70 gmc DIY build

[Ben IV]

Originally Posted by CG

Ugh, I should not have opened this thread. Its like watching a great show and all of a sudden ... Previews for next weeks show ... Noooo, I want it now!!

Great thread and cool build. Lots of very good info in here!

Thanks I add more when I remember to.

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

I agree!!!

Dad gum welding on bed looks SO good, might be able to smooth over the welds, body work them, and TOUCH UP THE PAINT....Job well done!!! On everything!!!

Yeah a good body man could get them straight enough to paint. I've seen a few guys blend in the factory paint and do a great job.

[Ben IV]

So onto welding the frame back together. First a little background on myself. I've been working in industrial steel fabrication more than a decade and have welded on everything from oilfield trucks to pressure vessels for refineries. I chose straight cuts because I see no need for the "z" cut. I've done straight cuts in various types of materials that hold 10's of thousands of pounds so it's good enough for a half ton pickup.

So here's a bit of a P.S.A on what I feel is the proper way to do it. First thing you need is a welder rated for the thickness you're welding (220 volt machine). You need mig wire with shielding gas. I'm using 75% argon 25% co2 with .035 er70s-6 wire. Even though I have welding experience I took the pieces of frame I cut out and cut them to make multiple joints to practice on which I highly recommend. It will allow you to get your machine dialed in and work on your travel speed.

When it comes to prepping the 2 halves of the frame you want to put a bevel on the inside of the frame rails almost to a point and leave about a 1/16" gap between the front and rear rails when they go back together. This is to achieve full penetration welds. You want to weld the inside of the frame rails first then grind into the back side of your welds on the outside of the frame with an 1/8" grinding disk to make sure you're achieving full penetration and welding to nice clean steel. When you knock down your welds don't go crazy, stop when they are flush.

First picture shows the prep and fitup you want. Second shows how running a few practice joints helps get things dialed in. My first weld had porosity from the ceiling fan being on. If you get any porosity you need to grind it completely out before continuing. Third picture shows the penetration on the outside of the frame. As you can see the first weld didn't burn all the way through the second and third is what you're looking for. Last picture shows the first weld ground into the weld then the weld after finishing.

Hopefully I wasn't too preachy or long winded but I see a lot of sketchy scary welds on frames. If cutting down your truck is your first welding project I strongly recommend watching some quality how to videos and getting some scrap to practice on before moving on to yourframe.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Great info! Also your work looks fantastic. Keep er going

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by Ben IV

So onto welding the frame back together. First a little background on myself. I've been working in industrial steel fabrication more than a decade and have welded on everything from oilfield trucks to pressure vessels for refineries. I chose straight cuts because I see no need for the "z" cut. I've done straight cuts in various types of materials that hold 10's of thousands of pounds so it's good enough for a half ton pickup.

So here's a bit of a P.S.A on what I feel is the proper way to do it. First thing you need is a welder rated for the thickness you're welding (220 volt machine). You need mig wire with shielding gas. I'm using 75% argon 25% co2 with .035 er70s-6 wire. Even though I have welding experience I took the pieces of frame I cut out and cut them to make multiple joints to practice on which I highly recommend. It will allow you to get your machine dialed in and work on your travel speed.

When it comes to prepping the 2 halves of the frame you want to put a bevel on the inside of the frame rails almost to a point and leave about a 1/16" gap between the front and rear rails when they go back together. This is to achieve full penetration welds. You want to weld the inside of the frame rails first then grind into the back side of your welds on the outside of the frame with an 1/8" grinding disk to make sure you're achieving full penetration and welding to nice clean steel. When you knock down your welds don't go crazy, stop when they are flush.

First picture shows the prep and fitup you want. Second shows how running a few practice joints helps get things dialed in. My first weld had porosity from the ceiling fan being on. If you get any porosity you need to grind it completely out before continuing. Third picture shows the penetration on the outside of the frame. As you can see the first weld didn't burn all the way through the second and third is what you're looking for. Last picture shows the first weld ground into the weld then the weld after finishing.

Hopefully I wasn't too preachy or long winded but I see a lot of sketchy scary welds on frames. If cutting down your truck is your first welding project I strongly recommend watching some quality how to videos and getting some scrap to practice on before moving on to yourframe.

Wow. Ben, would you like to come to Arizona for a visit? I'm about to do this to my frame. Haha.

[SCHRUMGMC]

My mind is blown... wow

What an amazing job

Speechless isn’t the word, but it’s close to it

[Ben IV]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

Great info! Also your work looks fantastic. Keep er going

Thanks. Progress has slowed lately but not caught up on posting.

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

My mind is blown... wow

What an amazing job

Speechless isn’t the word, but it’s close to it

Thank you very much, though I think you are giving me far too much credit. Lol

[Ben IV]

Now that I'm off my soap box from my last post here's the finished frame. Made sure everything was square and level and welded it up. Made a fish plates to hold inside the frame for added overkill.

