finally tubbing and caging it!!!

[silver_82]

I've got a pretty good start to tubbing the truck, 4 inches per side for a total of 8 inches. almost done with the frame portion. going to box the rear in and add the outriggers for the bed mounts this weekend. I bought a 10 pt cage with the additional front braces and if anyone has any tips or good pics of there cage install it would be apprieciated.

All in all I think it's going pretty good, tell me what you think. Even though the rear frame brace isn't in and not boxed in completely its far more ridged than the original.

My plan is to use the original rear suspension setup, drag shocks with slide a links,I have a 9 inch with a spool, 35 spline mosers, and 4.11 gears. Went with 10 inch wide wheels with 6.5 in backspace. I know your going to ask why not bigger, but I really dont like the wheels with a lot of inset.

[inou2]

Now that's the way to do it, frame off! What amp welder you using, and what's the amp setting your using for the welds?

[harleyboy]

good job and looks good man

[silver_82]

I've got a fullsize hobart ironman 210 welder. Using the #3 amprage setting, I'd guess around 100 amps.

[HardinValleyMagic]

Those are some great welds! Nice, Very Nice!

[XTEN]

nice work.looks good! you gonna use the pre fab tubs,or make your own?not even cost effective to make your own anymore.theyre pretty cheap.

[wild572s10]

frame looking good

[silver_82]

planned on making my own by cuting out extra factory ones at a bone yard then cutting mine to fit, that way it'll look like it came that way from the factory. Plus that seems about the easiest way to me cause I wont have to change the way they fit onto the bedsides.

[XTEN]

planned on making my own by cuting out extra factory ones at a bone yard then cutting mine to fit, that way it'll look like it came that way from the factory. Plus that seems about the easiest way to me cause I wont have to change the way they fit onto the bedsides.We did one that way.If you have a fleetside bed you don't need anything from the boneyard.Just cut your existing wheelhouses in half,and move the inboard half in 5 or 6 inches,or so.then weld sheet metal between the two.I don't know if i explained it that well,but its pretty easy.

[silver_82]

yeah thats pretty much what I'm gonna do, but my wheelhouses have a feew dings so I was gonna replace them, but maybe i'll jus hammer em out.

The cage I bought is from S&W so if anyone has any pics of there install it would help me out a bunch. I'm not sure where the bottom of the main hoop goes. does the bottom go in front of the cab mounts and just get angled back or does it tuck up tight against the rear of the cab. I know that it needs to be welded to the frame, but there directions are a little vague for the first timer.

[silver_82]

worked all day in the garage today and got the frame finished. looks pretty good and feels like it could hold up a mountain, not like the spagetti noodles it had for a frame when I first started. Boxing in the frame really helped a bunch.

Plan on mocking up the rear end tomorrow so I can get my motor plates mounted, then its time for paint. I plan on shooting it with epoxy paint, everyone says thats a good tough paint.

[inou2]

Keep the pics coming. I'm putting motor plates in mine too, so I'm paying close attention. What thickness metal did you box the frame in with?

[85SS]

Frame look real good. Great job.

[XTEN]

yes epoxy is very durable.Make sure you use one with an etch,since its going direct to bare metal.PPG makes one that's black.it looks like chassis black.(satin finish)Part # DP90LF.

[silver_82]

boxed it in with 1/8 inch plate, the rectangular tubes are .90 thick.

[td7172]

I got mine from comp. eng. and they said in front of mounts and angle hoop backwards

[4more]

very cool work and doing it from frame up thats the way i bet we all would want to.your makeing us Indiana boys look good keep it up

[silver_82]

didn't get alot done today but did get the rear end, motor and trans mocked up (rough mock, nothings welded or fabbed yet just sitting where it needs to be)

The rear axle is at full droop and my current driveshaft is 3 1/4 wide so looks like I dodged a bullet on this one cause I only have 2 3/8 clearance between the centerline and the crossmember. My engine is moved rearward a few inches so if anyone wants to do the same thing I'm doing then I would do the same or get a crossmember with more drop.

I plan on mounting the engine level from front to back because my carb pad isnt angled, this way the carb will be level, which I assume would be best.

[harleyboy]

looks good man can't wait to see it done.

[Slimer]

Man, this build is looking awsome!!!!!! great job.

[silver_82]

thanks, hey slimer I've been wanting to talk to you. Look at my pics in my profile, my truck looks alot like yours and I love the stance of yours, how far did you drop the front and back, and what size tires are you running.

I see that you have a full cage too, could you get a couple shots of how you tied yours into the frame, I'm not exactly sure how they want the "outriggers" to mount to the frame.

[inou2]

Silver, is this a long bed or extended cab? Looks like a long way from yoke to yoke, or maybe it's the pics.

