1" to spare. Nice. I would have ****ed up one of the cuts and had to buy another stick

**ignore this, just compiling for reference**

at some point:
https://www.garrettmotion.com/news/n...00-horsepower/

TURBOCHARGER(S)

Turbocharger: Garrett GTX5009R
Frame: GT50
Compressor Wheel Specs: 80mm Inducer, 108mm Exducer, 55 Trim, .69 A/R
Turbine Wheel Specs: 99mm Inducer, 91mm Exducer, 84 Trim
Turbine Housing: T6 .96 A/R

Turbocharger: Garrett GTX5533R Gen 2
Frame: GT55
Compressor Wheel Specs: 94mm Inducer, 133mm Exducer, 50 Trim, .96 A/R
Turbine Wheel Specs: 112mm Inducer, 102mm Exducer, 84 Trim
Turbine Housing: T6 1.24 A/R

Peak Boost: 106psi

***

2019 pikes peak:
https://www.dieselarmy.com/news/chuc...th-toyo-tires/

The compounds on board are a Garrett GTX 58MM secondary charger fed by a Garrett GTX 70-MM atmosphere turbo. That may not seem all that enormous, but its enough for what they’re setting out to do.

If you were to put a more traditional “big power” set of compounds on this truck, at this elevation, it wouldn’t have the excellent acceleration they’re after. In fact, prior to Pikes Peak, Smokey had a larger 80-MM / 106-MM combination.

***

2020 pikes peak:
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/202...turbo-cummins/

twin Garrett turbochargers on it – a G42-1450 for the big one and a GTW3884 for the small one – those are 80mm and 67mm.

Old Smokey’s 6.7L Cummins is what Freedom Racing Engines calls its Stage 2 build. It’s a 6.7L bored .020˝ over and was drilled and tapped for 14x2mm head studs and the mains were drilled and tapped for 9/16ths main bolts. The block was also line bored for cam bearings throughout the entire cam tunnel and features a Hamilton Cams 188/220 camshaft

:lol:

smashed out some progress! i don't know why, but i love the frame "kit" picture.

i also managed to fixture the main rails and get the rear legs welded on before realizing they were backwards :james: the miter at the front end went out vs in. lucky for me, i still need to cut the rear to length, so i just re-mitered the front and lost 1/2". redid the 3D and we're good.

https://i.imgur.com/pUPLjP0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/PoYhvJ8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2juDgcz.jpg

and tonight it's a whole thing! tack welded and ready to start crossmembers. also need to get Colin to cut my plate soon!

https://i.imgur.com/4RCOfCO.jpg

So why the little extension pieces in the middle of the bends instead of just making one steeper miter cut? Stronger to have 2 joints and less angle than 1 steep joint?

Its a compound miter in multiple planes, the down leg wouldn't be "virtical" or seam well without. I tried for hours to fudge it close, but with fish plates this will just be cleaner, look better, and ultimately shouldn't be any weaker. Just another joint. Tue plates cover all 3 pc of each bend with one plate.

I’ll say it again. You ought to get the chassis galvanized when you are done.

been doing a lot of prep work on all kinds of parts from the trans crossmember to the fuel tank mounts. re-designed the mounting of the crossmember though. this new design doesn't require drilling into the frame, will hold weight with no nuts on the bolts still, and can be removed down or back with no binding. no it's not double shear, but the loading doesn't require it at all, and not having to slot the bushings will make everything easier.

i've also been doing a fait bit of welding on the frame, and even got the rear brakes set up. 2008 GMC 3500 rear rotors, standard 14B studs, GM 3/4 ton D52 calipers, and BTF weld on brackets that have been in my shelf for like 10 years. the studs are a tiny bit sloppy to the rotor holes, so i wrapped a little tap on 2 studs to center them before pinning them in place with all 8 studs. nothing should move, Pirate4x4 couldn't even argue it works great, but another one of those "i guess we'll find out". i didn't feel like having custom sleeves machined if i didn't need to. had shims between the rotor and the caliper, more shims caliper to bracket, new pads, then made an adapter to hook the caliper to my air compressor. held everything square n tight while i tacked em in. yes the bleeders will be on the right side when actually installed, and they are installed below the axle to make sure they don't have any chance to hit the frame on articulation. looks weird to me though since i'm normally trying to keep them high from hitting rocks. lots of wheel clearance, so game on.

https://i.imgur.com/r1uWx3L.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/peK5M5G.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ezOELvl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XNKMYea.jpg

Got the rear links as far as I can until I get plate to keep going with bag mounts and the link mounts themselves. I even managed to not warp the thread insert!!! For reference I used a 1-1/4" threaded bushing.

https://i.imgur.com/1BNF891.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oKB6Dh7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mrY3ATR.jpg

Seat choices ... thoughts?

