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Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)


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Old 07-09-2008, 12:30 PM   #51
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Okay guys. A tremendous thanks goes out to the couple of you providing clear pictures with your answers. Thanks again.

Now..........moving on........

Lets talk about the bed.

Whats the best way to do the body drop to the bed?

More specifically a step side, but if you have clean pics of the process doing a fleet side, I'll takew those too.

Now, to inform, I have the step side bed running 20"s in the rear, 225/35/20 tires.

(1) Will I need to trim and section the bed sides for that size tire?

(2) My step shavers look to hang a little lower in the rear than the rest of the truck. But then again even though the frame is laid out completely, the truck still looks slightly leaning toward the back. I imagine once the cab is laid out flat and I correct the body lines and line the bed up, that'll probably bring the back up some. Does anyone have pics of a step side with non-extreme step shavers sitting on a body drop?

(3) How are you guys sheet metal shaving the inside of the bed? Are you guys building a frame inside the bed and gussetting it to the existing bed sides?

Thanks again gusy for the input.
Old 07-09-2008, 12:30 PM   #52
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Edit:

Double post
Old 07-09-2008, 01:54 PM   #53
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

dont have pics of a step side...

but this how i do my beds, dunno if your goin this extreme or not...

cut everything out and 1x1. also 1x1 under the bed rail, thats what the skeleton is welded to





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Old 07-09-2008, 02:48 PM   #54
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

you can do that or you can lay 18 gauge over the existing bedfloor, drill holed in it and plug weld it to the ribs in the old floor. either way will work.

but knowing you, you'd be better off building a frame, being a perfectionist and all
Old 07-09-2008, 04:49 PM   #55
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Nick, I suggest helping with my bed as it will be a learning experience for all
Old 07-09-2008, 04:53 PM   #56
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Quote: Originally Posted by sadexcuse4s10
you can do that or you can lay 18 gauge over the existing bedfloor, drill holed in it and plug weld it to the ribs in the old floor. either way will work.

but knowing you, you'd be better off building a frame, being a perfectionist and all
Oh, I here you there. I don't see the point in adding extra weight in sheet metal and shit and still have a floor under it. I'd do the frame building and all.

You guys have pics of how you guys are mounting to the frame? I'd imagine an easy way would be to weld a threaded stud to your new framing so when you place the bed on all you have to do it tighten a nut down. With building a frame, if you mounted the bed like the factory then you'd have to drill and tap your frame to accept the bed bolt. Basically, tradding bed bolts for now, bed nuts, lol. Make sense or am I an idiot here?
Old 07-09-2008, 07:08 PM   #57
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

studs are the way to go.

but you don't have to drill and thread anything if you do want it threaded. I've taken a bolt/nut/washer combo and done a few.

weld the nut to the washer. then you can get some round tubing and sit the washer up inside it and wekd it in. There's your threaded plate to bolt the bed on.

kind of like some guys make shock mounts that you just stick a bolt through the shock
Old 07-09-2008, 09:55 PM   #58
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Sorry Nick, I dont have too many pics. Im actually doing a std cab stepside 5-spd right now, but im no where near the bed, and I didnt take any pics yet, I figured if youve seen one sfbd, youve seen them all heh. Ill have a thread up with details of specific mods once it nears completion tho.

As for the bed, 1x1 is the way to go. You wont need to section the bedside with those tires unless the offset is off. I believe 2 or 3 issues of MT ago, there was a feature on a std cab stepside with those tires.
Old 07-10-2008, 01:48 AM   #59
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

one thing you definitely want to do is tub it with the 20's up front. get it done now so that you have more options down the road. you should be fine with the 20's in the rear. i have seen people run those brand wheels, step side bed, and a bd without problems with your average size 35 series tire.
Old 07-10-2008, 02:23 AM   #60
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

yeah defenitely tub for 20's, you don't wanna decide 2 years from now that you want new 20's all around and have to redo your front end.

i tubbed mine big enough that i could lay a 32" tire (never plan to, but have the room) because you never know if i decide to door it on some 20's one day.
Old 07-10-2008, 07:36 AM   #61
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

I completely agree with tubbing the front for 20s. Great info guys, much appreciated.


Now, I've heard a couple close friends say they do a stock floor over a traditional, then I here the opposite too.

What are your opinions of the pros/ cons of each and if you were to do it all over again which would you have done / change / stay the same?

Give me some insight into the little odd things you encountered that you did epect and how you got around them.
Old 07-10-2008, 08:14 AM   #62
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

This is a pretty informative thread. I say go with the stock floor because you'll have the most interior room. My good friend with a traditional has been daily driving his truck and says if it wasn't an ex-cab he'd really hate life.

Stock floor is the way I'm going with my next project. Theres nothing better then seeing a rocker on the ground and NO step up when the door is open. Even if you angle your filler plates it still looks cramped inside. You've started your research to do a stock floor. The pics of your truck show a clean well thought out concept. Stick with the cleaner look of a stock floor.
Old 07-10-2008, 02:56 PM   #63
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)



defenitely stockfloor it man. much more comfortable when it's completely stock inside the truck
Old 07-10-2008, 11:31 PM   #64
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Stockfloor is the way to go, no discussion with me.
Old 07-12-2008, 10:21 PM   #65
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Quote: Originally Posted by AVTekk
Stockfloor is the way to go, no discussion with me.
I have been debating this for a long time. I am getting ready to build my '98 and wasn't quiet sure which direction to go but now that I have read this post it's going to be a stock floor for me...I definitely like the cleaner look! Awesome thread!
Old 07-12-2008, 10:54 PM   #66
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Quote: Originally Posted by 2WHEELERCUSTOMS
I have been debating this for a long time. I am getting ready to build my '98 and wasn't quiet sure which direction to go but now that I have read this post it's going to be a stock floor for me...I definitely like the cleaner look! Awesome thread!
your not gonna have much of the stock frame left at all lol. can't wait to see your project thread man.
Old 07-12-2008, 11:12 PM   #67
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

