My newly acquired truck! =]

[V8Blaze]

that will work. I guess thats why SD makes the bridge kit with the two front bars that wrap around bag plates. But yea that plate will work great

[Kiko]

I was thinking so. I wish i had a pipe bender. I'd bend a piece and curve it to match the end of the bag plate. What's funny about it though is when i weld in the gussets it's being done at the ford dealership

[Kiko]

Playing around a little at work this morning..

[Kiko]

Cut the gussets yesterday. Need to clean the edges with a wire wheel and get them welded. They are 2" X 4" and angled so they look as clean as gussets can.












4" seems a little short but it should work fine? I can cut two more if i have to.

[V8Blaze]

id make them as big as possible, they really need to go out the length of the bracket. Or make them go from the bottom of the bracket down, kiinda like the bent ones sd sells

[Kiko]

So.... 2" X 6" sound good? 6" Should go from the notch to the end of the plate.

[95xtreme]

Yup that would work very well. Looks way better with that front end.

[Kiko]

so cut two gussets 2" X 6"? I'll do that tommorow after work. I'm probably going to work on it some during my lunch break at work.

[Dropped'01]

hows it ride?

[V8Blaze]

yea, a 6 inch one should go to almost the end, and will work well

[Kiko]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dropped'01

hows it ride?

Rides pretty good to me. I need to adjust one of my lower link bars. The axle is crooked but other than that it's good. Did a little spot filler on my lunch break and sanding it and doing another when i get home aswell as work on my new doors and fix that link bar. I ordered the clear lenses for the side of the grill and two 2 3/4" spikes for the tag holes in the front bumper. I'll also try and measure the gussets and cut them out today. I can't get it welded until Tuesday. Should be replacing that tire on the rear that's showing wire too.

[Kiko]

trying to find a specific used tire size sucks. one place was so backwoods it was scary. *sigh* nothing too new. replaced a fuel line and did a little bodywork. going to hopefully get the new passenger door on today. scrapin' is getting close..

[NevurMind85]

cool man. cant wait to see what the next project on it is.

[Kiko]

I hope the next thing is my tilt bed but i need someone to weld the brackets on. =\

[coloRADo_S10]

Looks awesome man! Great work!

[Kiko]

Changed the bowtie on the grill from flat black to red. Looks really eye catching with the black and chrome. I'll get pics when i get some batteries for my camera.

[Krusher]

That thing is looking really looking BAD! The one piece grill looks alot better and so do the clear lights! Keep up the good job. Can't wait to see it finished.

[85Jimmy]

I sat here for close to 5 hours (on/off) reading all 26 pages... Damn what an awesome timeline of the truck... It looks great man, I give you much kudos for putting it back together after it getting totalled. Can't wait to see it all one color and the interior finished to how you want it.

On a side note though, do you have any bike parts laying around? I just got back into riding and I bought an older DK General Lee and it needs some TLC pretty bad... I did pretty good for 100 bucks though... I need a rear rim, seat post, seat, and 2 tires... possibly some other stuff but I can't remember right now... PM me okay man? Thanks alot.. -Josh

[Kiko]

I got rid of most of my bike stuff. I just have some mountain bike tires laying around. Thanks for the compliments. I'm going to finish rattle can flat black for now then satin black auto paint with a gun and everything later.

[88 s10 Blazer]

Truck is comming out nicely man, whenever im down that way ill have to come and see it.

[Render78]

Hey man, I live in Millbrook, AL.. any of you come around here?

[Kiko]

never been there. is it far from mobile?

[Kiko]

Finally found them...


















Tacked one of the tilt bed brackets on. I kinda did a little but we didn't have a mask and i've got a fear of going blind from welding so i didn't hold it long enough to get it to stick but i did at least arc it and put some weld on It's my first try to weld. I'm gonna do the rest just need a mask.








Me and jessie hit the cab with the power sander tonight and hand sanders last night. Getting ready for all flat black. It'll come off later cause my friend Gary has a sprayer and i will get some satin black auto paint later and do a real paint job.









