The Frankenstein Build! LT/Expo/Trail rig..and BS

Sorry Steve, they didn't have the Pappy Van Winkle at that exxon... She said its a special order and it goes real fast when they get it in!

Edit: Dammnit I posted that in the wrong thread... SOrry monte but im sure ur dad will see it in here haha.

 

FINALLY done cutting the driver side up. Gonna eat then get to work on welding it up.

Cut a CRAP load more then i was ready for. Looks closer to Jons then it does Pauls or Travis's. Probably because mine(and jons) are 35x12.5r15 and theirs are 315/75r16s.

Mark..good luck with those 35x13.5r15s..your gonna have to cut even more then i did. A lot more. kinda worried about it actually..



anyways. here are a few photos. I have a time lapse movie that shows most of the cutting but its kinda boring and long so probably won't post it.


33


IMG_7954.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

35..as high as it'll go with the fender not cut..


IMG_7955.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

fender roughly cut up. Will have to take even more off the cab side though


IMG_7957.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

let the cutting begin!


IMG_7958.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

9 hours later..it fits!


IMG_7959.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

the damage..


IMG_7960.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7961.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7962.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

i will say that the passenger side is going to be MUCH easier as there aren't quite as many curves on that side. Plus i won't be cutting through old welds as some may remember i had to patch a rusted out hole there when i did the cab swap. shoulda just tubed it then..

 

Yea buddy! Excited to see it in person tomorrow

 

haha hopefully it'll roll under its own power tomorrow! haha

 

Looks like the amount you cut off the A pillar is identical to mine. You gonna reinforce the A pillar before throwing the sheet metal on?

 

yea i went and looked at your build last night..idk if i will or not. Maybe ill check it when i get home.

I bought 16 ga metal to use instead of 22 ga so..idk..think it'll be fine. if i get hit right there by a car anyways..probably be screwed as it will have to be a TALL truck to get past my sliders..or it'll just tip me over..haha

 

Not sure if it is needed or not, but I did it for peace of mind. Not in regards to impact with another vehicle, but (potentially) seriously weakening the pillar and combined with cab flex it could cause some stress cracks.

 

fire extinguisher...good thing to have!


thats a big hole ya got there haha!

 

good point...hmm..maybe. idk. haha

yours is gonna be bigger. you'll have .5'' more tire per side AND you have less backspacing..so..have fun haha

its the soul of Frankenstein...

 

Holy shit I didn't even see the hand, I was mesmerized by the cutting. I had to scroll back up to see if you were fucking with me hahaha.

 

Hope so cutting it close tho..

All good

 

Hang in their buddy. The old man makes a good point.

I ran 32x11.5-15s on 7" wide stock alloys on my first Tacoma. Was a very nice combination overall. Was very capable on and off pavement, looked nice and had good wear pattern.

If I was running a 32s on 15" rim, I would not hesitate to do it again.

 

Damn Monte... 9 hours of cutting etc? Nice work.

Btw - that garage is bigger than my house. Lucky to have a nice workspace like that

Thanks Mike, I appreciate it. Your opinion has always been valuable to me.

If Discount still has the 32x11.5s $25 cheaper than the 31x10.5s I'll step up in size.

 

Yea the garage is huge. Very very lucky to get to work in it.

 

Huge is an understatement.

Its bigger than 2 houses combined. I estimate its at least 8,000 s.f., maybe 10.

 

Yea it's big. Holding 5 cars and 3 boats with tons of room..haha I like it

 

Finally got the driver side buttoned up. Gonna paint it later when the seam sealer dries.

Huge thanks to my dad. Was soooo much nicer having a helping hand and his black smithing skills.

Ended up buy so,e new 20 ga for it instead of the 16ga I had. Was much more Malleable. Welding that stuff sucks but I got it done well enough. Tire clears great. And still managed to do it with just one piece of steel.

Pics later tonight.

 

ive decided tonight im gonna have to beat the firewall back or start tubbing real soon. Ive cranked my c/os way to high to beaable to clear my tires and my cvs are not happy looking.

do you have to move any of the wires or ECU after you get everything buttoned up?

 

D you have 35s?

If not. No need for tubbing n just beat the cramp out if it with a big hammer.

But yes. Major wire moving for tubing.