My 54gmc build

[troy54gmc]

Hey Ratty and Bluejeep, i couldnt agree with you guys more. #2 and Bigger is better. Wow that didnt sound right. The problem is i dont have a drill press so im doin this all with hand held drill. Ive allready gone thru 4 drillbits. i went to home depot today to try and get better bits or hole saws and the guy said the hole saws would not work on the steel i was useing. he did say use oil when drilling which i did and it helped considerably. Any ideas for making large holes????? need help...

[bretcopsey]

Originally Posted by troy54gmc

Hey Ratty and Bluejeep, i couldnt agree with you guys more. #2 and Bigger is better. Wow that didnt sound right. The problem is i dont have a drill press so im doin this all with hand held drill. Ive allready gone thru 4 drillbits. i went to home depot today to try and get better bits or hole saws and the guy said the hole saws would not work on the steel i was useing. he did say use oil when drilling which i did and it helped considerably. Any ideas for making large holes????? need help...

You might look into one of those step bits, though I have not seen them go to 2"

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece...lls-91616.html



As for the rear glass, custom made is going to be very expensive. Many people would use lexan or speed glass. http://www.percyshp.com/SpeedGlass.html

Have you considered adapting an original big window to avoid the custom glass expense?

[troy54gmc]

You might look into one of those step bits, though I have not seen them go to 2"

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece...lls-91616.html

Hey Bretcopsey, Ya i actually looked at one of these bits yesterday and it went up to 1-7/8" but it cost almost $50 bucks and the guy wasnt sure how good it would work and i have never used one. so i didnt buy it. have you used these on steel before and if so are they any good.
As far as the window goes im still looking to see if i can get glass made for it. ive never heardm of speed glass, i checked out the website, very cool. Maybe ill give them a call and try and describe what im looking for. Thanks for the info..

[ratty 46]

Well I'll tell ya ... the unitbit would be the best investment you could ever make. I've got probably 6 or 7 of these, a bit pricey, and use them as much as possible. I've NEVER had one get stuck in metal. If you get ahold of some tapfree or cutting fluid it'll help with the longevity of your bits.

Good luck.

Ratty 46

[Fat Mike]

What thickness are you using on your fishplates? I wonder because I bought a set of Milwalkee hole saws from home depot for about $60 and they are cutting through 3/8" material just fine. My kit had a 2" hole saw, and several other sizes and were rated for heavy metal.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by troy54gmc

Hey Ratty and Bluejeep, i couldnt agree with you guys more. #2 and Bigger is better. Wow that didnt sound right. The problem is i dont have a drill press so im doin this all with hand held drill. Ive allready gone thru 4 drillbits. i went to home depot today to try and get better bits or hole saws and the guy said the hole saws would not work on the steel i was useing. he did say use oil when drilling which i did and it helped considerably. Any ideas for making large holes????? need help...

I buy Lennox brand hole saws from Lowe's, and they last quite a while for me. $13ish each with the arbor. I've drilled through everything I've wanted to with no issues.

[troy54gmc]

All right guys, i went to lowes today and bought 2 lennox holes saws. a 2-1/4" and a 1-1/2 size and got some cutting fluid. Got home and went to work cutting holes. i ended up cutting 23 holes total and the hole saws held up great, the cutting fluid makes a big difference. i got one plate welded up. and decided to go ahead and cut all the way thru the frame and im goin to put tubing inside holes and then weld. here are a couple of pictures. let me know what u think. i like the look alot more. Thanks for the great suggestions.

[ratty 46]

Troy - are you going to inside sleeve those holes?

That would add som super strenght to that area.

Ratty 46

[troy54gmc]

Ya buddy, thats what i plann on. the idea i had was to run tubing from one side of the frame to the other and weld it on the inside and outside of both sides of the frame. maybe put some bends in it to run around axle pumkin and use the tubes for mounting shocks and bags to. i got it all planned out in my head now i just have to get my wallet to agree. Whata think???

[wickid demon]

That would make a good bag mount plus no frame flex. The one piece back window I called a guy that does glass for all the local hot roders and he told me it would be about $1800 dollars and would have to make a template out of metal. so that they could form it to around the plate. On my truck I just chopped it to bring the back window down to match the other ones. Figured that would be the best cause it suddle since i did stretch it 6 inches.