[silver_82]

its an 82 s10 regular cab regular bed. It must be the pics cause it looks closer than I thought it would be. I've been taking pics with my phone, but I plan on taking some better ones so they will show more detail.

[XTEN]

VERY,VERY IMPRESSIVE! did i say very?

[silver_82]

heres some more pics. These were taken with a camera so they should look better.

I got the engine and trans set exactly where I wanted them and welded the mounts for the mid motor plate, also made gussets for the mounts for a little extra strength, I couldnt get the engine set perfectly level like I wanted due to oil pan clearance issues but it's closer than it was last year. It's set at 3 degrees now

[grimpuppy]

Looking good Silver. What happened on that motor mount weld? Out of position welds on the rear look so good, but it looks like you had a little trouble with the fillet welds on the motor mount.

[harleyboy]

dude you doing a good clean job like it man. If I had the shop and equipment I would do mine.

[wild572s10]

can't wait to see it when finished, what paint are you going to use and what finish satin or gloss

[silver_82]

yeah I did have a little trouble there, the puddle wasnt wanting to bond to the chassis, it was only collecting on the plate steel, I turned the heat up which helped a little, then I moved my ground lead to a cleaner area and it was all good again.

This is the first time I've mig welded, bought the welder bout 2 months ago and practiced so I could take on this project. Some days my hand is a little steadier than other days, lol.

[wild572s10]

Hell my welds look better when I shake LOL

[bigdsr56]

That is looking fantastic! Really nice to see the pics as you make progress. Now I want to see the body parts back on & some nice wheels. You'll really be grinning by then.

[td7172]

Have you picked up the roll cage yet? Just started working on mine today. Really not to bad welding in the braces from the rockers to the frame. Just takes a little fab work. The job you are doingnow looks fantasti. Keep sending updated pics!

[silver_82]

yeah I have the cage in the garage, hopefully I'll start on it in a week or 2. I need to fix some rust areas on the body mounts, and then its time for paint on the frame. Think I'm gonna go for the gloss black.

[harleyboy]

If I where you I would put the bed liner stuff on it, it would keep any rust and it will protect it better just my pennies worth.

[85SS]

Looking real good. As far as the paint. I have found that the VHT epoxy chassis and roll bar paint is about the best I have seen or used. I put the satin black on mine. Look and cover real good. And has rust protection in it. Jegs part # 322-SP671. Other colors are available. May wanna look at it. I will post some pics of mine if you wanna see it.

[silver_82]

Today I got the trans mounts repositioned and welded, had to reposition them due to new engine/trans angle. I also got the body mounts fixed, alot of us have this prob I'm sure and it seems like a daunting task to repair them but trust me its not nearly as bad as I thought it was gonna be. This is my first "frame off" so everything I'm showing you is new to me too.

Body mount replacement was pretty staight forward.

1. mark center of existing hole (as best as you can, sometimes there pretty far
gone)

2. cut out the cancer

3. make plates and weld them in

4. drill mount holes (i used a 2in hole saw in the front mounts and a 1 5/8 for
the rear)

Next i'm giong to fab the exhaust and build it, I'm trying to put off painting the chassis till everythings fabbed, hopefully it'll be a little warmer then too.

[wild572s10]

looking good you've been busy

[silver_82]

yeah, I'm trying to get if done by the start of april. 2 months to finish. Lots more work to go. The engine and trans thats in it now is for mock up only the real engine is ready to go and bagged up, Its been done for awhile now.

If anyone wants to send me pics of how they did their own project or show me something that might help me just PM me.

[Bakas]

lookin good, what motor are you putting in?

[silver_82]

It's a 350, bored .060
light weight crank
h beam rods
diamond 12.5 forged nitrous pistons
ported victor jr. heads
super victor intake
custom crane cam .690 lift, 252in 260ex duration @ .050 112 lobe separation, installed at 108 (4 degrees advanced)
progessive nitrous (adjustable 50-300 horse) plan on shooting 250
4500 stall

[HardinValleyMagic]

Really looks good! Sounds like a mean runner going in.

[Ryoung68]

excellent work, :headbang: where are you again? If I need anything welded, I'm going to look you up, evidently you've had some experience there. :hammer:

[td7172]

Haven't heard from ya in awhile, how's the frame coming?

[silver_82]

I know it has been awhile, I ordered a bunch of J-bends for my exhaust, but the company is in canada and I prob won't get the tubes till friday so I went out a got the paint, got PPG DP-90LF, It's a satin black epoxy primer, the paint guy recomended it and a few peeps here did too. It's suppost to be super tough paint a seals the metal well.

The weather here has been uncommonly warm so it worked out well, jus set my garage funace to 80 degrees and sprayed away. Just got done with the final coat about an hour ago. You can see my makeshift paint booth, it's laughable, but it worked jus fine.

