Next step

[Vova]

Right now I have drop spindles and bags on the front of my 70'. What else can I do to get it down a little lower? Drop member is not in the budget right now.

[tinydb84]

Hey from the south bay (Im in West SJ).

There isnt too much you can do if you already did the bags and spindles. You can do a sectioned crossmember or Z the frame.

Both are a bit of work. The crosssmember drop will get you about an inch. The Z can get you 2-4 inches.

[Vova]

Hay neighbor, im in the los gatos mountains off summit road.
I was looking for some kind of an arm modification. Guess I'll need to start saving for porterbuilt.

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by Vova

Hay neighbor, im in the los gatos mountains off summit road.
I was looking for some kind of an arm modification. Guess I'll need to start saving for porterbuilt.

You can cut out the bottom of the arm to sit the bag lower. I did that for mine. Here is a pic.


Or you can move the ball joint up and box it in really well. Only problem with that is that it makes your LCA even closer to the ground and more likely to get caught up when driving.

[Vova]

How much did you gain?

[tinydb84]

Dont know yet. The truck is still apart. I am doing a bunch of work then dropping it off at a shop to do a Z.

If your bags are flat on the plate then it would be an inch or so. If you have the cups that lift the bag up then that distance plus an inch.

[Vova]

What shop are you using? Looking for a place to shorten my frame 12" at a reasonable price. Just don't have the time to do it myself.

[tinydb84]

Way's Customs. AVS recommended them. There is also Outkast Customs that Porterbuilt recommended. Way's quoted me cheaper but it's a cash only place on Eastside. They do a ton of work for the B2C car club around here.

[Vova]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Way's Customs. AVS recommended them. There is also Outkast Customs that Porterbuilt recommended. Way's quoted me cheaper but it's a cash only place on Eastside. They do a ton of work for the B2C car club around here.

I'll give Ways a call. Saw you review on yelp. Do they not have a web site?

[tinydb84]

Neither do. Both are on Facebook though with a lot of customer cars they have done.

[Vova]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Way's Customs. AVS recommended them. There is also Outkast Customs that Porterbuilt recommended. Way's quoted me cheaper but it's a cash only place on Eastside. They do a ton of work for the B2C car club around here.

I called ways today to see how much they would charge to cut sown my frame. Guy on the phone quoted me $1200. That's just crazy for 4-5 hrs of work.

[tinydb84]

Are you sure they understood you meant the frame only? I was quoted 500 for a Z and that included the steering if I provided the parts. They quoted me 300 to do the 4 link if I did the Z with them. Try Outcast, he quoted me 675 for the Z with no steering work. My engine is out btw.

[Vova]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Are you sure they understood you meant the frame only? I was quoted 500 for a Z and that included the steering if I provided the parts. They quoted me 300 to do the 4 link if I did the Z with them. Try Outcast, he quoted me 675 for the Z with no steering work. My engine is out btw.

I couldn't find a number for outcast? Have a Facebook link?
Yes I told him just the frame as I already finished the bed.

[tinydb84]

Maybe he misunderstood. Anyway here is Outkast https://m.facebook.com/OutkastKustom...tkastKustoms67

[Vova]

Thanks man- I'll give them a call tomorrow.

[Vova]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Maybe he misunderstood. Anyway here is Outkast https://m.facebook.com/OutkastKustom...tkastKustoms67

I called him again to double check and he said $1200.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Vova

I called ways today to see how much they would charge to cut sown my frame. Guy on the phone quoted me $1200. That's just crazy for 4-5 hrs of work.

4-5hrs of work would be a stripped down frame w/nothing in the way. I would say most shops would be charging for a full days labor @ minimum.

[Vova]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

4-5hrs of work would be a stripped down frame w/nothing in the way. I would say most shops would be charging for a full days labor @ minimum.

You might be right. However I don't think these guys are $150 hr.

[hellbent72]

I would call around to see if you can find a better deal. Any frame work where you are cutting a frame in half will cost sone coin. It may seem simple but to get it right cost some coin.
For 3500 I got my rear frame cut off and back halfed, welded in mustang 2 front crossmember w/ rack and pinion, new trans crossmember, sectioned trailing arm crossmember and tubular upper and lower a arms as well as new trans tunnel. All this was done to lay frame like the porterbuilt extreme trucks. I did not supply a single peice.

[tinydb84]

Its seems the prices around here range wildly for stuff. I called Sunnyvale Muffler (they also have a fab shop) and they quoted me $800 for a C notch if I had already removed the bed and supplied the metal.

I guess the guy heard the surprise in my voice because after I hung up we talked some more and he called me right back to discuss it a bit more. After talking a bit he said he could do $400 (which I still think is too high-but whatever).

[hellbent72]

Just for peice off mind I just called a guy in my area that shortens most 67-72 long bed in my area and he said 1000 if the bed was off and all the lines where out off the way so not far off your price.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Vova

You might be right. However I don't think these guys are $150 hr.

(1200/150 = 8)
So, only 8hrs 'labor time' for an entire day?

Two guys working on dismantling; 1 guy doing set-up, squaring, welding, grinding/finish work, & then prob 2 doing the re-assemble. That's $1200 for 15hrs labor (10 for the main guy + 5 for the help when required) or $80hr which isn't out of the ordinary.

They wouldn't be running around in an attempt for finishing in a record amount of time to cut costs. They would most likely have a set procedure they follow that 'works' for them (I don't know the shop, just thinking through how I would do things). Some guys might do it for much cheaper if they have no overhead to worry about or are doing it on the side @ home or something.

You could always do it yourself & save significantly.

[Vova]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

(1200/150 = 8)
So, only 8hrs 'labor time' for an entire day?

Two guys working on dismantling; 1 guy doing set-up, squaring, welding, grinding/finish work, & then prob 2 doing the re-assemble. That's $1200 for 15hrs labor (10 for the main guy + 5 for the help when required) or $80hr which isn't out of the ordinary.

They wouldn't be running around in an attempt for finishing in a record amount of time to cut costs. They would most likely have a set procedure they follow that 'works' for them (I don't know the shop, just thinking through how I would do things). Some guys might do it for much cheaper if they have no overhead to worry about or are doing it on the side @ home or something.

You could always do it yourself & save significantly.

I was planning on doing it myself but between work and family only get to work on the truck once a week.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Vova

I was planning on doing it myself but between work and family only get to work on the truck once a week.

I get that.... My simple 'projects' take much longer than they should because of life (& I'm particular).

[tinydb84]

There are times when I want to drop my truck off at a shop with a handful of cash (like500-1000) just to keep the project going when I am working tons of hours. Instead both trucks just take up space in my driveway and I try to squeeze an hour or two a week in.