Project 720

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Heres how I got the truck. I stripped the truck down in about a day.  Here are all the 4-link parts I ordered for it.I'm building a new exhaust.Made new bodymounts 2.5" lower.  This is the only part of the floor the frame will come above the floor.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:I started building the backhalf. It is tied in under the cab. The goal was not to see a transition. I had some custom gussets laser cut for myself, and they showed up today.With some careful measurements I drew out the rest of the backhalf, and the 4-link.I then welded together the rest of the backhalf on the table, and smoothed out the joints. Now I just need to TIG the star gussets in place.  Thats where I am as of today. I have to fill some orders over the next few days but I will be back on it by the weekend.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:looking good Twisted Minis keep us updated neat looking project  Creative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:Wow, were they driving it with the exhaust crushed like that?Miller Dynasty 200DX Tig Welder
Reply:he he he why a twinkle little star as a reinforcement?My Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:Yeah it was driven like that. Said it sounded like it had an exhaust leak.Elvergon, he requested that stars be used everywhere possible.The owner came up this weekend, and while here he mentioned something about wanting to swap to 5 lug bolt pattern later on for a wider selection of wheels. So I mentioned that I happened to have a Toyota axle and front suspension in my shed. So now its a 5-lug truck. And I made a crossmember to go behind the cab. Its 1/8" plate, dimpled 1" and 1.5" holes, with 1/4" top and bottom, internally and externally welded.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:To prevent corrosion with dimpled holes, do you guys paint the inside exhaustly? or what do you guys do?My Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:Paint the inside with a rattle can and a straw, before installing it. Then paint the exterior when you paint everything else.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:Back half is on. Just need to cut and weld in the rearmost cross member.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:interesting gusset design, I like it.  And the re-enforcing plates "stars" look pretty trick.-Graham-Mechanical EngineerAutosport Mechanic/Fabricator
Reply:Very nice work. good welder but getting better
Reply:if you dont mind me asking who cut those gussets?..and what does something like that cost,,beautyful job also.
Reply:Originally Posted by lenny speroif you dont mind me asking who cut those gussets?..and what does something like that cost,,beautyful job also.
Reply:Originally Posted by Twisted MinisI had them done by a friend in Canada, because he does free CAD and is still cheaper than local places with shipping. I paid $3.50 each for the gussets, and $20 to ship 30 of them. The start gussets I paid $15 for all 4.
Reply:Originally Posted by Twisted MinisI had them done by a friend in Canada, because he does free CAD and is still cheaper than local places with shipping. I paid $3.50 each for the gussets, and $20 to ship 30 of them. The start gussets I paid $15 for all 4.
Reply:His website is under construction, but his contact info is on the front page.http://www.mindlissmetal.com/He dos nice work and pretty reasonable, even on the shipping. It only took about 10 days for me to get everything once it was done, even with it getting caught up in customs for some reason.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:Started to lay out some tubing.   Had a custom drive shaft made, that goes from Nissan flange, to Spicer clip yoke, to Toyota flange. These look a little phallic at the moment, but it will make sense soon. I am borrowing a tube notcher tomorrow, since mine has not showed up, so that I can build the 4-link, and get it TIG welded.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:looking good if it were mine i would tub it and put some MT sports mans tires on itChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Originally Posted by chopper5looking good if it were mine i would tub it and put some MT sports mans tires on it
Reply:Now those phallic shapes should make some sense.   Thats some stout tube.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:did you patch up the floor pan where the frame comes through yet? curious, I like seeing sheet metal work. BTW, great work.
Reply:Originally Posted by richharrdid you patch up the floor pan where the frame comes through yet? curious, I like seeing sheet metal work. BTW, great work.
Reply:Dude, that thing is SICK....I'm (was) a pretty big 4x4 fan.....but I think I'm gonna remove my body lift and suspension lift from my dime Blazer....take out the four wheel drive and go LOOOOOOOOW. Somethin about seein a vehicle going down the street with 50 feet of sparks coming out from under it!!!Awesome workMiller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:Originally Posted by FearcityINCDude, that thing is SICK....I'm (was) a pretty big 4x4 fan.....but I think I'm gonna remove my body lift and suspension lift from my dime Blazer....take out the four wheel drive and go LOOOOOOOOW. Somethin about seein a vehicle going down the street with 50 feet of sparks coming out from under it!!!Awesome work
Reply:Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300Looks great!So... how close are you to nelson? 8-)My Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:Nelson is a club member that has an excuse to get out of every show.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:thats very cool ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I about went nuts trying to get this tank to sit square in the frame rails, until I stuck a fast 90 against a corner. Then checked all the corners to find its far from square...I'm also really not digging the star. I don't think it looks good in there, but he wouldn't let me talk him out of it.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:I think if it were a full plate between the two round bars it would look better, but it's going to difficult to do that and keep the quality of stars edges so you can still read it.
