Builds 40 Series Chassis, 80 Series Suspension - Kept it Simply (5 Viewers)

watrob · Mar 30, 2014

Here my finished 40 series chassis just back from being hot dipped in gal, plus my finished front & rear axles now painted.

watrob · Mar 30, 2014

Couple more pics.

47coeman · Mar 30, 2014

Thing of beauty---jealous ...

BionicCruiser · Mar 30, 2014

that's one way to make it rust proof! looks cool too.

watrob · Mar 31, 2014

BionicCruiser said:
that's one way to make it rust proof! looks cool too.

Acid cleaned to remove paint and surface rust then hot dipped in gal, $425.00. This chassis was already hot dipped 3 years ago just before we started to put on all the 80 series stuff, the second hot dip was really to protect that.

LAMBCRUSHER · Mar 31, 2014

is that front axle 40 series width? OR? I am about to do this to my 55...coarse, mine won't be half as pretty...

Jarred · Apr 2, 2014

Totally clean and solid, nice job!

Stumpalama · Apr 2, 2014

Need LOTS of progress pics! I'm very interested in how all this comes together and your ride impressions.

watrob · Apr 2, 2014

LAMBCRUSHER said:
is that front axle 40 series width? OR? I am about to do this to my 55...coarse, mine won't be half as pretty...

Yes 40 series axles with 80 series suspension.

watrob · Apr 2, 2014

This is the 12Ht engine I have just finished rebuilding that's going into the new chassis!

Finally finished, just some hose clamps & vacuum line that need to be done.

Henry James the 47th · Apr 3, 2014

Watrob,

that's great! Do you have any pics of the conversion of parts from the 80 series frame and axles over to the 40 frame and axles? What led you to go this route, instead of, say, narrowing the 80 axles and frame?

What about the steering set up - what's the plan? It looks like you're going with a 60 or 70 series box mounted on the inside of the frame rail? How does the clearance look for the steering shaft from the column to the box past the shock tower?

watrob · Apr 3, 2014

Henry James the 47th said:
Watrob,

that's great! Do you have any pics of the conversion of parts from the 80 series frame and axles over to the 40 frame and axles? What led you to go this route, instead of, say, narrowing the 80 axles and frame?

What about the steering set up - what's the plan? It looks like you're going with a 60 or 70 series box mounted on the inside of the frame rail? How does the clearance look for the steering shaft from the column to the box past the shock tower?

Check pages in my rebuild thread, around pages 4,5,6 I think.

Here some photos of how the steering will sit.

watrob · Apr 3, 2014

Worked out well.

Henry James the 47th · Apr 4, 2014

Thanks, I checked your build thread out and subscribed.

Question: did you consider the idea of narrowing the 80 front axle to obtain the larger birfields and smaller diff? I'd be interested to know more about your thought process and what led you to put the 80 stuff onto the 40 frame and axles.

watrob · Apr 4, 2014

As I have so much 40 series stuff plus the current chassis I am using now it's far easier welding the 80 series stuff on. Plus if I break a axle, diff what ever it's just a matter of remove and bolt on. Also getting bolt on 80 series stuff here is dime a dozen at the wrecker.

Bj on roids · Apr 6, 2014

More pics!

watrob · Apr 6, 2014

This is the rear disc brake conversion, rear hubs lathed. Plate is used instead of individual washers as the longer wheel stub bolts are a little to long.