Popcorn

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

[datzenmike]

Is that James Hong?

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

I don't know. Revenge of the Nerds.

[datzenmike]

Big Trouble In Little China.

 

 

 

Yup...

[Satisaii]

Got the front suspension set in for initial fitment.  Still needs some tweaking, but the hard part is done.

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the rear next week and hope to have it rolling again soon.  I had to store the bed and body outside and we have had more rain in the last month than this truck has seen since 1986.

[Satisaii]

After taking a bunch of measurements, we decided that the subframe install was only off a small amount and that the frame has some twist in it.  We think it will be able to align well enough and went ahead and welded everything together.   She is not coming apart again.

 

And then we welded the rear subframe in.

 

We decided to do the custom rear shock mounts instead of the OEM ones.  I need to redraw them slightly before sending them out to be made.

 

It is going to need custom shocks.... lucky for me I work for a place that specializes in custom shocks.  Still going to be $$$ though.

 

This is starting to add up.  I have just hit the amount I sold my highly modified Miata for.  That Mustang hurt the budget, but I decided that it was worth it for a running and driving vehicle.  Sure hope that motor fits between the frame rails and under the hood.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Did you change your username?

[Satisaii]

I don't think it changed.  At least it looks right to me.  I have been using this one since the late 90's on all forums.

 

It was a randomly generated name from an ISP.  Since it doesn't mean anything, it is a relatively unique name.

 

 

Rear shock mount.  Now drawn as a sheet metal assembly and ready to be sent out for cutting.

[Satisaii]

Rear shock mounts tack welded for fitment.  Frame prepped for install.

 

 

 

 

Not perfect, but workable.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Interesting. The stacked tubing works as a honeycomb for inner strength. At first I thought, that's hack, but it makes sense.

[Satisaii]

It is very much a hack job.

 

We got it all welded up today.  No pictures yet, but I hope to have it rolling this week and the body back on next week.  I feel that once the body is back in the shop, the rains in California will cease for the year.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

No, it's not hack. If you plate the ends with one contiguous piece, it would clean it up, and the honeycomb interior adds a ton of strength.

[iceman510]

The end cap would also prevent racking, though it doesn't seem real likely the way it's assembled.

[Satisaii]

I used to have a hack license.  That was a very long time ago.

 

Here are some shots from the underside.  I will get some from the top once we flip it back over.

 

 

 

 

[Satisaii]

The top side.  It now weighs 262 lbs.  Looked at my earlier posts and saw that it was 173 lbs before I started.  I am having a hard time believing that I added 90 lbs with the subframes.  And that 173 was before I cut out any of the frame...  I have all the cut stuff in a box and will weigh it here in a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

I wish we had done a bit more welding on those end caps.  Should have welded them up before putting the shock mount parts on.

Edited March 29, 2023 by Satisaii

[thisismatt]

Looking good

[the510keeper]

wow, this is cool. great work

[Satisaii]

Front Subframe 36 lbs

Rear Subframe 34 lbs

Metal removed from frame 75 lbs

Top hats 32 lbs (for 2)

 

Added 102 lbs, removed 75, difference of 27 lbs.  Unless we added 63 lbs of welds, I don't know why it is so different.

[shlammed]

all of the plate and other stuff you have added is probably heavier than each of their respective subframes... the miata subframes are like 1/16" thick max... your plate looks heavy duty.

 

sounds about right for weight.

[Satisaii]

It rolls.  A little too low, but then the shocks are a couple of inches too short.  Will fix that here in a bit.

 

It was a pain to get off the lift due to the extreme ride height. The center braces are going to have to be replaced.

 

After being in the sun for a few minutes, it got rained on.

 

 

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Looks awesome.

 

Getting off the lift is easy. Just put a couple 2x4s under each side so you can get the lift out and then push it off the wood.

[Satisaii]

I had 3 2x12's under the fronts and used a jack to lift the rear as it came off the lift.  Still managed to drag it on the lift pump handle and break it (again.)  That one crossmember is only two inches off the ground.

 

Tried to put the Mustang on the 4 post and it wouldn't fit.  Too wide.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Oh, it's a  four post lift.  I usually get one end on and then jack up the other end then push it on the jack.

[shlammed]

Its just the crossmember?  the side rails look a bit higher.  

 

Thats your next welding project  😛

[Satisaii]

I put the longer term projects on the 4 post since it is harder to work on.

 

The crossmember is stupid low.

 

 

The bolt I forgot to remove does not help.  We cleaned some Arizona desert out of the cab before putting it on the 2 post.

 

 

Getting close to fitting the cab. (Ignore the piece of wood.)

 

 

This engine bay is smaller than I remembered.  I hope I don't have to remove the balance shafts and dry sump the EcoBoost in order to get it in there.

 

 

I should get the cab on this week, the bed on next week, and then I am going to give it to a friend to do the roll cage and chassis work.  I am not pro enough (and don't have the right tools) for that job.  I will strip the 'Stang while he has it.