Very true - I pretty much am a small fry just using stock GM parts. hahah.
And yes, your friend is an artist. Cripes, that chop is amazing...
With luck, I'll start welding everything together today. Not trying to get my hopes up, but things are working out well. The batteries are charging in the camera, and I'm heading back out.
edit: Ok, I lied. Ended up losing a piece to my grinder, so that set me back until I could cannibalize one off an old grinder that the brushes are worn out in. But, I did get the crossmember for the upper shock mount mocked up, along with the upper panhard mount pretty much finished and tacked in.
The batteries didn't finish cahrging either, so I had to use the phone...
And that's where she sits tonight. I've got some homework I need to catch up on, but hopefully I can get another chunk done on 'er tomorrow.
I'll keep you all posted.
-Sam.