Chicago builds a 40

rusty_tlc · 10-21-09, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

Just do this..

It will be sooo much easier to keep it low..

I agree, bumping up the fender wells is a good thing. You get very little usable storage space out of the area anyway because of the roll cage.

chicago · 10-21-09, 07:37 PM

TOO LATE!

chicago · 10-21-09, 07:39 PM

More of the fender well reconstruction....

chicago · 10-21-09, 07:40 PM

more fender

chicago · 10-21-09, 07:54 PM

Trying to make that bend is a BITCH!
It just never wants to stay square. when trying to wrap it around.

K

Cruiserdrew · 10-21-09, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicago

Trying to make that bend is a BITCH!
It just never wants to stay square. when trying to wrap it around.

K

As usual, that looks like crap......

Actually, great looking. You must have done this in a former life. I can't wait to see the final product, and then the next project after that.

rusty_tlc · 10-21-09, 09:08 PM

What a piece of hack work.
Since I'm a nice guy I'll let you finish up your tub and give you my tub to start over on.

No need to thank me, that's what friends are for.

chicago · 10-22-09, 06:20 AM

HA!

Thanks boys!
Ill probably take and run the fender well cut up to the inner fender bracing/ framing and see what happens from there.
Little bits at a time.

K

chicago · 10-22-09, 06:23 AM

The plasma cutter makes life SOOOOO much easier.
One thing that I HATE is drilling holes. However, with the plasma and the plug welds...NO HOLES to drill. Just burin it out, grind out the back side to clean it up, set it and weld it in.

chicago · 10-25-09, 01:08 PM

More progress...
Got the rear 1/4 welded in and finished. WIll need some bondo to fill some of the low spots, but what can you do.
Got the chop taped out too. Not sure if I wanna run it the way it sits, or wrap it around further to the back side of the panel....

Lemme know what you all think please!

Also...giving serious consideration to doing 1 ton axles....
Thinking a D60 front and 14 bolt in the rear. After trying to find a complete 60 series front and discovering that they are VERY expensive, Id almost be better off picking up a heavier axle...
This comes after talking at length with my friend jack

Here are the pics....

chicago · 10-25-09, 01:09 PM

Few more of the body work...I really HATE this stuff BTW!

chicago · 10-25-09, 01:10 PM

AAAAAAND a few more!

chicago · 10-25-09, 01:11 PM

BTW, Ill be chopping the wheel well UP to allow for more clearance. It will go right up to the framing rail that I built.

fyresq · 10-27-09, 10:13 PM

Where do I start......been building a cruiser going on 2 years now and was lookin for some motivation. After a major knee operation put me down for 4 months I've been looking forlornly at the cruiser in the garage thinking "I have to get back on this project". So I hop on here and start reading your buildup and realized that you are in the neighborhood. To boot, you are going thru the same mental anguish that I was going thru trying to figure out what to do on the project. Just wanted to say thanx for the motivation and if you ever need a hand let me know.

fyresq · 10-27-09, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Also...giving serious consideration to doing 1 ton axles....
Thinking a D60 front and 14 bolt in the rear. After trying to find a complete 60 series front and discovering that they are VERY expensive, Id almost be better off picking up a heavier axle...
This comes after talking at length with my friend jack

I sat and penciled out the costs and they are about even so I went with the tons even after doing the C&T, crossover hi steer, and mini outer swap, etc. on my 40 axles. I ended up cutting down a chevy D60 4.5" to match my front spring hangers that I had already done (so I didn't have to outboard) and used a rear 14 bolt dually which puts my front at 64.5" and rear 63" (I put 1/2" spacers on to make 64"). Just about a perfect width for a streetable rig IMHO.

Reading thru the rest of your post.......

I had the original 3 speed then swapped a sm420 in but swapped it out with a 700r4 built with Dana 300 with HD outputs, 4:1, twinsticked when I decided to go with the tons. I figured by using the dana 300, I could reuse the adapters if I wanted to switch out to an Atlas. I figure my built dana 300 is pretty much a cast iron redneck Atlas anyway

Running 5.38's, the 4:1 gives me a 60+:1 ratio (which is probably overkill)

My buildup thread is linked below......I'll be updating it soon

chicago · 10-28-09, 06:20 AM

Yeup...right down the hill from you!
This shit will make you CRAZY for sure.
Sounds like a nice set up you have going there. Trying to keep practical is the key and sometimes VERY hard to do.

Glad that I could motivate someone in the world!

rusty_tlc · 10-28-09, 07:30 PM

Yes but it's a fine madness indeed.

chicago · 10-29-09, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty_tlc

Yes but it's a fine madness indeed.

inDEEEEEED!
MOOOWAAAWAAAHAAAAHAAAAA!

