[Sebbe]

Hi!

I figured I should start a thread, because even tho I have been reading bd threads for a year or so I´m still gonna have to ask alot of questions.

So, I have a 96 extended cab, and I´m doing a traditional bd. I bagged it last winter and drove it like that this summer, but it´s not low enough! Besides the bag install I have never done any major car work, so I consider this a learning project, but that doesn´t mean any shortcuts

I took the car in the garage 3 weeks ago, and have now torn everything down, bagged and labeled every screw, and labeled every connector, hose and wire I removed. Learned that the hard way when I bagged it

I lifted the body off yesterday, and started cleaning/sanding the bottom of the floor, have to replace one of the body mounts(maybe more), replace a part of the floor that some previous owner did a real hackjob on, and replace the completely rusted out rockers.
Once that´s done I plan to do the bodydrop, with the cab of the frame, that should be easiest, right?

My plan is the following:
8cm (3 1/4") bd
tub for 20"s
smaller booster
relocate clutch
dump bed
put some sound in it

I hope to have it out by May, and I´m not gonna paint it, maybe next winter.

Pardon any spelling misses, my native is Swedish Here are some pictures!

 

[[email protected]]

There's nothing wrong with asking questions! That's one of the best ways to learn! Great job on labeling everything. It's so easy to just start ripping things out, and forgetting exactly where they go back to. Anything parts we, her at Gauge, can help you with, please do not hesitate to get with us!! We stock a TON of airride parts. 317-856-1810

 

[Sebbe]

Grinding away, the rust hit this poor truck pretty hard.

 

[Sebbe]

There's nothing wrong with asking questions! That's one of the best ways to learn! Great job on labeling everything. It's so easy to just start ripping things out, and forgetting exactly where they go back to. Anything parts we, her at Gauge, can help you with, please do not hesitate to get with us!! We stock a TON of airride parts. 317-856-1810

Thanks for the offer, but I´ll try to stick to the few(the only?) domestic shops here, to keep them up and running!

Been busy grinding and welding the floor all weekend, still have one body mount, and the rockers, left to fix. Hopefully I can start the bodydrop within a week or two!

Got a question to you guys!
I´m currently running 205/55 r16 up front, and havn´t needed to notch for tie rods to lay out. But when I go up to 20s after the bd, that´s not gonna work. So what are the options, do I have to notch, or are there other tie rods(bent, s-shaped?) that will clear the frame?

 

[littleredhotrod]

Little Shop of Horrors No-Toe Steering kit
http://www.littleshopmfg.com/s10-no-notch-no-toe-steering-system/

Should do the trick, if not, I believe Michigan Metal works sells curved adjusting sleeves

 

[Sebbe]

Oh, I totally missed the no notch part of lsoh, tought it was only for the toe u could use it, thanks!

 

[littleredhotrod]

You're welcome, I really want to get a group buy together but I doubt we could make that happen.

 

[shoob]

subscribed

 

[Sebbe]

You're welcome, I really want to get a group buy together but I doubt we could make that happen.

Yeah, since I live in sweden it´s probably not a good idea for me atleast

 

[Sebbe]

subscribed

Thanks! Now I have to keep the thread updated!

Made a new bodymount, since the old one were rusted to bits.




And also started with the rockers, made new ones out of 2mm steel, might be overkill, but since I plan to daily the truck, with the rockers as the lowest point, you never know!




Decided to let it go all the way from the front fender to the back of the back of the cab, since some previous owner changed the cab corners and f'ed it up real bad. Figured I´m gonna use the rocker as the "guide" for how the corner should sit.
Got a bit carried away and forgot to grind the paint off before tacking it up, gonna fix that before I fully weld it.

 

[mhilt13]

Nice work man!

 

[Sebbe]

Thanks!

Got the other rocker, and the body mount tacked up yesterday.
Damn it takes time welding sheetmetal!

Got a question about bodydroppin with the cab off the frame.

I haven´t figured out yet what´s the easiest way to do it, how should I do it?
Or is it easier to put the cab back on the frame, cut it, weld most of it, and then take it off again to fix the underside?

 

[wirrrey21]

if you're doing a traditional you should put the cab back on. but since you have the cab already off the frame, why not just do a stock floor. you've already done all the heavy lifting. just drop a 2x3 inside the rails, cut the top off the frame, move the body mounts and the cab back 3/4" and weld everything back up. it's actually more work to do a traditional at this point.

 

[Sebbe]

It´s mostly because of the laws here.
Modifying a frame outside the wheels is one thing, modifying a frame between the wheels is alot more paperwork...

 

[stockfloordime]

I agree with wirrrey stock floor is soooo much better.

But very nice work this far!

 

[Sebbe]

Yeah I know, but building a new frame over here requires a lot of work, we got something called the SFRO.
SFRO is a group of specially trained car enthusiasts/car inspectors, there are about 10 guys in the whole country. These guys are alowed to inspect homemade/custom/modifyed cars. They are an awesome group of people, without them we wouldn´t be able to modify cars or bikes at all.

But going thru them, there are alot of rules to follow, a have their rulebook, about 400 pages And it costs! For them to inspect your build, there is a one-time cost of about 1500 USD.

So I´m not gonna do that on my first build, maybe the next, when I know that I will keep what ever car I decide to build on


Anyway, got the rockers and bodymount fully welded today, got 2-3 more days on the floor, then I´m gonna start fixing the frame, so I can drop the body back on for some measuring!

 

[wirrrey21]

It´s mostly because of the laws here.
Modifying a frame outside the wheels is one thing, modifying a frame between the wheels is alot more paperwork...

well that sucks a big fat one

 

[[email protected]]

That is crazy.... a LOT of people here in the states would be screwed!! LOL

 

[Sebbe]

Haha, yeah I know, but it´s good too, keeps the crap off the roads
And if you´re building the car of your dreams, 1500usd ain´t that much too be able to have it road legal, and insured to it´s right value.

Anyway, still working on replacing crappy floorparts, the black areas on the pics above are some previous owners work. They cut out the floor to fit some beemer seats, and replaced ut with some thin-ass sheet metal, like 0,7mm or something, and reeinforced it with square tubing.
I cut it out and have replaced one of the areas with some fresh steel, and worked some magic with the bead roller, my first time useing it, but I think it turned out pretty good!
Have the smaller part left to finish, then the floor is ready for the bd, just got to fix the frame first!

Got a few questions too! I´m removing the heat thingy, but what do I do with the hoses? Just put them together?
And the vent fan, I recall seeing someone just sink it into the firewall/cab, at the stock location, but can´t find any pictures of it, does anyone know what I´m talking about?

 

[[email protected]]

Lets see those pix!!!!