Project "cheapskate 65"

[nhtc33d]

Well, I finally have had some time to work on my frame and made a little progress. I got the trailing arms and brackets built and welded up. I also got the bag brackets and cross member built and tacked on to make sure everything will work as planned. The only problem I see so far is with the shocks. It has so much lift in the rear I don't know if I am going to be able to find shocks to work for the full lift/drop amount.(Suggestions??) I want to mount them on the back side of the axle if possible. I still need to mock up a wishbone and figure out a cross member and height for the carrier bearing since I Z'd the frame 4". So much to do and so little time!

[GRIMSS]

nice work i like.

[jlaird]

nice job. I wouldn't worry about finding a shock. Just go to the monroe website and download their pdf application chart. They have shocks with more travel than you will ever need.

[bedsled71]

are you droping your body mounts?
frame is looking great!

[nhtc33d]

Originally Posted by jlaird

nice job. I wouldn't worry about finding a shock. Just go to the monroe website and download their pdf application chart. They have shocks with more travel than you will ever need.

Thanks for the compliment and the info on the monroe website. That is exactly what I needed!

Originally Posted by bedsled71

are you droping your body mounts?
frame is looking great!

Thanks, Yes, I am dropping the body mounts but am unsure how much until I set the cab and sheet metal back on to do a test fit. (probably 1" if I had to guess)

[nhtc33d]

Well, I got a little more done to my truck frame. I made my shock brackets and tacked them on. As soon as i find a TH 350 transmission I can figure my pinion angle and get everything welded up. I also got my wishbone welded up but still need to put a grease zerk on the slider. I also need some bump stops for the rear. Getting closer to being done(i think)

[joe231]

very nice work!!!

[SCOTI]

Cool.

[leftcoast66]

Looking good. I like all of the plates welded over the frame welds.

[dragginmetal]

Looks good......In post #26 i see that the 2link bracket that is welded to the frame is pointing at the rear axle. All the ones i have seen point to the ground.Why did you do it this way?

[smashingchuck]

why not add some adjustable rod end to the lower bars? It all looks good, but you could have a functioning four link for a minimal amount of effort. Everything else looks killer.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

why not add some adjustable rod end to the lower bars? It all looks good, but you could have a functioning four link for a minimal amount of effort. Everything else looks killer.

he couldn't use the sliding wish bone, it would have to be modified also

[nhtc33d]

Thanks for all the compliments. As for the 2 link brackets when i built them i figured that since the stock mounts were pointing back i would make mine the same way.

[nhtc33d]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

why not add some adjustable rod end to the lower bars? It all looks good, but you could have a functioning four link for a minimal amount of effort. Everything else looks killer.

Thanks for the compliment. As for the link set up i like to keep everything simple. For me a 4 link was WAY more than i could put my brain around to figure it out. This set up will work fine for my intended use for the truck.
My motto is cheap and easy!

[BigShoe24]

Looks Great, Keep up the good work. Simple is never a bad thing

[98L150]

looking good

[Slmd92DIME]

Looks really good. I like the sliding wishbone. I dropped my cab mounts a inch and it lays just about flat. I have never bolted the cab down tight to know for sure though.

[nhtc33d]

Well, I have made a little progress! I cut the pinch weld off the rockers so it would lay flat. Got my tranny tunnel built and my engine/trans mocked up and it seems to have plenty of firewall clearance. Need to find some headers to work with my angle plug heads.)Suggestions are welcome!!) Next step is gas tank(fuel cell??) was going to use a 69 camaro gas tank but its to wide. and then start plumbing brakes and fuel lines and then paint frame.

[Slmd92DIME]

Looks really good man. You did a really good job on the tranny tunnel. I am ready for some more progress pics

[Twisted Minis]

A Blazer gas tank would probably work if you want the stock route? If not, RCI cells are cheap, and not bad for the price.

[leftcoast66]

Originally Posted by Twisted Minis

A Blazer gas tank would probably work if you want the stock route? If not, RCI cells are cheap, and not bad for the price.

RCI's are great, but watch out w/ the welds. They don't have much overlap so are kinda weak. Had the whole back underside around where the sump is crack. Summit paid to have it welded up thankfully. Also local welding guy we took it to said he had seen a bunch of them, and also look out for cracks around the mounts. Just a heads up. Although since its been welded up, haven't had a single issue for 4 years of driving.

[Slmd92DIME]

We did a fuel cell in my buddies hardbody and it also has cracked in a spot. Sucks to do all that work then have more problems with it later on.

[Twisted Minis]

The RCI tanks need to be supported across the bottom or they will crack. I think they should send mounting instructions, because I have sen a lot of them fail because of being mounted wrong. Mounted the right way and they hold up for years.

[nhtc33d]

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I was going to do the blazer tank but i think its too deep. I guess i will start looking at fuel cells. Does anyone know of a set of headers that fit a z'd frame w/angle plug heads? Thanks again for the help and compliments

[Twisted Minis]

My friend had some Hooker block huggers on his trucks, and just had to shave a few parts of the top of the rail to make it work. He had a Z with a dropped motor. But he had a TPI. Also stock manifolds supposedly fit pretty well.