Long Travel BS Thread

Picture dropped in original post. Keep in mind I have an engine cage. But it wouldn’t take much to tube from the cab forward.

My actual core support portion comes in at 8lbs. Which is about 1/3 the weight of factory but has 10x the strength.

 

What tubing would you use? 1.75" .120?

 

My core support is 1x.050 4130.

core support is where all issues will originate in the sheet metal. Personally I would do something like JD fab inners or similar and tie in a tubular support

 

this is what I have. I’d like to fully re-do it when I cab cage and engine cage eventually, but this has worked for about 5 years good.

 

That's what I want! Any issues with the fuse box being "exposed"

 

I would use caution long term in this area. My junk has been cracked forever and I plated and attached pretty good...it's lasted 15 years. Last year I noted the spot welds TO the cab pulled out and cracking was happening IN the cab. I'll look for pictures. There is a lot of flex in the front of our trucks.

 

I boxed mine in like this and built the support off of it, it was good for 6 years, but is now cracking more towards the cab where the metal I boxed is connected to whatever is behind it, under the hood strut and hinge area. I need to rip it apart this winter and see what is going on and come up with a plan to fix it, the hood bounces all over the place and make some gnarly popping/cracking noises.

 

And definitely need inner fenders if you ever plan to see any moisture, ever. I ran mine without for a month and the first trip in the snow fucked up the ABS unit.

 

This is exactly what mine did...pulled the support off the cab.

 

Bummer, not sure what else to do other than weld or bolt the new cracks, maybe triangulate it down lower by the firewall?

 

Were you guys still running rubber dampeners at the core support or solid mounted the core to the frame?

 

I can't wait to see your core support that you've been working on

 

Because if you werent... that's the reason it cracked at the cab. The core and cab must be isolated together or completely fixed together. The later really only can be done correctly via a cage

 

Just working on pricing. Really hoped it would be released already but juggling alot of projects simultaneously.

 

Keep the fenders, core support and engine cage SEPARATE from the cab. They have to move independently. I temp fixed mine with fiberglass-filled the holes and held it together until it breaks again.

 

Can you post any teaser photos while waiting for pricing?

 

I have poly bushings all around.

And this is what my core looked like before, so . . . . still an improvement.

 

I don't have an engine cage, just a tower cross brace, so I don't think that would work with the hood pins connected to the core unless the hood wasn't connected to the body either.

 

Joe posted this teaser on another thread. I seen it in person and it looks great much much stronger then that OEM thin sheet metal core support. Once it's ready for production I will be adding it.