Slam Specialty(UPDATE: 7-21-08)

I agree with that.

I level the frame out front to back, and side to side, and then level the notches front to back and side to side before welding them.

Sweet, glad to know I had it down right!

So what is it? Is it like a brake line kit that comes with little specialty tools? Cause I've never seen it and have no clue where I could pick one up! Where would I even find hard line and soft line, as well as the compression fittings? OR any of the brake line parts at all?!

Yea, I'll take a little time bevelling the edges and all, but really, I took a look at the frame rails, and they were thinner than I thought. It is just crazy to see 2 pieces of U-shaped metal welded together for a frame!

Its some really thin stuff and I've got some metal about the equivalent to warm up on before I go at it so I can get the machine tuned in as well...

As far as welding, they won't be as good as Seths, but you might be surprised, haha!

Its also RAINING like cats and dogs out there! Suddenly we live in the tropics? I won't be able to get a dang thing done today except pick up that 4wd bed!

Yea, and don't worry, lol. I get super fussy when things are'nt straight, plumb, square, or level! I'll probably spend too much time trying to make it look straight than getting it done!

I'm thinking about asking the neighbor lady to use her portion of the driveway to work on it! It would be nice!

Seth, I'll give you a holler soon once I get ready to get some shocks! They sure sound badass!

So ONE question! AMAZING, right?!

- So I set the axle up 6.5" away from the bottom of the notch and then whatever my height is in the geometry sheet for my links I just add that with the height that I added to the distance from under the cab frame rail?

So like if I used jacks to level out the truck and then that caused the truck to be 15" high from the frame rail under the cab to the ground that would mean that I raised it 5" since it was 10". SO 15"-10"=5". So if my frame end links are say 20" that means I need to set them at 25", right? Which then will set them at ride height and give me the same geometry I set it up for? I could also check this by the vertical spacing difference at the side, right?

Just want to confirm that my thinking about it is'nt screwed up, lol...

I'm a little lost with this one. You just said the axle will be 6.5" away from the notch, which would make a 5" ride height, then you are talking about a 10" height and setting ti up there.

i didnt have to. i put the front of the tank on top of the front mount and made a new rear mount. it keeps it like and inch higher than the frame.

GOT MY 4x4 BED!



I guess I did my part on using the stimulus check! Its supposedly got 4hrs of body work on it, but we'll see.. not bad at all really!

Mazdawg, got a pic? I don't quit understand what you mean...

Seth, toxic shocks go for like $38 a shock! I was gonna get them... But you convinced me on those Bilsteins!

So I just need to go to the junkyard again and pick up that hard line piece on the frame rail by the gas tank and the soft line part as well and then cut to length and get a flaring tool to flare one side out? Simple enough, but where do I find a flaring tool?

Let me try and explain this again...

Okay, so to setup my 4-link at the ride height. I would position the axle 6.5" below the notch. This would setup my axle end 4-link for ride height. Then, if my truck is leveled out side to side front to back using the jacks, I could measure from the frame rail under the cab to the ground.

Say my trucks frame rail is 20" off the ground now because of the jacks raising it up 10 more inches. Originally, the truck sat at 10". Still now though, the axle is placed in its location for ride height. 6.5" below the notch.

But in order to set the frame end 4 link I would have to add that 10" gain to my original measurements to get the required height to set it at ride height location.

So if my frame end links are 15" originally from the ground, that would mean I would have to add that 10" gain in height because of the jacks to it, right?

or since my ride height is lower to a 6" height I would have to use the 4" difference between the 10" height and the 6" and minus that from my 4-link heights for that original 10" ride height?

Wow, I think I just made things more complicated, haha...

ill try to get some pics tomorrow of the front bracket. sweet score on the bed, where did you get it from?

Lol, now that you ask, that reminds me you gave me that pm where to find one!

Well, I did'nt use it, but I had got it from a local junkyard! They've got alot of rare stuff in there, could'nt believe it! I mean how often do you see an ext. cab 4x4 mazda? NEVER around here!

$400 for it though.. :\

I'm gonna read your 4-link part tomorrow, because I'm tired and I need to take a shower.

But, Bilsteins are about twice the cost of those Toxic shocks.

thats not bad....i paid $500 for my beat up ass bed. i figured a beat up one is better than none at all.

Yea! No kidding, last time I saw a 4x4 ext. cab bed for $400 was like a 1 1/2 years ago!

Very rare... INDEED!

UPDATE!

I was really astonished to my surprise that I only got 1 stinking notch 90% done! This is going to take longer than I thought! Yeeee!

I took alot of pics for you whores so you can drool at a notch, lol! I may say though, I was impressed by my welding after I got warmed up because I have'nt welded for a gooood while... Some parts though piss me off! I spent alot of time making things straight and come to find out the pieces for the notch are'nt all the same size!

Well, I guess thats what I get these days though... Well, my arms are burnt from weld spatter and my beads sounded like sizzling bacon. My mouth is full of gritty metal from all the grinding and my work area is a mess!

I'm a dirty little boy, I say!

Yea, and I learned a few things on the notch, so I know not to do it on the other side now, haha... But nonetheless, I think it looks pretty good. As far as straight and level, well, I took a good hour to level my truck out FBSS with a 4ft level and she is within a 1/16 of being perfect!

Speedster, I got some specific pics, just for you!






Beveled and sharp like a sword!

Was a retard and noticed afterwards that I should'nt have welded the insides! Easy fix though...


Just to show speedster that its straight!



Little blurry.. First pass...

oops!




Look nice? yes?

Thats gonna have to keep some of you whores happy until tomorrow!

Whattya think about the welds, eh? Yes?