PapeCAT

Good day, mknittle:

Nice work, as always.

Any reason you chose not to procure a removable transmission tunnel found in 1972-1977 4 speed and/or 4x4 trucks. (And all M880 Trucks).

edit: wow sorry for the large pics.

thrashingcows

That's some nice work you've done there Mark!!

And Papecat...the reason I did not use one of those removable tunnels...is the fact I could not find one. Easier to find a tunnel from a Ramcharger or other 4wd truck.

Also the OEM replacement carpet might not fit with the earlier style tunnel...????

mknittle

thanks,
The main reason it That's what I already had and the floors on the later trucks are thinner. Both distorted when I cut the humps out. I like the older design better though.


Edit: the floor has a different shape I hadn't noticed that until now Its been a while since I have been around an earlier truck.

mknittle

Thanks Brian. I try

mknittle

Brown truck paid me a visit today. brought a Diamond Eye exhaust and some Pro comp shocks. I know they aren't the best but they will work. I also worked on fitting my transmission tunnel. I should be ready to start welding Monday.

NJTman

I have the diamond eye on my truck, and I'll give you a few tips that I wish someone had given me..

#1. Use tractor trailer style band clamps, and throw those guillotine clamps in your scrap pile This gives you the option of adjusting the pipe configuration down the line, whereas you won't be able to like on my truck.

#2. Test fit the down pipe, and where the pipe meets the upper sector of the passenger side frame rail mark it where the pipe and the C-channel meet. Take the pipe back out, heat up the area with a torch, and indent it horizontally where the down pipe meets the upper rail. I had to do this while it was in the truck, and it was a PITA, as the pipe hit the rail and made a horrible vibration when the truck was running.

#3 Check and re-check the clearances against the torque converter and cross member., as if it's going to hit anywhere, that's where it's going to hit.


Good system, otherwise.

mknittle

Thanks T Man,
I had planed on the band clamps.


The rest is good to know.


I figured it would be a tight fit. It does look pretty nice sitting in the box though.

td3620

did you build your own engine support/ crossover piece ? if so what you build yours out of thanks

mknittle

I used 3" X4 " 1/4" wall tubing with the bottom cut out. I came out to be a 2 5/8" X 4" channel. I made it in three pieces that bolt together.

mknittle

A little farther along. This is how I did the front and rear "flanges" I cut a couple 1"wide strips of 18 gauge Did a bit of hand shaping and plug welded them to the floor. Good thing I did because I had some issues with the rear of the tunnel not matching the floor. I was able to make a couple relief cuts and push the metal down to the "flange" and tack it.

It's all tacked together now. with the hard part done I can probably get it welded tomorrow.

thrashingcows

I keep sounding like a broken record....But it looks great!!

mknittle

Thanks Brian,
It was a PITA to get it to were I was somewhat happy with it. It's easy going now. Tomorrow I put the sun block on and start spot welding.

NJTman

Well, that's a record that I like playing ......


Very professional job, Senior Mark.

mknittle

Thank you sir,
It was a bit hard to work on. with the old tunnel cut out and the thin metal.
every time I tried to get close to where I was working the flood would distort. It made for a sore back and a shorter day than I would have liked but it's pretty solid now so the rest should go pretty fast.

mknittle

I kinda had a murphy's law morning. I didn't get as much don on the truck as I hoped.