[td7172]

Definetly going in the right diection, keep us updated!

[harleyboy]

now there you go looking good man maybe one of these day i'll need my frame painted.

[inou2]

Man that's looking great! You will love that DP. Are you not going to put a front motor plate on?

[Ryoung68]

Hey Silver thats lookin golden. :headbang: Well done, are you going to use the stock A-arms or spring for some tubular ones? Maybe when I grow up and get my own garage I can do that too. :hammer:

P.S.

Does your air compressor have a filter? if so you may want to check the filter for paint residue. :member10:

[silver_82]

Yeah it's gettin a front motor plate, I've got an aluminum one. it mounts to the front frame supports, they wont be welded in until the cab and cage are together. As for control arms I am getting tubulars, I had problems with the stock ones hitting the header tubes (#1 & 2).

Yeah I was gonna take apart the compressor air filter, I'm sure it's full of overspray, I just put a new filter in the furnace before I painted and its completely black now.

Hey ryoung68, what do you mean when you grow up, lol. Ur makin me feel old, and I'm only 24. JK. It's definatly nice to finally have a garage though.

[silver_82]

I got the rear end all fininshed today, it's nice when everything fits together like it should. I looked everywhere for u-bolts, steel lowering blocks and the clips that hold the brake lines to brackets. Finally found a place that carried them yesterday, I had to drill out the slide-a-link brackets because I used 9/16 u-bolts. I tried to make the rear look as "factory" as possible, so far its a pretty clean install.

The wheels are from greg weld, who is the same guy that made weld racing wheels. They are 15x10 with 6.5 backspace. Plan on going with M/T 28x11.5 et drags, or the 28x13.5 et streets

[inou2]

Boy, this project is flying right along. I'm going to have to get off the couch and finish mine. I feel so guilty.........

[wild572s10]

I guess its time I get son inlaw to clean up my frame and paint it, its the only thing he can't screw up LOL

[harleyboy]

man that is looking great you will be done in no time to drive it for the summer and looking cool doing it.

[BigMean]

Really nice frame work Sil. Might scan your directions post them. Help to have another pair of eye(s). That is my plan to do a frame off. I have the shop space, and the lift as well. Looking awsome dude.

[silver_82]

My garage isn't real big, but then again they're never big enough. Wish I had a garage with a higher ceiling so I could get a lift though. I think I'm gonna have to bribe a few friends with some beer to help me put the cab back on. Say, anyone wanna come over, lol

[BigMean]

Never have too much floor space. I built ours 40x50 and should have gone with the 50x60!! 12'' ceilings notched out rafters for my lift. (Life saver!) Sure beats jack stands and a hurt'n back! If I can keep my Buddys away long enough, I might get my Blazer started! LOL! Id help ya Sil, But Kansas is a strech! Good luck!

[silver_82]

man id kill to have a 40x50, mines only 24x30. But it's gettin me by. . . . for now.

[BigMean]

Worked long and hard for that shop. My girl complains that I spend more time there, than at home!

[silver_82]

man big I here yeah there, I've been gettin read the riot act lately. They will never understand. lol. Oh well, sorry didn't mean to turn this into Dr. Phildo. Sorry.

[BigMean]

At least they know where were we been! With the other WOMAN is Heather says!LOL! No Dr. Phildo here, just car junkies! Later Dude!

[silver_82]

I got my exhaust J-bends today so I started the exhaust, This stuff takes alot longer than I thought, got a new appreication for people who hand make exhaust and headers. I've got up to the X-pipe tacked. hopefully be completely done on sunday.

[silver_82]

got the exhaust finished today, I reused my old mufflers, turndowns and hangers. Never had an X-pipe in any of my cars, thought i'd give it a try, heard it's suppost to be a little quieter, which is good (dont want my neighbors hatin me)

I put header collectors on right before the mufflers, this way when I go to the track I'll be able to unbolt them and see if my times are faster or not.

It's getting pretty busy right there in the middle of the chassis, but I left just enough room for the 2 support bars from the roll cage that get welded to the crossmember

Tell me what you think.

tomorrow i'll work on the brake lines

[HardinValleyMagic]

Only thing I see I am not sure of is when you unhook the pipes you have to take the mufflers off. Not sure about that. But the rest looks really good!

[silver_82]

I planed on using the x-pipe at the track, just unbolting the mufflers only. Basically "straight pipes"

[Ryoung68]

Silver, I think what Hardin is talking about is if you disconnect the X pipe what is holding the mufflers up. Are you planning to hook them to the X pipe by one bolt?

[Ryoung68]

Hey why don't you just weld in some cutouts before the mufflers in the X pipe.

[silver_82]

? I don't think i'm explaining it well. I don't plan on unbolting the x-pipe, when I go to the track I am going to unbolt the mufflers and remove only the mufflers. the hangers for the mufflers are unboltable as well.

