Project Step Aside, 1971 SWB/Step

[knomadd]

I just found your thread. Looks like you've done a lot of work. Looking good so far. I'll be following along.

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by knomadd

I just found your thread. Looks like you've done a lot of work. Looking good so far. I'll be following along.

Thanks, I'll try not to disappoint.

Originally Posted by Graham57a

Nice, yea idk about down where you are but up here in Boone we got 5 inches of snow last night. Now exactly painting weather haha. How are you gonna do the cage mount? I always pictured doing mine like an old go-kart, just have the tubing come through the bottom of the cab on all four corners and have a couple of inches of bigger diameter tubing sticking out of the frame so it slides right in and a bolt going through to hold it all tight.

I am near Ft. Bragg/Fayetteville area and I don't think we got any snow. It is just cold out.

To answer your question and I am sure I am going to catch flack for this. My plan is like you said go through the floors in all four corners. The S&W 10-point kit I have has 1 1/2" x 3" tube that are the "outriggers" so I can weld the cage corners to that. To be NHRA/IHRA legal I am supposed to weld those outriggers to the frame. I am not going to weld it to the frame though. Instead I am going to weld the to 3/16" x 4" x 4" plate and use grade 8 hardware to bolt that to the frame. I am going to use a double locking tube coupler so I can remove the front assembly that is going to stiffen the front end up. I haven't quite figured out the rear yet but it is going to be similar to the front.

For not welding it to the frame I am sure someone is going to say something but this truck isn't a full on race truck and I know I am going to change stuff. I want to be able to remove the cab after the cage is installed and if I do it the way the rules say then I need to weld it thus making it non-removable.

Phew, sorry for the long winded answer.

[AJohn6]

So I was just checking out Chris Alstons recent catalog (https://www.cachassisworks.com/Attac...ogs/BG_301.pdf page 42) and I kind of wish I would have seen this before. They have pro-touring floating axle kits and you can still run Wilwood with a parking brake. There is only one person on this forum that, to my knowledge, has a full floating axle set up and I am extremely jealous. Oh well, maybe my next build if I ever finish this one.

[AJohn6]

Truck full of parts showed up. I ordered some replacement rockers and hood for my 2000 and a fender and door skins for the '71. I started by measuring the old door and then grinding off the edge of the door skin. It came off pretty easy and now I can start replacing the lower portion of the inner door and where the hinges bolt on.

[AJohn6]

I also started doing a little rust removal and prevention. The inner door and and hinge supports have some serious pitting and I can't get it off. Soooo, I am trying my hand at using electrolysis rust removal.

[Bennett68C10]

Nice job on the doors, I know what a pita they can be. I had to do the same to mine, replace the lower inner skin and replace the outer skin.

[AJohn6]

So I completed my mini science experiment and it at least wasn't a complete disaster. First my normal charger is too smart to be used with this and I had to use an old battery in between. Then the charger knew the battery was bad and kept shutting off. This being said I had the best results with this setup. I went to TSC and bought a cheap $15 charger which worked on smaller parts but not on large parts. I started cutting out more of the bad parts of the door and wish I would have continued to search for a better OEM door. The hinge mounts on the DS door were rusted and cracked pretty bad so was the inner support structure were the Sharpie is pointing.

[shopteacher]

Great job on the build and an even better job for Sticking to it! Keep up the great work, cause there are a bunch of us following along!

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by shopteacher

Great job on the build and an even better job for Sticking to it! Keep up the great work, cause there are a bunch of us following along!

Thanks for the support it is a long process made even longer by my job and trying to pursue my Bachelor degree, both of which can be a pain in the butt.

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on the door. I've thought about trying that rust removal process before. I have a crap load of doors if you needs some patches just let me know. I had a heck of a time trying to find a usable pair for my truck, I even over paid for a "rust free" one that turned out to have some rust.

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work on the door. I've thought about trying that rust removal process before. I have a crap load of doors if you needs some patches just let me know. I had a heck of a time trying to find a usable pair for my truck, I even over paid for a "rust free" one that turned out to have some rust.

I looked around for a rust free doors too but didn't come up with much. One of the PO's had the truck repainted. The guy replaced the door skin and like most of the other work on the truck did a really bad job. I put a straight edge on the door and the 1.5" near the edge was 3/8" from the straight edge. Looked like they used a sledge hammer to do it. The inners had a fair amount of pitting and holes so I had to replace it.

[AJohn6]

More..

[AJohn6]

I miss my garage....