[Trucknut57]

Looking good, killer skills on that bed, keep going and hopefully I will see you cruising it around the area, provided they let us still drive around

[Ben IV]

Originally Posted by Trucknut57

Looking good, killer skills on that bed, keep going and hopefully I will see you cruising it around the area, provided they let us still drive around

Thanks. We'll be fine this is Oklahoma not California.

[Ben IV]

Had my driveshaft shortened and had them put in New u-joints and carrier bearing. I didn't measure just told them to take exactly 12" out of the front shaft. I ordered a intermediate parking brake cable for a short bed and it fit perfectly. Was concerned they were different for coils and leafs but apparently not. New rubber brake hose and wheel cylinders and it was ready to move under its own power. So much more room in the garage now.

[lolife99]

Why not a 1-piece drive shaft?
Just curious

[Ben IV]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Why not a 1-piece drive shaft?
Just curious

2 reasons. I plan on upgrading to a 700r4 at some point and can have a new shaft made then. That and I'm not 100% on where I'm going with my suspension. I'd eventually like to bag it and I hear a 2 piece is better for that.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Ben IV

2 reasons. I plan on upgrading to a 700r4 at some point and can have a new shaft made then. That and I'm not 100% on where I'm going with my suspension. I'd eventually like to bag it and I hear a 2 piece is better for that.

Yes the 2-piece driveshaft with the rear slip yoke is perfect for the extreme drop of a frame laying truck. (Like Porterbuilt, GSIMachineFab, ChoppinBlock,etc. )
But mild dropped/bagged trucks with just a bolt in c-notch (no step notch) work better with just a 1-piece.
This is my favorite build on this forum!

[shambles]

Long time Lurker, infrequent poster here...I had to subscribe to this thread. That is the finest welding I've seen.

[Ben IV]

Originally Posted by Trucknut57

I'm still stuck on how good of a job you did on those bed sides, where did you get the ideas or learn how to do it?

Reason I'm asking is, I have already made my long bed into a short bed but was just going to buy the new sides but seeing how well yours turned out I may give it a try and save myself a bunch of money.

I did a ton of research even before I bought this truck. There's some great information on this site. I also looked at tons of pictures to try to figure out in my head how they did it. One of the best out there is a guy who goes by metaloxfab on Instagram. Spent tons of time looking at his pictures. He actually released a how to video, right after I did mine of course. Lol. If you already have most of the tools to do it I say go for it. Otherwise it might be cheaper to just buy bedsides.

Originally Posted by lolife99

Yes the 2-piece driveshaft with the rear slip yoke is perfect for the extreme drop of a frame laying truck. (Like Porterbuilt, GSIMachineFab, ChoppinBlock,etc. )
But mild dropped/bagged trucks with just a bolt in c-notch (no step notch) work better with just a 1-piece.
This is my favorite build on this forum!

For now I'll probably just go for a static drop like a 4/6 or 5/7. And thanks I really appreciate that.

Originally Posted by shambles

Long time Lurker, infrequent poster here...I had to subscribe to this thread. That is the finest welding I've seen.

Thanks. I started learning to weld when I was 14 I'm 36 now but it's been a long time since I've done it all day every day but I guess it's like riding a bike.

[Trucknut57]

I'm still stuck on how good of a job you did on those bed sides, where did you get the ideas or learn how to do it?

Reason I'm asking is, I have already made my long bed into a short bed but was just going to buy the new sides but seeing how well yours turned out I may give it a try and save myself a bunch of money.

[1971Stepside]

Now you are just showing off

Great work. Patience is such a key to all of this and I don't have much of that.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Now you are just showing off

Great work. Patience is such a key to all of this and I don't have much of that.

X2, nice work and looks great.

[Ben IV]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Man.... Skills.

Thanks I try.

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Now you are just showing off

Great work. Patience is such a key to all of this and I don't have much of that.

Sometimes I feel I don't have as much as I used to. Gotta walk away sometimes or call it a day and start fresh next time.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

X2, nice work and looks great.

Thanks I still say the pictures are flattering but I'm just building a fun driver.

[Ben IV]

So I had everything back together and took it for it's maiden voyage as a short bed. I know the long bed guys say short beds don't ride as good but there isn't much difference. But it stops better and spins the tires better.lol I'm going to need a posi of some sort. But I'm pretty Damn happy with it. Except the stance that is.

[Ben IV]

Couldn't live with the rake so I installed a set of drop shackles which leveled things out nicely. That will have to do till I get everything together to lower it for real.

[lolife99]

Looks perfect!

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks great

[Ben IV]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Looks perfect!

Thanks looked like a 4x4 though.😂

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Looks great

Appreciate it.

[SCOTI]

Nailed it!