Time to build the project truck (yes really)

[Brett Whitaker]

Originally Posted by sullyscout77

Your fab skills are way cool ! Thhis rig sure is coming together well Brett! Nicely Done!

Thanks. I'm not sure about the skill part. There is definitely a lot of eagerness and fun dooing this. Hope to have the engine in it in August.

Brett

[Brett Whitaker]

I didn't have much time, but I thought getting something accomplished would be better than nothing.

I have some sections of the top of the frame at the rear that needed fixing from cutting stuff out last Christmas time. That looked like this.



So I cut the holes more or less square.



Cut some 2" and 3" x 1/8" metal plate and filled one side in.



Just used the little welder to tack it in. Will weld it in this weekend, with fish plating to come as well.

Now I have to go see a movie. At least it isn't Magic Mike.

Brett

[Brett Whitaker]

I've decided to go with the stock 19 gallon tank instead of the 29 gallon aftermarket one. I'll use the larger one on the fiberglass Scout one day. There is a lot more clearance with the stock tank, and I probably don't need the extra weight of the fuel off road anyway. The C-channel on top of the frame will support the drawer unit. It is notched for the filler hose.



I also thought I should have something from my first Scout on the one for old times sake. I'm going to use the original bumper. Of course it can't be left stock.



Here it is from the rear. The square tubing will slide into the end of the frame rails in the rear of the truck.



I still have to narrow it to work on the back of the truck.

Just taking a break for lunch. More to come.

Brett

[Brett Whitaker]

More work on the bumper. Basically it is done except for welding the pieces back togther. That will probably be tomorrow.

One side shortened.



And the other.



Need to get it welded and then slid into the back of the truck. Then I can get the winch plate, which is where the strength is, cut to match and everything bolted together.

FWIW the bottom plate where the trailer ball goes and the tow hooks are will eventually be hinged in the back and then pinned somehow in the front to allow for steeper angles on the winch cable. At that point the tow hooks will pretty much just be for show.

99 degrees is just not fun.

Brett

[Brett Whitaker]

By the way it is now 40" wide, down from 68".

Brett

[Julian 537]

Nice work! That bumper looks great!

[Brett Whitaker]

Here is the more or less finished product.



When the truck has an actual suspension in the rear, I need to trim the winch plate down to match the bumper. I didn't get the hole cut through the plate to match the hole in the bumper either. And I still have to counter sink some bolts both ways through the plate to attach the winch to the plate and the bumper to the plate.

Brett

[Brett Whitaker]

Spent most of the morning cutting metal for the truck. I went the other day and picked up some metal and finally got to it today. I cut some lengths of C channel for the rockers, some for the floor support (done before but will need to redo with new rockers), and a last piece to go on top of the rear passenger frame section, like the driver's side where the gas tank is (see above). Then cut some plate to make the pieces where the roll bar, gas cans, and Hi-Lift jack will sit just behind the cab (see higher above).



I cut some 1.5" square bar and some 1/4" plate to make 2" square bar. Then cut off some receiver hitch tubes to length. I want to make the rear bumper removeable. So I'll mount square tube in the rear winch plate running down the frame as orginally planned (also like the front.) Then the shorter receiver hitch tube will mount through the narrowed bumper like the picture above. The 2" slug is welded into the end of the shorter receiver hitch tube and will slide into the longer tube in the winch plate. Holes will be drilled through the slug to allow a clevis pin to attach it to the longer hitch tube. Confusing?

Here the picture.



Now just picture the bumper in there. You can see the other shorter piece with the slug in it behind.

Started to rain, but now may be stopping. So I may be able to get back to it.

Brett

[Brett Whitaker]

The rain stopped, so I got a little more done. The pictures should help the explanation above.

The bumper from the front with the short receiver hitch tube and slug in.



From the back you can see it a little better.



Now the long receiver hitch tube in the winch plate and frame rails.



I cut the hole in the winch plate for the cable and slid the bumper on.



Final view from a little higher.



Still need to bolt the winch to the winch plate, finish off the frame repairs, and bolt/weld in the long receiver hitch tubes. I need to mount the solenoid pack for the winch. Wherever that ends up, I'd like to run the plug in for the cable to the right side of the bumper mirroring where the boat trailer plug is on the left side.

Brett

[ziggybock]

Really nice job on the bumper Brett!

Keep up the great job, it is coming together nicely. You have some serious fab skills!