Reply:Well I can't plate the whole area, because the top of the pumpkin sticks above the tube at full drop.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:Originally Posted by Twisted MinisWell I can't plate the whole area, because the top of the pumpkin sticks above the tube at full drop.
Reply:I'd rather do that. I really don't like the star because its just useless. But in the end its not my decision. The customer loves it right there. But he tends to change his mind after I weld stuff.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:Originally Posted by Twisted Minis
Reply:The front tabs are for a "chain bridge."I will explain how it works when I get everything back together. I am picking up the powdercoat tomorrow.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:Got the axle and 4-link back from powder coat and started putting it all together. Went black with a rainbow flake over it. I like it. Its subtle in some light, and bling bling the rest of the time. So many colors in it. In the pictures it reminds me of oil and water.  Limiting straps for the "chain bridge" with quick release pins.   Articulation. The axle drops 10" on one side.   This is how the chain bridge works. When you apply pressure to one side it uses the limiting strap as a pivot and pulls the other side of the axle up towards the frame. Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:Is he wanting insane sides or what? What's the advantage to this setup if only for street driving. Aside from hitting hard sides, where does it come into play?
Reply:He likes to 3 wheel this truck. Basically you will air one rear corner all the way up, and the other down a bit and turn towards the aired up corner and it will lift the opposite front wheel off the ground. He did this before but said it was a challenge to get the wheel up. So I built a 4-link with a low roll center to make the vehicle act more top heavy and the chain bridge will help very much with the 3-wheel motion. That is what he wanted, and thats what I built. Definitely not my style, I just like them to go up and down slow, but hes very happy with it so far. And I am excited to see it put to use for what it is designed for. It also could potentially hit some very big sides seeing as it does articulate very well.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:I myself prefer the much more sought after...........TWO wheel motion, very difficult to achieve......LOL.....Looks AWESOME.....want to do mine when you're finished??Miller blue star 2eLincoln 175
Reply:Do a wheelie! Lol. Sure I'll do yours next.Got the tilt bed finished up. Use Energy Suspension bump stops as adjusters, so it works like a hood does. And use a universal bear claw latch from FBI. And I used a hood pull from an 80s fullsize Bronco, because the part you pull on looks cool and will fit well under the seat. They hinge at the back with a .75" aluminum pillow block with a brass bushing inside. Nice and smooth.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:Turning out to be a pimp truck. You make a well built mini look like hack job haha. Is it going to to get painted when finished or will he be too broke?    Where did you get those limiting straps? I'm thinking of using them on my truck to limit the expansion/extension of the bags when I put my truck on a lift.
Reply:Look like poly performance limit straps.HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:They are from Poly Performance. He says hes going to get ti painted before the show, as well as put a stereo and interior in it. I don't know how he plans on doing that in 6 days. I'm struggling to figure out how I will find the time to sheetmetal my bed in those 6 days.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:total righteous ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Triangulated lower control arms, and cut 1.25" off the top of the arm and plated with 3/16" plate to lower the bag down.Unfortunately, the suspension is still about 1.5" away from laying on the new tires. The upper bag mount is just not set up right, which I did not do BTW. I will probably be redoing the front bag mounts after Reso. They are a little haggard.Lincoln PowerMIG 215XTLincoln Precision TIG 225Hypertherm 300
Reply:DUDE!Reso is still going? Jeez, I remember it from when I was a kid at 21 running around in a datsun 620 bulletside!!!! And then my  93 Hardbody.That was the show that never made sense to me. Run out to Perris and freeze yer nads off. Endless Summer was by far the BEST run EVER. Who can beat thousands of road squeegees along the Colorado River in the dead of summer? Tata City. Nuff said.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Originally Posted by Joker11DUDE!Reso is still going? Jeez, I remember it from when I was a kid at 21 running around in a datsun 620 bulletside!!!! And then my  93 Hardbody.That was the show that never made sense to me. Run out to Perris and freeze yer nads off. Endless Summer was by far the BEST run EVER. Who can beat thousands of road squeegees along the Colorado River in the dead of summer? Tata City. Nuff said.
Reply:sad to see reso go
Reply:Twisted, if this is your first run and your last I have to tell you that you missed out on the glory days of our sport. About as much as I feel I missed out on freelove in the 60s. I lost the greatest videotapes when I got divorced. But man oh man! Nobody would believe me if I told the stories from those days. Make it a good run, bring back some pics and above all, have FUN!Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain