are a different width than the trucks). I had to trim about 1/2'' off each side of the grille, that being said I would measure 8 1/2'' in at the front side of the rad support. Make sure to measure the width of the centerpiece that you want to use, just to double check
My second mistake is I made a straight cut on the rad support (front to back). What I should have done was make an angled cut to make the back portion of the rad support wider to match up with my fender line. I wont be able to get any measurements until this weekend on that one though.
Fender cutting:
Basically gut out the inside of the fender to clear the cab, you don't have to gut out the front if you don't want to. If you do want to completely gut out the fender make sure to leave lots of metal around the lower mounting spot and around the back and top seams. DO NOT cut any seam unless you are going to remake new mounts. In the first picture I circled out areas that you will want to keep metal for strength. In the second picture I circled where i cut a seam and now my fender is ripping apart, you don't need to cut there at all and I don't know why I did.
It would be a good idea to leave the lower lip on the fender to use when making inner wheel wells. I will be making a canvas one to snap in and out of place for easier work access. You will also need to leave the front portion of the inner fender on so you have an attachment point for your rad support.
Hood cutting:
unless you are good with welding and fabbing on body panels say goodbye to your hinges because you cut out the mount. I am now using hoodpins in all four corners. The hood will also become flimsy, I might suggest a fiberglass hood, but I dont know how that would turn out. Make sure to measure twice and cut once... I didn't and I now have a 1/2''-3/4'' gap on either side of the hood. you will also need to trim the back portion of the hood.
Fitment:
First step is to remove your cowl or cut it ('81 and on), or you will be fighting with it when you put your fenders back on. Next you will need to put the fender on the cab with the lower and top rear bolt hole, and only snug up the bolts. you dont use the inner rear mount on the cowl anymore.
next is to push in at the front like a mofo and basically bend your mounts. from there you can either weld it, or if your off like me cut up some angle iron and bolt it together. I have 2 tabs at the top and one on the bottom. ** one big pointer is to take pictures and triple check the height of the fender to the rad support, I just guessed when I did mine and now my hood sits up too high in the front
Thats all that comes to mind at the moment, Have a happy install!!
Step 1- Make it once
Step 2- learn from a bunch of stupid mistakes
Step 3- Buy new body panels
Step 4- Start again but avoid stupid mistakes
So that Being said, Ill give you guys a few pointers so you avoid some silly mistakes Like I did. I didn't make all of these mistakes, But I figure I should bring them up so you don't.
First of all your Rad support cutting:
I wish I took pictures, but for some dumb reason I didn't. When I cut my core I measured 9'' straight in from both sides, But I ended up taking a bit too much off to fit my grille centerpiece (it was off a van and I am not to sure if they are a different width than the trucks). I had to trim about 1/2'' off each side of the grille, that being said I would measure 8 1/2'' in at the front side of the rad support. Make sure to measure the width of the centerpiece that you want to use, just to double check
My second mistake is I made a straight cut on the rad support (front to back). What I should have done was make an angled cut to make the back portion of the rad support wider to match up with my fender line. I wont be able to get any measurements until this weekend on that one though.
Fender cutting:
Basically gut out the inside of the fender to clear the cab, you don't have to gut out the front if you don't want to. If you do want to completely gut out the fender make sure to leave lots of metal around the lower mounting spot and around the back and top seams. DO NOT cut any seam unless you are going to remake new mounts. In the first picture I circled out areas that you will want to keep metal for strength. In the second picture I circled where i cut a seam and now my fender is ripping apart, you don't need to cut there at all and I don't know why I did.
It would be a good idea to leave the lower lip on the fender to use when making inner wheel wells. I will be making a canvas one to snap in and out of place for easier work access. You will also need to leave the front portion of the inner fender on so you have an attachment point for your rad support.
Hood cutting:
unless you are good with welding and fabbing on body panels say goodbye to your hinges because you cut out the mount. I am now using hoodpins in all four corners. The hood will also become flimsy, I might suggest a fiberglass hood, but I dont know how that would turn out. Make sure to measure twice and cut once... I didn't and I now have a 1/2''-3/4'' gap on either side of the hood. you will also need to trim the back portion of the hood.
Fitment:
First step is to remove your cowl or cut it ('81 and on), or you will be fighting with it when you put your fenders back on. Next you will need to put the fender on the cab with the lower and top rear bolt hole, and only snug up the bolts. you dont use the inner rear mount on the cowl anymore.
next is to push in at the front like a mofo and basically bend your mounts. from there you can either weld it, or if your off like me cut up some angle iron and bolt it together. I have 2 tabs at the top and one on the bottom. ** one big pointer is to take pictures and triple check the height of the fender to the rad support, I just guessed when I did mine and now my hood sits up too high in the front
Thats all that comes to mind at the moment, Have a happy install!!
K10 KRAWLER
1/2 ton status
Note to self: acquire poser pile. It is still better than my driveway shots.
Haha, Gotta love the simple things in life.... a dirt pile in the yard to park your truck on
chevy wrangler
1/2 ton status
any updates?
K10 KRAWLER
1/2 ton status
Yes, but I wont be updating my page until I get back from holidays! And the truck needs a rebuild... Bent the hell out of the frame this season..... Whoops
