Project 'Kickin Wing' (No Limits/Hotchkis/PorterBuilt/LS Power)

[dkauffman05]

Awesome progress man! Can't wait to see the outcome on this.

[bterry97gt]

Also got the majority of the frame finished up. Had to go back and move some stuff around and make some modifications once the motor and trans were mounted. I realized we were going to run into driveshaft clearance issues on some of the bracing. Only have a few more tubes to add in and then finish up the welding. Its getting stiff







I was hesitant to have my trans mount welded in solid because I may want to change something around down the road, but if i used a standard bolt in crossmember I wouldn't have had anywhere to tie in any frame braces in that area. So I ordered up a couple pipe clamps that are used alot for rock crawlers and made the center section of the mount removable where I could add some braces to the trans mount.


Here is what they look like


All I need to get done to have a roller is getting my rear axles drilled and finish a few tubes and weld everything up. Ready to get a body on it and see how it looks..

[mikeleeshields]

Awesome progress in such a little time frame. Looks good

[bterry97gt]

Originally Posted by dkauffman05

Awesome progress man! Can't wait to see the outcome on this.

Thanks man!

Originally Posted by mikeleeshields

Awesome progress in such a little time frame. Looks good

Thanks, I feel like it is taking forever I looked back at the start date of this thread and realized it has only been a couple months so I guess I am making ok time. Just trying to keep busy as I would like to get paint on it before next winter.

[dkauffman05]

I think I've looked at the frame pictures 10 times since you posted them. It looks great .

[bterry97gt]

Originally Posted by dkauffman05

I think I've looked at the frame pictures 10 times since you posted them. It looks great .

Thanks man!

[Wasted Income]

Cool project. I did the same thing with the tube clamps for the transmission crossmember on my blazer. Keep up the good work.

[theastronaut]

Subscribed!! Good choice going with the No Limit Wide Ride. I should have just done that with my build, I've spent just as much and I still have the heavy factory crossmember.

I should have an update on the caliper brackets by the end of next week, I'll let you know as soon as I know.

[bterry97gt]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

Cool project. I did the same thing with the tube clamps for the transmission crossmember on my blazer. Keep up the good work.

I knew I saw that somewhere. Just couldnt remember which forum. Thanks!

Originally Posted by theastronaut

Subscribed!! Good choice going with the No Limit Wide Ride. I should have just done that with my build, I've spent just as much and I still have the heavy factory crossmember.

I should have an update on the caliper brackets by the end of next week, I'll let you know as soon as I know.

Yea once I started putting together a list of what it was going to take to get the front suspension where I wanted it I knew it would be easier and not much more money. On the brakes I actually had to stay with wilwood D52 in the front and D154 rear. Had to save some cash somewhere after buying the wide ride.

Also, I have been reading some of your bodywork threads and have learned alot. Its the small details and techniques tha will make or break a paint job. I am sure they will come in handy when I get to that point!

[Wasted Income]

Did your wideride fit better than mine? Any clearancing necessary? Any missing parts?

[dkauffman05]

Are the body work threads on here. I'm getting ready to start some and would like some pointers. I might even paint my truck

[bterry97gt]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

Did your wideride fit better than mine? Any clearancing necessary? Any missing parts?

No instructions, missing some hardware, had to make small notches for the new 'truss system' to fit inside the frame rail, had to drill out almost every hole for the bolts to fit, lower a-arms were tough to fit. Definitely not a bolt on ordeal. Its not for someone who doesnt mind a little fab work.

With all that said, the parts themselves are very nice. They just need to work on dialing in the fitment and hardware/packaging. Porterbuilt mild touring kit for me next time, just couldnt afford it this time. I liked the way the wide ride had brakes/spindles and all that vs. PB's where you have to purchase all that seperately and it starts to adds up.

Originally Posted by dkauffman05

Are the body work threads on here. I'm getting ready to start some and would like some pointers. I might even paint my truck

Look at theastronauts links in his sig. Especially look at the international build thread. His attention to detail is next level.

[Wasted Income]

Haha. Pretty much mirrors my experience exactly.

[bterry97gt]

So the weather here has been pretty terrible so not much progress. I did get started on the engine harness and got most of it pinned out but ran into a snag as the harness I started with is an 06 harness and it doesnt have the typical C2, C152, C100 connectors. Mine is missing the blue c152, but has another plug in that location (this unknown plug had a small control module plugged in it when I got the harness?). I need to do some more research on this as lt1swap.com doesnt mention this difference anywhere that I can find. This is my first LS harness so I am being extra cautious in what I remove. If anyone has any info on the difference in an 06 vs say an 04 dbw harness let me know. I was hoping to save a few bucks and learn something along the way by doing my own harness but if I cant figure this out I may just order one to save the headache.





I also got the welding finished up and the boyd tank installed. My uncle is machining my axles to 5x4.75 and should be done this week so hopefully by the weekend I can get it back to my house where I can work on it a little bit daily. Then I can finally get some steady progress

[nlped]

What's the rational going with the smaller bolt pattern? Did you pick wheels & I missed it?

[bterry97gt]

Originally Posted by nlped

What's the rational going with the smaller bolt pattern? Did you pick wheels & I missed it?

Havent picked a wheel but for the 'style' of build I am doing there are many more wheel choices that are affordable in 5x4.75, and it was easy to do since the Wide Ride was offered in that bolt pattern and I had to get my rear axles machined regardless of what pattern I went with. Yea, you can get a Forgeline or similar wheel in 5x5 but those definitely dont fit into my budget. That was my thought process anyways, we will see if it works out.

[Low68]

Done anything on it lately?

[bterry97gt]

Funny you mention it, I was just talking to my dad today about how I needed to do an update. Things are starting to come together, I will have quite a few pics up in a bit.

[bterry97gt]

Alright guys been a while since I have posted an update and I have got a little done. I got the rolling chassis moved over to my place and have gotten it stripped down, painted, and have started putting it back together for hopefully the last time. Here are a few pics.

Here it is rolling for the first time on very small, dirty wheels. Loaded up and headed home finally..


Got it home and stripped down to get ready for primer and paint. As I had mentioned earlier this was my first big welding project so I wasn't very happy with the way the weldslooked. As bad as I didn't want to, I took a few days to smooth all the welds. Hanging and ready for some epoxy primer..


Primed..

[bterry97gt]

Once I had it in primer I could see how everything looked in one color. I took some glazing putty and fixed small areas where I had been careless with a grinder and other smalls spots.


Now that all that was finished it was time for paint. Nothing fancy, just regular industrial paint from the Lowes. I didn't powdercoat because to my knowledge you cant do it over fillers and I need to start saving a few bucks when I can. I wasnt happy with any of the finishes available so I mixed my own. I ended up using about 80% semi-gloss 20% satin thinned with 15% acetone to spray. Here is a good shot showing the final finish

[bterry97gt]

Got it sprayed..




A couple of the tubing joints

[bterry97gt]

Wanted to give it a couple of days to cure really well, I painted the rear end with the frame so I assembled it while everything was curing.

Got freshly machined axles back in..


Wilwood D154 rear kit installed


Fresh gasket and ARP cover bolts

[bterry97gt]

Got the frame down and got the rear suspension and gas tank assembled, I am really happy how it is looking so far







Should have the front installed pretty soon, and will then start fitting panels and doing rust repair. Will measure for wheels when I have the body on and get them ordered as well. Should start moving faster now.

[nlped]

Looks great man!

[dkauffman05]

I've been looking for an update on your build. Great progress !! I'm in the rust repair process myself .