Rocker/Sliders (1 Viewer)

[66fj40x2]

Well, it's finally cooled down in southest Texas and the electrician should be out this week to sign off on the new wiring in the garage (220 for the welder). Time to start working on the 40 ..... FINALLY!!!!

First up will be stiffening the frame and adding the rear frame enclosure pieces..... easy stuff.

I'm starting to plan for the sliders. My rockers are junk and most of the welds at the seams to the floorboards are rusted. I'm looking at cutting out the outter rockers and the rusted out inner rocker/floorboard seems and replacing them with a single piece of 2x2 or 2x4 square tube welded to the sheet metal, similar to what most have done to the rear sill's. This would give me something that still looks like a stock rocker panel, remove rotted metal and replace my Faultline sliders all in one shot.

Anyone have any thoughts or input on this..... any pix of something similar would be cool too.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[bustanutley]

I have done what you are proposing once upon a time and it isn't quite enough. I took some small square and put it flush with the floor and rolled the sheet metal around it. Looked nice but you need to protect and reinforce up to the door seam. After a trip the rockers were pretty hammers again. I then built protection out of L3x3x1/4" (I think) and I tucked against the whole shooting match and tied to the frame. I have been absolutely astounded at how well this has held up.

Edit: I posted a few pics of what I did in this thread https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/58825-nutleys-cage-2.html

 

[66fj40x2]

I've got some 2x2 1/4" wall thatI'll probably use. I may take some 2" DOM and weld to the frame like normal sliders with some small plates somewhere in the middle of the DOM, probably closer to the frame, with bolts so I unbolt them if I ever need to remove the tube again. I suspect this will rack the tub if the frame flexs much..... hince the frame being welded and the cage will be tied to the frame to further stiffen everything.... gonna let the suspension fo all the work.

 

[I Tried]

I will try to take some pictures of my rocker-slider this weekend and post them up. I used 2x4 .120wall rect tube for mine and have the recessed under the floor and flush. welded to the floor and under floor braces and the full length of the rocker. It should hold all the weight of the truck and be bullit proof.

Tim

 

[66fj40x2]

Cool, thanks! I considered using 2x4 as well but had the 2x2 on hand.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[too tall]

My rockers are made of 2x4- 1/4 wall tube .It works really well and I have yet to bend them . They are tied to the frame so I can land on them all day long without having to worry .

 

[66fj40x2]

My rockers are made of 2x4- 1/4 wall tube .It works really well and I have yet to bend them . They are tied to the frame so I can land on them all day long without having to worry .

Do ya have any pix? I may go ahead buy a stick of 2x4x.120 or .250 wall and I'd still have a step to get my oversized self in and out of the truck

 

[too tall]

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow . It's dark now .

 

[Isotel]

Mike,

I did mine like that.. 3/16" 2x2 tube.. Cut the Rocker so it had enughf lip to still clear the rounded off corners of the 2x2, Stitch welded it on the back side all the way down, and welded up the front side..

Since i already had the bondo out on the body repair (Black Area), i smoothed it all out and shot it with paint.

The Cage and Slider is tied in with this piece of thick wall round tube.. Id suggest doing atleast 2, maybe 3 frame ties..

i only have this one right now, and ive Slammed it enough to push up & Tweak the rear fender sheet metal

 

[66fj40x2]

There we go, thanks! I started cutting sheet metal today.... 3 4" disk and 2 sawzall blades later the offending rust was removed. I need to pull the body lift pucks out and figure out the front body mount/slider support later this week.