One step forward one step back

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

Well this is my first post about my truck really. I have been working on it for a couple of years. Progressis is numbing slow since I traded labor for scraps at my buddys shop since I didnt have a job and odd jobs werent even making rent. I couldnt have gotten as far with out my buddy Don. He has a pretty stocked garage and has a nack for getting good deals on odd metal and parts. My truck which we decided was a 44 GMC ( the tailgate gave away the GMC) was a duells millitary that some one had pinched the front frame horns together to make a trailer and welded plates over the front and back glass. He offered to let me work off the cab and an s10 blazer frame but I`m a ford lover so he found a ranger frame and motor too bad the motor was crap. so here are a few pics I have a bunch of the chop and making the steering wheel.

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

one step forward one step back

Heres a sequence of the chop. its 6 1/8 or 1/4" I forget but we sectioned the window and centered it better. 70 fast back on KB did almost the same chop even though I hadnt seen his when I did it and never posted mine till now. Great minds eh?

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

a couple more. didnt take pics on this but we split the roof 4ways and the gap got bigger twords the back?! 70s fast back used pie cutts instead of the front to back cut . I`d go that way next time.

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

my steering wheel

I made this steering wheel from junk around the shop for the rod but resides in my 2000 ranger haha so I might make another one for the rod. By the way the entire frame and front suspension got the torch and is in the scrap pile. Next post I`ll put up what I have for frame starters and my saferish front end.
Heres a quick run down on th chain wheel. The hub is out of a late 80s early 90s wheel I drilled out the spot welds. the chain was laying next to the curb in some ones yard, I split a link and welded it back to connect the circle and its almost impossible to find. used some wood spool ends 2 medium and a small in the middle to make a gap for the chain to lay in. cut the hoop off that old wheel that was laying around to connect the chain and hub and some rods from the spool finished the web. wire brush and engine cleared later. not a dime in it. show yall the column I made from the rangers later.

 

[SugarRay8]

Very resourceful and creative work! [cl

I’m looking forward to seeing more of it. [P

 

[Johnson]

That is sweet. I need to make one of those wheels for my rambler, just in about a 17" diameter.

Johnson

 

[Sam_Fear]

Like the grill work. Any more picks of that axle set up?

 

[Haawt Pocket]

Nice work! I like the way you did that steering wheel, gonna steal that method from ya!

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

thanks guys I was real happy with the wheel but centering that hub took forever just walk away a few times if you try it and tack then mount it to the column like truing spoke to check. I got the ideah for the rear end from Ratt to Road worthy in a rebel rodz issue just wishboned it back wards instead of two bars like a four link. the wish bone ideah came from a Sport truckin issue .
The grill I think is a 40ish ford my buddy that has the shop was gonna sale it but gave it to me I unbolted the center added half inch square tubing for spacers with longer bolts through them and the vertical bars are stainless round stock. plan is to paint the whole grill and scotchbrite the stainless.
Heres the collumn its conduit with the ranger steering shaft and bearings. and holes theres always room for holes

 

[sgtpontiac]

Nice.......

Great wheel and the column is cool.... Great work....

 

[CR55]

Looking good jimmy! Sometimes it feels as though you're moving backwards instead of forward, but it looks to me like your making great progress....keep the pics coming...cr

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

Holey Sh**

well I got the frame rails cut last week and some holes in it today. I only get to work on it mondays and I do that when we arent working on my buddys Tbucket project so very slow progress. I went and bought some steel too for the front crossmember/perch mount and the Z. The Z is gonna be 7" but the way I`m gonna tack it together itll be real easy to shorten before I finish weld if I need to. the holes are 2.5" and I think it was 2" apart. the length of my front is 44" but i left 6" un holed incase thats too long I can cut it off

 

[FlatBroke]

Very cool build...

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

another slow update

lost alot of the day screwing with the steering arm being in the way of the kingpin alimite or how ever its spelled. got my other holes drilled and they will need a little grinding to match up but I half expected that and i made some of the plates I saw on here to beef up the weld area. the last pic of the sweet guitar I just pulled off line as an idea for my frame color. thats right its gonna be one jive ass frame. with a bruised up turd of a body.

 

[Johnson]

Your frame is gonna be pretty[cl

 

[grunt2001]

good job

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

thanks guys

I wish I could post more but a few hours a monday is all I get.

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

been having trouble posting

some reason my pics wont load. so here it goes for the third time. I got some of the holes welded up and ground down. bought a new welding helmet, the $30 toolshow auto darken was falling apart and will probably cause me to go blind earlyier. also a couple of the bucket that gets me side tracked. this monday I have to work. aparently too many fat asses would rather watch tv so the cable co needs me.

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

new helmet

the flames make it look fast setting still , not sure what that helps though. and the bucket

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

my new front suspension

speedway tbucket spring , shackles, and short pivots