Crawlin's Build Thread

[crawlin91]

I cut a foot off the frame and the rear work is in progress. Looking for a final wheel base around 110"-115".

 

[Kyle M.]

Lookin good. You will like that wheel base. I am at about 116" and I love it, just a little too long sometimes for the amount of lift I have.

 

[railman]

I am shooting for a 115" wheelbase as well

keep up the good work.....

l8r, John

 

[crawlin91]

Thanks, I think the wheelbase should be about right considering break-over, approach and departure angles. I cut 4.5" more off of the back end, got the new rear crossmember burned in and got the leafs nearly ready to tack in place.

 

[crawlin91]

Its a roller...well almost. The rear should settle after I reset the shackle angle and get some weight back on it but it is getting closer.

 

[86 slo-vo]

its looking good man, your working fast.

maybe i missed it but what springs are you running up front?

 

[crawlin91]

I have been trying to stay busy on it. They are 3" toyota springs from trailgear.

 

[86 slo-vo]

thanks, ive been trying to decide if i wanted to run the 44044's or the TG springs.

 

[RANGERROD]

Sweet build keep it up.

 

[crawlin91]

Got the bed bobbed and nearly put back together.

 

[Kyle M.]

Pain in the Dick ain't it

 

[crawlin91]

Pain in the Dick ain't it

You got that right. I should just do a tube bed.

 

[crawlin91]

Well, I finally bobbed the bed, took out about 1.5 feet, to match the new w.b. which ended up right at 115" I cut the bed with a sawzall (high tpi blades) and 4.5" cut-off wheels. Cleaned everything up tacked it back together slowly, to keep warping at a minimum, (it still warped quite a bit) then hit it with some body filler, I used Evercoat, Rage-Extreme, I'd recommend it to anyone. It was easy to sand and set up quickly.

I applied three light coats of filler sanding with 80 grit in between and 100 and 220 to finish, the end result came out very smooth. The bed has other scratches and a few small dents that I did not bother taking care of. Its a wheeler, and if I destroy this box I can make a flatbed for it. Mostly, I just wanted to try my hand at working some sheetmetal. I still need to prime and paint but here are a few teasers
After the first coat of filler and sanding...

Last coat before any sanding.

One with the bed sitting back in its place.

 

[Bennybooster]

that looks mean man, any ideas for a cage of any sort?

 

[crawlin91]

that looks mean man, any ideas for a cage of any sort?

It will get an exocage that hugs the bodylines of the cab and extends back into the bed. I am going to prime the bed this morning. I have a feeling I will have a hard time trying to find a shade of black to match my faded OEM paint without spending more than I want, so I will most likely hit it with rattle cans and be done with it.