the DSRTRDR is getting some TLC . . .

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spartanboss said:
I can now see why my uncle said not to cover up rust with anything just fix it the first time:bang:
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He's a wise man. Goes back to the ancient argument that 'a stitch, in time, saves nine'.
 
Tools R Us said:
No need for the flush bolts, there will be more stuff hanging on them, like step mount rails.
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I was just about to post the same thing . . .
 
spartanboss said:
I can now see why my uncle said not to cover up rust with anything just fix it the first time:bang:
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It depends on the intended use of the rig, for a classic restoration, I agree. In this case, she got what, 8yrs and hundreds of trail days of enjoyment out of it, while covered with diamond plate.:meh:

Also, the rig lives in AZ, where rust progresses very slowly. It likely has very little more than it had 8yrs ago. If it lived where rust were more of a problem, the priority would differ?
 
Tools R Us said:
... she got what, 8yrs and hundreds of trail days of enjoyment out of it, while covered with diamond plate...
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You forgot the RustBullet...:hillbilly:

Looking at my old pics from the summer of '05, it's actually not that much worse.:)

And I always thought that when the time would come, the truck would loose the back of the tub, and just get tubed out. And she'll just get a Plushwagon to go with it...:princess: :flamingo:
 
Went round and round,,, and round on the step design, for something that looks simple, was anything but for us.:o

The basic frame tacked together.
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Working on trimming the top to fit. Still have a couple of spots that need attention, but starting to look like something?
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that is REALLY cool!!

I take it the fenders are getting trimmed?
 
The bolts through the fender, may put a washer plate here? The first time these were installed, they pulled the fender back into line. There were a couple of pretty good creases low in the fender, just tapped them with the dolly and they popped out! The pull from the bolts must have put just the right pressure to release the stress, allowing them to pop out.

The fender is solid, the step rock solid, jumping on it has zero effect.:cool:
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JohnnyC said:
that is REALLY cool!!

I take it the fenders are getting trimmed?
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Thanks!

Yep, the fender bottoms are pretty raggedy. May wait for Claudia to get here, so she can get in on the sawzall carnage! :hillbilly:
 
The running boards I miss since I cut the rockers up to the floor... However the 1/4" angle iron I have in the rockers place I am quite thankful for when wheeling it hard

This has wheels turning in my head :)
 
Fast Eddy said:
... Hope you don't take offense if I ask what happens if the running boards come down hard on a rock?
...
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Don't know, but likely to find out at some point. They are not designed to be full on sliders, just much stronger than stock.

The needed design depends on intended use, user preference, etc, they are likely not for everyone. In this case, we almost never wheel in slop, so mostly can hold the intended line, most rock contact is somewhat controlled/gentle (well,, "gentle" for rock contact!:hillbilly:). The stock steps suffered manglage, but was a somewhat rare event. These are much stronger, will have ~5" more clearance, so for the intended use, should work well, suffer manglage much less often.:hillbilly:
 
Tools R Us said:
Thanks!

Yep, the fender bottoms are pretty raggedy. May wait for Claudia to get here, so she can get in on the sawzall carnage! :hillbilly:
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I usually walk away when the sawzall comes out (hate the idea and the sound :doh:) - plus, I have no better idea than you yet where to cut, either :lol: - needless to say, you might have to wait a bit since I won't be walking for a while, anyway (foot surgery on Friday)

back on topic:

my period-correct steps (none came with the truck, I bought those off some MUD guy) got pretty mangled from wheeling over the years (as you can see in a pic earlier in this thread); I wouldn't exactly call those contacts 'gentle', though :lol: :hillbilly: - and I was never too fond of them since the rounded ribs get really slippery when wet or sandy, it's easy to lose traction on them and I have fallen off numerous times :mad: so, while we debated whether to use the top metal from the mangled steps to remain period-correct for a '72, I didn't quite see the merit in spending all that time for steps that I would still slip off of

I also had acquired (free :hillbilly:) an earlier style set of longer steps with the sharper diamond plate pattern on them - so, the sharper pattern and longer length both would have lessened the slipping problem - but looking at the metal thickness on those, it was determined that I would mangle those in no time, too, and that therefore, stronger steps would be needed

hence Plan C with the fabrication you see here
 
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not yet cut up - this Friday :doh:
 
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