[Project Dragger] First Gen bodydrop and 350 build

[98layinframe]

Jason answered my question in the other thread I made.. said he'd make me set of custom upper arms! But still think I'm just gonna go the stock spindle route. So just gonna call them up and order a set of balljoint cups and then start further modifying my lower arms.

[98layinframe]

Balljoint cups ordered.. sigh, the work/changes are never ending with this thing! But then again cant wait to rail the piss out of her when its all said and done.

[DJDAudio]

.. Fix bed.. touch up air ride problems.. drive truck.. few weeks tops......


yeah.....

:P

[xmb63]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJDAudio

.. Fix bed.. touch up air ride problems.. drive truck.. few weeks tops......


yeah.....

:P

Lol, yeah Dave can't drive it if its not perfect.

Do you think it will be ready for carlisle 2012?

[98layinframe]

I'm really hoping it is Joe, but who knows since I don't get to work on it much.


Well this f*cking sucks.. the tall joints power performance (pro forged) sent awhile back AREN'T the right freaking joints! Ive been sitting on these things for well over a year, glad I'm not in a major pinch to use them right now!

Turns out the joint is the smaller diameter one for the 80's metric cars..




Not sure what to do here, pro forged website is about worthless.. so that doesn't help much, I emailed them so we'll see if they get back to me or not.


And the reason I know the joints don't work is the SD balljoint cups got here today!








Anyways.. tiny bit of forward progress. (took 10 steps back last week.. so 1 step forward, still 9 behind &^%!)

Finished repairing the hack job the previous owner did on the front spring pocket back side wall by welding up the many off cut/weird grinder cuts, and also made some plates to close back in the excessively large holes he cut. I added a triangle to the back of the pocket about 2" x 3" long and I still have enough room to fit a DOM 2600 bag with 1" of space all around it. Some people should not touch vehicles...


Also got the suspension back on and the frame flipped back over again.

[DJDAudio]

Get some primer on the bare steel!

[layinbody31]

Lookin good Dave! Sucks about the joints not workin for ya Hope you can get that rectified

[98layinframe]

Yeah not too worried about rust right now.. gotta make some brackets to mount the shocks, but after that gonna load it on my dad's trailer and take the frame to be shot blasted and primed.

[98layinframe]

And yeah Brent the joint deal sucks.. but hopefully they contact me about it.

[98layinframe]

well good news the owner of power performance emailed me back and is sending out another set of joints for me to try!

Worked a little bit tonight and figured out where and how to mount the rear shocks. Im reusing the old belltech drop shocks from my 98 and with the lower shock mount sitting about 3/4 the way towards the rear of the bar and the upper mount sitting on the side of the notch I'll still get my 15 inches of travel (assuming if the bag will push it that high)

[layinbody31]

Nice! I like when things work out like that (in both cases)

[98layinframe]

Yup just hope they've figured out the problem and send the correct parts! I'm really hoping to use the tall joints since that should help a tiny bit with the toe out issues these trucks get so bad.

[flnole78]

I had a similar issue with those ball joint cups. I order a set of the cups with the intentions of using a pair of cheap stock ball joints in them and they wouldn't press in. I ended up calling SD about it and they told me that they machine the cups to fit a particular ball joint, the one they sell. So I ended up having to buy the ball joints from SD.

[98layinframe]

flnole78 yeah I'll just have to wait and see if this new set of ball joints fit and work any better or not. If they don't, guess ill just have to run stock height joints is all.


Well it was beautiful out yesterday, Doug was over we did a little work on the truck, and also cleaned up and painted the bike project that even the girl seems to think is cool. used some steel wool to clean up the chrome parts, flat blacked the frame and semi gloss metallic flake dark maroon on the front fork.

[chevybird]

looks great so far. i picked up a 87 regular cab that is bagged over axle with a reverse 4 link. the front looks like it was cut out with a torch...hoping to get it torn down soon. you still have the pictures from the first page? nothing shows up

[98layinframe]

Yeah i should still have the pics... problem will be remembering what was posted where! I'll try to get some of them working again asap.