[ratty 46]

That sounds very effective & two fold.

Now let's see it!!

Ratty 46

[Kabwe]

Yeah you are having too much fun over there.lol Looking good buddy

[troy54gmc]

wickid demon Re: My 54gmc build

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That would make a good bag mount plus no frame flex. The one piece back window I called a guy that does glass for all the local hot roders and he told me it would be about $1800 dollars and would have to make a template out of metal. so that they could form it to around the plate. On my truck I just chopped it to bring the back window down to match the other ones. Figured that would be the best cause it suddle since i did stretch it 6 inches.

Wow $1800 bucks well since my money tree isnt producing like it use to im gonna have to go a different route than that. i dig your back window, you lowered it or made it the same size as the sides and widened it to. that is cool. what did you new back glass cost?

[troy54gmc]

ratty 46 Re: My 54gmc build

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That sounds very effective & two fold.

Now let's see it!!

Ratty 46

Ok. i gotta sell another kidney first. Cause i have to buy the tubing and the tubing bender. man i luv being broke....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah you are having too much fun over there.lol Looking good buddy

Hell ya. Thanks man that means alot coming from someone with skills like yours.

[skip99]

definitely like the new plates with the holes !! almost makes me want to redo my frame.. nice work...

[BC Toy chest]

Nice work. I have to C-notch my frame as I make my way back to the rear of the truck. You are giving me some ideas. Thanks for sharing.

[troy54gmc]

Hey thanks fellas. that means alot. I got some more welding done yesterday. i put the plate on the inside and cut the other holes thru. The only problem i had was i cut the holes in the plates before i welded them on the frame and getting them lined up perfect with both sides is a pain in the butt. if i was to do it again i would mount plates first and then drill all the holes. oh well you live and you learn.

[troy54gmc]

Hey skipp99 are you the Capt. on 99 truck up in Mt. Vernon???

[wickid demon]

Originally Posted by troy54gmc

I dig your back window, you lowered it or made it the same size as the sides and widened it to. that is cool. what did you new back glass cost?

I chopped the truck 2 1/2inches and the back window is the same size as a stock one. They just cut my cornner glass. All the glass fitted to the truck only cost me $375 didnt think that was a bad deal. I already had the windsheild they made the door glass since i stretched the doors 6".

[troy54gmc]

wow wickid demon. you chopped and stretched your cab, that must have been alot of work. Why did you stretch the doors anyways? more leg room?

[troy54gmc]

Ok i cut all the bottom plates out today and figured a way easier way of putting both sides on with clamps then drilled holes thru plates and frame at same time. alot easier to line up holes all the way thru. I got a couple tacked up. Whata guys think???? sorry pictures arent the best but i broke my camera and i have to take all the picts with my cell camera.

[wickid demon]

I stretched it for leg room and i am not a fan of the exstension behind the cab. I really like the way your doing your step notch it's going to look killer when all said and done. Your defently not going to have any flex in the rear of that chassis what you wanting to do put a 1500 hp motor in that truck. anyways keep up the good work BRO!

[troy54gmc]

1500hp. hell ya. na man i wish a had the money for that much hp. im hopeing to get about 400hp. my plans are for a 383 stroker motor. Thanks for comments on the frame. its been alot of work i mean fun but i just want something different. i plan on making the bed floor on hinges so i can raise it to show the rear frame work. im goin to steel yard today to pick up some .120 wall dom tubing to sleeve the holes and make the cross supports for airbags and shocks. next i gotta sell something to buy a tubing bender. until then.

[Kabwe]

Yeah Troy you are cooking with gas now. It looks really good man, keep it up.

[troy54gmc]

Thanks Bam. i thought i was doin good till i went to get the pipe for the holes and found out they dont make the size i need. so im goin to half to grind all the holes just a bit to get pipe to fit. Pipe wasnt to expensive though got a 21' stick of 2" schedule 40 black pipe cause they didnt have 2" in .120 wall. the schedule 40 black pipe is a little thicker than .120, and a 20' stick of 1-1/2" .120 wall. the 2" was $67.00 and the 1-1/2" was $37.00. now i just need to get me a pipe bender. I got all the plates and holes done on the passenger side around the c-notch at least. I like how it came out. different.