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2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger

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Old 03-17-2018, 08:01 AM
  #106  
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I woke up feeling happy that the frame cutting went smoothly after lots of measuring yesterday. I am looking forward to dialing it in some more today.
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Old 03-18-2018, 09:42 AM
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frame pix
Attached Thumbnails 2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-framepix-1-.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-framepix-2-.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-framepix-3-.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-framepix-4-.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-framepix-5-.jpg  

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Old 03-18-2018, 03:10 PM
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Charlotte helped me cut out a few fish plates for the inside of the frame to go over the cuts.
I helped her use a tape measure and speed square to mark them out with a paint pen from the left over 1/2 ton frame. We then got out the Saw-Z-All and grinder to make them. She then ground down all the edges to help with welding them in.
I will do a final grind on the frame cuts shortly before we go to a birthday party this evening.
If I am still on fire tonight we can get it clamped / squared back up to be ready for welding it this week.
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Old 03-20-2018, 08:15 AM
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It was all squared up and clamped down last night.
I polished all the paint and oil off the weld area with a wire wheel on my cordless drill so the weld area is nice and clean.
We measured off many points on the frame and I am happy with the the results.
It will get welded up tomorrow.
Old 03-20-2018, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by oliver foster
It was all squared up and clamped down last night.
I polished all the paint and oil off the weld area with a wire wheel on my cordless drill so the weld area is nice and clean.
We measured off many points on the frame and I am happy with the the results.
It will get welded up tomorrow.
Woo hoo ! Let the sparks fly !
Old 03-22-2018, 08:30 AM
  #111  
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It was a late night in the shop yesterday. The frame is all welded up and looks awesome. I even hit it with a little primer and paint where I had ground it down to fresh metal for a good weld. One of the front cab mount brackets was also swapped out for one that was not all hogged out off the old RC frame.
I will test fit the tub back on it tonight after work with Walter to see how well it lines up.

I also had sometime yesterday to start prepping the '94 motor. I got the clutch fan off so I can access the KDP and front seal. I will also install a bigger harmonic balancer off a later 12V. I removed the A/C compressor and swapped out the motor mounts for the 1st gen style.
Old 03-22-2018, 09:11 PM
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The RC tub got test fit back on the new frame tonight.
I am very happy with how it all lines back up on the frame mounts.
The tub will get pulled back off the frame for the final re assembly of the project, but I just needed to see how it fit back up first.

I rolled the RC off to the corner of the shop for now as I get some other work done on the black crew cab and Poncho next.
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Old 03-23-2018, 10:24 AM
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Nice work, Ollie. A new venture is under way
Attached Thumbnails 2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-photo-1-1024x765.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-photo-2-1024x765.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-photo-3-1024x765.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-photo-4-1024x765.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-photo-5-768x1028.jpg  

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Old 03-24-2018, 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by oliver foster
Charlotte helped me cut out a few fish plates for the inside of the frame to go over the cuts.
I helped her use a tape measure and speed square to mark them out with a paint pen from the left over 1/2 ton frame. We then got out the Saw-Z-All and grinder to make them. She then ground down all the edges to help with welding them in.
.
Photos from the mid point of the frame work
Attached Thumbnails 2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-fishplating-1-.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-fishplating-2-.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-fishplating-3-.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-fishplating-4-.jpg   2wd 12v poptop Ramcharger-fishplating-5-.jpg  

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Old 03-24-2018, 09:14 AM
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Thanks for posting pictures T-man!

She was a little tentative at using the Saw-Z-all to cut the plates out of the old frame, but I held the saw steady while she operated it to make sure it was safe. As you can see in the picture she had boots on along with ear / eye / hand protection and a dust mask.
She had fun while we made those fish plates.

It gives her some ground to stand on when she asks to drive it in a year or two..
I just picked her learners permit up at DMV with her last Monday....
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Old 03-24-2018, 11:21 AM
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My personal favorite is the shop supervisor, reviewing how the project is progressing.
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Old 03-31-2018, 06:45 PM
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Wrench Week was spent on getting the crew cabs and Poncho ready for the summer.
The 2wd RC build will go back on the back burner till further notice...
Summers get busy around here. It might be winter before I have much extra free time.
Old 08-08-2018, 08:21 PM
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Well as I predicted summer has not allowed any extra time to work on the 2wd RC project.

Tonight I did get to practice with my new DHC-2000 OXY/Act. torch that I picked up in Carlisle at the car show. I have seen them for a few years, but never dropped the cash for it until this year. I got it thinking it would really help with cutting out and welding in the new floor patches I will need to do for this build.

I had a little free time before dinner to practice welding up the thin torch cuts I put in an old rusty fender a few weeks ago. With a little more practice I can see really liking the way it welds things up with minimal heat and distortion of the metal. It also leaves very little extra weld material to grind / sand down after.

I plan to roll the RC out of the shop in the next few weeks and clean it up. I will then weld up the cowl cracks and cut out / weld in the floor pans while it is nice to do that outside.
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Old 08-08-2018, 09:27 PM
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Waiting to see the results....
Old 08-09-2018, 08:29 PM
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Glad the DHC-2000 is working out for you. Like Tman I'm interested to see the welds that you do with it. One negative to a plasma cutter is that you can't weld with it.


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