71 4X4 Frame off Restoration

[DWilbur]

I finished removing the rear cab and front bed mounts. removed the center cab mounts from the frame sections I saved from the suburban. I will be dropping off the frame and parts to SRS for media blasting on Wednesday. Then it will go to Sky's shop to stretch the frame and fit the cab and bed.

[cmabolt]

lookin good! Thanks god you have a good body guy. Some people get all the luck. :wash:

Chris

[DWilbur]

Santa Claus was early this year. I got my 4 speed Atlas T-case today. I dropped off my frame and related part at SRS to get media blasted the 11 smaller parts will get power coated black. after the frame has been modified I will have it powered coated as well.

[DWilbur]

Hello cmabolt. Yes I'm lucky to have Sky working on my truck. It's not his usual type of work. He like working on older hot rods thirties roadsters is what he works on mostly. I was lucky he was slow in the shop and I'm able to fund having him work on my truck 3 days a week. But things are getting busy for him now. hopefully he will finish up with my truck the first week of October then Charlie will do the final body work while Sky is on vacation. I might be able to paint in November.

[DWilbur]

I have been waiting 2 years to see the bed back on the frame and Friday it was reality.

[DWilbur]

I had Sky move the bed forward 1 inch to center up the wheel in the wheel well. I think it looks much better thsi way. Frame has been stretched 24-1/2" to fit the crew cab. next week we will fit the cab and the rest of the sheet metal.
I have to take my NV4500 to the trany shop to have the harmonic balancer removed so I can install the new tail housing for the Atlas T-case. it requires special tool to remove the nut and balancer. Yes that is rust on the bed and frame as it rained in California Thursday and Friday.

[msgross]

those T-cases sure are beefy!

[DWilbur]

I finely got the T-case together for the most part. missing 6 bolts and rear yoke. I thought the yoke was being delivered with the disk break parts I received in the mail today. I will call AA Monday and see what happened. The instruction to install the T-case are not very good. I assembled and disassembled parts 2 to 4 time before I figured out all the parts and the sequence to assemble them. I took picture of the assembly not sure if I should post them all. Let me know what you all think. We will be mounting the cab for the first time Saturday can't wait.

[swamp rat]

Ok, I've been meaning to ask, How did you hear about the Atlas T-Case? I didn't even know it existed. Also is the rear shaft disk setup from the same company that makes the one for the NP205?

[ryanroo]

beefy looking combo DWilbur!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Ok, I've been meaning to ask, How did you hear about the Atlas T-Case? I didn't even know it existed. Also is the rear shaft disk setup from the same company that makes the one for the NP205?

where have you been?!? haha. the atlas has been around for a while. i think the original is old enough to vote!

made by AA and in pretty much all of the "cool" off road rigs in the late 90s and through today. the atlas II has a pretty solid track record.

if you would like a 205 rear output brake, Jesse at high angle driveline will be able to help. i am sure there are a few others that make them as well, maybe NWfab. they can be home made also, but for the time and design invested, id buy it. for the ultimate in holding power, a rear output band brake would be ideal. not to many options there.

[DWilbur]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Ok, I've been meaning to ask, How did you hear about the Atlas T-Case? I didn't even know it existed. Also is the rear shaft disk setup from the same company that makes the one for the NP205?

Advanced Adapters makes the T-case they have been around for several years in 2010 they made several improvements as some guys were having some issues with them. by 2011 they are one of the best aftermarket t-cases you can buy. they tailor build them to what you will use it for. all kinds of options. to fit any truck you can think of. the one i bought is a 4 speed t-case 1to1 high gear and 5.3 to 1 low gear. They can build them with 10 to 1 low gear if needed. 3 shifter levers to control it.

[DWilbur]

Forgot the parking break is made by Parts by Mike. I think they make one for the 205 T-cfase

[DWilbur]

Finally after work on the truck for just over 2 years the cab is installed on the truck for the first time and looking very cool. I will be dropping off some of the front end part Monday to be installed for final fitting the body panels.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

beefy looking combo DWilbur!






where have you been?!? haha. the atlas has been around for a while. i think the original is old enough to vote!

made by AA and in pretty much all of the "cool" off road rigs in the late 90s and through today. the atlas II has a pretty solid track record.

if you would like a 205 rear output brake, Jesse at high angle driveline will be able to help. i am sure there are a few others that make them as well, maybe NWfab. they can be home made also, but for the time and design invested, id buy it. for the ultimate in holding power, a rear output band brake would be ideal. not to many options there.

Where have i been? Riding and racing dirtbikes most of my life. Never followed high performance off road or 4X4 builds even while i owned my truck since 1994.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Advanced Adapters makes the T-case they have been around for several years in 2010 they made several improvements as some guys were having some issues with them. by 2011 they are one of the best aftermarket t-cases you can buy. they tailor build them to what you will use it for. all kinds of options. to fit any truck you can think of. the one i bought is a 4 speed t-case 1to1 high gear and 5.3 to 1 low gear. They can build them with 10 to 1 low gear if needed. 3 shifter levers to control it.

Thanks for the info! your truck is taking shape nicely!

[DWilbur]

Spent 2 hours installing a dust reclaimer on my media blasting cabinet. it vacuums up the glass bead dust and you can recycle the glass bead. now the bead blaster is clogging up constantly and not able to get my parts blasted. so I set up my sand blasting pot in the back yard and at least blasted my bell housing so I can paint it. Also painted some sample colors for the truck. Champaign beige Honda color and Vibrant Copper Volvo color. Having spray gun issues and I'm out of thinner to do a good cleaning.

[Dieselwrencher]

Your truck is taking shape quite nicely!

[DWilbur]

Thanks Dieselwrencher.
Its been 2 years and 4 months to this point. with 2 people working on it things move along. Sky is working on sheet metal and I'm working on the mechanical item so after the frame is painted I can start install engine trans and axels while the body work and painting is getting done. I'm still hoping it will see paint in November.

[Dieselwrencher]

Good luck with it. Paint will surely help your motivation. Although it's the part I demize the most. Have to be careful to not scratch it all up.

[7dee2]

Cool build DWilbur I'm in...

[DWilbur]

Thanks for looking in 7dee2.

[swamp rat]

Nice color combo!

[DWilbur]

Friday was rot repair on the 2 right side doors. I was hoping that it was goning to be small panels to repair and it ended up the hole bottom of both doors.

[DWilbur]

Today I sand blasted the transmission and painted it.

[cmabolt]

Wow! That turned out nice.