37 IHC Build

[watters1117]

Hey your build looks pretty cool so far i saw the pics and wondered what is he doing taken out the nine inch but you have some valid reasons hope the new rear end works out keep up the good fab work

 

[RAT IHC]

Very nice work. Thanks for for providing us with pix. What motor and wheels are you using?

Thanks earthman! Nothing special for this build...just a SBC with about 300 hp and a 700r4 behind it. Didn't want to go to radical with my first build...already thinking about my second build and since I'm a Ponitac guy I'm thinking a 428 with aluminum heads, but that's a story for a future build thread.

The wheels are 16x7 in the back with 31" tall tires and the front are 15x7 with 28" tall tires. Both are smooth-steel and will be painted a dark gray with no trim rings or center caps...although that might change. [S

 

[RAT IHC]

Hey your build looks pretty cool so far i saw the pics and wondered what is he doing taken out the nine inch but you have some valid reasons hope the new rear end works out keep up the good fab work

Thanks for the props watters! Yeah the loss of the 9" was kind of heartbreaking, but everything happens for a reason. Just wasn't meant to be in this build.

 

[jfg455]

You will be fine with the 8.8. They are very strong for what they are. Comperable to a 12 bolt chevy. tons of turbo cars going into the 9's on those rear ends.

 

[RAT IHC]

4-link

Well i got the 4 link tacked in...all i got to say is thank God for tack welds! I cut more tack welds than are currently holding everything in place. I finally got everything squared up properly. Here are some pictures. Also started making the brackets for the air bags and cross member where the shock will mount to. Any have a line on some shocks with a really long stroke?

 

[RAT IHC]

Rear suspension fab is done!!

Just want to say that I admire those of you that can fab up a rear end over the weekend. I've been working on this thing for the past three weeks and I'm finally done! Pictures are of the shock mounts and air bag brackets. For the shocks I welded a couple of steel sleeves for the upper mounts and had to get creative for the lowers do to the size of the lower part of the shock. Got a lot of finish welding to do, but I'll get that done once everything else is fabed up.

 

[bob w]

Hey, quality is far more important than speed. It looks like you have that covered.

 

[Z.Z.Rat]

Nice looking build! Gets the blood-a-pump'n to start ours.

 

[roddguy1]

Yeah, what Bob said.[cl

 

[Mike S.]

Your chassis is lookin' great. In my opinion, if there is one area that you want to take your time and make sure it's correct, it's the chassis. Good job man!

 

[RAT IHC]

Thanks!!

bobw, z.z.rat, roddguy1 and mike s. thanks for the replies and input!

I really like the way that the rear end turned out. I'll be working on the front end this week and through the weekend. Going to fab up some frame horns for the front and get the suspension pieces tacked in place. [[[ I'll keep the pictures coming and you guys keep up with the input. If anyone sees anything out of place please speak up...I need all the help that I can get!

I've said it before...this forum is great and I appreicate everyone's input no matter what it is! Thanks again!

 

[RAT IHC]

Front Horns

Since I started working on the frame I've been thinking of what to do for the front horns. The first picture was what I was first thinking of, but it just didn't look right. So I went ahead and cut the pieces that are in the other pictures. Let me know what you think.

 

[RAT IHC]

Been a while since I've been in shop

So it's been a long time since I've been in the shop. Too many things going on outside the shop to list that have keep me away, but I'm back and plan to make some good progress over the next several weeks.

As of the last post I finished mocking up the frame. Now I'm working on getting the motor and transmission mounts done as well as getting some sort "K-Member" mocked up that will be under the floor boards.

The pictures are of my motors mounts so far...just need to make sure I have enough room for the headers and steering on the drivers side. Waiting on my steering box right now. Will update again next week.

 

[RAT IHC]

K-Member and Trans Mount

Little Progress with the k-member and trans mount. Steering box should be in today and I'll mock it up this weekend. With any luck the motor mounts won't be in the way and I can mount the cab for the first time.

Question: what gauge sheet metal are you guys using for floor boards? I was thinking between 18 - 20 gauge. [S Also do you guys use any type of body mounts or do you bolt the body directly to your frame? [S
Thanks for any input.

 

[bob w]

The "K" and trans mount look nicely designed and well built. On my current project I used 1/4" thick rubberized conveyor belting cut into squares for body mount cushions. Usually I just bolt the body down solid though.

 

[RAT IHC]

Thanks Bob! I was thinking some kind of rubber mount as well. Good idea about the conveyor belt...I'm going to try and find some.

 

[RAT IHC]

Note to Self!!

"When doing a bunch of finish welding assume everything is the same temp as the Sun."

If there was a camera on me tonight it would have look like something out of a Three Stoogies movie...where I touched one thing that was hot and jumped out of my shoes only to bump into something even more hot, then jump again and then touch something even hotter!

I did get a bunch of welding done. Now waiting on steering arms so that I can get the steering box mounted then the brake booster. When all that is done I can send the engine to the machine shop and drop the frame off the frame table. I'll take some more pictures Wednesday night and upload them.

 

[RAT IHC]

I got the steering arms today and mocked up the steering box to make sure the engine mounts were clear. Looks like I've got plenty of room. Also got the air bag mounts welded in and mocked up the brake booster. I should be able to get the body mounted on the frame by the end of next week and start finishing the chop. I'll be doing some more finish welding on the motor mounts and K-member on Friday and Saturday. Sunday my plan is to take the frame off of the table so that I can finish up the front suspension and get the steering box mount welded in place. I'll keep the pictures coming as I go.

The brake arm is too close for comfort to the side of the transmission. I might have to "adjust" the arm to clear it. I'm going until I get the cab mounted and the booster bracket welded in place before I worry about it too much.

 

[RAT IHC]

Cab Meet Frame...Frame Meet Cab

So I got the frame off the table and started to work on getting the ride height set. I'll start working on the cab in a couple of weeks. First i need to get the radius rods mocked up and get the cab mounted to the frame. Here are a couple of pictures.

 

[RAT IHC]

Today I got the engine and trans mounted back in the frame. Once I got that done I put some extra weight on the front end to see where the suspension ride height was going to end up. Things worked out well and it looks like I'm going to be able to bolt the end of the hairpins to the frame with a through bolt.

The engine and trans ended up just where I wanted them. Not too high, not too low. I might move the cab forward another inch...I need to get my distributor to check for clearance first.

I also put the grill on to see how it looks. I'll be cutting a couple of inch out of the bottom mounting plate to lower it a little bit. Looks like I'll have plenty of room for a large radiator!

I've got the shifter and steering column on order and will be getting those mocked up this weekend...stay tuned!