[HardinValleyMagic]

o.k. now I get it. At first I thought you were just unbolting and leaving the mufflers. Now it makes more sense.

[jlmose7]

How wide is the rear end

[silver_82]

I got the front suspension set up today. Got some 2 in drop spindels (ebay special, $100). The control arms I got from speedway motors, and at only $42 bucks apiece they are a steal, I spent more than that on polyurethane bushings and paint when I rebuilt the stockers 2 years ago. You will need to buy 2 left sides though cause they modified the rights to better suit circle track guys.

The paint is drying on the calipers right now, so hopefully It'll be on the wheels tonight. (been on jackstands for about a month and a half)

[Ryoung68]

Ok, I'll ask if no one else will, LOL :icon_lol:

Won't two left A-arms throw the geometry off? :icon_confused:

[silver_82]

No, using two left arms wont affect anything, the company makes the right side at 8 inches instead of 8 1/2 inches, this way the vehicle will natually want to go the the left, they do this because these control arms are actually for circle track cars.

If you mount the two arms to "mirror" each other then they will be exactly the same. I'll show a pic maybe it'll help.

I finished the brakes and put on some old wheels and tires, then put it on the ground, it's been a while since it's been this low, looks like a lowrider now, lol

[Ryoung68]

Ok, I see said the blind man. the ball joints are bolted in from the opposite side on the A-arm for the right side. :hammer:

[inou2]

Silver, any way you could take a shot of the backside of the motor plate, where you have fabed your mount. I getting ready to do it, and it would be a great help. Man, the projects lookin' great! I just finished stripping the crud off the front of my frame. I keep buying these projects where I have to do this every time. I getting a sand blaster next time.

[BigMean]

Sweet! Looking better every post you have. Been looking for arms! Thanks! Keep up the good work! later

[rayL]

getting somewhere fast arent we.

[DaisyTrain]

I got the front suspension set up today. Got some 2 in drop spindels (ebay special, $100). The control arms I got from speedway motors, and at only $42 bucks apiece they are a steal, I spent more than that on polyurethane bushings and paint when I rebuilt the stockers 2 years ago. You will need to buy 2 left sides though cause they modified the rights to better suit circle track guys.

The paint is drying on the calipers right now, so hopefully It'll be on the wheels tonight. (been on jackstands for about a month and a half)

Do you have a part number on the control arms? I am looking at the paper catalog speedway has and I am not seeing them.

[muk]

looking good man

[silver_82]

theres a lot of different types, some use the factory ball joint style, some use screw in.
basically any that are for the GM "metric" style chassis will work. Mine are #910-34393-side

But like I said theres lots to choose from

[harleyboy]

silver your truck is come out to look real good it well be better than stock. but good job man.

[silver_82]

hey inou2 this is how I mounted the plate to the frame, the little tabs ( 2 at each side ) are how I did it. There will also be a bracket coming off the front frame supports (cage) that bolts to the plate as well.

[inou2]

Silver, that's a perfect pic to give me a good start, thanks! I'll be fabing up brackets for my downbars, too. Here's a pic to show where I'm at.

[silver_82]

Well I managed to get a few buddies over on monday night and we set the cab on the chassis, all the body mounts lined up so that was good. I gutted the cab and got started on the cage after work today. It's a 12 pt cage I got from S&W race cars, so far it fits really well and tucks up tight to the body. The bars are just tacked in right now so I can trim all the bars to fit, I'm thinking I will tack most everything in and drop the entire cage so I can weld the top then lift it back up to weld the remainder. If anybody has a hints or tricks please chime in cause it looks like it gonna be a pain to weld the top portion.

[mrspeed]

Looks great don't hesitate to put extra support, the added weight will never be noticed. I back-halved my '96 with a S&W unit running 33x19.5s and a blown small block. Lots of work and fun,but that's why we do it!

[BigMean]

I have one question Silv. What you do for a living? From the pix, Id guess that your a fab'r! Great job guy! Realy got the gears turning in my head now! Im a butcher that trys to be a car guy!:beer:

[BigMean]

What trans cross member did you use? Im gathering parts for the time being.

[silver_82]

The trans crossmember I got from summit a while ago, cant remember the company who makes it though, sorry, it is a universal cut to fit type though.

I wrench on cars all day long for a living, nothing exciting just repair work, I've been a tech forever started working in a shop when I was 16, want to get into racing or owning my own shop eventually, maybe in a few years. Some people get burned out on building their own hotrods when they work on cars as a job, but I don't do anything custom at work so this feels different to me.

[jetzler]

Very nice work my sons and I are getting ready to back half and put a 12 point cage (S&W kits) in our 97 extended cab and this post has been helpful as well as inspirational
We are looking forward to see your work progress

John

[XTEN]

Nice work silver.Looks very professional.I see you went with the DP90LF.Great stuff very durable.

