Builds Stevo's 6BT60 Build Thread (6 Viewers)

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I started cutting up my front fenders tonight so I will have at least 4" of uptravel on my front suspension.

The bottom of the tape is the line I am going for:



Started cutting so there is no going back now.



I also plumbed the brakes for the front axle to the frame, once I box in the rear framerails I will go ahead and do the rear axle.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Got some more time to work on the front fenders.
Body work is very time consuming and I had forgotten how long it takes.
I used some 5/16th steel rod to give the new edge some strength and ended up with this at the end of the night.

The rod getting welded in:


Here it is with the 43's installed. Just around 5" of clearance. Considering I will be limiting my uptravel to 4" it should work out ok:


Plenty of room for the 37's:

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I had to install the 37's to roll the truck to the back of the shop.
I have to admit though its doesn't look too bad with them on. I also cleaned up the shop a bit so we will have some room to pull a tractor in to get worked on.

 

[snowboardonsnow]

This thing is getting savage!!!

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

This thing is getting savage!!!

I am so amped to get this thing finished.
Driveshafts will be coming in next week, and the tank will be ready in another 2 or 3.
Hopefully by that time I will have everything ready to go.

 

[The Phoenician]

It looks meaner than most of the MRAPs I've been in. Keep posting pics man, love this build.

 

[Wyoming]

Man, cutting body metal must be a tense moment. I do not look foreward to doing it. In fact, I have put it off to the very last.

You chose a good line though. Have fun with the grinder and the grinder and the grinder.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

It looks meaner than most of the MRAPs I've been in. Keep posting pics man, love this build.

Hey thanks, its always nice to get some motivation knowing there are people enjoying the build. Yours is looking great too, make it back safe and enjoy that Cummins going into your truck.

Man, cutting body metal must be a tense moment. I do not look foreward to doing it. In fact, I have put it off to the very last.

You chose a good line though. Have fun with the grinder and the grinder and the grinder.

It was tense when I first started this build but at this point I want to get this thing driving any way possible. Its amazing how much some time with the grinder and some flap wheels can clean up some body work.

What do you need to cut on your truck?

 

[Wyoming]

What do you need to cut on your truck?

I have that second body that I will be restoring some time in the future. I will be media blasting the whole thing and I'm sure there is a lot of rust to cut out and repair. I know I'm going to have to cut out the rear wheel wells and part of their quarter panels. Plus their is something wrong with the roof. It looks like someone stood on it or something.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Well body work is all a patience thing Wyo.


I didn't get too much done on the truck today, just a lot of running around getting parts and whatnot.

Although I did pick up the driveshafts and now have the midshaft and rear shaft in the truck now.
But I still need to modify my transmission crossmember to give me some clearance on the front driveshaft.

Here are some really awful pictures of them in place. I definitely need to take some when I have more light.

Midshaft:
12.5" long, 1480 Series U-Joint at transmission, 1410 at TC



Rear shaft:
20.5" long, 1350 Series DC Joint at TC, 1410 at 14 Bolt

 

[Wyoming]

You keep talking about that midshaft, and I've been waiting for pictures of it to see what exactly what it is and where it functions. More pictures please to help me understand.

Also, what type of lift pump are you running and how did you get the fuel system primed and bled?

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

You keep talking about that midshaft, and I've been waiting for pictures of it to see what exactly what it is and where it functions. More pictures please to help me understand.

Also, what type of lift pump are you running and how did you get the fuel system primed and bled?

Here is the midshaft, it goes between the transmission and the transfercase. It has a 1480 joint at the transmission end, and 1410 joint on the transfercase end.



And here it is installed. I will get a better picture sometime this week.



On the Cummins I am using the cam driven lift pump that's on the side of the block.
To get it primed I made sure the fuel filter was full and I just cranked the engine until it primed itself. After that I cracked a few injector lines. Once fuel was coming out of the lines and all of the air was bled out I closed the injector line and moved onto the next ones.

 

[klinedog]

Things are really coming together Stevo! How's the tank?

Best part of the midshaft picture is the John Deere bicycle with the banana seat! Memories of jumping ramps in the back yard. Wonder where I got the urge to play with something with a motor in it?

Wyoming,
These motors seem to prime very easy. Like Stevo says, fill the fuel filter, work the manual primer pump by hand, turn it over a few times, bleed the injectors and they pop right off. Most any farm hand can crank one of these from no fuel to back running again.

 

[Wyoming]

On the Cummins I am using the cam driven lift pump that's on the side of the block.
To get it primed I made sure the fuel filter was full and I just cranked the engine until it primed itself. After that I cracked a few injector lines. Once fuel was coming out of the lines and all of the air was bled out I closed the injector line and moved onto the next ones.

Wyoming,
These motors seem to prime very easy. Like Stevo says, fill the fuel filter, work the manual primer pump by hand, turn it over a few times, bleed the injectors and they pop right off. Most any farm hand can crank one of these from no fuel to back running again.

Thanks guys!

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Things are really coming together Stevo! How's the tank?

Thanks, its been a little slow due to low energy levels from work.
But it is almost finished.

Still waiting on the tank, and some delays on the rear shocks, apparently Bilstein doesn't want to install a 90 degree fitting on the shock unless I supply it. What doesn't make sense is that they sell as 90 degree fitting for the shocks.
I will need to give them a call tomorrow.

Thanks guys!

You're welcome. That's really the nicest thing about a forum. Lots of people to answer questions.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Got a few hours in on the truck today, I got the passenger fender to an acceptable point for now.
I will probably get it looking nicer in the future but it will work well for now.
I also installed the spacer for that side and mounted up another 43.
I now have 3 of the 4 tires mounted and installed.
The truck is gonna sit pretty wide up front. but that will be nice and stable.





I also have been having some issues with getting some new rear shocks, apparently Bilstein doesn't offer reservoir shocks with 90 degree fittings off of the shock body. They are willing to install them if you supply them though which is a bit of a pain.

I ended up ordering some 10" travel schrader valve shocks of the 7100 variety so I shall be getting and installing those soon.

 

[SNLC]

Only 10"??

Don't expect much droop?

 

[snowboardonsnow]

Only 10"??

Don't expect much droop?

At what degree angle though? He can get a lot of travel depending on that.

 

[snowboardonsnow]

Steve I don't remember but I think I am running 10" I am assuming you still have the same rear springs. Anyways I did have to change from the 30 or 35 degrees I was originally to a few more (i would have to check) because I was bottoming out. No problems since. Though 12s would or a short body would have probably been better... Or did I get the short bodies, now I can't remember.

Man when this is trail ready you have to take some mad videos and post em up.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Only 10"??

Don't expect much droop?

At what degree angle though? He can get a lot of travel depending on that.

I have my rear shocks pretty much vertical, and am limiting my uptravel to 3" in the rear so that leaves me 7" for droop.
Hopefully it works out if not I will have to make up some limiting straps.
I just was getting fed up with all of the 90 degree nonsense from bilstein.

Man when this is trail ready you have to take some mad videos and post em up.

I plan on getting a GoPro and make up some custom mounts for it.
I'm thinking front bumper, Driver side mirror, and Tranfercase crossmember.