SFBD are the way to go but traditionals can be done in less then 1/4 of the time i bet.... I stock floored my blazer so i vote for SFBD!
Old 07-13-2008, 12:43 AM   #68
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Quote: Originally Posted by laydoutjimmy
SFBD are the way to go but traditionals can be done in less then 1/4 of the time i bet.... I stock floored my blazer so i vote for SFBD!
well, the front end is the same and the bed is the same.

it's just your choice. cut the floor. or cut the floor and cut the frame also
Old 07-13-2008, 06:55 PM   #69
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

another way is to a complete new frame called a bodydropless chassis im sure most people know but heres a pic if it loads vged 012.jpg
Old 07-13-2008, 06:59 PM   #70
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

another cant figure how to upload more than 1 at a timeAttachment 97254
Old 07-13-2008, 07:01 PM   #71
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

little more sorry so many posts Attachment 97255
Old 07-13-2008, 07:07 PM   #72
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

as you can see no lost cab space = stock head room = great and not expensive to do yourself-- mine has whole back cut out but is a blaze w/t 22's soon 4's if you have a s10 no internal cutinAttachment 97256

Last edited by blazerjohnny94 : 07-13-2008 at 07:12 PM.
Old 07-13-2008, 09:21 PM   #73
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

you'll still have to do some cutting. for the driveshaft and transmission, also firewall tubs, and possibly gas tank if you keep it stock.

There just isn't a way to do it without a single cut to the cab unless you do a rear engine setup with super small tires in front
Old 07-13-2008, 11:00 PM   #74
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

attachments dont work....
Old 07-13-2008, 11:08 PM   #75
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Quote: Originally Posted by sadexcuse4s10
well, the front end is the same and the bed is the same.

it's just your choice. cut the floor. or cut the floor and cut the frame also

ummm..... Not really you forgot to mention stripping the whole thing down and building at least new center rails if not a 3/4 frame and then re-assembly... Alot more work and alot more time
Old 07-13-2008, 11:50 PM   #76
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

yeah, you have to tear the truck down a little more, but just enough to get the cab off the frame.

the carpet/dash/seats/firewall still all must be cleared just like a traditional
Old 07-14-2008, 12:30 AM   #77
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

i just cut my floor from the ft. seat mounts (the hump where the seat bolts to) foward to the firewall and then all the way across the fire wall to the other side to clear my ft. body mounts and the transtion between the stock frame and the 2x3 i might have to mess with the tranny tonnel but i dont know for sure yet i will next week when the new tranny goies in with the 355ci search jubkyard dog
Old 07-14-2008, 09:02 AM   #78
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Ok, back to the cab for a second.

From what I've gathered there are 3 types of body drops.

(1) Traditional

(2) Stock Floor placing 2x3 in the existing frame and cutting the rest away

(3) Stock Floor cutting frame section out under the cab entirely and laying entirely new rails out of 3x3.

..........Correct?

Now, from what I've gathered about the stock floor method is that if you go with option 2 ^^^ then you'll need to still cut the floor from the seats to the firewall. With option 3 ^^^ there is even less cutting than that.

I guess my concern with any of the body drops is havign the floor match up with the existing oem version so that things like the carpet and the kick panels can go back in right. I've talked to Milky and he cut the carpet length wise down the middle of the tranny hump to let it stretch and relax into the new floor. Thats fine. I can do that and build a new center console to cover this carpet mod. I guess I question the front body mounts primarily.

How much are you guys having to lift the floor slightly under your feet to make the body mounts work and clear the frame and still make the kick panels go back in right?

When I see traditional drops and the way the floor needs to get modded I don't quite see how things like the carpet and the kick panels can go back in and look right.

Can you guys toss uip a couple pics concentrating on the following:

-Floor mod for Stock Floor
-Progress pic of what you did
-finial pics after you were done with the interior and kick panels in.

Thanks
Old 07-17-2008, 08:49 PM   #79
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

I dont have any pics right off hand, but the cab mount inside the body doesnt usually get cut. Some guys move or remove it and build another one, but theres no need for that really. Its pretty tall under the truck, and that will get sectioned 1" but it doesnt effect the floor. As for how much it raises, its usually about 1/2-3/4" for me, but it can be less, I like to give a decent bit of clearance under the floor for all the wires and plumbing, whatever. Its also sloped inward, so what ends up happening is I cut the whole foot well out, then run a flat piece of metal straight across from side to side.

Also, I always do option #2, but I run 3x3 because it mates up with the stock clip better, and Ill cut the clip off right after the tranny (Im building a backhalf usually).
Old 07-17-2008, 11:37 PM   #80
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

When I put my kick panels back in I just chopped about like 1/2" off the bottom of them. they still line up with the sill plates at the door fine and you can't even tell. I wish I had a picture of it all put together.
Old 07-18-2008, 09:38 AM   #81
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Re: Stock Flooring (Openly Discuss)

Quote: Originally Posted by Milky4204
When I put my kick panels back in I just chopped about like 1/2" off the bottom of them. they still line up with the sill plates at the door fine and you can't even tell. I wish I had a picture of it all put together.
Are you going to have the interior back in for ITB? If so I'll snap pictures like crazy.
Old 07-18-2008, 09:39 AM   #82
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