[harleyboy]

hey silver when you get done on yours you want to do mine HAHAHAHa.

[BigMean]

Jetzler couldn't of have said it more true. Thanks for the insight!

[85SS]

Looking good Silver. Looks like you got it all planned out and you are probably going to get it just like you want it. Keep it up.

[bignate]

wow man i bought my frame already done 6 months ago and it looks like your gonna pass me keep it up man

[silver_82]

I got a little more done on the cage in the last couple days, needed my bros help to pick it back up. I droped the main cab section of the cage so that I could weld the top with ease, after it cooled off I painted the top bars while they were still easy to get at. I finshed the front frame support bars today and made brackets that attach them to the front motor plate, it's starting to really come together now. The cage looks pretty good and it tucks up pretty good, I wish the A-pillar bars tucked a little tighter but they just wern't bent that way, I do have excellent visability, the bars don't get in the way at all when your sitting in the cab so I'll live with it. I also added a bar between the two A-pillar tubes just to stiffen it up.

Hope to have the seat mounts done, the bed on, and the rear bars & X-brace in tomorrow.

Heres a couple pics,

[harleyboy]

real good weld jobs man looking good keep up the good work.

[XTEN]

Nothin wrong with the A pillar bars.They get an A+ for function & visibility.

[silver_82]

I didn't get everything done that I wanted today but I did manage to get the bed mounted and the rear bars welded in, I'm debating on whether or not I'm gonna put the X-brace in, I like the way it looks now, I'm gonna see if the chassis twists when I'm at the track, if it want's to twist during the launch then I'll install it.

I also cut out the rear wheel tubs, gonna reuse the stockers and just add a section of sheetmetal, that looks about the easiest and it was suggested by a few members.

I put the tires to the ground and strapped the front end down (to resemble ride height) and this thing looks sick, the stance is real close to where I want it, the fuel tank, battery, nitrous and the rest of the front end will bring it down just a touch more. looks way better in person, the pic doesn't do it justice

Tell me what ya think.

[inou2]

Silver, man, that's lookin great! I wrenched on mine all day today. Got all my front end parts on, including my trick springs, (that was an adventure). Now I can actually roll it out and clean up my shop. Then I was helping my boy do some maintenance on his bagged 2000 x-cab, and pulled a muscle in my left arm. I am now on the official disabled list. Dang!

[silver_82]

yeah those springs look imposible when you pull them out of the box, being 2 times longer than the stock ones, I pulled the whole control arm out and used a come along to get em in, went pretty easy after that

[bamanab2003]

Looks Great! Im in the middle installing my cage too. I just finished a S&W ladder bar back-half. Their kit has to be the easiest to install. Can be done in a weekend easily. Keep up the good work!

[silver_82]

Ok, it's been a while since I posted anything but it has been a poductive weekend, I got the firewall done, the seat mounts fabbed and finished, and the wheel tubbs welded in, bondo is drying on them now.

The firewall was a pain in the butt, it will definitly be way easier to put the engine and trans in, I've got tons of room now to get to the bolts. I'm probably going to paint the firewall satin black (like the frame)

I plan on doing the D.I.Y bedliner stuff, hope it works out ok, anybody ever use the stuff? whats the best kind?

Don't know if its gonna be running by the 1st week of april like I wanted, I've got a ton more to do, But I'm hopin.

[harleyboy]

looks good man keep it up man

[td7172]

Real nice job on the firewall!!

[inou2]

Man, that looks good. I bet the work on the firewall will pay off big time. Time to open a fab shop, Silver!

[wild572s10]

looking good Silver, excellent job so far

[chris1972]

i love the pis of how you did your frame .just what i was thinking on my big block biult..hope mine come out like that ..hope you don't mine on me looking at your pics and useing some of your ideals ..vary nice work..i work on cars for a living too some time its hard to get started on your own man..but i want some thing diff going with a big block(496 th400) will not be done untill 2 to 3 years have 4 kids and one on the way...had a small block but want to go faster ..great job on your s-10

[Ryoung68]

Lookin good and movin right along! :headbang:

[silver_82]

I finished up the bed liner coating today after work, its pretty easy to do. Had all the prep work done (sanding) yesterday.

I used 2 quarts and its a pretty thin coat, I didn't think it would take that much.

The pic, once again doesn't do it justice it looks way better in person, it has a nice even texture and it does a good job of hiding any imperfections in the bed, mine had little dents on the floor portion, must of been a work truck in it's former life, haha.

[silver_82]

I finished up the bed yesterday, and got all the nitrous and batery lines done, also made a main power disconnect switch that mounts on the roll pan, also painted the rear down bars.

going to try and run the hoses for the engine bay and make the mounts for the steering column today.

It's nice to have some more garage room again, not trippin over parts all the time anymore.

tell me what ya think.

[td7172]

Looks good, seems to be coming along really quick.

[harleyboy]

dude that looks bitching man love it.

[BigMean]

Sil, your sure kicking ass on that build! Wow.

Keep the pictures coming!
Way to go!

[wild572s10]

damn might have to send you my truck to work on:idea::D

[silver_82]

I got some fab work done in the engine bay to day, Got the vacuum pump and breather tank mounted, made some brackets for the fuel regulator, plumbed a few nitrous lines, made the alternator brackets and adjuster and some other little things.

It's basically the same engine as I had last year except the vacuum pump and front motor plate, but it looks completely different, this thing looks sinister. Man I cant wait till I can fire it up.

Btw: I need water pump spacers that are exactly 1-1/2 inch thick, anybody know where the cheapest are?

[wild572s10]

yes it sure looks evil

[td7172]

Come on silver, haven't heard anything in awhile! Cough it up, need to see more pics.

[silver_82]

Well I guess a few of you need your fix, so heres the update, lol. I ordered a bunch of parts from summit, tires being one of them, so I finally have the real wheels on the truck now, man 5 stars look alot better than what I was running earlier, the tires tuck in nicely and don't stick out anymore, (looks so much better inside the lip).

Lately Ive been focused on the interior, I drilled holes for the seat belts and welded in reinforments for them under the floor, I welded in the last two bars (door bars) to complete the cage, and painted it afterwards.

Since I made my own firewall I couldn't use the original steering column end/bearing, so I cut off the end and bought a bearing to support that end of the steering shaft, I'm still working on it so I'll have pics later, I made my own throttle petal assembly using some of the stock pieces and a section of 3/8 steel rod, that I bent into shape with a torch, I still have to tweak it a little cause it wants to pull down on the cable where it goes though the firewall, I think i'll just mount the thru hole at a downward angle, hopefully that will help. I also moved the brake pedal over some cause it was too close to the throttle pedal

I also welded on my steering wheel hub, I'm using a quick release, and the center section has to be welded to the shaft, which, after it's done, makes taking the column apart IMPOSSIBLE so I bought a turn signal switch cause my old one wouldn't recenter, I wanted to fix any problems that I had before I couldn't anymore.

[bigdsr56]

Looking better all the time. Can't wait to see a good burnout video! LOL!!

[td7172]

thanks silver, I needed that!

[s101982]

Just my .02 I would do away with the cable and go with a rod. I had a brand new cable break on me sitting on the line. Watched my opponent win an easy round due to a &25 dollar part. Made my own rod the following week and has been on the truck since. About 10 years.

[inou2]

It's really coming along nice! Keep the pics coming!

[85SS]

Looking Good Silver. But I agree with s101982, a rod isn't a bad idea. I broke a cable like he mentioned. It really sux just sitting there and watching your opponent leave you. lol I put a rod on mine with a two way pedal. So I can pull in back up if it were to get stuck.

[mdbder]

I kept mine as tight as possible. We use the 6x6 mounting pads welded fully to the floor then come back and tied into the bottom of the plate and went to the frame.

[BigMean]

Looking better every time bro! Like the cage set up! Sure got alot done in a short bit of time! Makes me want to stay home from work, and get my my junk built!:D

[silver_82]

thanks for all the comments guys, I took your advise on using a rod instead of a cable and I'm glad I did, I threw out the old pedal all together and started from scratch, I made a new assembly using ball bearings and it is soooo much better, easy to push, better throttle control, and I have a pull bar on top just in case it ever sticks, Thanks.

I have a few pics in here of the modified steering column, I rivited a steel support plate on the firewall and there is a similar plate welded to the column on the interior side, 3 bolts sandwich the column to the firewall and it is mighty tough, doesn't budge at all.

I painted the firewall with dp90, so it would match, got the master cylinder, brake pedal assy, steering column, and dash all mounted permanatly yesterday.wish i coulda got more accomplished but have to spend time with the fam.

[harleyboy]

looking good day by day man keep it up.

[inou2]

I've got to get busy. Silver is shaming me. Dang that Silver.....

[BigMean]

Damm. Your getting closer dude! Question, What width is your rearend your using? Is it 52" or shorter? I have mine right now at Moser. Thought Id ask you. There cutting mine on thursday. Having it 52" wide.

What disc brake kit did you use?

Didn't mean to steal your soap box! Keep up the good work, your build has helpped me alot! Thanks!:D

[td7172]

How tough a job was it for the rod type throttle?

[silver_82]

Hey bigmean, I'm not sure how wide the rear is, I do know it's stock width from axle flange to axle flange, I can measure it if you want, you want to know the width of the axle housing or flange to flange? If I need more tire under it, I can always cut the rear end later, but I'm hoping 13.5s are gonna be ok.

The rod style linkage was easy I just threaded some aluminum rod and got some linkage ends, but building the pedal assembly was a bit more complex, took a few hours, but def worth it, so much smoother

It's been a long time since I've put in a new post hope nobody forgot about the project, lol. I managed to get the fenders and the new core support in, and now i'm battling the wiring, It's not that I don't understand electronics, it's just that i'm extreamly picky and its taking me forever to solder and heat shrink and hide all the wiring. I just sat there and stared at it for a week just trying to figure out a gameplan. I collected everthing i need now it's go time, I started by making a "hot block" to power all the relays; I'm hiding everything behind the seats, easier to work on too. Mounted the ignition box and all the accesories there too.

I really thought I was gonna be done by now but there is just so much to do. . . . with time, with time

[silver_82]

forgot the pics, here ya go:

[85SS]

Looks awesome. When you plan on firing it up? And I think the wiring is what seemed to take the longest on my truck.

[BigMean]

Thanks Sil. I got my rear end back yesterday. Cut mine down to 52".

The wiring has to be the bigest pain in the ASS! No like wrenching, cant sling a hammer at it when not working!

keep up the good work!

Justin

[silver_82]

It's been a little while since I've posted, seems the little details are what takes the longest, waitin on parts and whatnot.

I've got all the wiring done inside the cab except for the gauges, All the wiring under the hood is finished, looks real clean, you can hardly see any of it, I hate seeing wires. Today I made upper and lower radiator mounts and mounted the cooling fans, I have one large 16" pusher fan and another smaller 10" puller, I went with a larger radiator and added the smaller fan due to some cooling issues on real hot days last year, so hopefully those are a thing of the past. I still need to get a trans cooler but I'll do that next week.

I waiting on a timing controller (e-bay) extreamly slow shipper, and a transmission, the trans should be in next friday, so I'll bolt that in and hang the exhaust and hopefully have a vid of it firing it up within two weeks. I cant wait to drive this thing.

Heres the lastest pics: whatcha think

[td7172]

I haven't been disappointed yet. Nice job, very professional looking build. Something to be proud of!!!

[inou2]

Silver, man than's looking great. I had to take the 9" out of mine, it was 1" off from where it should be, and had a new rear shortened, with a brace added to it. I'll be back on it next Saturday with some luck. Keep it up, we're watchinh ya'!

[Bakas]

looks great!:headbang:

[chris1972]

hey silver what part did you use for the steering ...and do you have more pics of the steering parts...

[XTEN]

Silver,that looks great.Dont get no better than that.Very neat.You can tell you got ALOT of time in the wiring.It shows.

[rayL]

I think that vacuum pump isnt gonna live pulling from the back of the valve cover. First good launch and that thing is eating alot of oil.

[silver_82]

thanks guys, the steering is a stock column thats been modified, and the intermediate shaft is a stock unit out of a newer s-10 (unmodified). Theres a few more fics of the steering in some preivious posts on this thread, it shows how the column comes out of the firewall.

Hey ray, I never though of the pump sucking oil on launches, just figured it would get mist all the time, you think I should swap it over to the other side so it's on top and in front? would a baffle be enough?

[85SS]

Looks good Silver, Very nice and neat.

[rayL]

a baffle definately. Try it and see how it works. If you have a quart of oil in ya vacuum tank after the first few runs then we will know heh

[silver_82]

well I got the truck running again, actually awhile ago, I.ve been so busy tuning and get the smaller deatils going that I forgot about my thread. It's nice to drive it around again.

I took it to the track last week, mainly to see if everything works, practice burnouts with the line lock and tune the carb. the burnouts are so nice with a line lock, I shoulda bought one a long time ago.

I'm reading lambda and shooting for .80 with the E-85 fuel. It's a little lean at wot but not real bad (.87 / .86 ish) and a bit fat at cruise and idle (.79 / .80) so I still gotta fine tune the fuel curve still.

The track closed early that day due to sprinkling but I did manage to make my first full pass after watching the tune on the previous 2. Heres how it did

60 ft: 1.55
330ft: 4.57
1/8: 7.07 @ 98 mph
1000ft: 9.25
1/4: 11.11 @ 121 mph

This was foot braking it, How much does a trans brake help on the 60? I'm pretty happy with the setup so far, but Im wanting to get the 60ft in the 1.4s and dip into the 10s (10.7 hopefully) After the tune is spot on I'll try making a trans brake and nitrous pass

[chris1972]

not bad for a first run

[85SS]

Not Bad. Glad to hear you got it running.

[muk]

silver what type of bedliner kit did you use

[ghosts10RT]

Hey Silver,
Can you post or send me a few detailed pics of your cage? I have gone through this thread a few times now and need to know how your cage is welded below the floor.
I am building a 88 S-10 ext cab and am stumped as to how you tied it into the frame.

