Project Fat Amy

[MalibuSSwagon]

Interesting project. Going to be alot of shifters in there!

[ckato4477]

okay, cool. having complete bedsides makes life a LOT easier.

and to MalibuSSwagon, haha yep! one shifter for the trans and the rest be shifted through a triple stick cable set up. I bought a bench seat with a notch in the middle just so i can make sure i have the space to mount the shifters.

[ckato4477]

Well i just bought me a turbo setup, minus turbo. So the big block idea is out the window. Ill either pick up a 5.3 or a 4.8....leaning towards a 4.8
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[Bomp]

Started reading your new build.
Scrolled down to see the back half loped off.
Gotta see how this thing ends.
Great project in the making.
Sub'd

[ckato4477]

so i got some turbo parts in the mail yesterday. i need to clean up the welds, but the bulk of the fabrication is done on it already. this is the hot and cold side piping plus wastegate and BOV and intercooler:

[ckato4477]

not much to update other than I got the last of the brackets I needed from DIY4x(52" front spring kit) to complete the frame. Boxing will start next week along with stretching the frame 6" between the rear spring hangars. I'll be running 63" springs in the rear. This thing is going to ride like a caddy.

[Rusbuilt]

Nice build brother. I have a complete 71 front clip sitting in my shop that will be sold dirt cheap if you're interested.. Also a lot of us Nashville area guys get together once a month and work on each others projects it would be awesome if you joined us! Maybe we could come help you on your project some!

[ckato4477]

Thanks for the compliment Rus, and i appreciate the offer on the front clip, but i'm dead set on a 67 front end to match the 67 shortbed that i'll be putting on.

It would definitely be cool to atleast check out y'alls blazers and maybe turn a wrench or two. i don't think anyone would want to drive an hour out to clarksville to help me with my project though. Is there a club or something?

[ckato4477]

well after some measuring, i realized that the overdrive unit adapted in front of the nv4500 would make the shifter come up through the middle of the bench seat....so i'm tossing the idea and selling the overdrive unit. It's designed to bolt in front of the sm 465 or sm 420 if anyone is interested.

the new plan is the run a ZF6 transmission instead, with a twin sticked NP 205 behind it.

here are some pics of the overdrive unit though:

[ckato4477]

Got the front frame horns replaced and its a good thing that it happened because the frame was way out of spec.

[ckato4477]

fixed the links to pics...

[Rusbuilt]

Looking good sir!

[ckato4477]

So....i'm ashamed to admit that i'm not the one doing the work on the frame, or really the one building this thing at all anymore. I just don't have the time. This is why progress has been slow. It always seems that the problem with projects is that you either have the time to build it or the money to build it, but never both at the same time. So right now i have the money to build it, so i'm having my buddy Dusty, of Dusty's Welding and Fabrication in Clarksville TN, build it for me. And he is doing a great job and his prices are VERY reasonable. The last thing that i personally did was chop off the back half....which was pretty fun.

As for progress, here it goes:

[ckato4477]

All of the crossmembers are 1/4" wall 2x4(yes, i know, a little overkill), and fully welded to the inside of the frame rails. All the brackets are from DIY4x and made of 1/4" stuff too. We used 1/4" plate for boxing in the center of the frame, and 3/16" plate for boxing everywhere else. This frame will not flex at ALL when it's done.

My plan is to build a torque monster out of the 8.1 vortec motor, so i want the frame to be able to handle the stress of it wanting to twist. oh yeah, i guess i forgot to mention that i tossed the idea of a turbo LS motor. I sold the turbo set up.

[Bomp]

Progress is looking great.
That frame is SOLID

[Rusbuilt]

Looking good!

[ckato4477]

Thanks guys!
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[ArmyMech71]

Awesome build man!!

[ckato4477]

a little more progress has been made. All the boxing plates have been cut and tacked in up to the rear crossmember before the point where the frame is being extended. It is starting to come together.

[ckato4477]

got the 6" stretch mostly done:

[ThreeQtr]

Cool project!
I didn't see if you mentioned it. but what are you going to do for a roof?
Just leave it as a convertible shortbed truck?

[Rusbuilt]

Nice!

[tinydb84]

Im not a bit 4x4 guy but this is looking interesting...

[ckato4477]

ThreeQTR, I am taking the hardtop and stretching it roughly 6" too in order to make up for the difference in length.

[mtully79]

How's the progress? Any new pics?