After a week of evenings and most of this weekend, the frame is finally ready for a couple coats of paint. All it needs is a final wipe down. I added two pieces of steel to the frame. I added the crossmember for the anti-wrap ladder bar, and I cut out the stock sheet metal rear bumper mount, and replaced it with a piece of 4" x 1.5" rectangular steel, with threaded inserts for mounting the bumper. I'm going to be hanging a swing-out spare tire mount with a 100 lb. wheel/tire combo, so I felt it needed beefing up. Back to the garage to lay down the paint!

Here it is, after 2 coats.



Here's a close-up of the color. Basically, its a gun metal gray metallic.

Sweet, looking forward to seeing your anti-wrap set up.

Got it.

I de-burred the shackle plates, and rattle canned a coat of satin black on them and the leaf springs. Bolted them up to the frame for the final time. I should be getting the finished front axle back from the axle shop this week. I would have gotten it back last week, but the knucklehead forgot to order the Detroit Locker.



I've decided to hold off on rebuilding the rear axle until near the end of the build, and instead, focus on the engine build as the next order of business. As previously stated, I've chosen Dan at Performance Only to take care of the engine work.

LQQKIN Great Dave

Rickster

Kevin and Rick, thanks!!

I'm looking forward to working with my friend Dan on the engine. That will probably begin sometime in June, hopefully.
In the meantime, to keep me busy, I've ordered an RCI 15 gallon aluminum fuel cell. Later this week, I'll fab a combination skid plate/mount for it, make it out of steel diamond plate for strength, and run a length of #8 braided line to the front.

The brown truck visited my house today. I love logistics!!!

Are you gonna leave the blocks or devise another way of mounting? Just asking?

Are you going to have enough traction with the tank full of Helium??

I got the front axle back from the shop. It's a hell of a lot heavier now than when I dropped it off to them! They did a complete rebuild, and threw in Superior axles, a Detroit Locker, and Spicer 4.55 gears.
I gave it a coat of Hammerite black paint, but I laid it on a little heavy on the axle tubes and created some drips. I'm going to sand them out and touch it up.
I made the frame a roller again. The front axle and suspension are on for good this time.



The fuel cell mount/skid plate is almost finished. I just need to weld on some tabs. I'm going to add 4 rivet nuts to the crossmember, so I can bolt down the front of the skid plate. The back of the skid plate is attached to the frame with a pair of 1/2-13 bolts.

the drag-link appears to be hitting the front spring segment...?????

Looks Killer

Rickster

Very nice, are you going to be able to drop the tank without removing the tub, just a thought if you haven't considered it. Again, I sure your're ahead of it but make sure you have full travel up and down on the draglink clearance.

Great work.