1990 B2200 Ground Up

I am thinking that I want to keep the donor truck in one piece until the engine/trans sells so I am going to get another frame to use as a mockup for dimensions and sizing. As soon as I have another frame and have it stripped I will start on the main frame rails. I have decided on a final layout of the truck so I now have the length. Well at least the wheel base.

That means I can fab the font section of the frame all the way down to the main rails and on back to the step notch. from there back it will probably be standard length behind the wheels. I may stretch it just a bit to the length of the rear of an ex cab bed.

Ok I have narrowed it down to running a 128" wheel base. Here is what I have so far...



Not sure on the front yet but it won't be too far off. You will still be able to tell it's a Mazda. The rear I am not 100% sure on yet but it will be the same length from the wheel back as a normal short bed. I may decide to make it a bit longer like the back of a cab plus. But for now I am going with this.

Now that I know the wheel base and the cab layout I can proceed with designing the frame. I am about to go get another frame to use as a guide. That way I can keep the donor truck in one piece until someone buys the engine and trans.

Looks sick! Interested to see what u come up with on the front end


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I need to round up some parts for that. I will be using some pieces from a GMC and some from a Freightliner. I'm itching to start on the frame. I would have went and bought the frame material yesterday but by table saw for my business was down so I spent all day fixing it.

Plus I have a fence I have to finish today before I can move into the frame build. At least I have the length down so I can draw it in CAD first.

That sounds like me. Must be y i never get anything done...


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I think I need to go get that other frame so I can get all my measurements correct. Then I need to get the material.

Crazy project. Ill be watching!

Ok, so I have been working on drawings of the body because I have to have the length and layout set before I can design the frame. The length of the body determines the length of the frame.

So I had it at 128" wheelbase and decided to stretch it out to 132"

So I redid my CAD drawing and then started my frame layout drawing. Here is the overall drawing.




Here is the frame by itself.



And here is the frame with the wheels layed over it.



And here it is with the body layed over it.



It's not set in stone until I either get the extra frame or tear this one down to bare frame for measurements. I am adding in a front Z of about 2" to help with camber and lift. I will be using stock Mazda geometry just raised a little. I still do not want to take the running project truck apart until I sell the engine and trans. I want whoever buys it to be able to drive it.

But as soon as I am 100% sure on frame length I can start with the center section and build rearward. I would have to do the front last unless I get the spare frame soon.

More to come....

why aren't the rear wheels centered in the notch?

Because the front of the notch is where the 4 link mounts will be. Might have to make some changes depending on how long the 4 link bars end up.