The rig gets some much needed TLC

[Josh S.]

Here's a rough sketch of the crossmember. Hopefully I can get this close to completed by the end of this weekend. That would kick ass!

 

[bisne]

Hey dud , im wondering what shafts will you use to extend that beams?

 

[Josh S.]

bisne- I already have an extended shaft leftover from my old beams so I will be using that. If I need another one I would just cut and sleeve a stock one

Got the radius arm brackets done finally, but not without accidentally welding my C-clamp to one of em haha...

Here they are. I picked up my tranny jack from a buddy so I'm gonna start on the crossmember real soon. As for now, it's time to head off the the David Allan Coe concert and party it up!

 

[R.J.]

looking good

 

[Josh S.]

Okay a minor update...I took a break from the truck to get some school crud dealt with and a lot of dirtbiking but now I'm back

Some minor frame bendage...

Well the 2 foot long Crescent wrench wasn't up for doing it's job of bending my frame back to where it came from so I said to hell with it and employed the good ole angle grinder

I'll get this plated in and boxed, then figure out what to do with the other side, then I can get the brackets hung and get to work on the crossmember. Slowly but surely!

 

[Josh S.]

Brackets tacked into place...

tranny crossmember almost done...

 

[section525]

Did you buy a book on fabbing or what? Summer school class? : It's lookin awesome!

 

[Josh S.]

Thanks dude! Can't wait to get back to the desert! You'll have to stop by sometime when you are in town

 

[Josh S.]

Well it turns out that the crossmember in the works was completely not going to work due to driveshaft and exhaust clearance issues so I did something else. Should work better. It's not completed yet btw

 

[R.J.]

psh and it still looks good!

 

[section525]

Did you use a pipe kinker for that? I'm going to need some shock mounts bent in the next couple weeks. You down?

 

[Exploderpilot]

nice work josh! still wanna open a fab shop with me?

 

[Josh S.]

Thanks guys

We used Phil's dads JD2 Johnny...he's got it up here in Chico so he's probly the one to talk to...Although I have this coming to my doorstep on Monday so you might need to talk to me about quality notching on the drill press

That would be pretty fun Jason, I think I have a lot to learn yet tho and i'm not nearly productive enough haha

 

[DB_1]

I like that 2nd X-member better, simpler and less welding to do...nice work

 

[Josh S.]

Thanks Dave, you're right a lot less welding.

Well I found out yesterday that the stock cat system won't fit anymore because I plated in the frame where it sits

I ended up beating the hell out of it with a sledgehammer to get a spare inch or two but that ended up just destroying the cat haha...I'm gonna order a Magnaflow or a Spintech in the next couple days that is a lot smaller so it should be able to fit in there.

 

[Josh S.]

Well I'm in socal right now and got my shopping done today

Picked up some new PRP seats, Crow harnesses, 1.25" FK heims and some 2.5x2 King bumps with cans. Also dropped off the coilovers and some other shocks for a full rebuild so they will be ready for smashing on. It was a spendy day but I can't wait to get back and gett this stuff on the truck!

Have my camera but no USB cord so no pics, sorry. We are heading to the Bud Light Dash on the 31st so I will have some inspirational trophy truck pics to post when I get back too

 

[R.J.]

soundin good...

 

[Josh S.]

Well I'm back home now and hoping to get some serious **** done on the truck in the next couple weeks before another semester starts

New seats, harnesses, heims, bumps...

CL can for size reference The 2.5's add extra chick-pulling power

My buddy up here distracted me yet again and we ended up throwing a Camburg upper A-arm and replacement c/o kit on his tacoma today. Someday I will get to work on the explorer again :fire:

My mom and stepdad were nice enough to pick up a 1.75" tubing bender die for me over christmas so we now have the capabilities to bend up the radius arms and engine cage, etc...Stay tuned for some cool updates soon

 

[Josh S.]

Got the radius arm brackets welded up to the frame today and installed the tranny crossmember.(FINALLY)

Also made some progress on some radius arm brackets for a friend. Soon the new arms will be built for my truck...well as soon as i can afford some metal

 

[R.J.]

so when am i gonna bring my truck over to be built?

still wanna know, how did you figure out the geometry for cutting and turning the beams?