934rnr

Well finished the rear shock tower mount.

I used a pic of angle iron 4x2 I cut down to 6" and I had two 11/16 holes punched into either corner. It makes welding so much easier to have the metal shop do the cutting to have things precut to just weld it on.

Also finished the framing for the flatbed.


I used 3/16 steel for the flatbed. I had 2 peices of 2x2 angle cut at lengths of 62" and 2 cut at 63"
The base that the flatbed was mounted to was made out of 2 peices of 2x2 boxed cut at 62". I also used 4 peices of 2x2 cut at 2" to weld as legs to the frame mounts. I used 1" body-lift blocks to space it from the frame.
I haven't decided what to use fr the floor yet I am thinking of just using wood as a floor because of the flated size.
I also had a peice to put between the frame rails out of 3/16 2x3 cut down to 40"

My total cost so far on the flatbed bed shock tower mount is $105 worth of steel $35 for the rental on the welder and $30 in consumables like a pair of gloves and spool of wire and a spare tip and a $6 6 pack for RJ.
So $176 well spent.


Couldn't do much else the welder I had rented broke the cooling fan inside the miller 135 fell to peices inside it and it shutdown.
The rental place only charged me 1 day of use instead of 2 but I was still pissed off I couldn't finish other things I wanted to.
Oh well next week I will bring my truck over to Damien's house when he has sometime to finsh the rest of the suspension.

Alot of thanks goes out to RJ in the last pic he helped me do the finish welds on the flatbed.
I was temporaily blinded from having welders flash the day before yesterday.
I was a tard didn't use the sheild as much as I should have and I couldn't continue with it since I couldn't see very well at all.
I got checked out by the VA yesterday at least I didn't have any permanant damage.
I am getting my sight back the milky white halo everything had is gone today but my eyes are still quite red.

I gotta get a auto darking helmet sometime if I weld again. I don't want to go through this crap again very scary to almost loose your sight.

934rnr

some more pics:
The mounts:



The flatbed:




it's about 75% done I need to finish the gas filler mount and the new taillight mounts and the floor of the flatbed.
I am also thinking of throwing in another center support bracket as well although it's not needed.

I built this bed trying to keep the design as simple as possible.

bruzer1123

Nice Job-much better than the flatbed I had on my old truck. Can't wait to see it done. VT rules!

934rnr

Picked up a peice of 60x61"expanded metal today for $63.00.
It's mean't for stairwalks and stuff plenty thick for a flatbed.
I will put a cross brace in so it has more center support for hauling things.





I also moved my tailights trying to find a good location for whatever lights I will run on this.

934rnr

I still have to build the rear bumper with the class III receiver and find a good location for my tailight's.
I did get my Hidden Hitch Class III multimount for my winch today.
It was $50 well spent. Only issue it looks like it's designed for just a hawse fairlead and it won't line up with the roller fairlead so I have to drill some holes next to the existing ones so I can get the roller one to fit.

jimbo74

have you tried to flex the rear with the new shock mounts? maybe im just thinking overkill, but that doesnt look too strong..... since my truck is 4x2, i need all the articulation i can get out of it, and longer shocks would help, however i havent figured out a way to mount them yet.....

934rnr

It's a peice of 4x2 angle 3/16" steel isn't that strong enough for a shock mount? 1/4" is overkill IMHO for a shock mount.
I have seen lots of people use 3/16" before wit the same setup without issues.

jimbo74

its welded to a piece of round tubing though, i dont see how that would be strong.... i dont know if it is strong enough or whatelse you could/would use wither... thats why i was asking

934rnr

As long as you have good pentration on your welds which I did on the shock mount. It's welded on both sides and on the sides trust me it's not going anywhere. It should be fine.

Napoleon047

i have seen the round crossmember buckle and crack because of its thin wall. a peice of 1.25" or 1.5" sch 40 pipe (cant remember) fits perfectly inside the tube though. just stick it through and weld the ends.

have you flexed it up yet? it looks like the rear tires will rub the flatbed unless you have no articulation in the back.

934rnr

Here's some anti-flex pics.
I really need to install those chevy leaf springs. The flex sucks with the stock pack but I don't have any weight on the bed either.



Of course the front leaf's flex just fine.

934rnr

Added 3 center supports the two sides are 1x1 1/4" and the center is 3/16" angle iron. I also added 2 peices of 3/16 plate they at least keep alot of stuff from flying through the expanded metal.
Also lifted the flatbed more with 4 more 1" body-lift blocks so basically it has a 2" lift now.



Added a bracket for the gas filler.


Side view I don't know if I want to keep the roll bar. I cut the legs but it turns out they are way too short.
I would have to lift the whole thing at least 4-5" to make it worth it.





Anyways it's getting there. I still need the side bars and a front bar.

JuttyShabango

Build the side rails 5-6" tall and set the rollbar ontop of it, then tuck your gas tank underneath.

934rnr

Well I was thinking about using some peices of 4x4 boxed to sit the rollbar on top of that.
I think it would be better if I tired a rollbar into some rock sliders like you did.

JuttyShabango

That would work. I would try and salvage the roll bar and design around it maybe. Regardless, your doing an AWESOME job on this build up. Looks tight.

jimbo74

yeah raise the roll bar... looks goofy where its sitting... so has that shock mount broken yet? (i only ask as i migth be trying this if your doesnt brake )

934rnr

Nope the bar hasn't broken yet.

934rnr

Hey thanks. I also painted my flatbed a little and the front axle today as well. That front axle was slathered in POR-15 from the PO.
I ended up taking some engine degreaser hosing it down with that stuff and blasting it with the wand at the carwash. It made quick work of stripping the axle the POR-15 litterly came right off in chunks. I had it down to bare metal in no time. After that I let it dry and I used a wire brush and sand paper to prep it gave it a good wipe down with a towel with some rubbing alcohol and painted it with some 500 deg engine paint.

934rnr

Painted the hood not too shabby for rattle can.

I may do a two tone on the roof and door tops with this gun metal I painted the hood and fenders with.

I finished the bed tiedowns

Cebby

It may be too late now (coming in pretty late here) - I like the construction, but in the side view, the angle of the bed doesn't appear to match the line in the side of the cab/doors. I don't mean have it line up, but that they should be parallel. The pics give an optical illusion as if your frame is bent. Maybe it's just these old eyes...

Can you drop the front of the flatbed a little or lift the rear? I know it isn't a function thing - personally, it just sort of bugs me.