Bagged 66 swb stepside project: Major Chip Hazard

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Didn’t get much done tonight other then a steak dinner with the wife and kids.

I did get one rail cleaned up and tacked together though.

Trying to decide how I’m going to do the crossmember...

For the truss on top where the bags and shocks will mount it’s going to be 1-3/4” tube for sure.

In the back can’t decide if i want to do a solid rectangular tube at the very end or another tube (either way I’m going to triangulate it with tube in the square area and just leave enough room before the uprights for my air tank.)

Not much to look at but it’s slowly coming along.

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Got the rails welded today for the back half.

I need some more rectangular tube of i decide to go with matching tube for the two furthest back cross members....

But thinking about just going with some round tube? Anyone have opinions on what they think would look good? My cousin says rectangular i say round 😂

Probably just going to work on odd ball stuff for at least till Monday because i need DFx files to have the fish plates cut for the rails.... i want this together so bad it’s un real bit trying to be patient...

I also have to figure out my crossmembers for trailing arms and transmission.

I really hate that the transmission uses two mounts on the side I’m spoiled by late model single mount transmissions....

On the trailing arm bracket I’m thinking I’m just going to cut off the part that dips down and plate it back in with 1/4 flat bar... i know the hoop for the drive shaft is to short now but think I’m going to hold off on that till i sir the cab back on because i want to avoid modifying the cab for the drive shaft if at all possible....

Anyways here are a couple pictures

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Oh and i did get the shop somewhat clean again...

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Got all the steering linkage hooked back up, And reinforced.

Gnarly tie rod angles but that will be addressed down the road with hiem joints.

The plate i made could have been better thought out but it’s strong and it works just a odd shape.

[Hunyoc]

I like your effort considering same stile 1" to 1 1/2" waiting to see if the look needs that 1/2"

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Little one had surgery so me and the wife are home got a little done while she was knocked out.

Have to go get some nuts and bolts to finish the trailing arm bracket flip.

And leaving the top hoop alone till the motor, trans are in and i have the cab where i can start cutting for tunnel clearance.

I went back and forth on buying a crossmember I’m glad i did this was super easy and i think it looks great for what i have in it!

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All back together for now (crossmember)

Deffenintly need a taller hoop when it’s aired out 😂

Also probably going to cut all the reveits and weld the crossmembers on the inside of the frame.

Really want my spindles for the front ... i just took the wheels off for now to lay it out..

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This is just mocked up but feels like it’s so much further along seeing it like this!

Waiting on stuff to get back from the CNC bit getting everything fitted and squared up and ready to go!

Also waiting on a part for my notcher to do my real crossmembers and braces the one above the drive shaft is temporary to hold it square.

[tinydb84]

Looks good. If I ever get a trailing arm truck I plan on doing the same thing. Great progress.

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Originally Posted by tinydb84

Looks good. If I ever get a trailing arm truck I plan on doing the same thing. Great progress.

I contemplated a few different routes... even started half way I’m another before this. I’m the end this is the most simple and least work to do IMO i am not going to be building any major power and can set everything up to have decent pinion angle when it’s driving.

Thanks for the kind words!

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No pictures yet but back half is welded in place. Need to pick up some metal tomorrow to box it all in.

Still waiting on stuff to be cut on the cnc 🙄

I did get my notcher back but can’t really do much until i get the fishplates cut.

However big news

I sold some stuff laying around at the house along with money from helping my wife with weddings on the weekend.

AND GOT TO ORDER ALL MY BAGS AND BRACKETS

I feel like i little kid 😂

Only thing i need now is to find some 8” pipe for my lower control arms and other then the drip spindles no more major parts needed for the frame.

Should have enough weddings in the next 2 months to be able to buy my spindles though.

Anyways i know no one wants to just read hopefully have good pictures tomorrow

[SCOTI]

Pipe isn't mandatory when pocketing the front a-arms (if you don't have it handy)....

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Originally Posted by SCOTI

Pipe isn't mandatory when pocketing the front a-arms (if you don't have it handy)....

hmmm thanks! Have not looked much in to it cause i was not to this point yet but think i will go this route!

Pipes expensive!

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3 days till i get my fish plates from the cnc? Can only hope...

Got shop cleaned and a “glamor” shot got fun

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Still waiting on cnc.... should have just paid to have it done trying to be cheap and had friends say they would do it... I’m impatient.

Did get the back half boxed in on both sides and got the cab mount and bed mount back on one side should finish the other side tonight.

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Today was the day! Got to run over to my buddy’s and get the fish plates cut!

Temp crossmember is now gone and Welded in the main truss tube.

Bags and brackets shipped out today so the plan is to get the front tubes in for some triangulation and weld the back crossmember in permanently. The rest of the truss i am going to hold off till i position my bags and brackets then i will finish that up.

The goal is to have the motor and trans in by this weekend and get started on the transmission crossmember. After that need axel shims to set pinion angle then the cab is going on to cut and make room for the drive shaft.

After that cabs coming back off so i can finish the drive shaft hoop on the trailing arm crossmember.

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All tacked in brackets and bags should be in tommrow. And have to get more gas for the welder.

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Well I’m at a point where most of what i am doing is not fun to get ready to set the bags up along with the rear ended and rear motor mounts.

I found where the rear brackets will all be sitting tacked top in place on one side for mock up lowers won’t be tacked till pinion angle is correct.

To get that situated i had to get the motor and trans back together (Not permanently) so i could start working on the new crossmember for the rear motor mounts (bell housing mounts) or whatever you want to call them.

However to do this i also need to finish platting the frame a little further back behind where my z ended so i have a solid place for the crossmember to mount.

I got the actual mount part of the crossmember done tonight other then a little welding to box it in on the ends.

One thing i regret is not knowing how i wanted to mount my bags before i did the back half. I was thinking i May mount them forward if the axle and not directly on top so i made the truss a little longer in front of the axle then in the rear.... messed with everything being pleasing to the eye IMO but you love and learn... it will be covered by the bed floor anyways.

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Nothing burned in but all mocked up. Have to square it all up perfect and double check everything while i wait on pinion shims. But nice seeing it on bags!

[tinydb84]

Instead of that single bar running 90 to the crossmembers have you thought about running two bars 45 degrees from the center to the rear corners of the back crossmember?

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Originally Posted by tinydb84

Instead of that single bar running 90 to the crossmembers have you thought about running two bars 45 degrees from the center to the rear corners of the back crossmember?

I considered it but it covers up my bag bolts and air lines

The bag brackets tie in to the rear truss crossmember the tube in the middle was just cause it looked cool to me honestly.

I’m assuming you are suggesting it because triangulating is always stronger correct?

I feel there is not much going to be gained there with it though (could be wrong) but a majority of the bag trusses i have seen have a significantly less amount of cross support then i added.

I am by all means open to conversation and suggestions before welding any of the tube or brackets permanently though.

[tinydb84]

Triangulation but more so for the look to make it flow. Not a big deal.

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Originally Posted by tinydb84

Triangulation but more so for the look to make it flow. Not a big deal.

Going to cut some tomorrow and try it out 😂 i was trying to keep it simple but i have some short tube in the scrap bin that will not be wasted by giving it a shot

[tinydb84]

For tube I use masking tape a lot to visualize and check clearances. Works well enough without wasting material.

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Will try that out never done that before i normally use paper towel rolls lol