it started with boredom

[gr8goose82]

well i got really really bored today so i decided to switch my leaf springs out. the problem is that the 01 ext cab has leafs that aren't centered on the axle, and i didn't realize it til i was pretty far into it. the springs i'm putting on are off of mikes truck (i don't remeber the year but it's a newer one), and the mount up centered on the axle. i had to cut off one of the bolts on my springs and it's jammed into my bushing, so now i have to use the new springs. and after looking at it, i'm goingto have to make some mods to where the springs actually mount to my frame. i started tonight, but i'm at a stopping point til tomorow cause i need a new grinding wheel. i will take some pics tomorow and get them on here, but as for now, i've got to do this, mod some supports for my sliders/steps, and fix my front suspension to even up the rake. i think i ended up getting myself a bit to much into this one, but oh well, i've got nothing but time.

[Quick Draw]

Lol I know how that feels, to suddenly be a tad bit in over your head. You'll get it. Good luck.

[gr8goose82]

i've got one side of the rear done now, and i'm gonna get the mounts done for the other side, but i don't want to drop the gas tank to weld there, it's not plastic, do you guys think i should drop it first, it just got filled yesturday morning.

[Mythica]

Do you have a nice thick piece of sheet metal that you can shield it with?

Welding next to the tank makes me nervious, but its fumes that explode, so if its full you should be ok, i would shield it no matter what though.


Disclaimer: if it blows up i didnt give any advise :)

[gr8goose82]

Disclaimer: if it blows up i didnt give any advise :)

understood, i've got something to cover it with, plus i'll open the cap so no pressure can build up

[Lysmachia]

Please stay as a grumpy old limping man, not a grumpy old crispy fried man ok?

[gr8goose82]

got it, i'm off, so if i don't post anything new before 6am, you can all come visit me at Skyridge medical center (it's almost right next door). wish me luck

[Lysmachia]

Oh that's where you are located? I hate that hospital. My sister was in Agony after her back surgery last December and they sucked in terms of care.... So for the love of pete don't do anything that will make you end up there!

[RedRunnertc]

For god's sake DO NOT take the cap off! As mentioned above - the vapor is the problem, keep it in the tank if possible! The cap will vent if the pressure gets too high.

[Firetacoma]

SECOND! If it's not too late, for the love of god leave the cap on!

Welder heats the gas, vents out the open cap, vapors are heavier than air, pool near your work area, BOOM. Seriously. Leave it on.

[gr8goose82]

i did it all just fine. i did leave the cap on while welding, i vented it about ten min before and then i vented it afterwards. i know that the vapor is the problem. but thanks for caring.

[gr8goose82]

heres a few pics

[gr8goose82]

how do i post pics but not as a thumbnail?

[AxleIke]

Obviously its tough to tell from the pics, so just asking, not trying to trash on you, but it looks like there is some gap in a few places, that would make me nervous.

But, like I said, hard to tell from pictures

[gr8goose82]

on my own truck i could care less what my welds looklike, all i know is that i garentee they will hold up to anything you can throw at them. there might be a couple of gaps, but i cranked it up a bit and used 7014 sticks so i'm pretty confident in them. also i test everything i do on my truck with our machinery here and if need be i can always fix it before the truck ever leaves they property

[AxleIke]

Nice. Didn't know you had testing facilities.

As long as it is a good weld, no worries. As I said, pretty tough to tell from the pictures.

Hope you like the lift.

[Lysmachia]

how do i post pics but not as a thumbnail?

You have to host the pic some place like shutterfly.com or photobucket (both free) and then you insert the image address between the image tags.

Like this:

**http://yourpictureserverhere.com_Matts_welding_picture.jp g**

Does that help?

[Taco_Man]

I think flickr is free or you could just email them to me and I can serv them up for you. You know I do have a web server.

[gr8goose82]

Nice. Didn't know you had testing facilities.

As long as it is a good weld, no worries. As I said, pretty tough to tell from the pictures.

Hope you like the lift.

i got some stuff to play on. i also usually just use one of our loaders and pick it up, drop it a foot or two, really just beat it around a bit and make sure it all holds together.


You have to host the pic some place like shutterfly.com or photobucket (both free) and then you insert the image address between the image tags.

Like this:

**http://yourpictureserverhere.com_Matts_welding_picture.jp g**

Does that help?

thanks i'll try it now


I think flickr is free or you could just email them to me and I can serv them up for you. You know I do have a web server.

i might send 'em to you, but i do need to know how to do it on my own at some point, so i'll try again, if it doesn't work, i'll let you know


thanks everyone

[gr8goose82]

ok heres some pics

here's the right side copleted
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/gr8goose82/P4030151.jpg

here's how i did the rear hanger and shackle
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/gr8goose82/P4030159.jpg

here's the front hanger
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/gr8goose82/P4030163.jpg

and for those of you i know are dying to see how close i got to the tank
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/gr8goose82/P4030162.jpg
and yes, i did fix these welds, it just took some time cause i didn't want to get too much heat that close to the gas tank

now i need to get some longer shocks on the rear, and then do the front, my truck now has a five inch rake to it. oh well, it'll have to wait a bit, erins kind of mad i spent so much time doing this. :mad: wait til she sees it. :eek: i'll get a pic of the truck on here tommarow. the wheel wells in the rear now sit at 44 1/2 inch and the front is at 39

[TowerRigger]

I've done lots of welding, grinding, and torching near gas tanks. I'm still waiting to be chunks of steak on the shop wall.

[ike]

i dont know if picking it up with a fork lift and dropping it is going to put the same amount of stress on the welds as wheeling will. you also have to think about the fact that this will see that abuse over alot of time, and this is a critical system for your trucks saftey on the road. I just dont know if i would be comfortable with having anyone but a shop do those welds at very least for liability reasons.

[gr8goose82]

the trucks insured and paid off so oh well, i need to get some longer shocks for it before i can really get it tested. my shocks are maxed and the leafs want to lift a little still. so once i get them in, i can really test it out

[gr8goose82]

ok here's what the finished product looks like for all that want to see what i've done
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/gr8goose82/P4090169.jpg

i know, it's got a hell of a rake to it, but now "I HAVE TO DO THE FRONT". and in total after measuring today, it's got a 5 inch lift in the rear