Ya it sucked pretty bad the first week or so. I got over it and decided that since I was going to have a bare frame build I would build the frame how I wanted to this time.

So plans for 2.0 are going to be a lot of frame bracing and to drop the motor down as far as I can and move it back if I have enough room. hopefully that will allow me some room to raise the motor back up from a "z" ed frame. not much just enough to clear my lower control arms. bracing in triangles with 1x2 square tubing like the "make it handle" thread.

hopefully I can get this wrapped up by fall to run the truck in the Del Mar Goodguys Autocross. I was planning to take it this spring but the wreck cancelled that.

 

Not much happened today. Got some gusset welded in to help brace the middle of the frame.

 

After a TON of reading i decided to z the frame 3". Plans include new motor mount to bring the engine back down and avoid doing a new trans tunnel.

 

Looking good. Just curious, would the gussets really add much strength/rigidity to the frame? It's easy enough to do, even if it only helps slightly. I'm just wondering if it would be worth doing, to a mild street truck, while I have my truck apart anyway.

 

Im not sure if it is going to help significantly or not. I welded all of the crossbraces and plan to add gussets to all of them in hipes of making things stiffer.

 

Got the front suspension pulled off the old truck.



and installed on the new frame. Ned some new coil springs as my old ones are cut and are 3" too short. Gunna put everything together without springs for now just to get it rolling.

 

Looking good man!

 

Got the rear done and fuel tank mounted today.

 

Got outside early and got a lot done today. Just waiting on my coil spring to get delivered now. Ups says out for delivery.



sitting at about tide height with the sway bar mounted.



my crude sway bar mount to fit with the z frame



nylon fuel lines mounted.



brake system plumbed.



battery and cutoff switch installed and wired.



exhaust ready to go.



fuel tank mounted and plumbed.



almost ready to stab the engine. Have to put the coils in first so i can see where everything measures up at. I got some cool motor mounts from speedway i plan on installing to drop the motor about 2" lower.

 

Here is my idea for frame bracing. The string represents where the steel will go. Still not sure if i like it or not. Im hoping this will keep it rigid and let the suspension do what it is designed for.