Got the seams sanded down ready for paint man. They are about 95%; I will let him finish it out.

 

Went a paid a visit to the paint shop earlier this week. They had the dash painted and it look damned good. No waves, bumps, fish eyes, dimples.........nothin. I was very happy. Yes, that is a satin clear coat. The rest of the interior metal will be the color of the leather; satin tan.

 

Wondering if you ever boxed the frame further to the rear?

 

starting that today actually.

 

Spent some time making the boxing plates for the frame yesterday and today. Cut the holes and dimpled them on the press. I also filled a BUNCH of holes on the outside of the frame and ground them smooth. I need to prime and paint the inside of the frame before I weld the plates on. I also need to make the end plates for the tranny cross member.

 

That looks great.

 

Awesome fab job! Looks great! You inspire me to learn metal fab and welding!!

 

I like the box work and dimples on the frame. I want to do the same to my truck but what are you going to do about debris getting inside the frame rails and start forming rust?

 

There are drain holes along the bottom of the frame. I don't think it rains enough here to matter really though. It will be primed and painted on the inside but I'll probably blow it out periodically.

Thanks. It's a fun skill to acquire. Making stuff is cool!

Thank you.

 

4X. Box work and dimples look factory-esche. Good Job.

 

Your work is first class amgio, that takes talent, a steady hand, good eyes, patience, and a brain firing on all 8 cylinders... Did you make the lightening holes, or is that from WWII landing mats? That old stuff is made from 10 ga. steel, and there is still tons of it laying around..

Whichever, you do really nice work... well done

Baja

 

Thanks......... again Baja. I used 12g steel then cut the holes with Blairs hole saws then dimpled them with a dimple die set I have.

 

LOL, those plates look familiar, turned out pretty nice.

So, i'm kinda stuck on what to do for crossmembers and wondering what your plan is?

I'm thinking narrowing the originals and attaching them to flat plates which will bolt to each side of the frame. I'll sleeve the new boxed frame so the bolts will go all the way through both sides.....thats the plan...so far

Pretty sick of researching this frame stuff, I'm just gonna jump in and try it.

 

Just went back and looked at your thread; I didn't even realize you did that. I guess I was too busy looking at the 6BT. What size holes are those? 2 or 2.5 inch? And I wish I had the dimple dies that could be used with a port a power; I have to use my press. Where did you get your dies?

I only have 3 cross members. The one for the front suspension, the one between the rear notch, and the one for the back cab mounts which I am going to slightly beef up and weld in. Not planning on doing any others since it is a short bed and will only see road use. I'm sure everything will be plenty stiff for that. Definitely much more rigid than the original frame.

 

To dimple the holes, did you press a conical shaped object into them? How did you do it?