Run to the Hills! - Jason's Completely Stalled Colorado GTFO Build

It's been my experience that travel is different with the axle flexed vs straight up and down.

The shackles will behave differently, the way the weight is distributed is different, its just a different situation all together.

Its not hard to check both. I would is all. It might not change anything, or it might be a minor change but if you're going through the work I'd make sure it worked as best as possible in both situations.

 

Cool. That’s what I thought you meant.

It’s something I’ll check, for sure.

 

Two places, 02 and above was above the tank and 01 below was by the master cylinder in the engine bay.

 

Interesting...

Hi, Ray! What’s up, bud?

 

This. Mine is in the engine bay next to the master cylinders. Def makes putting in a bussman box lore difficult. But if anything went wrong with the evap, it’s much easier to get to.

 

Pros and cons, for sure.

But after this, if the evap craps out, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the bed. It took me 15 minutes, tops, to pull it without the bed in the way.

 

You’re doing a complete ABS delete at some point, right, Mike? Or did you already do that?

 

On the list with the manual LSPV. Plan on doing that, tundra brakes, and manual LSPV all at the same time. Kinda like how I am doing a ton of bull shit here at the same time.

 

This project starts with, “I’m gonna relocate my rear shocks, fuck yeah!”, and then you realize there’s a ton of other shit like the exhaust, the frame reinforcement, brakes, blah blah blah.

I guess when it’s all done, you end up killing like five birds with one stone or something. It certainly isn’t trivial.

 

Almost time to start cutting stuff off the frame...

I have tons of progress pics that I’ll do a write up with later, but here we are after a good morning wrenching.

 

It’s been 30 minutes later, how’s that write up coming along

 

I’m trying hard not to get really irritated with the weather and more specifically the fact that I have to work outside.

I’m halfway through welding the outside frame plates on and the wind kicked up and now it’s raining.

Current status :




I’m getting a 10lb roll of 0.03” FCAW wire and as long as it’s not pouring rain, this motherfucking welding is gonna get done.

 

Got the outside frame plates welded on today despite the weather. It took a while to get the frame prepped, but the welding itself took me the longest. I tried to only do 3-4” stitches and switch between sides to keep the frame from heating up too much. Before the wind kicked up I was getting pretty good results, but as soon I lost the shield gas, things weren’t so good.

After switching to flux core and getting over the dull looking welds, I was able to plow through the rest of the welding and get these done, which was nice. I did find out that I suck ass at plug welds, but it’s nothing a grinder won’t fix

Since it started to rain again and I had to tarp the truck (again), I decided to go ahead and pull the brake lines off the axle to get ready for shocks.

The plan for tomorrow is to clean up the inside of the c-channel, hit it with weldable primer and then get the box plates tacked and welded. Then I just need to hit all the welds with a wire wheel and grinder as required. Gonna take a while, but I’ll be able to start the shock relocation on Monday, hopefully. I also got the last of the shock mount stuff from Ruff Stuff, so that’s all good to go.

 

Nice progress!

 

Now going to links (some day). I wish mine was by the engine. It would help with the clutter in the bed. I have my fuel filter and proportioning valve in that area. So I guess it works out.

 

I can't imagine it being too difficult to relocate it to wherever one wants. @jubei with your 1" body lift you should still have 2" to raise everything up.

 

I’m thinking about it, but it’s way down the list. I want to stay focused on the shock relocation first and foremost. I don’t wheel like you or Mike or Brett as much, so it’s of slightly less value to me, although I do see the appeal.

 

Frame is 98% boxed.

I need to weld in a little patch plate to overlap the new plate onto the frame, and then I’m ready to move on to shocks.

 

Looks good dude! You started later than me and will be done much sooner. Glad to see cutting into the boxed section worked for you.

 

Hey Brett, if it isn’t too much trouble, would you mind measuring the distance between your upper shock mounts? I’d just like to have it for reference. Thanks!

@Squeaky Penguin