Thanks,
Jason
dragnflymini@yahoo.ca

[td7172]

This is how I did mine, but it restricts the amount of leg room as it cuts down on being able to move seat back. There are better ideas, this worked for me.

[chris1972]

This is how I did mine, but it restricts the amount of leg room as it cuts down on being able to move seat back. There are better ideas, this worked for me.

those pics sure will help me thanks

[SassyV8]

looking good silver looks like your almost read to Rock and Roll!!

[ghosts10RT]

This is how I did mine, but it restricts the amount of leg room as it cuts down on being able to move seat back. There are better ideas, this worked for me.

Yea, Those pics are super good for me too.

Also, FOR ANYONE THAT IS WORKING OR PLANNING ON A CAGE/BAR, CHECK THIS SITE OUT:
http://competitionengineering.com/catalog/images/c3001_inst.pdf

It helped me out big time as well.

I am ordering my roll bar from them!

Jason

[td7172]

It is a good roll bar, that's where I got mine. Good instructions, all ya have to to is trim for length.

[silver_82]

Hey Silver,
Can you post or send me a few detailed pics of your cage? I have gone through this thread a few times now and need to know how your cage is welded below the floor.
I am building a 88 S-10 ext cab and am stumped as to how you tied it into the frame.

Thanks,
Jason
dragnflymini@yahoo.ca

Yeah I will be putting the truck on some jack stands soon, I'll snap some shots for you, It'll probably be a few days if thats ok.

[harleyboy]

Hey silver when do you think you will be giving the mustangs hell man? can't wait to see it.

[ghosts10RT]

Yeah I will be putting the truck on some jack stands soon, I'll snap some shots for you, It'll probably be a few days if thats ok.

Awsome, thank you! I hope to get started on the build of the cage very soon. I am just about finished getting some electrical stuff done.

[silver_82]

Hey silver when do you think you will be giving the mustangs hell man? can't wait to see it.


What do you mean?The trucks been on the road since june/july, but now that I think about it I dont think I have raced any this year.

[XTEN]

Hey silver when do you think you will be giving the mustangs hell man? can't wait to see it.Hey Harley,I know how you love smokin Rustangs,so this one's for you

[silver_82]

Ok, I got a few pics of the cage, as a few people have asked for some shots.

The first pic shows the outrigger thats welded to the outside portion of the frame that the main hoop gets welded to, if you look close you can see where the main hoop goes through the floor and attaches to the outrigger.

There is a similar outrigger on the front that both the front down bar and door bar attached to

[XTEN]

Nice work Silver.How far back from stock position is your motor?Or is it just the pics making it look that way???

[ghosts10RT]

perfect! That will help a ton! I am gunna order my cage soon to avoid the Xmas rush

[SassyV8]

looking good Silver,Bet that welder gets lonely when your done.

[silver_82]

Nice work Silver.How far back from stock position is your motor?Or is it just the pics making it look that way???

Its just the pics mostly, it's moved back far enough where if I had a stock firewall it would interfere, but, the firewall mod was mostly to gain access for the mid motor plate

looking good Silver,Bet that welder gets lonely when your done.

Yeah, I usually try and keep the dust off of her with various projects, I'll be doin some more with it this winter though. Rear axle brace / rear anti-roll bar / roll cage X-brace and maybe even some home built stainless headers

[XTEN]

Its just the pics mostly, it's moved back far enough where if I had a stock firewall it would interfere, but, the firewall mod was mostly to gain access for the mid motor plate



Yeah, I usually try and keep the dust off of her with various projects, I'll be doin some more with it this winter though. Rear axle brace / rear anti-roll bar / roll cage X-brace and maybe even some home built stainless headersThanx,Silver.What kind of axle brace?among other changes over the winter I am seriously considering a rear anti-roll bar,also.Mine twists up pretty good on launch,and its not fitting together as well as it used to.

[silver_82]

Thanx,Silver.What kind of axle brace?among other changes over the winter I am seriously considering a rear anti-roll bar,also.Mine twists up pretty good on launch,and its not fitting together as well as it used to.

It's a brace that welds to the back of a 9in rear, it prevents the axle tubes from moving forward in relationship to the center section under load

[85SS]

Also called a back brace. I was thinking of adding one to mine this winter as well.

[XTEN]

It's a brace that welds to the back of a 9in rear, it prevents the axle tubes from moving forward in relationship to the center section under loadMy axle tubes are welded solid to the center section,but they could still twist,right?OK,I think I got it.If everything else was OK,I could see how that would get the tires to plant more evenly.Thanks again.

[silver_82]

it doesnt really prevent twisting, it just keeps the tubes staight and solid, i'll post some pics when I do it.