from beginning to end!"Project: Big Nell"(11/1/07)

[layedout72]

you know i keep going back and forth, but i always come back to solid ground at the "build it right the first time" choice. full frame it is!

[marz68]

you know i keep going back and forth, but i always come back to solid ground at the "build it right the first time" choice. full frame it is!

If your going to take your time then full frame is the way to go.

[layedout72]

ya, im definately going to take my time. as the truck will be driveable while i build the frame. once the mounts for the motor and tranny and body are needed, then I will get the body off and the old frame gone. shouldnt lose any garage space really, keep dad happy haha.

[marz68]

thats just a rough cut of the frame, not to spec really. other than the width and arm mounts and placement for the steering mounts, its not really to spec. the holes and all i mean


this is the cantiliever that will be up front parrallel to the frame rail. on the out side. the short side will be the bag side, closest to the firewall. the middle will be the pivot point, and the other end will be where the truck is lifted from really. it will go through the upper arm and mount to the lower arm. so when i inflate the bag, the lever pivots and pushes the long rod, pushing against the lower arm, and lifting the frame. it shouldnt hurt performance because its really all the same as a normal bag setup, just stretched a bit. oh its a 2:1 ratio lever so a bag with 9 inches of lift should get around 18 given the balljoints dont bind. also, it would probably be fine like it is, but it will be fully boxed in wherever possible, and completely sealed so it doesnt hold water, or let any in. will be powder coated or chromed and engraved saying the project name. "Big Nell" in a Script font.

Cantilever sounds and looks good but not necessary to get more lift but if it's just for look's then go for it cause I would do that setup too.
I looked at my truck to figure a way to setup a cantilever suspension and the only place to mount the bag is infront of the motor on the inside of the frame rails so unless you know of another place to mount the bag that's pretty much the only place to mount them. What did you have in mind for mounting of the bags?
You had mentioned that some one used this setup for an H2? do you have pics or a web address.

[layedout72]

its extensives hummer. the yellow one on 26's. shouldnt be hard to find, but i thinki know where a picture of the suspension is.

i was thinking of mounting the bag on the outside of the rail, behind the arms. it would tuck up behind the inner fenders (roadside of them) and when I tub the inners I can get a fuzzy the size of its travel to kinda seal it off from water and rocks for the most part. I can get a picture if you want.

[layedout72]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/c ... n/heim.jpg this is the hummer. i think extensive the shop, and hes in excessive truck club. could be wrong though.

see how it mounts on the frame and all?

[marz68]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/c ... n/heim.jpg this is the hummer. i think extensive the shop, and hes in excessive truck club. could be wrong though.

see how it mounts on the frame and all?

that's a nice setup but the bar that is welded to the frame needs to be very strong cause it's going to hold all the weight of the truck plus the forces of the bag pushing on it are going to be insane. I wouldn't trust that setup for a daily driver but for show it's fine.
You would need to use those type of bag/shock combo cause I don't see were your going to ba able to mount your shocks.
I like the way they did their upper ball joints those guys are good at what they do.

[layedout72]

they are VERY good at what they do. I plan on my uppers and lowers to be something like that as well. sooner or later . and i think the shock/bag combo is more to keep the bag from bulging and coming out of its needed arc. but its also good for a shock location too!

also i may be wrong, but that middle pivot shouldnt have much stree at all on it. its merely a pivot point, which shouldnt have much force or resitance at all. the bag and the bar connected to the lower arm should hold all the weight... the central pivot is just there to let it follow a certain rotation. correct me if im wrong though...

[layedout72]

alright, i think there is a curse on me, put into action by my truck. I bought all new lug studs and had them pressed in. Obviously they are the correct size, but imagine that.....THEY DONT GO THROUGH THE DRUM!!! Can't figure out my tranny and how to drain it, probably something stupid, but I just can't get anywhere at all.

[layedout72]

oh and uh, sorry for the long drawn out wierd story style post. i do that time to time.

[rjewkes]

no problem glad to hear you gotta it workin, now dad can have the big garage back, Yay!


And you an keep the truck Yay again.

[craftsman]

alright, i think there is a curse on me, put into action by my truck. I bought all new lug studs and had them pressed in. Obviously they are the correct size, but imagine that.....THEY DONT GO THROUGH THE DRUM!!! Can't figure out my tranny and how to drain it, probably something stupid, but I just can't get anywhere at all.

It's a 3 speed manual right, if there is no drain plug you can remove the bottom bolt for the tail shaft housing( you know where the tail housing bolts to the transmission) to drain it.

Oh and good job on the truck

[layedout72]

i was wondering about that, didnt know if it was tapped into the case, or an upright off of it. will do that today as well. I am about to go get started on it I believe. My dad wants me to wait for him to get home, but I can get a lot done this morning.

[layedout72]

tranny fluid is done. i believe it attracts wasps and other flying things that sting you just to make you mad. therefore I am inside until the wasp spray arrives. i hate those things. i remember the last time i got stung, don't want to go through that again.

so, brakes will be done tonite, as well as the tires all on the ground. For some reason (without sheetmetal) my tires have some positive camber at ride height. BUT, the truck seems lower than some I have seen that are stock on this site. it may be because the driver side isnt fully let down, just touching the ground, but the passenger side defininately has some.

[customcrewcab]

tranny fluid or gear oil? the older standard transmissions take gear oil and newer ones use tranny fluid. 5 and 6 speeds use atf.