Project: Lil Red (Bagged & V8 88' B2200)

Great progress. I bet cutting that sheet of 16ga. was a job all in itself. The welding looks nice too, what machine are you using?

Thanks fellas. Cutting the 16ga. was a piece of cake with the new electric shears. Well worth the purchase.

I am using a Century (Lincoln) 180 mig welder.

Just read through you thread very nice work truck looks awsome . I got one question I have had a few v8s in mazdas and built a few for others was wondering with the back of your frame where you put your air tank with the very back of the frame did you ever put a bar back cross there to help keep the frame from wrapping on you.

Thank you. I appreciate the compliment.

No I never put a crossmember at the back of the frame. I guess I didn't see a need for it having the bridge crossmember and driveshaft/4 link crossmember.
Do you recommend having one back there?

Ya I find having one back there does help out alot plus if you ever get hit from the back its a little extra protection with your tank and all that back there. Just put a 2 by 3 say 3/16th wall across as far back as you can. You might want to also put another round bar across the front of your bag upper mounts at the rear or bend up a piece to go across the front of the upper bag plate to help support it abit more. Sorry not trying to be a prick I just know that when you give that truck a good hit on the gas its going to put alot of pressure through that frame and you want to support everything as much as possible.

I appreciate the feedback. I will likely at least at the rear crossmember next time the bed is off. Thank you for the input.

Well I got most of the bed floor cut out this weekend. I went through about 10 cutoff wheels and a few reciprocating saw blades.
I'm planning on starting the bracing and sheetmetal floor this upcoming weekend.

Looks like a bomb went off LOL not bad cant wait to see it finished up.

Yeah buddy. Our project looks like yours in the bed right about now but we only went through about 3-4 cutoff wheels and a couple of sawzall blades But we did cheat a little and used the torch to cut through the bracing under the floor, kind of a crap job huh? haha

Im tuned in for the updates when the construction starts

Hahaha that hazziness is from all the dust. I was coughing up black shit and blowing it out my nose.

You're so lucky you had a torch!