Project "Dream Truck"

[abadsvt]

Originally Posted by pcorriveau951

any updates? our chassis is sweet.

Actually I have got alot done but I droped my camera and it is being repaired. I got one pic off before the camera droped. So in a week or so i should get it back and will take some pics. I have got most the round pipe roughed in which holds all my suspension parts and braces up the frame. I will have the rear suspension installed tonight (upper and lower a-arms). It took me forever because i kept changing all the brackets and I am hand making all the parts. Hopefully this saturday i can get the transaxle, torque tube and the rear end installed for a mockup and to double check all my meausurements. It is looking SICK!!!! I am hoping by the end of Janurary i will have entire drive train installed and have a finished rolling chassis as long as i don't have to go out of town for work. We will see though. I will post some pics when i get my camera back.

Josh

[jb4short]

Nice!

[uno67]

unfair... stop working on it till you get your camera back so we can see

[Ol'Rover]

i admire people that build there own frames

[abadsvt]

Well i finally got my camera back so i took a few pics. Here is a quick recap on what i did and how i got there. Most of the stuff is just tacked together. I have been trying to be very patient and think things through as best as i can. So planing out my attack was a little difficult because there was so many things to plan ahead for. I wanted something that was strong, i needed the tubing to hold the rear end where it needed to be but not get in the way of the control arms and the brackets. I also had to makes sure that the axles where centered with the wheels in both horizontal and vertical. That is why i decided to start fabing up the rear end stuff first. The upper control arm mounts i wanted to do something creative and a bunch of brackets hanging off the side of the 2x4 tube steel wasn't doing it for me. So i took a peice of 1 1/2 round tube so it would match the rest of the tubing and slid a piece of 1 1/4 x 2" long solid pipe in both sides of the 1 1/2. Then i drilled and tapped it so i can bolt the upper control arms to this piece of pipe. I was trying to keep things clean. To find the locations of the upper and lower arms i made a jig which held both the upper and lower a arms in the correct locations both horizontal and vertical. That way i was sure that they were identical to the other side and it was alot easier this way, it just took a few days longer to get done. Also if you look at the rear tubing right at the end you see that is bends outwards and then goes up and ties into the frame. I did it like that trying to maximize the room for my gas tank. Hopefully this weekend i can get the reand, transaxle, and the torque tube installed for mock up to make sure all my measurements were correct and everything clears. I can't wait to mock up my other wheels on the new frame. Anyways sorry for the long essay.

One more thing. I am not finished with the center section of the frame. I wanted to see exactly were the torque tube sits before i finish it. Also if anyone sees something that i missed or forgot or just plan good o'lle constructive critism please let me know. I want this thing to be perfect and won't take it personally. Thanks alot

Josh

[abadsvt]

My last pic i took. This is the one right before i dropped my camera. I think it is my third time dropping the camera.

Josh

[pcorriveau951]

Great Job!!! well worth the wait to see progress. I'm totally jealous at this point, your putting alot of time and effort into that chassis, and i cant wait to see the thing complete. Keep up the great work.

[valleycustom]

GANGSTER!!! One thing. I would add some kind of gussetts to the rear upper control arm mount. Are you running .120 wall 2x4? I don't think that will provide enough structure for the mounting surfaces. You might get some flex in the box tubing. This thing is gonna be sick. Your shop looked like my first one. NO room and a lot of equipment.

Later
Jr

[abadsvt]

Originally Posted by valleycustom

GANGSTER!!! One thing. I would add some kind of gussetts to the rear upper control arm mount. Are you running .120 wall 2x4? I don't think that will provide enough structure for the mounting surfaces. You might get some flex in the box tubing. This thing is gonna be sick. Your shop looked like my first one. NO room and a lot of equipment.

Later
Jr

Now since you pointed that out I think i agree. What i think i will do is grind off the welds and then weld a piece of steel to the side of the 2x4 tube steel to reinforce it. Thanks for the heads up. Yeah my garage seems like it gets smaller and smaller everytime i start a new project. Luckly in a month to 2 months i am getting a 5000sq shop. It is for my business but there will definately be room for my projects. Talk to you later

Josh

ps. Any progress on your project?

[ccracin]

Originally Posted by abadsvt

Now since you pointed that out I think i agree. What i think i will do is grind off the welds and then weld a piece of steel to the side of the 2x4 tube steel to reinforce it. Thanks for the heads up. Yeah my garage seems like it gets smaller and smaller everytime i start a new project. Luckly in a month to 2 months i am getting a 5000sq shop. It is for my business but there will definately be room for my projects. Talk to you later

Josh

ps. Any progress on your project?

