79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1

[whitels1]

More progress this week, it was slow going but I managed to get some stuff done. Removed some rivets, fabbed up a cross member / spring hanger / pull point / winch mount. It's basic but it should be beefy enough. Moved the rear hanger for the front springs and did a rough mock up of the 52" springs.

You Tube

[Greenlee]

Nice build! I love the videos.

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Nice build! I love the videos.

Thanks!

[Zane M]

Coming along nicely!
I too love the videos, thanks for sharing.

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by Zane M

Coming along nicely!
I too love the videos, thanks for sharing.

Thanks Zane! I ended up moving the cross member forward.

[whitels1]

Altered the spring pack, bolted up the axle and got the weight of the truck on it. I'm happy with it for now. I still have to get the cross member bolted in, new spring / shackle hanger bushing and alter the width of the shackle hanger, it's way to wide.

You Tube

[whitels1]

I missed a weekend due to a trip to Utah, but go back on it this week. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I removed more rivets and crossmembers, squared up the frame and started boxing the frame in the front area. I added a crossmember at the steering box for more support. Still lots to do....

You Tube

[Jake Wade]

Awesome man! I like the way you DIY on everything you can, that's the way I roll myself. GREAT JOB

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by Jake Wade

Awesome man! I like the way you DIY on everything you can, that's the way I roll myself. GREAT JOB

Thanks! DIY is the only way, save money, learn a lot, stand back and be proud of what you have done.

[MTCK]

Awesome! How did I miss this one? Glad to see you hung on to this rig. Also I feel like you keeping your parts truck may help me make the case to keep mine.

[whitels1]

Me too I didn't have the heart to let it go, so I made room for it.

[77K10Silverado]

Looking good bud!

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by 77K10Silverado

Looking good bud!

Thanks!

[Jake Wade]

Just curious, What do you do for a living?

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by Jake Wade

Just curious, What do you do for a living?

The wife and I run a graphic design business. I don't have much time to work on the truck but I have some flexibility.

I picked up a stick of 3/4" .120 wall dom, drilled holes and burned it in.

[MTCK]

Looks good. Going to need any gussets?

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Looks good. Going to need any gussets?

Thanks! I wasn't planning on any. I feel like once everything is burned in and with the crossmember it should be good. Time will tell!

[whitels1]

Figured I would get the engine / trans / transfer case mocked up so I can start building my crossmembers etc.

You Tube

[Jake Wade]

Why didn't you just use the factory shim plates to avoid modding the brackets? Were you concerned with the additional height? or would it just not work out with those.

[whitels1]

Jake, they would not lay flat and the bars looked like they were going to hit the oil pan. In retrospect I could have modified and used them, but figured I would hold on to them for later on if I need them for something.

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by Jake Wade

Why didn't you just use the factory shim plates to avoid modding the brackets? Were you concerned with the additional height? or would it just not work out with those.

After further thought and with everything mocked up I will probably end up making some kind of bracket so I can connect the engine with the flywheel cover.

I did get the trans mounted into it's final location, I ended up having to make a spacer to mount the trans to the stock crossmember. I also replaced the body mounts so I can get an accurate Idea of how everything will fit together. I want to start mocking up the shifters and the mount for the transfer case soon.

Video.

You Tube

[MTCK]

Good update as always. Is that motor a 5.3 or 5.7? Should be fun when it's all together.

[whitels1]

Thanks Marcus, it's a 5.3 bored to 5.7.

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by whitels1

The wife and I run a graphic design business. I don't have much time to work on the truck but I have some flexibility.

A Graphic Designer than can fabricate and build hard core stuff.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Most of the guys at work "can't believe a guy like me" built this. Just because I wear a shirt with buttons and use my brains and creativity to earn a living instead of my hands doesn't mean I don't have skills.

[IMG][/IMG]

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

A Graphic Designer than can fabricate and build hard core stuff.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Most of the guys at work "can't believe a guy like me" built this. Just because I wear a shirt with buttons and use my brains and creativity to earn a living instead of my hands doesn't mean I don't have skills.

Thanks, and good work on your jeep. Skills born out of necessity and turned into a hobby, I wouldn't have it any other way!