620 KC overhaul

[Cpl620]

I was wondering that too. Not sure if its better to cut out and cross brace, or just leave it.

[Eagle_Adam]

with everything your doing id take it out...

 

 

for weight reduction, then add a lighter brace 

[Eric Garside]

I want to cut mine out but didnt know if there would be any ill side effects

[Eagle_Adam]

i would deff add bracing back in.... 

 

 

 

but id ask someone that has bagged their truck 

[Eric Garside]

BeeBani, calling BeeBani   :)

[Mirrorimg]

Whew, I was getting ready to multi-quote, but I think I'll skip that.

 

I hadn't really thought about cutting it out for the exact reason you guys were saying, it provides reinforcement to the frame. It is ugly and unnecessary, so I will likely cut it out and replace it with 1 or 2 round tubes, something like 1-1/2" dia.

 

Now the updates! I made a great breakthrough today... something that I should have done long ago.

 

The other week I got started on it, the 240SX I bought for the suspension and engine/transmission.

 

 

And tonight I got it to a point where I can wheel it into the backyard. Im going to hang onto it for now.Cpl620 has got me thinking IRS rear swap... but I think that's a little too much right now. I want to drive this thing already!

 

 

 

My driveway hasnt been like this in forever! 

 

 

 

Tomorrow I will cut off the rear bumper from the 620, and on Sunday I will pull the bed, remove the engine temporarily, and pressure wash the frame. Im saving this link (http://www.agscompany.com/automotive/brake-fuel-transmission-lines/nicopp/11) for when I get to the brakes. I wont be using steel lines. Question if anyone gets this far. Is the bed held on by anything more than 6 bolts, 3 on each side?

 

[Cpl620]

Nice! If you have the room just stash that thing. You can sell a subframe with everything for $100 or so.

 

The bed only has those 6 bolts. Or is it 8?

 

Edit: yeah I had 8. 2 in the front and back on each side. From the looks of how your numper is welded on though, they make have taken out the bolts that were there.

[Mirrorimg]

I found the last two bolts, they were close to the bumper, and a pain to get at. Fortunately as well, the bumper was bolted on! I didnt notice it when I took it, but in the above picture you can see 2 bolts on the far left, alternating directions. They came out quite easily.

 

I asked a neighbor to borrow a pressure washer, and will get to cleaning the frame tomorrow.

 

 

Using the cab for storage now

 

[Mirrorimg]

I rolled the frame out in the rain, sprayed it down with purple power, and pressure washed it. It got a lot of the crap off, but I think I will still need to hit it with a brush in some areas.

 

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[Cpl620]

a braided wire wheel and a grinder will make that thing shine.

[Mirrorimg]

Lucky me I have a few of those -_-  Definitely going to make a mess, but it must be done.

 

So I'm contemplating the fuel cell location, and think I've decided what to do. I originally thought about putting one in the location the original tank was, along the passenger side between the frame and drive shaft. I have about 13-14" to work with width wise, but cant find any cells to match. Instead, I will remove the spare tire mounting location, and set the cell there. I'm believe there is about 34-35" within the frame rails, and 19" depth between the cross supports. I'm not sure of the height I want, but it will probably be 10" which seems to be a common height for 33" length tanks.

 

I will need to figure out if the exhaust will run into any issues here, but maybe I will put the muffler nearer the bed, and run the pipe the rest of the way for better clearance.

 

May be a little while for real updates, other than grinding/cleaning/painting areas that I wont be doing things to. I need to save up for the things I need next: Fuel cell, Fuel pump, Fly wheel, clutch & pressure plate, Fuel and brake lines, drive shaft, and the metal to mount the fuel cell.

[Work280]

Rci 2172a is the tank I put in the back of my 620 build 17 gal 30x17x7. If you plan on a rear sub frame get a smaller one I ended up moving my tank back 4 inches so I had a lot of cutting

[Mirrorimg]

Rci 2172a is the tank I put in the back of my 620 build 17 gal 30x17x7. If you plan on a rear sub frame get a smaller one I ended up moving my tank back 4 inches so I had a lot of cutting

 

Thanks, that's just what I'm looking for. I was hoping to get a 20-22 gallon, but I think thats going to be a bit too large.

 

Started to clean up the frame. I had to re-weld some things because they were the first welds I did, and well, they were shit. I took my wire wheel to the front, and mad a ton of dust. Sprayed some OSPHO (phosphoric acid) over the bare metal to protect it until I'm ready to paint.

 

 

[Eric Garside]

Love, love, love this build!

[]2eDeYe]

Keep up the good work :)

[Eagle_Adam]

keep at it man!!! its lookn good 

[Mirrorimg]

Thanks guys. Its been really cold outside for the past few days so I have been staying in the house. When I say cold, I mean 28-34 degrees, so I know its nothing compared to what some of you have to deal with.

 

I have an electric heater, but I am waiting on some 10g wire to upgrade the existing 12g I use for my compressor/welder. I would rather not fry my wiring and burn the garage down using the 12g. Once thats in, I will get going on some more progress and likely start insulating the walls to keep the heat in.

[Mirrorimg]

So I wired up the heater after doing some math. As long as I dont turn it to its highest setting, I wont exceed the amp rating of my current wiring. That warms it up a bit in there, but I havent done much.

 

 

 

I continued wire-wheeling the frame, got back to the torsion rod crossmember.

 

 

Can some one tell me what the tabs were for? I dont remember, and trying to figure out if I need to keep them or not.

 

And are these holes/caps from the factory?

[Work280]

Those holes and covers are where they reinforced the frame that's about it

[Cpl620]

I think those tabs were brake and clutch line "holders" I grinded mine off.

[finney]

yes brake and clutch. 

[Mirrorimg]

Thanks guys.

 

I thought the tabs were something along those lines (I remember there being plastic covers on them). They will get cut off then! I will probably weld around the rest of the covers so there arent gaps that can let water in, or is that a bad idea?

[Mirrorimg]

More of the same. I think I will need another wheel before this is over. Got most of the way down the passenger side, and halfway down the driver's side. I will flip the frame over to get the underside when I finish with the top. In the areas I cant reach, I will pull out my pot blaster. I didnt want to do the whole thing with it because of the mess it makes.

 

 

[Mirrorimg]

Really nice day today, so the frame is nearly done. I missed small spot on the inside of the frame, need to do the tubes n the back, and flip the frame over to do the underside.

 

 

[finney]

looks good. the softer wire wheels work really well