Josh,

The chassis is looking great. Since I am building my own chassis as well, I have a great amount of respect for what you are doing. If you don't mind, I will throw my 2 cents into the mix. Instead of welding a doubler plate to the side of the box tube, grind the welds off and extend the mounts through the box tube. Use a hole saw and extend the standoffs so that you hit both walls of the rectangular tubing. Once its welded on the back side make some plugs to finish everything off. JMO. Keep up the great work. Here is what we are doing if your interested.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=262840

Later,

Chad

[valleycustom]

Originally Posted by abadsvt

Now since you pointed that out I think i agree. What i think i will do is grind off the welds and then weld a piece of steel to the side of the 2x4 tube steel to reinforce it. Thanks for the heads up. Yeah my garage seems like it gets smaller and smaller everytime i start a new project. Luckly in a month to 2 months i am getting a 5000sq shop. It is for my business but there will definately be room for my projects. Talk to you later

Josh

ps. Any progress on your project?

Yeah I got the bed mounted. I'm doing some mods to the hood right now then the truck is getting sprayed with black epoxy primer for now. I'm getting it ready for Reso on the 28th, 29th and 30th. I'm towing it down there. Are you gonna go?

Later
Jr

[Frizzle Fry]

Man that is looking great! I agree with the upper arm comments. Good advice. I see that you have the lower arms angled up (front/back) just like the C5 cradle sets them. Did you have a cradle for reference?

Are you still planning on running the rear-mounted transaxle or a traditional IRS diff? Looks like you're leaving room for the transaxle. Keep up the good work!

[abadsvt]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Man that is looking great! I agree with the upper arm comments. Good advice. I see that you have the lower arms angled up (front/back) just like the C5 cradle sets them. Did you have a cradle for reference?

Are you still planning on running the rear-mounted transaxle or a traditional IRS diff? Looks like you're leaving room for the transaxle. Keep up the good work!

Yeah i plan on running the transaxle from the corvette. I only bought the front cradle and it was mainly for the rack and pinion mounts. I am trying to keep all the factory locations but slightly modified for my application and my tire size. Thanks for the complements.

Josh

[brownsville]

that truck is going to be so sweet good job on the frame work...later

[smoky02]

That is gonna be an amazing truck...

[abadsvt]

Well i got a little more done today. I fabbed up a jig to hold the lower control arms for the front suspension exactly where they need to be. Then made the brackets which holds the control arms and got them installed. I didn't get a chance to weld them in fully so right now they are just tack welded. I also got time to remove and install the torque tube, transaxle, and rear end in the new frame to double check all my measurments. I couldn't believe it. Everything came out perfect or atleast all my measurements were right on. Here are a few pics but PLEASE look past my "clean" garage. I think it is time to do a deep clean. Anyways enjoy.

Josh

[gunkis84]

wow that is very sick!! i just cant believe that someone could do that much fab work.. (inspired me to sign up for a welding class at the local tech) keep it up! BUT FINISH THIS ONE!! both of them are awesome starts

[abadsvt]

Well i have been messing around with the front suspension mainly the upper control arm mount. I have fabbed up something that works and is strong but i am not sure if i like it. I am mainly talking about how long and how tall it is. I think it looks a little funny but I don't see any other way to do it. So i was hoping i could get your opinion. Maybe i am just tripping or maybe i am right and it looks a little funny? The piece is all welded but it is only tacked to the frame. I wanted to think about it before i fully weld it. Here are the pics and please let me know what you think.

Josh

[abadsvt]

I was just looking at the pics and then i went downstairs when I thought of something. On the outside of the rails where it is a diagonal piece of metal just below the control arm. What if i got rid of the large plate and add 2 gussets like i have in the inside middle part. I think that will help the overall look from being big and bulky? Anyways just thought of that and wanted to through that out there.

Josh

[PBFAB.COM]

Josh-

Leave it how it currently is. Once you fab your mounts for the shockwave it will tie it all together... and make it "easier on the eyes".

[Frizzle Fry]

I like it, and I don't see a problem with it. Thing is looking awesome!

[RunninLo]

looks good to me! wish I had the time and equipment to build like that. Gotta say I'm a little green
Josh

[ccracin]

Josh,

Nathan is right, it will come together. That mount looks as good as any I've seen for the Corvette uppers. Your probably like me in that the look of Heim Joints and Clevis ends are a bit smaller and cleaner looking. You will be happy in the end. Great work.

[Frizzle Fry]

Here's another approach:

[abadsvt]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Here's another approach:

That isn't a bad idea. I never thought about that. It looks like they cut the mounting brackets and put a steel sleeve in and then bolted it to the round tube. That would match my rear upper control arm brackets. I think i will give that a try. Thanks again for the idea.

Josh