They are a good idea on anything, but almost a neccesity on something that will be beat on!

 

Tonight was actually productive for me as my buddy had to pick up his kid so I just went to the shop instead of out to the bar with him again. I got the 4th and final spring hanger blasted, weld washers on and painted as well as spending some decent time getting rolling on the new rear cross member.

Only 1 (boring) pic tonight, but I feel like I got a decent amount done. Hopefully I will get the cross member together enough for now tomorrow night. It will get a bunch added to it (hitch receiver, bumper mounts, and possibly fuel tank skid plate mounts) at a later time, but for now I just need to get something in there so I can take out the stock cross member.

 

This is the way it should be. You have a following that needs their fix. Why don't you combine the two and have a beer or 3 working on the truck? Best of both worlds...

 

Believe it or not I don't drink in the shop at all really. It's rare and usually if buddies bring beer over and want to drink. Nothing gets done on those days though so I try not to do that often.
With me being recently single again after 5 years or so my buddies keep calling me for wing man duty, etc. I don't really go to the bars for the beer as it's much cheaper to drink at home or the shop if I wanted to do that. I go to support/help buddies, to play pool and for the odd chance (it's a long shot hope) I may run into a cool girl that can keep me company in the shop like the last one.

Look out for a few more days of work on this truck and then it's going on the back burner again and you guys will have to switch back to watching the crew cab thread. It's a long shot but I want to be able to drive that thing before the end of the year

 

Since you guys are pics *****....
I had to meet a guy at the shop on lunch to sell a brake I had and he was a bit late so I farted around on the truck a bit. I added the 3rd bolt setup and got the captive nuts welded up.
More to be done tonight!

 

Cool stuff! I mostly lurk, but have been watching this and your crewcab thread as well. I like the color of your crew, and might eventually do mine that way. Anyway, both are cool builds. Keep up the good work, and good luck with the lady situation.

 

As promised - more pics from last night!

I wasn't in the shop for a super long time last night but I did have a productive night. I'm back to doing what I like (bending up and welding stuff) so I move reasonably quick when doing that.

I got the rear cross member wrapped up to where I can start putting the truck back together. You guys seem to like welding pics so here we go.



The "dip" in the end is to clear the last bolt at the rear of the bed. You can see the treads from it poking down through the frame in this pic.



I also got the weld washers on the 1st of the 2 shackles.

 

Could you explain the purpose of this crossmember, as there is one 3" forward of where it goes already? I really like the work, just not sure what the crossmember does.

 

My guess her would be to replace the forward one to make room for a larger fuel cell.

 

Have fun tightening that carriage bolt

 

Stock cross member will be removed. It is just in there still to make it so the frame stayed straight and square while I built this one. It will be removed soon. Most likely tonight...

It will be easy - ratcheting wrenches are your friend

 

I'll remember you said that

 

Ye of little faith...

Ever heard of a stubby ratcheting wrench?

Besides - those bolts might just go to grade 8's anyways depending on if I attach the bedcage there or not.

 

I hate you and your no rust havin hippymobiles.

 

it's a choice cheeto - no rust and surrounded by democratic morons, or rust and blue collar boys...

I HATE rust - only slightly more than I hate the hippies...