Build Warhorse-LS3 C&C & more

[tmxmotorsports]

A shop isn't complet without a stolen stop sign

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Great idea on the frame

 

[NCFJ]

A shop isn't complet without a stolen stop sign

That sign was given to me by the county guys that came out and replaced it. It was sheared off and bent up by a woman that went off road in front of my property doing an estimated 85 MPH. She sheared off two signs and traveled about 150 yards before dropping 50' down into the ravine that borders my property. She lived, came by here several months later when released from the hospital, two broken arms, one leg, several ribs and still showing signs of bruises etc. She is lucky that she lived.

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Hey Hey,

Wow! You’re deep into this now. Can you help me understand what’s happening here? We’ve seen 80 frame swaps before but never one that flipped the frame. What’s the benefit of doing this?

Keep it coming!

-Ed

 

[NCFJ]

If you read back through other 60/80 build threads you will find where they mention having to raise the rear frame rails, no pics of it being done. What I can get from finished frame pics is that they cut off the rear frame rails to where they curve up, then cut the remaining frame at the point where the new height was correct. The section in between was then filled in with plate of some sort.

The reason for all of this is that the 80 rear frame rails hang down too far to allow the rear most body mounts to be used properly. Bumper mounting would also become an issue.

My idea was, as described above, make one vertical cut at the point where flipping the cut off piece and welding it back at the same seam raises the frame rail to where it was on the 60 frame. I was going to fill in the top "triangle to make the top flat back to the original frame but I thought that this way looks interesting and lord knows it is strong enough with the plates I put inside the frame.

Hope that all makes sense.

 

[NCFJ]

I like it when a plan works out. Rear body mounts, check gap between pinch weld and top of frame.

 

[NCFJ]

Here is that stop sign before it was ripped out by the roots
That's Max the shop dog

 

[NCFJ]

All the frame work is done as are all the body mounts. New body mount rubber is on order.

 

[NCFJ]

Body dolly makes life a bit easier for one guy, frees up the lift too

 

[Well Sorted]

Thanks for showing the frame work in detail, I'm contemplating this for my next build so this really helps. Nice solution!

 

[NCFJ]

Glad I could help, I laid awake a night or two thinking about how to do it without multiple cuts or adding plate to extend it.

 

[SNLC]

All but the rearmost two body mounts are tacked in. The frame rails have to be raised a bit in the rear to accommodate them. A whole lot of measuring, measuring again and looking at the truck from every angle.

Been there and done that.

Cool thing about 80-series chassis swaps is they are all different. The one I built was one of the most fun trucks I have ever built.

Cheers

 

[NCFJ]

I do believe I can make this work.

 

[OGBeno]

Wow.

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Mmmm....sexy motor!

What transmission?

 

[Trapper50cal]

What a sight....

 

[NCFJ]

The motor bolts up to a 4L65E, Connect & Cruise package.

 

[NCFJ]

Installed new oil pan, windage tray and pickup. 6 bolt mains.

 

[NCFJ]

Ready to bolt together. Waiting on new exhaust manifolds.

 

[Well Sorted]

I thought you had to use the supplied manifolds to keep it CARB compliant? Or are you not worrying about that?