Started cutting the engine cradle in half tonight to drop the center section down to clear the 350 pan. My motors not sitting right here so unfortunately im not 100% sure how far i need to drop it. Im gonna lower it 1" and hope.

[DJDAudio]

More Pics of the Bike here,

http://www.djdlabs.com/GALLERY/index...T-Bike-Project

[98layinframe]

Pretty empty in here.. doh!


Good news the new PP tall joints arrived today and it looks like there gonna work! The base is the right size and fits the arm correctly! thanks Zack!

[layinbody31]

Awesome! Glad to see that it worked out for ya And the bike turned out killer

[90blueS10]

Soooo.

[ahelm3]

^what he said! Updates please

[98layinframe]

nope no major updates, other then got the engine cradle center section cut out, lowered down 1 1/4" and all welded back in to make sure it clears the 350 pan even if I lower the motor some.

Other then that I've been busy making plans to pick up my new project this week. I'm in the market for an ext cab or long bed 4.3 S10 for the chassis, suspension, and drivetrain... mainly cause I'm picking up a 1951 chevy 3100 short bed pickup.

[layinbody31]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet! Can't wait to see that one!

But I though only the longbed wheelbase worked for those trucks?

[98layinframe]

Yeah id love to find a clean long bed frame as the wheel base is only off by 1", but if i can find a ext cab frame easier... i have a frame table and a welder! I'll shorten it down the 5" or so it needs to be.

[layinbody31]

Haha sounds good!

[wirrrey21]

Dave you mind takin a shot of the sectioned engine cradle? i know i'm gonna have to do this on the wifes truck when i drop her motor and i'd like to get an idea of what i'm gettin into. thnx

[98layinframe]

sorry kinda forgot about this thread with all the crap going on in my life.. several friend and family weddings, friends babys being born, death of friends, and general busyness.


Anyways, sure mike.... its not all that hard at all, just a little time consuming getting everything to fit just right as anal as I am.








sorry I dont have better pics, the motor was sitting in the highest setting on top of the mounts, after cutting the ears off, the pan is now sitting about 3/4" away from the cradle. Might end up taking it lower, just depends on how brave I get with putting the oil pan any closer to the ground.


messed around with the pulley assembly, the stock setup that stuck thru the hood by a good 2'".




Cut up the original power steering bracket removing the upper half that originally held the alt.



and lastly modified at newer vortec 4.3 Alt mount to fit on and hold the older style Alt that im running. Now everything just squeaks by to fit under a stock hood on a 4" body drop.

[98layinframe]

Other random updates, got my 6" narrowed rearend back from the shop! Custom Moser axles, limited slip diff and 4:10 gears all installed. Stock axles sitting there as kinda a comparison..




Then since I decided to chang everything around for the stock spindles.... went ahead and cut up the control arms a little more. Now they will layout a set of 24's with drop spindles and a "stock" standard height SD upper bag cup.


Made up my control arm jig and started cutting away.

[98layinframe]

Then I got side tracked again with another new project I picked up! I'm fighting the urge to work on it until after the First gen is atleast out driving around... its tuff.

Brought the truck home, and then promptly took it up to my dads warehouse to disassemble and tuck it away for the time being.





the storage tear down..





everything is amazingly beautiful and rust free... even the old brake lines are still in nice shape! no scale or anything other then a little surface rust on the frame.

http://a2.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/i...6ce6b6a7/l.jpg








not working on it... but allready buying parts.

[baggedsonoma22]

You got some cool stuff going on keep it up...

[dragnblazer]

I want one of those stored away.

[JDrummond Service Inc.]

Really love the build... keep it up.

[jimhrabe]

Nice to see this project is still alive!!!

[98layinframe]

Yeah the projects still moving along.. just very slowly unfortunately. I'll have more pics to upload tonight.

[98layinframe]

ok little more updating of the past few months.

