Started on the Tubs

[Camaro_nut2001]

I'm startin the Pro-Street build on my '69 Chevy early, I just can't wait any longer, lol. I'm goin with a wood bed but I wanted to go ahead and do my wheel tubs so I'm using the steel bed as my "mock up" so to speak. Here's what I started with
I had to grind the top of the carriage bolts and drill em out but here they are out
I'm goin to run a 15X12 wheel with 7.5" backspacin, I hope I measured right, and Hoosier Quicktime 31/16.5/15 so I cut the bed out with a jig saw so here's how Old Blue looks now

[Camaro_nut2001]

I was runnin a 15X8 Pro-Star look alike made by Pacer with a 285/70/15 which are under one of the new tires I'm goin with, Hoosier Quicktime DOT 31/16.5/15

[Camaro_nut2001]

The Billet R/T wheels, they look alot like the Pro-Star, should be here by Friday along with the tubes. I talked to a feller at WELD and he said they won't stand behing a Pro-Star wheel goin on a truck so that's why I went with the Billet R/T wheel.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Ohh yea, here's the Muscle in Old Blue

[Oklaracer]

Very nice...can't wait to see the finished product!!!
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[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by Oklaracer

Very nice...can't wait to see the finished product!!!
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Thank you, there are a couple of trucks on here that have this done. That's where I got it from, lol. I went and picked up another set of wheel tubs today and I'm gonna clean em up and see what i've got.

[Oklaracer]

Here's a couple of pics of how I did mine


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[djracer]

I'll give you a pointer. When you take out the rest of the bed bolts tighten them with an impact till they snap instead of loosening them. Its much easier.

Lookin good. I love the fat tires.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Hey man, thanks alot for the pictures, very very neat job you did! Also, thanks for the advise on the bed bolts, I'll try that. The tubs I picked up were already widened but two pieced together & also way to wide for what I'm doin but they have very nice sides. The tubs on my parts truck are really beat up so I'm cuttin the spot welds on these tubs I got & goin back with just one seam. I'm gonna Drill the new holes & bolt both pieces back on the bed but over lapped & make one straight cut, throw the overlapped piece in the pile, then I should have a nice close straight fit to tack back together. I love the fat tires too! I'm gonna put a posi unit in instead of a spool. I ran a mini-spool in my chiken truck & when I drove it on the street & turned to sharp it kinda tried to bind up. More pictures to come.

[bigboybodry]

Truck is looking GREAT! I did it the same way and it turned out looking good.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by bigboybodry

Truck is looking GREAT! I did it the same way and it turned out looking good.

Thanks feller. You did one heck of a good job on yours, they look Awesome!!!! I noticed you went a little wider than me & also left your bump stop bracket on. I'm gonna cut mine off I think. I would like to find me a pair of narrow 5" drop springs. I'm runnin 4" drops now but would like to go a little more but don't want to notch my frame. I put 3" drop springs in the front & I like them. I'm gettin ready to head out to the garage & mock up one of the tubs so there should be more pictures to come soon.

[bigboybodry]

I cut the stock bump stops off and now in the process of installing a rear c-notch,rear shock mount and anti-roll. Cpp offers a 5" coil spring but the recommended a c-notch to be installed.
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[fastwillie 696969]

heres mine ,they took two and welded them together ,im running a 31 inch and a 33 will fit with no problems

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by bigboybodry

I cut the stock bump stops off and now in the process of installing a rear c-notch,rear shock mount and anti-roll. Cpp offers a 5" coil spring but the recommended a c-notch to be installed.
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Yea, that's where I got my 3" front 4" rear kit. I'm gonna wait til I get the tires mounted & see if the rear still needs to come down for the look I want. If I have to do a notch I will. Man i'll tell ya, I get out there in my garage playin with my truck & it's the closest thing to heaven there is for me, lol. I ain't nowhere near the Man I was before I became disabled but I've got everything pretty much lined out in my garage so I am able to do quite a bit of stuff. Are you gonna post a thread on your project? I sure hope so.

[Camaro_nut2001]

I forgot to ask, Do you know if the 5" spring from CPP is narrower?

