Ryoken's 89 Crew Cab Tubebed build... aka Mutt....

[TerryD]

There's a contractors truck that runs around the paper mill I work at. It's a stock K2500 on stock steelies with 285/75/16 G/Y MTRs on it. I've always liked the way those tires looked on it. I'd have them on my CC but it sees WAY too much highway duty to listen to M/Ts singing their song hours on end.

Truck looks awesome man, can't wait to see that bed buttoned up.

 

[ryoken]

noted, and thanks....


the dually 37's and that bed should be a pretty sick combo... almost cartoon-like....

I'm stoked to see how that's gonna look.. the second I saw Kert's setup, I knew the tubebed needed the same...

 

[ryoken]

fock me, just looked, I've got 30 frame rivets to do... and that's with a bolt-in flip....

and I never did replace my air hammer, that would be nice to have.... but I got plenty of slugging hammers and big punches... so a grinder and muscle it is!

but it's all coming apart.. the other saddle tank, x-member over axle, exhaust.. won't be driving again till it's on 37's... but I'll put that ps saddle tank back in for fuel till I can get the tank made...

once the center tank is operable, i'll ditch the saddle and put a dual battery mount under there to match the lower tool bin on the ds... it'll be the last fab on the bed...

 

[r3dd0g]

Amazon to the rescue!
http://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-Ran...TF8&qid=1411681730&sr=8-2&keywords=air+hammer

I have that one and it makes short work of the rivets.

 

[pblaze725]

I was intimidated by frame rivets at first when I did my shackle flip.

My sweat free technique was to gently cut a small square, then an X on the head with a thin cutoff wheel and knock 'em out with a BFH & spud/punch.

The last one was the easiest.

 

[cybrfire]

We're removing pieces.

 

[shady]

fock me, just looked, I've got 30 frame rivets to do... and that's with a bolt-in flip....

and I never did replace my air hammer, that would be nice to have.... but I got plenty of slugging hammers and big punches... so a grinder and muscle it is!

but it's all coming apart.. the other saddle tank, x-member over axle, exhaust.. won't be driving again till it's on 37's... but I'll put that ps saddle tank back in for fuel till I can get the tank made...

once the center tank is operable, i'll ditch the saddle and put a dual battery mount under there to match the lower tool bin on the ds... it'll be the last fab on the bed...

Plasma cutter would be simple if you have access to one. 30 min job

 

[kgblazerfive]

torch, no sweat no hurt hands very fast

 

[shady]

that'd work to have to be a LOT more careful lol. but definitely better than an air hammer

 

[cybrfire]

We always use a torch for the rivets. Just cut the head off on the bracket side and the bracket will protect the frame.

 

[sweetk30]

torch

old bracket or good skilled operator protects frame / brackets .

pop brackets off .

melt the rest of rivet off .

when still hot air hammer or hand hammer n punch they pop right out.

side note : at least you got a cleaner California truck than east coast rust buckets the rest of us have to contend with .

 

[ryoken]

thanks guys... yeah, I'm pretty familiar with doing the rivets... I generally torch when I can... but the work setup has tiny bottles... have my plasma, etc..

 

[AJMBLAZER]

So I'm a couple days late but get the BFG Baja's. Harder rubber so will last better. Better sidewall too.

You can always sipe and groove them for more traction.

 

[ryoken]

thanks AJ...









I stand corrected, 53 rivets to do....

 

[79rustyk10]

Awesome.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Make sure you check the dates on those tires. The Army DRAMATICALLY over bought for the 2007 surge in Iraq. I've personally seen pallets and stacks of the newer tires just sitting around out in the sun BY THE ACRE. I don't know that they were all stored that way but I also don't know that I'd want a set that sat in the sun and weather in Texarkana, TX for years.

 

[ryoken]

3 hr's later, every rivet has left the building....

along with everything else...

next weekend i'll go for a full refinish... strip, prime and paint...

 

[y5mgisi]

So sweet! I'm curious to see what you do with the frame as far as paint /prep goes.

 

[ryoken]

it'll prolly be my usual black treatment... green, 2k urethane primer and flattened black imron... the question is whether I get to the black or leave in prime till the axle is in maybe... i'll see how the time works out next week...

it's rough getting sh*t raw steel by mid day on sat.... i'll give the frame the full deal, but it'll still need a bit of touchup with the sandblaster prior to primer... some rust stuff is pretty heavy/deep... but i'll acid it a couple days before, than DA the he!! out of it with 60 grit to get everything I can with a machine.. some roloc work.. than finish off with a spot blast on the rust and nooks/cranny's...

and if you don't get to priming till sunday morn, it's a wet on wet kinda day...

 

[ryoken]

the other thing is, if I'm feeling really frisky, I may try to get that back cab panel stripped and thru 2k too... if that's the case, it'll just be a green and 2k for both...


stoked bonus for cutting the muffler off!!!!

had to, it's in the way of the new fuel tank.. but it verify's i'll be putting a 50 series back in next spring.....