Wizit's bagged 60 gmc build

[Wizit247]

Originally Posted by TypeSL2

Couldn't you just use a dye and make new threads as far down as you need, then cut off the length of the bolts you don't need? Would take a little time, but pretty much no money involved, except if you don't have access to a dye that size.

James

Thats a great idea is currently one of my options in my head.

I was planning on getting new ubolt anyways so I was hoping there might be some that already meet my needs. If not you can bet I will seeing if I can thread them further.

[Wizit247]

Its been a crazy busy summer and I finally got a few minutes to work on the truck last night.

I picked up some Slam Specialties ss-7 bags for the front.

Got the front wheels and tires on and the upper arms pie cut and rewelded to keep from maxing out the ball joints.



Added some quite gussets on the top of the crossmember for some strength and looks.



Im hoping to pick up my rear tires tonight and I will have all the wheels and tires on.
Ended up with some 285/30r20 on front. they are a little small but my tire sponsor had them laying around so ill give them a try.
The rears im picking up are 295/35r20.



Im hoping to have the frame painted up and the cab back on soon!

[scotts62]

Sweet! Looking good!

[joedoh]

Looks great!

Originally Posted by Wizit247

Ended up with some 285/30r20 on front. they are a little small but my tire sponsor had them laying around so ill give them a try.
The rears im picking up are 295/35r20

not THAT small, I run a 255/30/22 on the front and turning while low is... exciting because of where the hood/fender meet in relation to the tire. you are within 4% of that size. I run a 285/35/22 rear too and its the perfect look, fills out the wheelwells nicely. yours should be about the same, within 6%

[Wizit247]

Originally Posted by joedoh

Looks great!




not THAT small, I run a 255/30/22 on the front and turning while low is... exciting because of where the hood/fender meet in relation to the tire. you are within 4% of that size. I run a 285/35/22 rear too and its the perfect look, fills out the wheelwells nicely. yours should be about the same, within 6%

Thanks for that info. That makes me really happy because I think the fitment on your truck is perfect!

[Captainfab]

I just found this build thread.......Welcome to the forum neighbor You're doing some nice work.

[creep]

Nice work! You're making it look easy.

[Wizit247]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I just found this build thread.......Welcome to the forum neighbor You're doing some nice work.

Originally Posted by creep

Nice work! You're making it look easy.

Thanks guys!

[Wizit247]

Did a little more work on the rear of the frame.

I took my time on the trac bar and employed some of my suspension geometry knowledge from the offroad world. I was able to get away with only 1/2" of side shift throughout the suspension travel range. Im happy with that!



added a little bit of tube work and some filler plates.
Note: the filler plates are unfinished. they will be received some dimpled holes.





Im going to run some tubes down to tie into the lower rear part of the c-notch to add some strength to the trac bar mount as well. Then bag and shock mounts and the rear will be done!

Speaking of which. any shock recommendations??

[Bomp]

Great work, Welcome.
Sub'd

[cooperhw]

Very cool. Planning something similar on my 63 whenever I get done with the 68 i'm currently doing.

[Wizit247]

Got some shock mounts done last night. went with a "hidden bolt" design on the upper mounts.
Im not happy with the plate on top that connects them. It will be replaced with a curved plate that mounts only to the outer piece of tube.




Im considering ditching the panhard and building a Watts link. I was looking at the back of the frame and just think it would look really good back there. I really like the uniqueness of the Watts Links and how everyone builds them a little different.

Heres is what i drew up real quick for the center section.

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Originally Posted by Wizit247

Im considering ditching the panhard and building a Watts link.

So much easier to fab using a 9" rear. But it looks like you're up to the challenge either way.

I somehow missed your thread until now. Nice work! You're making good progress.

[Captainfab]

I like the Watts link also, but have yet to fab one up. That would be so nice to be able to draw things up in Solidworks. I'm limited to just 2d CAD.

[creep]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I like the Watts link also, but have yet to fab one up. That would be so nice to be able to draw things up in Solidworks. I'm limited to just 2d CAD.

The best Watts link I've ever seen had tabs welded to the axle and was bolted in kinda like a link bar. It made it easy to work on the gears inside the rear end or swap to another axle if needed. I would tell you who makes it but it would get censored out since they aren't paying members of this board.

[Wizit247]

Originally Posted by creep

The best Watts link I've ever seen had tabs welded to the axle and was bolted in kinda like a link bar. It made it easy to work on the gears inside the rear end or swap to another axle if needed. I would tell you who makes it but it would get censored out since they aren't paying members of this board.

Good call! I have seen what you are talking about.
Here's the updated model.

[Wizit247]

Had a busy weekend and got some work done on the truck. Also helped a buddy out and built him some nice inner fenders for one of his cars.

The weather has cooled down a bit so I can work at a slightly higher pace now.

Built some new braces for the shock mounts and finalized the location of the bag mounts. Got the frame plated and the mounts all welded on. Still need to add gussets.








I dusted off the bead roller and rolled a nice offset pocket in the filler plates. Really happy with how that came out!




Quick vid of airing it up about half way and dropping it back down.





I started working on the front suspension.
I didn't like the idea of building such a large "cup" in the lower arms as I was going to need so i started looking at other options.

One thing lead to another and I ended up completely rebuilding the upper arm mount and building a raised bag mount. I didn't take as many pics as I should have.


Trimmed the crossmember back to be flush with the frame.



Started making some templates




Ended up with this. New grade 8 bolts to replace the studs. captured under the doubler plate and welded on the backside. I will take more pics of this when I build the other side.
Still needs some cleanup but the main portion is done.
I angled the bag mount to be parallel to the bottom of the lower arm at full compression.






Threw the suspension back on to measure for the lower bag mount.




Lower arm cutout and filler plate tacked in. Bag fits perfectly! I love it when my math works out.
I still need to box the arm back in and dress it up with some fancy gussets.

[Wizit247]

Heres some pics of the friends car i worked on. High clearance inner fenders for a 240sx drift car.



Painted up.



Also helped him with some assembly of the Ls that will be going in the car.

[CHIZZLER]

New suspension is looking good.

[JPutnam]

dont you want the bag mount to be parrallel to the control arm at ride height? not deflation height? Im sure it doesnt matter that much. but wouldnt it matter less when there is no force on the bag as opposed to at ride height when the weight of the truck is bouncing on the bag?

[Wizit247]

Originally Posted by JPutnam

dont you want the bag mount to be parrallel to the control arm at ride height? not deflation height? Im sure it doesnt matter that much. but wouldnt it matter less when there is no force on the bag as opposed to at ride height when the weight of the truck is bouncing on the bag?

I'm fairly new to all this airbag stuff so bear with me.
The way I understand it is that the bags have a sort of internal bumps stop and that the plates of the bag need to contact each perfectly flat if they are ever bottomed out.
If they contacted each other at an angle it could cause damage to the bag.

[Wizit247]

I finished up the other side of the front suspension last night. it felt really good to be able to air up the front and back!

[tinydb84]

Lots of really cool fab!! You should make two of those watt's links and send me one....

[Wizit247]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Lots of really cool fab!! You should make two of those watt's links and send me one....

I probably could! My time isnt cheap though! haha

[tinydb84]

Good work never is. It was worth a shot! hahaha