Build “It’s only an axle swap and a motor swap” aka AK2AL aka Dream Build

[TachedOutOffRoad]

I used gorilla glue and just used jacks to hold it up. So far so good.

Teardrop is pimp

talked to machinest buddy last night. Ordering some 3/4” thick, 36”x36” UHMW plate in black. I think I’ll weld 8-10 tabs on the side of the tank with countersunk bolts in the plastic and call it good.

55 will be towing the teardrop to SSS in Oct

 

[J Mack]

Ordering some 3/4” thick, 36”x36” UHMW plate in black. I think I’ll weld 8-10 tabs on the side of the tank with countersunk bolts in the plastic and call it good.

I did the same thing on mine but used 3/8" UHMW.

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

I did the same thing on mine but used 3/8" UHMW.

was that deep enough to recess bolt heads into it?
Did you use a tapered bolt or regular one?

 

[J Mack]

was that deep enough to recess bolt heads into it?
Did you use a tapered bolt or regular one?

Yes, I used 1/4"-20 deck screws to hold it to my tabs.

Amazon product ASIN B07D3NJYNW

 

[mmcinnis]

It’s has some old something sprayed/painted under the body. The only way it could be this well done is with the body off some time in the past. Maybe with the old 350 swap? Zero rust found.

I ripped out what was flaking, acetoned the whole underside, painted a rustoleum primer layer with this sound deading stuff, then a another black rustoleum layer with the sound deading stuff. It’s supposed to be super bad ass, drop temps, and reduce sound. Well see! It’s almost a powered/tiny sand mix. The whole bottom side of the truck, inside fenders, firewall, inside and outside, every nook and cranny got two coats. Will do the inside later.

Welcome to [Hy-Tech Thermal Solutions] - We Make Paint......Insulate!

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What did you spray that with? High build primer hvlp? Thanks
Looking good.
Mike

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

What did you spray that with? High build primer hvlp? Thanks
Looking good.
Mike

the paint really wasn’t that much thicker. Some, but not a lot. It was more like a paste, but not thick like a bedliner. A lot of the texture in the pics is the old stuff. Not sure if that helps any. I’ll get a better pic of spots that have just the new stuff.

I brushed and rolled it on, didn’t want to spray inside the shop. It is sprayable according to the instructions.

 

[PabloCruise]

I finally drilled a new hole over 3” and BAM, she in.

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Don't see why you couldn't use the other hole...

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

I will use any hole i have access to.
Never have found a hole too small for my tool set.

 

[J Mack]

What did you spray that with?

I used an airless to spray mine.

 

[xtiaan2000]

"I will use any hole i have access to.
Never have found a hole too small for my tool set."

I like the way that sounds. Feel the kinda same way!

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Body swap officially done!!!

Happy Birthday America!!

 

[PabloCruise]

Let that Piggy run free!!!

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

After thinking it was finally going in the last time, I ended up fighting the tank some more the welded in nuts in the body broke lose. Will have to cut and weld something later. Had to throw in the towel for the night.....


Have to move the bacon outside while I’m going out of town for a while. Decided to tackle the steering.

I had three different steering column parts and fabbercobbeled them into one that would fit.
I kept playing with this weird ribbed middle piece. It looked like rubber almost, but was metal, but felt lite. As I was just about to bolt it in, just gave it a little tiny wack on the front cross member and it fell into two pieces.

I would like to think that the little tiny wack saved my life in the future. That s*** would have come apart at the first sign of any stress and would have zero input from the steering wheel to the steering box hauling ass down the road.

as I wondered around the shop I found some unused steering parts off of a new Mercedes SUV. It was pretty close in size. Welded up the ends and put a pin in as well for extra goodness.

Now steering!! Got my teenage helpers to help me push it outside of the shop and there she sits as beautiful as ever.
going to try to sneak home, throw tank in, and get it to the exhaust shop while I’m gone, but not very hopeful on that.

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Ummmmmm

 

[J Mack]

I would like to think that the little tiny wack saved my life in the future

Was Barry White playing in the background?

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Was Barry White playing in the background?

Was hoping you would capitalize on this

 

[gonzopancho]

Was hoping you would capitalize on this

May 10 was two months ago, but I’ll allow it...

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Well...

Summer time! Boats, helicopters, $5.99 beer for the crew chiefs, college kid car maintenance, moving a son off to college, damn virus, and virtual schooling! Worked 27 days in July woohoo!

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Taking a week off and getting this mofo running!!


DONE
-bolts down instead of holes up for gas tank
-slot gas tank brackets
-tank bolted in !!!!
-Slee radius arms Install
-clearance steering shaft
-giant front shocks Install
-radiator in
-replaced hood bolts
-new rad hoses in
-measure for PS lines

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Double drilled flanges and sent off drive shafts.

the front has smaller bolt holes and a slightly different pattern.