NR Drew's B2200 Ext. Cab..In Prog.. Bodied, bagged, and v8ed

loking good man!!! im glad you shaved the frame rails. makes a huge difference imo

Well as usual... I am slower than a snail...But progress is still being made.... Cab was taken off, frame mostly smoothed, seams welded etc.... flipped frame, welded underside up, etc... Still have a little more gusseting and plating to be done...but for the most part...the frame is almost finished.

Lowers are triangulated... Still need to fully weld them up...But everything functions great! How about that super sweet jig i made...haha...it looks like junk but it was just what the dr. ordered.

Currently working on rear disc conversion...then to the front disc for an upgrade...then to put the cab on and finally put the motor in. Then on to some sheetmetal work (more of what i like doing, so progress should def. go better when i get to that area)

Questions, concerns and/or comments appreciated as usual.

Truck is looking bad ass man, Are you going to Z the frame up front and I know you have done the 4 link already but if you want to put a disc brakes in the rear try and find a nissan pathfinder 94 is the one I got full rearend fits right in and works sweet plus is abit beefer than the stock mazda rearend for that extra power from the v8. Oh and if possible can you get a full side shot of the frame layed out.

I appreciate it! It is all swapped to a 5 lug... so i am running a yota rear end... I figure if they can take the abuse they get from a lot of these offroad folks, then it will handle a stock/mild sbc. So for brakes in the rear I am running Mustang SVO Rotors with Monte Carlo Calipers... I believe I will be running Crown Vics in the front. --Do appreciate the tip anyways though

I will try to get some more pics soon... Those were just some random one's that I had pulled off of my phone.

As far as z'ing... i have not planned on it... Everything pretty much lays flat (the front is off the ground a little bit in that picture because there is a little air in the line, with no weight on anything....

With the cab on there...It is to the rocker, with the pinch rolled.... That is really all I wanted to accomplish... So i doubt I do that, unless i hit a point and need to once i get everything back together and see how it sits.... Time will tell..and at the rate I am going..it could be a bit..haha... But I am in no hurry...Just want everything correct and how I want it the 1ST TIME... I dont know how many dif. times I went back into the Dakota because of something I changed my mind on...and it stinks... So there will be none of that with the maz!

Really clean work. I'm digging the build. Keep it up!

Rear Disc Conversion is complete.... (5 Lug)... Using Monte Carlo Calipers, Ford SVO Rear Rotors, etc... Its all mocked up currently...Still have to run new lines, paint/powdercoat the bracket, smooth casting out of calipers. But the majority of it is done... Now on to get the front swap done.

very nice

Nice work!! I want do rework my LCAs like that also. Is it worth it? Also, if you want to get your frame powdercoated, I know a shop near Joliet, IL that will blast and powder coat it for about $250!

Thanks!

That seems quite reasonable...well.. very reasonable...I havnt done any pricing locally yet...But I would have figured a lot more... 6.5 hrs away though :-/

I would liked to have done tubular arms...But just didnt want to spend the extra $$ on it...My whole thing with this is it was going to be a low budget build...no shortcuts...But a lot of extra work for myself..i mean its a project... So that is why I chose the triangulating stockers route. It was pretty simple...Main thing is making a jig that will keep everything perfectly lined up so that the pivot points are the same to eliminate any binding problems....It gets rid of those front rods..

So...not quite as clean as all tube arms..But nicer then it was. I think its worth doing.

Could u post a pic of the jig? Also, did u have to notch the frame to clear the bar when it's aired out?