I LOVE it!

rusty_tlc · 11-03-09, 07:40 PM

Any news?

chicago · 11-03-09, 08:51 PM

Not much...Scrapped the 1 ton idea and opted to stick with the original plan. Picked up a 60 series front from OrangeFJ45.
Blotch rig will be going bye bye in 2 weeks

However, that will free up cash to start buying the crap to get this project really moving.
Aside from that...BODY WORK!
Chopped the fender, was gonna cap it all in realized that I didnt have enough sheet to make the top of the fender well, so I decided to re build the door sill where it meets the floor pan...there were holes thorugh it, so I FIXED IT!

Ill post pics later.

Thanks for the interest Rusty!

Keith

locrwln1 · 11-04-09, 08:13 AM

So for the front axle are you notching, outboarding the springs, adding the housing spacers? What did you decide? We need details man.

This is like a serial thriller, I can't wait for the next installment.

Jack

rusty_tlc · 11-04-09, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicago

Not much...Scrapped the 1 ton idea and opted to stick with the original plan. Picked up a 60 series front from OrangeFJ45.
Blotch rig will be going bye bye in 2 weeks

However, that will free up cash to start buying the crap to get this project really moving.
Aside from that...BODY WORK!
Chopped the fender, was gonna cap it all in realized that I didnt have enough sheet to make the top of the fender well, so I decided to re build the door sill where it meets the floor pan...there were holes thorugh it, so I FIXED IT!

Ill post pics later.

Thanks for the interest Rusty!

Keith

I'm living vicariously through your build.

chicago · 11-04-09, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locrwln1

So for the front axle are you notching, outboarding the springs, adding the housing spacers? What did you decide? We need details man.

This is like a serial thriller, I can't wait for the next installment.

Jack

Out boarding. Seems to be the best/ safest way to go.
Gonna pick up the Ruff stuff kit, all that crap is included.

K

chicago · 11-04-09, 07:52 PM

Replaced a section of the door sill. For the most part the rest is in tact, but this section was pretty nasty!

Wile E Coyote · 11-04-09, 08:04 PM

Lookin good, Keith. It seems poppin your sheetmetal cherry on the Blotch paid off for this go round, eh? I probably overlooked where you posted it, but is Blotchy going to a fellow Mudder?

chicago · 11-04-09, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wile E Coyote

Lookin good, Keith. It seems poppin your sheetmetal cherry on the Blotch paid off for this go round, eh? I probably overlooked where you posted it, but is Blotchy going to a fellow Mudder?

Thanks brotha!
I was wondering what happened to you?
Yeah...that and a couple of doors that I chopped down for others.
Yeah, the Blotch rig is going to another mudder, thankfully!
He's supposed to pick her up next weekend. Bitter sweet for sure.

DesertLake · 11-08-09, 07:26 PM

Holeee crap you work fast! I gotta check this thread more often. 9 pages since august for crap's sake.

chicago · 11-08-09, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesertLake

Holeee crap you work fast! I gotta check this thread more often. 9 pages since august for crap's sake.

HAHAHA!
Ive been accused of a LOT of things, but working FAST is NOT one of them!

D'Animal · 11-16-09, 03:52 PM

Any updates in the last week or so?

chicago · 11-16-09, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D'Animal

Any updates in the last week or so?

Not really...
Just more of the same ole body work stuff. Seems that information is not so interesting to folks, so Ive been laying off of the info on that. Its slow tedious work that bores even ME....
Got the DS fender well finished. Yanked the PS fender well.
One thing that Id like to mention that I used and was AMAZED at the job it did, was one of those rust stripper wheels that you put on a drill...YEAH! that thing worked AWESOME on the nasty floor pan rust.
Not quite sure what it is, how it works...all I can say is that IT WORKS for stripping rust off. Additionally, its not as invasive as using a flap disc sander on the underlying metal.
Sold my Blotch rig, now I still have to determine the best way to spend the cash on this rig.
On the fence on a few things...
Id still really like to run the 203/ split case doubler for the intermediate gear.
Then there is the 4 speed atlas vs 2 speed angle....
I could do the doubler IF is stretched the rear of the tub and frame. This would actually be quite easy to do, give me more precious cargo area and could POSSIBLY allow for better drive shaft clearance in the front secondary to the added length to the t case and I wouldnt have to mess with centering the rear axle.
The down side would be the extra expense of a custom roll cage, and custom soft top.
So Ill sit and chew on it a bit, get opinions that sort of thing!

Thanks for the interest Danimal!