Not sure which way Im going to end up going with the 1951, whether I use the stock frame or go the S10 frame route alot of guys go. Either way, picked up an 03 quad cab S10 for fairly cheap and parted it out. The cab and bed are sold to 2 of my club buddies up in NY, sold off... well more like practically gave away the motor, tranny and wheel/tire combo since people around here are dirt cheap. Anyways long story short, I kept the frame, front suspension, and rear axle to possibly use under the 51.

bringing it home.



then tearing it apart.













Also, since I bought the 51, that puts me now at 6 vehicles... which is getting a little ridiculous.... so If ya know anyone that would be interested in buying my beautifully rust free 1982 C10 long bed let me know. Asking 5500.00 OBO I love that style truck, and its not costing anything more then 17 bucks a month for insurance... so not in any hurry to sell it if I dont get a reasonable offer. Would look pretty badass slammed down and towing the 51.

[98layinframe]

BACK ON TOPIC.


worked a little yesterday and then tonight on the firewall and wheel tubs area. started cutting and tacking things in place. Ended up moving the 7" booster assembly up 1" and shorting the brake pedal enough to work with the 4" higher floor all while maintaining the stock lever ratio. Due to the stock spindles the wheels obviously camber in like crazy when laid out.



made the tubs sit in towards the booster as far as possible, and set into the cab little deeper then needed so there's plenty of clearance around the tires when laid out. Also this extra clearance allows me the ability to turn the truck some at any ride height from laid out on up.


How much I can turn the wheels laid out.... assuming the fenders will allow it.




and then with the hood closed (which by the way needs the structure trimmed out since its sitting on the tire) how much the truck can turn at a 1" ride height.

[98layinframe]

I should just say... I really hate this single area on a body drop truck, so much shit to stuff in a small area!

Ended up getting the tub mostly welded in, the lower half of the firewall made a cut across horizontally under the booster area and then slid the steering shaft half up 5/16" so the steering shaft would clear the upper arm without rubbing at all. Then since the 350 is positioned back so far in the compartment I ended up pushing the firewall back behind the motor. The gas pedal section of the firewall was moved back 1" and also up over 2" so I shouldn't have to modify the pedal assembly "to much".



Worked tonight on cutting and shaping the center firewall section of sheet metal to form to the multiple angles there. The card board piece is just the next section to work on later this week... as you can see it also is moved back 1.5" from the stock location.







lastly another pic of how the center of the cross member was sectioned down 1".

[90blueS10]

You do good work.

[98layinframe]

why thank you!

[mattadams13]

Lookin Good Man!!!!

[wirrrey21]

good stuff dave!!!!!
and is that my beautifull cab sitting there?!?!?!?! I'm still planning on coming to get all that stuff next month. so much going on right now....sept is still pretty open.

[Kovz]

Nice progress Dave!

[98layinframe]

Yup mike thats your cab sitting there awaiting for you and hammers arrival! I want my parking spot back!

[DJDAudio]

1 too many projects :P

[98layinframe]

Nahhhhhh.. ive only got one truck in progress, and one sitting in pieces on the back burner.... the others aren't started yet. It's all the house, yard, and other vehicles that take up so much time.

[Kovz]

That and you're extremely anal, which isn't a bad thing... just takes twice a long to complete the projects, lol.

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kovz

That and you're extremely anal, which isn't a bad thing... just takes twice a long to complete the projects, lol.

Hence why I try to help him, when OCD meets ADD, progress gets made hahah

[Kovz]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJDAudio

Hence why I try to help him, when OCD meets ADD, progress gets made hahah

That or NEW projects occur!

[Nitemare]

lookin good homie

[98layinframe]

worked a couple evenings this week and got most of the firewall done, next section moved back behind the motor.




passenger side tub fitted and starting to weld it in.



made and welded in the little filler panel between the motor and wheel tub sections. Also got the top wiper cowl section moved back to clear the dizzy. It clears the wiper arm by 1/16"







Picked up a nice set of used 245 50 15 BFG g-force sport tires for 30 bucks (included mounting) for the cheap set of 16's the trucks going to sit on for shitty weather cruising, and while it sits out in the driveway. Not about to let my nice billet TTII's sit out and get all corroded.