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who's done a frame up build?

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BranndonC

3/4 ton status
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who\'s done a frame up build?

i need help/guideance, heres whats happening

i bough a 73 jimmy to build, the final result being this:

500cid caddy motor (already own, but will rebuild)

700r4 from BTO stage 3 (want to order in 2 weeks)

203/205 doubler (will need a lot of help since this is new to me) (have the 203 already)

new drive shafts

maybe 1 inch body lift and zero rates to clear 40's (unless 5 inches of lift can clear and i can keep my wheel wells)

family roll cage (intergrate seat mounts and tire mount?)

custom dash (like tweety's)

custom inside side panels for storage

5 point seats front

if possible a steering column from a 89-91 and make it function properly

take my axles/lift from the 89 and put them under the 73

completely strip 73 inside and out, sand, primer, and some sort of water proof interior

which order should i do things in? like paint, then axles, then motor or what, i just dont want to have to back track while doing this. Thanks a bunch, i'll post more questions as i have them /forums/images/graemlins/bow.gif /forums/images/graemlins/bow.gif
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

I'd say, first step is the underbody. Deal with any rust or mods to the body on the underside(I realize you are a westerner and the word rust is foreign, check a dictionary. Then I'd do motor/drivetrain, its simply easier when the truck is lower. Then install lift and axles. Then do the cage and other interior stuff then paint. Painting should be last cause you will feel bad when you want to fender trim or install that cage and screw up the fresh paintjob. As for 5" of lift with 40s and still having fenderwells, well thats what I am sitting on so /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif 1" body lift would help clearance, I don't know if I will rub the fenderwells, haven't flexed out yet. 1" body lift gives nice bit of clearance around things like trans bolts as well.
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

If you are doing a total frame up build I would suggest starting with the frame. Get it sandblasted and painted if needed. Then put on your drivetrain from axle to axle including motor, tranny, and transfer case. Then fit your body on and take care of any rust patches. Then your best bet is to take the body back off the frame and paint the whole thing then put it back on the frame. Then all you have left is wiring, interior, lights, etc...
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

thanks sled, that sounds like a plan /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

All I have to say is take your time. I had my body off and back on three weeks later. I wish I'd spent more time/money on the frame off build to save tons of extra work later.

I hacked a lot of crap together that I ended up just having to fix later.
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

do tell.. what did you do wrong, so i know what not to do, i am thinking sandblast the frame, then put a coat of rust preventative, i forgot the name of the stuff, but someone here knows i bet, /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

Are you talking about that por 15 stuff? I think they just came out with a coating that you can paint easier than their previous gloss black.

Remington
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

This is a frame up build.

10162tilt_new_shot2.JPG


My plan has changed so many times though I couldn't begin to tell you where to start except to get it in your head exactly how you want it then do it and don't change mid stream. Seems like you know pretty much what you are after so you are on the right track.
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

[ QUOTE ]
My plan has changed so many times though I couldn't begin to tell you where to start except to get it in your head exactly how you want it then do it and don't change mid stream. Seems like you know pretty much what you are after so you are on the right track.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, definitely.

The day I pulled my cab off and rolled the frame outside, all I intended on doing was replacing the frame. Ended up doing the 4 speed swap, body lift, etc., at the same time.

Ended up removing the body lift and building it up now with 1 tons, lockers, crossover, etc. This would have been so easy with the body off, not to mention potential frame reinforcement at the steering box, the bolt on brace, even the EFI swap that I'm going to do soon would have been so much easier with the front clip out of the way.

Just write down your ENTIRE plan. Start at the front bumper and work your way to the back bumper. Write down EVERY part you'll need, along with the price and part number if applicable. Make sure you realize the scope of the project you're about to start.

And if possible make sure you've got another vehicle to 'wheel while you build it. Otherwise you'll get like me, get anxious to get it on the road and end up hacking something together that you'll regret later.

TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

Here is my experience, and I don't mean to rain on your parade. Bought a 74 with a good engine and tranny, but a so so body. I had planned on doing the complete body off resto with the following list of to do's:

Sandblast frame and paint
New exterior paint job
New stainless steel Inline Tube brake and fuel lines
New 45 gallon gas tank
383 stroker crate motor
Bowtie Overdrive Stage 3 tranny
NP205, maybe w/ NP203 doubler
Corp14ff in back w/ Detroit
D60 up front w/ ARB
Six inch lift
35's on 16x10's
Gut interior and Line-X
New tan paint exterior
4x4Iron front and rear bumpers
Warn winch
etc. etc. etc.

I pulled the body off by fabbing up a wood frame, separating the body, and sliding out the chassis etc. from underneath. I then pulled every single item off the frame. I sandblasted the frame and did two coats of POR-15 and a coat of POR-15 chassis black. I then got me a Corp14ff and a D60. Sandblasted both and POR-15'ed both. 4.56's front and rear, Detroit in back, ARB in front. ORD crossover steering, Dedenbear knuckles, and all new bearings. Crane High Clearance diff covers front and back.