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by fastwillie 696969

heres mine ,they took two and welded them together ,im running a 31 inch and a 33 will fit with no problems

Looks good, how wide of a tire are you runnin? I see you mounted your fuel cell in the same place I'm gonna mount mine. I'm gonna mount my battery in the right front corner. Yep, that's what i'm doin is takin two tubs & makin one but I picked up a set of tubs that had already been widened so I'm takin them apart & just using what I need to do mine with one seam.

[Camaro_nut2001]

I took a few pictures of last night's progress. Here is one of the tubs I picked up that had been widened with both sides of a tub overlapped with a piece of metal, tacked together then silicone spread over the two tacked seams And here is after I cut one of em apart but the part that bolts to the bed isn't in this picture as I'd already started usin it This is where I used the other part with my original tub.
I just marked a semi sraight line usin a piece of thin cardboard & let it overlap then after gettin it where I wanted it I drilled a hole in each end of my bed where the tub is gonna bolt, bolted it down, put 3 bolts back in to the bedside to hold the tub still & made a thru cut with my zizz wheel then used the jig saw to make the cut. I got it tacked together enough to remove it from the truck & plan on finishin the tacks on it tomorrow & hopefully gettin the other tub cut apart & at least cut & tacked if not finished. I had doctors appointments today then my chickens so I decided to just stay in tonight after gettin them done. More pictures to come.

[fastwillie 696969]

Originally Posted by Camaro_nut2001

Looks good, how wide of a tire are you runnin? I see you mounted your fuel cell in the same place I'm gonna mount mine. I'm gonna mount my battery in the right front corner. Yep, that's what i'm doin is takin two tubs & makin one but I picked up a set of tubs that had already been widened so I'm takin them apart & just using what I need to do mine with one seam.

its 18.5 wide

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by fastwillie 696969

its 18.5 wide

Now thats alot of rubber on the ground!! Looks GREAT!!!! Did you modify your frame? What all did you do to the rear?

[Camaro_nut2001]

I got to play with my truck a little last night. I don't have a good Mig welder, just a Flux core wire feed. I'm just gettin em tacked enough for the ride up to my buddy's garage that's gonna do the body work and paint but here is where I'm at now

This is how the wider tubs are gonna look but it's kinda dark

[fastwillie 696969]

narrow the frame and rear end 12 bolt

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by fastwillie 696969

narrow the frame and rear end 12 bolt

Thank you for the picture & advise. I may do that in the future but for right now I'm just gettin some meat under him, wood bed, some interior work, upgrades to the motor & color. This is my winter project as I hope to be ready & able to drive Old Blue to the spring Rod Run in PForge.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Well, I've decided to go ahead & finish the tubs myself. My buddy said last night it's probably gonna be the 1st week of Jan. before he can start the body work on my truck, he's gotta finish a '71 Olds convertible first. So, I'm gonna make due with the welder I have & try to get em in primer before we leave for vacation in about a week. I'm afraid even though everything is in the garage the bare metal will start rustin with the dampness in the air. More pictures to come...

[Camaro_nut2001]

Well I got one tub welded & sanded to bare metal, went to take pictures & the batteries are dead in my camera lol. I'll pick some up tomorrow but I went ahead & pecked what few dings there were out as best I could & spread a very light skim coat of short strand filler on it. I'll get some pictures tomorrow if at all possible. One good note, a buddy came by to see if I had any good double humps, told him I had a pair of 461, a pair of 462's & a pair of 186's but I was keepin the 186's for a 406 build one day but would part with either of the other two sets. Long story short, I now have a very good Mig welder!!!! No more flux wire for me. I traded the 461's for it, I just have to get my own tank. He's suppose to bring it over Sat. along with the cart, extra tips etc.... He said it started with an S he thought but it came off the MAC truck. I have saw it & used it before but it's been a few years. He got a new 220 Miller Mig.

[Camaro_nut2001]

We are back from Vacation as of Thursday night & I hope to get back to playin with the wheel tubs & my "New to Me" welder. It's a Solar brand, made by Century but Lincoln bought Century so I'm callin it a Lincoln welder, lol. My neighbor signed for my wheels that came while we were gone & I had the tubes & tires mounted yesterday. I'll post some pics soon as I get the vacation pictures uploaded so I can use the camera.