I got pulled away for work for the last couple months but at least I got to stay in the States. I should be getting home first week of May and I can't wait to spend some quality time with my truck. Right before I left home I let my girl talk me into buying the TIG I always wanted (I know, she's a keeper). I picked up the Miller Dynasty 200 DX from Indiana Oxygen Co and got a great deal. They have the lowest prices I found on Miller products, plus they have free shipping and no sales tax (if you don't live in Indiana).

[dnd1978]

wow. you have been busy. You have a lot of time in these doors.

[Graham57a]

Nice choice on the dynasty, a friend of mine has one and he loves it. Also killer job on the doors, lots a tedious work involved there. Looking forward to seeing some progress in the near future

[Bennett68C10]

Nice Tig you picked up, you will have no problem laying some really nice welds with that. Can't wait to see some updates when you get back on it.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by AJohn6

I miss my garage....

I got pulled away for work for the last couple months but at least I got to stay in the States. I should be getting home first week of May and I can't wait to spend some quality time with my truck. Right before I left home I let my girl talk me into buying the TIG I always wanted (I know, she's a keeper). I picked up the Miller Dynasty 200 DX from Indiana Oxygen Co and got a great deal. They have the lowest prices I found on Miller products, plus they have free shipping and no sales tax (if you don't live in Indiana).

Miller makes some the best welders made. I love the one I use at work. Very nice score

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by dnd1978

wow. you have been busy. You have a lot of time in these doors.

Yeah, I got the passenger side done right before I left but dont have any photos of it here. I think I did a worse job on it than I did the drivers side. We'll see once I start doing filler and what not.

Originally Posted by Graham57a

Nice choice on the dynasty, a friend of mine has one and he loves it. Also killer job on the doors, lots a tedious work involved there. Looking forward to seeing some progress in the near future

Thanks, I really love Millers. I almost got the Diversion 180 to save some money but I really wanted to be able to weld Aluminum.

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Nice Tig you picked up, you will have no problem laying some really nice welds with that. Can't wait to see some updates when you get back on it.

Thanks, I did some welding with it but I am real rusty. I think once I get home I will be able to lay some nice welds with it. I was AWS certified when I was 19 for TIG on Aluminum so the process I am familiar with but working with steel and stainless steel is taking some getting used to.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Miller makes some the best welders made. I love the one I use at work. Very nice score

Thanks, I have always liked Millers. I have their 212 MIG and 375 extreme plasma and love them both. The only gripe about the plasma is the torch cable is really stiff. I used strictly Lincoln TIGs in the past but really didn't like their inverter TIGs or prices.

[GEARBOXGARAGE]

Originally Posted by AJohn6

I miss my garage....

I got pulled away for work for the last couple months but at least I got to stay in the States. I should be getting home first week of May and I can't wait to spend some quality time with my truck. Right before I left home I let my girl talk me into buying the TIG I always wanted (I know, she's a keeper). I picked up the Miller Dynasty 200 DX from Indiana Oxygen Co and got a great deal. They have the lowest prices I found on Miller products, plus they have free shipping and no sales tax (if you don't live in Indiana).

I'll have to keep this in mind! Thanks for sharing this info.

[raull]

keep it up bud !!! great work !!!1

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by raull

keep it up bud !!! great work !!!1

Thanks raull, I'm glad to see you back on. I know what you've been going through, I lost my father when I was 26 and everyday I wish I had more time with him.

On a brighter note...

I am back home squaring away the house and garage. I had a little financial setback while I was gone; the air conditioning in my house gave out. So I had to have it replaced which drained my trucks "fun money". I decided to stop dragging my feet and finish my cab mounts. The plan is to use some 1" thick aluminum blocks machined to fit in the holes. This way I can finally start installing the cage. No pictures though because there is really nothing to show.

[AJohn6]

I've been working on the truck a bit over the last few days. Finished getting the front end put together for mock up and alignment. Had some issues with the passenger side door gap and alignment. I finally figured out that the opening wasn't very square so I did what I could to make it look good. I also made some solid mounts to be used for mock up. Soon I will start getting the cage in.

-Adam

[Bennett68C10]

Looking good Adam

[AJohn6]

I worked on the truck pretty much everyday this week. I but the bed of the truck back on a started to finalize how I am going to mount it. Once I get it done I will post some photos. I also started to line up the body lines of the rear fenders and cab. I got them looking fairly good in my opinion. One thing that has always bothered me about these step sides is the actual step itself. I've never like how they didn't really seem to match any other body lines and sat lower than the cab itself. So I decided to modify mine to match the cab and rocker.

[AJohn6]

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