The Brandy Build

[imiceman44]

I’m not sure about the welder size. I can’t even remember the brand. It’s a little flux core mig. It never gets used. Most of the stuff we need welded is too thick for it but it will do fine for sheet metal. A welder buddy of mine is going to help me get it dialed in. Maybe I’ll go with a smaller gauge then. The cheaper the better and yeah 6 gauge is defiantly expensive, from the prices I was seeing, 100 feet for $300 seems pretty good.

That price was 10 years ago.

 

[Jake_C_]

That price was 10 years ago.

Gotcha.

 

[Jake_C_]

Motor is out.

 

[Bent77]

Yep, exhaust bolt method works

The plate is something like this, tilts well. Make sure it fits the TBI intake before you buy. They also make a good cover if you have the plenum open for some other reason

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...4qpU5GxIbUJIZJa1wmBoCVA8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Jake_C_]

Yep, exhaust bolt method works

The plate is something like this, tilts well. Make sure it fits the TBI intake before you buy. They also make a good cover if you have the plenum open for some other reason

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...4qpU5GxIbUJIZJa1wmBoCVA8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Lol I bought that exact one this morning. It didn’t fit my intake though.

 

[Bent77]

Lol I bought that exact one this morning. It didn’t fit my intake though.

All I can say to that, is Bwahaha

oh and drill it

 

[Jake_C_]

Got everything taken out/off of the frame. I’m pretty happy with the shape the frame is in. A little surface rust but that’s it.

 

[Jake_C_]

The remaining half of the frame wire wheeled and painted:

 

[RoccoK5]

Sick of the wire wheel yet?

Looks awesome, great work!

 

[Jake_C_]

Sick of the wire wheel yet?

Looks awesome, great work!

Sick doesn’t even cover it, I’m also sick of getting pierced by flying pieces of wire. And thank you.

 

[1300obo]

amen to the wire wheel comments. hows the frame around the steering box? I found a tiny crack on mine

 

[Jake_C_]

amen to the wire wheel comments. hows the frame around the steering box? I found a tiny crack on mine

I looked it over and it looks perfect to me. No cracks or bends found fortunately.

 

[RoccoK5]

I looked it over and it looks perfect to me. No cracks or bends found fortunately.

That's great! Mine looked OK, but when I cleaned it up with a wire wheel, I found a small hairline crack. I welded it up and added the frame reinforcements, also will be adding a steering box brace.

Now would be a good time to weld in the frame reinforcement plates to make sure yours doesn't crack!

 

[Bent77]

That's great! Mine looked OK, but when I cleaned it up with a wire wheel, I found a small hairline crack. I welded it up and added the frame reinforcements, also will be adding a steering box brace.

Now would be a good time to weld in the frame reinforcement plates to make sure yours doesn't crack!

Good Catch

Yep, I'm a big fan of playing prevent defense on the steering box. IF you get a major issue later, it will be way more work to fix then, instead of a small amount of time now

 

[Jake_C_]

Good Catch

Yep, I'm a big fan of playing prevent defense on the steering box. IF you get a major issue later, it will be way more work to fix then, instead of a small amount of time now

I’ll look into getting a brace kit. I know the frame cracking at the steering box is a fairly common issue. Does it happen from normal use or is it something that big tires and off-roading causes?

 

[Bent77]

I’ll look into getting a brace kit. I know the frame cracking at the steering box is a fairly common issue. Does it happen from normal use or is it something that big tires and off-roading causes?

Typically Offroad use, but the part cost $65 or so. Certainly cheap insurance

 

[Jake_C_]

Typically Offroad use, but the part cost $65 or so. Certainly cheap insurance

I’ll order one, got a link? I’m definitely not going to weld anything on the frame since it’s all painted now. But bolt on stuff is good.

 

[Bent77]

It’s a weld on, that’s why it works

https://www.roughcountry.com/frame-...iVqCiFLcmcTmdQl0cXJ0lMbmwk8gprBYaApZOEALw_wcB

 

[centexk5]

ORD has a bolt in one.

https://www.offroaddesign.com/bolt-in-steering-box-brace-for-81-91-gm-4wd-trucks.html

 

[Jake_C_]

ORD has a bolt in one.

https://www.offroaddesign.com/bolt-in-steering-box-brace-for-81-91-gm-4wd-trucks.html

Thanks I thought I had seen a bolt on one at some point.