my new back half (pics)

[long71]

just finishing up after a long week. gonna weld in a few more gussets and finish smoothing everything and paint. i like opinions good or bad, see any potential problems? let me know please....






http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...g?t=1173561024

[67Fleet]

Looks good, only potential problem I see is that your bag mounts are so close to the forward pivot point that you may end up having issues with your front link bar mount breaking off. That's a lot of stress on the bags too. It looks to be over a 2:1 ratio. You're gonna get mega lift but it will come at a price. I'm no expert, but it just looks like you may have problems with that location. I'm sure someone else will correct me if I'm wrong.

[long71]

the bags are definately closer to the pivot than i had wanted but after the frame was built that was the closest to the axle that i felt was safe because of the ange the frame is at and size of gussets needed and so on....
and rest assured that front mount will not break off...it is wrapped fully around the frame rails with more 1/4" steel and welds than the golden gate bridge

[AceX]

Originally Posted by long71

...it is wrapped fully around the frame rails with more 1/4" steel and welds than the golden gate bridge

Golden Gate is held together with rivets...

[Jaredm82]

man those are some *****in wheels! whered you get em?

[long71]

lol......

[Jaredm82]

are you keeping your truck long bed?

[long71]

yep

[Rokcrln]

Looking real good so far! A few things I noticed but may not be a factor.
First one is agree that your bags are to close to the pivit point. This kind of bag should be mounted at about a 1.5-1 ratio. With your bags being mounted off center like they are it will cause your link bar ends to wear out sooner because the bag will want to twist the link bar. I thinkyou might want to add some braces to your ubber bag mount that will wrap unter the frame like your front link arm mounts. It would really suck to have it rip off. Then it is hard to tell but are all you frame splices plated or just but welded? Sorrry if I am being picky but you live near me and I would hate to have it fail as you are heading my way on the back road

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[milehightoyz]

wheels look like centerlines....nice work....looks great

[long71]

thanks kevin, all the load bearing joints are plated the crossmembers are not i agree about the wrap around upper bag plates but to be honest i got tired of cutting 1/4 inch steel with a grinder and sawzall so i gave it the old good nuff attitude. i'll fix it this weekend

[long71]

this picture is decieving, the lower bag mount is level, it just looks off because of how the bag collapsed

[1LoC10]

lookin good

[Beyond Static]

from personal experience, the lower bars will twist with the bags being offset. I've done quite a few setups with the bags at a 2.5:1 ratio, and it rides great. It matches the bag's load handling with the truck's weight great.

[SlammedDime]

Originally Posted by Beyond Static

from personal experience, the lower bars will twist with the bags being offset. I've done quite a few setups with the bags at a 2.5:1 ratio, and it rides great. It matches the bag's load handling with the truck's weight great.

+1 - I would highly highly highly (I can't stress this enough) recommend that you change that bag configuration so that bag IS NOT off center on that lower 4 link bar. No matter how much you say it won't twist, and no matter how much support you give it, it will still do it, then you'll end up with deformed bushings, deformed bags, and a setup that just don't look good. Trust me, I had the same setup once upon a time ago and regretted not doing it properly.

[long71]

what do you mean not doing it properly? this is exactly (besides the lift ratio) the way these brackets are designed and the way they came to me from suicide doors. the brackets are made to be off center of the link bar so you can mount the bag and it is done this way on more setups than i can count. i realize the bushings are recieving more wear than if it was pushing directly over the link bar and if it was going to be driven daily and regularly i would be a little more concerned but with only half the bag hanging off the side it is not nearly as bad as you have said. thanks for your opinion and no offense really dont take offense but i am not concerned with bushings wearing faster than normal. worst case, i'll have to replace the bushings every couple years.


my only real concern was ride quality and that question was answered 2 posts up....thanks beyond static

if it starts to bug me its a perfect excuse to spend another drunken week in the garage messin with new brackets ( i like making stuff and welding )

[bedsled71]

mine have been like that for two years and have not twisted... and if they do.. im pretty sure they warrenty their links for bending and twisting.. i dont know the lift ratio but mine look like they are placed about the same length as yours and mine rights really good and gets alot of lift.. goes up to stock height

[timcos]

You got skeeellls.

[culookn]

clean setup. does look a little close to the pivot point but it should be ok.

[long71]

just bumping this so i can find it easier... got some new pics of the progress on the bed mounting and skin welded up.... stand by

[scotts62]

Cool, ill keep a look out for them! Good work looks good

[joe231]

Looks nice! I really like the setup
i'm just curious about the front lower link mount, I realize it is 1/4", but 1/4" without gussets will flex. I'm not arguing just wondering, and you did ask for opinions.
i did a quick paint sketch, including the afore mentioned bag mount re-enforcement.
what do you guys think? need extra gussets on the link mount or no? I do tend to go WAY overkill......

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by joe231

what do you guys think? need extra gussets on the link mount or no? I do tend to go WAY overkill......

Good scetch Joe, id rather go way over kill than be killed

[Slmd92DIME]

I think it looks really good. The frame being smoothed like that and then painted is going to look killer

[PBFAB.COM]

If the chassis is not yet painted, I would move forward with the gussets on the front four-link mount as Joe has illustrated. It will be beneficial.

Also, one more suggestion: I couldn't tell if the lower link bar had a truss or gusset under the bag mount... if not, I would recommend placing one there.