Well drove up to see if I could help IndianDoc today....confirmed he was still home and headed up around 8 and got there around 10 driving below the speed limit in my 60. The new seats make a huge difference in comfort...as did the new stereo and speakers. 
Got there and immediately walked into a discussion about how to best cut and then support his transmissin support bracket to allow his 5 inches of lift and 35 inch tires to not put pressure on driveshaft and cause oil to spew from his rig again. LOL
Doc had prefabbed a nice A-frame device to weld into place after he cuts 6-8 inches out of crossmember. His neighbor said he would cut anotch and then weld a faceplate on the open side to strengthen.
So we go out in the cold and remove cross brace after putting a jack stand under tranny and ensuring two straps were tight around it tied to 4x4 up in cab.
removed it...replaced it to marke centerline of drive shaft and where to cut....removed again.
Then started looking at it...and decided to just cut the flat flange on side of cross member and barely into the rigid area and then weld it back shut. If it needed more later or when he put on a Lefty Crawler then it could be done then but not take off more than needed for now. So we cut, and cut, and ground...then Doc tried to burn a hole the size of his fist in the steel before he turned on the inert gas...lmao....not that I knew the difference or would have known better...but after he told me what he did it was funny.
Then we took a break and talked....he needed gas cap and I had an extra...FIXED. I saw a working oem radio...I needed one to fill hole in my dash. FIXED. We looked at parts....checked out some things on eachothers rigs....talked some more and had a good day.
He was going in to take a break and warm up before painting the bare metal....and then look for some 1/4" steel spacers to get a little more room on cross member......so I headed back to Charleston.
He is looking forward to seeing everyone again on our run 19-21 Feb..which looks like it will be at our alternate location as the week prior is solid week of rain in Union Point GA. He is going to ride shotgun with DBENKE he said...
Be good to get on the trail.
Good news though is after the crossmember is reinstalled and tested to make sure it gives enough clearance. He can bump over motor and get it running with some timing and such being done as all the work is complete.......then sand blast her inside and out and take to paint ....then start putting all the pieces back on and in her. He could have her done in another 30 days with some incentive, help and energy with good weather.
GOOD LUCK DOC!
Got there and immediately walked into a discussion about how to best cut and then support his transmissin support bracket to allow his 5 inches of lift and 35 inch tires to not put pressure on driveshaft and cause oil to spew from his rig again. LOL
Doc had prefabbed a nice A-frame device to weld into place after he cuts 6-8 inches out of crossmember. His neighbor said he would cut anotch and then weld a faceplate on the open side to strengthen.
So we go out in the cold and remove cross brace after putting a jack stand under tranny and ensuring two straps were tight around it tied to 4x4 up in cab.
removed it...replaced it to marke centerline of drive shaft and where to cut....removed again.
Then started looking at it...and decided to just cut the flat flange on side of cross member and barely into the rigid area and then weld it back shut. If it needed more later or when he put on a Lefty Crawler then it could be done then but not take off more than needed for now. So we cut, and cut, and ground...then Doc tried to burn a hole the size of his fist in the steel before he turned on the inert gas...lmao....not that I knew the difference or would have known better...but after he told me what he did it was funny.
Then we took a break and talked....he needed gas cap and I had an extra...FIXED. I saw a working oem radio...I needed one to fill hole in my dash. FIXED. We looked at parts....checked out some things on eachothers rigs....talked some more and had a good day.
He was going in to take a break and warm up before painting the bare metal....and then look for some 1/4" steel spacers to get a little more room on cross member......so I headed back to Charleston.
He is looking forward to seeing everyone again on our run 19-21 Feb..which looks like it will be at our alternate location as the week prior is solid week of rain in Union Point GA.
He is going to ride shotgun with DBENKE he said...Be good to get on the trail.
Good news though is after the crossmember is reinstalled and tested to make sure it gives enough clearance. He can bump over motor and get it running with some timing and such being done as all the work is complete.......then sand blast her inside and out and take to paint ....then start putting all the pieces back on and in her. He could have her done in another 30 days with some incentive, help and energy with good weather.
GOOD LUCK DOC!
