Alright so my '85 pickup is close to being done. Whats left, shock hoops up front, rear shock placement somehow, weld up the front diff, weld up my square tube driveshaft, swap 3rds, bump stops, and then I think she's ready to rock for now. I was told by my buddy that's supposed to be helping me (he bailed on me so I'm doin this all myself) that I need to reinforce the front frame, so I bought the TG frame reinforcement plates. I also still need to weld on my front shock hoops. My question is, the TG frame plates have large holes in them, so when I weld em on do I weld in these holes to the frame as well? Kind of like large rosette welds? I'm not the best welder whatsoever but I'll wing it and make it work. And after the plates are on do I just weld the hoops on the frame plates from there?

On a side note, my rigs so low that even triangulating I can't fit 12" shocks, so I'm going to weld on ford shock towers to the rear frame and they will stick up through the bed, yes I will cut holes in my bed to make this work. Anyone else do this before?

Any other advice or help would be greatly appreciated. I have never done anything like this before besides installing a lift on my cherokee back when I had it. And doing this solo has been one big learning experience to be honest.

 

Yes on the large rosette welds on the frame plates. Its not a bad idea either to brace the front crossmember if youll be running a winch bumper.

Im not running a bed, but did my shocks straight up. Chevy 63s, ford 12.75" shocks and towers. Have about 4-5" uptravel and 8 down. (at the shock mount, not at the tire) THe towers are about 4" above the frame rail.

I should have allowed for more up travel, as the current location almost bottoms the shock right as the spring goes flat, but it works for now.

 

Are you any where close to Eastern Pa??I would be glad to help.

I feel sorry learning to weld on suspension parts is not fun