Would finish up but got to go over to my girlfriends so no time. *Sigh*

[Kiko]

By the way the brackets for the bed aren't fully done. I can clean up the end that bolts to the bed once they are welded. Just will have to take off the bed. I didn't have any more cutting disks.

[rusty10690]

the front end is verryyy stunning lol

[Kiko]

Thanks. The spikes are pretty popular it seems. I got the hole drilled for the front bracket to bolt to the bed but my friend didn't have nay tips for the welder so i couldn't weld yesterday. I'm gonna try to tack on the second bracket tonight after work. If i do i'll drill the hole through it and put in the bolts then see how it tilts and if it's good i'll fully weld it.

My gussets are cut already and i'll tack them in today or tommorow.

[Kiko]

New tire. No more being scared of having a blowout driving down the road.




Tilt bed so far. It's only tacked a few times for now. Going to tack it some more then make sure it opens right. If it's good then i will fully weld it. I'm going to be pulling the bed and rounding the top too so it looks nice.

[Driveway Kustoms]

what size studs are they, i had the idea but was unsure what size to get- and trucks looking sweeeet man keep it up

[NevurMind85]

that bracket wont alow the bed to swing up at all your going to have to clearance that more.

[Krusher]

Quote: Originally Posted by NevurMind85

that bracket wont alow the bed to swing up at all your going to have to clearance that more.

+1 the bed rail will hit the top edge of the mount before it will tilt. You'll have to take the side notch down just a bit more to let it move.

[Kiko]

I noticed that when i looked at my post. Thanks for pointing it out. I didn't think about that when i cut it but i can pull the bed and cut that side more. I'm actually buying my own welder thursday. Just a cheap 220 volt 110amp mig welder. That way i can weld anything i want without leaving home and i can weld anytime.

[Kiko]

Quote: Originally Posted by Driveway Kustomz

what size studs are they, i had the idea but was unsure what size to get- and trucks looking sweeeet man keep it up

1/2" diameter and 3" long. I used 2 washers per bolt and a nylon lock nut. I used all stainless steel but you can use whatever.

[Kiko]

Got my welder earlier. I've got a t-ball game to be at tonight but after that i'm headed home to weld the rest of the tilt bed. I'll post pics later tonight.

[Slammin97]

Hey man were you get the studs on the front bumper ?

[Kiko]

THe spikes came off ebay. No welding pics. My batteries are dead. I think i ****ed the second bracket up though so i might have to make another...

[Kiko]

My welds look like shit but they do their job

[Kiko]

Tilt bed is done kinda. Just so everyone knows i cleaned up the welds at work while on lunch. They don't look very good but i promise you they hold really well. I can weld solid just shitty looking. I need two back brackets and i need to box the frame for the frame bracket. I also need to cut the second bed mount on the driverside and put the channel for the bed to fall into so it won't move back or forth on that side. I'm going to be bracing the bed since the middle is cut because it twists pretty bad without the center to keep ti square. Also i'm just using a 2500lb AIM bag since it's $10 cheaper and it's not something that really matters.



I'll get the bag and air stuff soon as i can afford it. Maybe next week. I'm getting 18's and tires for $600 or $450 if i give him my tires and rims but i want to keep mine for the blazer. Since i can weld now i'm going to attempt a traditional body drop on it later. But anyway i'm done carrying on. Here's some pics until tommorow when i can get one of the bed actually tilted




Extended wires so nothing breaks.










My el-cheapo welder and mask. Works good though for what i paid. It's just a starter rig since i'm learning to weld.







Random





Representin'






I really want to get pics but the flash went out on my digital camera after i bought brand new rechargeable batteries so i got to buy a cheap replacement.

[heeter_33]

yea those welds do look pretty rough, it doesnt even look like it penetrated, but if you say so. id definatly throw some sealent/primer on them though cause if rust gets in there it'll eat them away in no time. otherwise the truck is lookin sick man! love the spikes and the overall look.