Along the way I stumble upon another 74 with a pretty clean body, but a blown engine. I buy that one too. I pull that body off and slide out that chassis. I figure I will combine the best of both and keep that one. I would combine the rest and sell the other one left.

Well, let me tell you, ambition is a wonderful thing. But, after getting way deep into the project, I found, as some else here have as well, that it is a money and time toilet. You just keep spending, wrenching, spending, wrenching, and spending. If you have unlimited time and money, no problem. Me, I was taking major heat from the missus. Then, to top it off, I found, after spending $1200 on all new rubber/seals, that putting the top on and off of a 73-75 Blazer is definitely a major PITA, especially alone. So, my plans changed. For the combination of reasons; time, money, hassle of full top off, etc., I decided I should find a Blazer farther along in the build stages to work on that was cab enclosed. I wanted to stay as old as possible being in Ca. so smog wouldn't be an issue in the near future.

I then bought a 76 that had pristine paint, a good engine, an NP205 already, good interior, a good tranny, and a GV OD unit (that I will sell) from a guy who was a fanatic for taking care of his rig. Now, I've swapped in the D60, the Corp14ff, put on the 4x4Iron bumpers, installed the winch, installed the ORD crossover steering, installed the six inch lift,installed the PSC pump and gearbox, and only have the driveshafts and a few other items to go to be trail ready.

The lesson I learned was to be realistic from the outset. I had big plans for my rig, but I made major changes along the way. I sold one of the 74's and am selling the other as well. I found that I didn't want to have a year or two of down time to build my ultimate rig and I didn't want to keep sinking more and more money into it without having the benefit of driving it. So, I am nearly trail ready and would've spent a bit less had I done it the way I am doing it now the first go around. This was my experience and like everything else in life, your mileage may vary. But, I'd think long and hard about how much time and effort you want to spend on it before you start dissassembling your rig. If I had to do it all again, I'd have spent the money up front for a clean body, solid mechanical, and good paint the first time instead of the third purchase. But, it depends on what you plan on doing with the rig. If you are going to thrash it on rocks, then I wouldn't even bother pulling the body off other than to do new body mounts, or to address frame issues. I'd rattle can the body and hit the trails.

On a positive note, I know every square inch of my rigs and learned things that I didn't know prior to starting out so there was a silver lining to it all. I also did major research into all my purchases and have been satisfied that I haven't been screwed by any company or person.
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

I hated the sandblasting that was done to my frame, made it dimpled texture
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

wow, thanks rat! i have a good idea of what i plan on doing too, i'm going through step by step and making my list, then i'll come back here for fine tuning from folks like you. Thanks again. BTW i planned on using LMC, i know their $$$ but its the only catalog i have, and i'll be buying weather striping, body mounts, and other odds and ends there, any other place you suggest i look? /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

I used LMC for most of my parts but also Chevy Duty and some others. Here are some sites:

General Parts:
http://www.classicindustries.com/
http://www.americanclassic.com/
http://www.chevyduty.com/
http://www.classicchevroletparts.com/
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/
http://www.gmcpauls.com/
http://www.4wdfactory.com/
http://www.4wheelparts.com/4wp/index.asp
http://www.offroadunlimited.com/index.html
http://home.foothilloffroad.com/

Driveline, suspension, and axles:
http://www.offroaddesign.com/
http://www.dedenbear.com/
http://www.highangledriveline.com/
http://www.highclearance.com/
http://www.mo-offroad.com/
http://www.daystarweb.com/
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/
http://www.ottindustries.com/
http://www.drivetrainsuperstores.com/default.asp

Brake/Fuel lines, hardware, and cables:
http://www.azkickin.com/
http://www.inlinetube.com/
http://www.controlcables.com/
http://tsmmfg.com/
http://www.ssbrakes.com/
http://www.classictube.com/

Body:
http://www.goodmarkindustries.com/HomePage.htm
http://www.tabcobodyparts.com/
http://www.jcwhitney.com/

Seats and interior:
http://www.newsales.com/
http://www.tuffyproducts.com/
http://www.dashesdirect.com/
http://www.truckinteriors.com/

Gas tanks:
http://www.nwmp.com/

Steering shafts:
http://www.borgeson.com/
http://www.flaming-river.com/

Bumpers:
http://www.4x4iron.com/
http://4x4armor.com/
http://www.roadarmor.com/
http://www.trailready.com/

Onboard Air:
http://www.kilbyenterprises.com/

These are just a few. Use any search engine to find others. I have used several of these and have had the best luck with ORD, TSM, Missouri Offroad, LMC, PSC, Borgeson, NWMP, and 4x4Iron. All of which had good quality products, treated me well, and I had no problems with them. Here is a link to another thread where a guy posted a ton of websites which I believe you've already seen:

Looky here!
 
Re: who\'s done a frame up build?

more all the time it seems you can easily buy a very well built trail rig instead of building your own. Problem is not too many people want to do that. Something to be said for building it yourself. You know what you got. On the other hand if you just buy a ready to go setup you can still make it your own slowly and wheel it in the meantime. I think the best of both worlds for me would be to buy one that is in good shape and not quite as far done as I would want. Then wheel it and make changes as I go.
 
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