[Kiko]

I did the hammer test and it held up and i drove to my girlfriends and to work with the bed held on by those brackets. The ride was bumpy too any nothing moved or broke. I'm satisfied with the strength. I just wish i could weld nicer. I've got to practice running a bead. I can do ok horizontal but upside down or vertical is horrible. I can do it just shitty. I'm going to be brushing on rust stop primer tommorow sometime.

[GET_LOW]

I see ya got an extension cord in one of those pics. That could be the reason your welds are bad. I remember with my flux i would have crappy welds with just a little cord on it.

Try to plug it directly into a wall outlet and just turn the heat and wire speed up a ton and lay a big ass weld on it.

[Kiko]

Quote: Originally Posted by GET_LOW

I see ya got an extension cord in one of those pics. That could be the reason your welds are bad. I remember with my flux i would have crappy welds with just a little cord on it.

Try to plug it directly into a wall outlet and just turn the heat and wire speed up a ton and lay a big ass weld on it.

I never heard about using a cord. I can't really use an outlet because the only outside one in have it is the shed under the carport and i can't get my truck under the carport. I could run one out of the front window of the house and us e ashorter one but that's about it. I use a wire speed of 2-3 because i weld slow and i keep the heat on max.


Her are pics and a video. I need to brace the bed so it won't twist and i need to air for it. I am going to try and order the air stuff from suicide doors thursday. I should have enough time to get it and weld it all up for scrapin. i still have to flat black the whole truck and get the new doors on and bedline the bed. I'm going to weld my exhaust leak since i have a welder now so it should be nice and quiet again.



tilted with full lift in back















Tilted layed out





















Shiny






Pretty high lift





Hinge setup









Shortened filler neck




Rubs when fully layed. I need to cut this edge...




Random









Comparison of lifted versus down...










Video....







Getting gas without the air sucks. Luckily a guy i knew seen me and stopped to talk at the gas pump and offered to hold it up while i took off the gas cap and filled up with gas. That's going to suck trying to hold the bed,squat down to reach the filler neck,and pump gas while holding the bed up.......

[heeter_33]

are those clear corners and signals from ebay?

[Kiko]

Yeah. Look up carpartswholesale he has a store on ebay. He's got everything. I got my bumper,grill,and clear lenses for the bumper AND grill all from him. It's not perfect but they fit good and look good. Just don't expect the front bumper to hold up to impact. It's thin. But i got mine for looks so i don't really care. Not exactly planning to test out it's impact ability.

[NevurMind85]

looks awsome man.

[Kiko]

Thanks
I need to brace the bed to keep the twisting down and cut the driverside second bed mount off and weld a 2x2 there for the bed channel to fall into to keep the bed from moving back and forth. I really wish i had the $$ to order the air for it tonight. I can't wait to have it fully functional.

[Driveway Kustoms]

truck looks good man, and hey you should enter for truck of the month, seriously, i check this thread more than any other, its a budget truck that 90% of the people here are capable of doing, especially seeing you built it in your front yard lol, imo just because you did that, gives the truck more character- but seriously you should enter, i know id vote for you and prolly a lot of other people who check this thread

[Kiko]

Thanks. I don't think it's THAT simple of a build though. It's nothing major like a custom frame or some special link setup but i like to think it's still not too simple. But yeah i agree with you that being built in my front yard gives it a little more character than a similar truck that was built in a fully stocked professional shop. I always wanted to win truck of the month but not sure if i'll enter because in my opinion my truck isn't worth entering. But i might.. just don't feel like getting ripped on for entering it like it is now..



I need to do some more work today. I've got some more welding to do but i've got to buy steel to use. i'm thinking about bracing my bed kinda how they did in the new mini truckin but without the no regrets part.

[Driveway Kustoms]

i didnt mean to make it seem simple like that lol but hey didnt dr prymer win totm once? and his truck was along the same lines and noone ripped him, he had a lot of support if he didnt win regardless (dont quite remember what happened if he won or not)

[prodan]

y did u put a tilt ben on this. u have a huge hole in the bed and can already see everything.

[s10v8drew]

i'd vote for ya, i check this thread pretty much everyday, and its my favorite thread...trucks turning out awesome, keep it up man