so i came down to 2 final selections, but only 1 is really an option. the Iron Ace bomber seat is hands down the seat that best fits this build, but at over $2000 there's just no way. a PRP bench however, kustum designed with the black/grey and blue stitching/piping is only just over $500. should be more comfortable and still fit the build pretty good.

https://i.imgur.com/7KbJa7d.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ij7Mgu1.jpg

more progress happening! got the transmission crossmember totally welded up. once the engine and trans are fit into the chassis/body i'll make the bushing mount then. got the gas tank mounts mostly built up n ready to weld to the frame when the time comes. i still need to figure out a strap set-up though.

my new air fittings finally arrived! i was able to mock up the front end for the first time complete and watch it travel. other than the wheel to LCA clearance turning that i already knew about, it's game on. of course, as soon as i did that, i tore it all completely apart. LCA mods, and without the crossmember was MUCH easier and cleaner to fixture on the front frame horns. i decided after i started building that i would use the stock style steering, but i NEVER would have guessed that the frame needed to hold it would be straight off the way it is. next frame i'd make the 6x2 longer and have the steering and cross member in the same layout. oh well, this does have space saving benefits at the core support body mount.

finally i started to prep the frame for the fish plates. i normally don't like to grind welds, but can't add plates without it flat. of course it's hard to just end the grind, so i carried it over the ends too. the top however i went back and tacked in to fill the weld under-cut witness lines and re-ground them.

i also started to modify the front LCAs with stiffening gussets before i chop out clearance for the wheels to turn more, but i'll post that when done.

https://i.imgur.com/c5sFgm5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yhfajHZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/AUvQjeI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/p5XlZX6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vZBn1kq.jpg

The top seat looks like it might be tough to have happy fun times on the road with. Jussayin' :lol:.

Progress is looking pretty good too!

Ace Bomber looks killer, always loved seeing them in rods, but they don't look all too long ride comfy. You got skills, make them.

I'd go w/ a comfy seat, myself, if you plan on driving it more than down the street.

Sweet progress, damn you and Damon got some mad skills!

Yeah that first seat looks terrible to sit in. No thanks

first up was another mod to the LCAs for steering. the extreme back spacing coupled with the extended travel got the wheels into the outer lip of the CA that's turned up. so i went about adding some gussets inside and under the arm before cutting back that clearance. i chopped the lip back about 3".

at this point the LCAs should only need a bump stop added to be all set. i am also however having a clearance issue with the UCA and the Belltech brake caliper mount gusset on the knuckle. currently that's my next steering stop. and should be the last clearance issue to get the full range of steering out of this box/geometry. full range is just better than 35deg i think, and that's not bad. the sheet metal will still be a limit depending on height though, stay tuned with me to find out how much. haha

then got everything back together to re-test just as my steering box showed up finally. so the steering is all on there and making sure i got it in the right spot.

https://i.imgur.com/jSgcuy2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mgbybis.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6DoVRQH.jpg

soooooo ... seats ... Iron Ace is out for cost, but now PRP is out cuz they said 10-12wk lead time.

found myself a 2002 Yukon 2nd tow seat somewhat local for $75. should be super comfy, has a console with cup holders while still being a bench, and has a foldable back even. just ugly old light tan. i'm trying to find a custom designed reupholster kit for it vs just a cover.

https://i.imgur.com/ptCf8HW.jpg

so i'm looking for a patina set of something like these

https://img.scgpix.com/listimg/img1_...fycL6jx0M7.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3LvWfpDZGSI/hqdefault.jpg

i guess worst case i can still get new ones for pretty cheap and just paint them off-white.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ksc-h3641#

https://static.summitracing.com/glob...c-h3641_ml.jpg

10-12 wait, how soon you gonna be ready to mount them?

my goal is still to have the cab on the chassis before the end of this month. once that happens i need to get the new pedal assembly in there. i have the steering column, but need a seat to place both at the same time for a cumfy driving position. then some overly complicated seat mount, and i need the column in place to be able to fab up the clutch pedal and where that will mount on the firewall, plus the rest of the steering shaft fab.

i won't run hoses n wires before i blow it all apart for final clean-up n paint, but that kinda stuff has to be done. my goal is still to drive this in the spring.

If the leather is in overall good shape consider talking to shop who refurbs leather seats, they can basically redye the leather a whole new color and make them look like new. Common practice when restoring leather seats on higher end vehicles.

interesting thought!

i did get the seat, $60, and is actually a white-tan that goes reasonably well with the truck. I'm happy enough for now to not bother with it, so that's a win. the seat is also 1/2" shy of the door on each, and tucks perfectly into the rear cab corners, it's literally MADE for this truck!! though, you'll notice i cut the head rest posts off. they still need some love eventually.

mounting brackets on the other hand will be the trick. i've convinced myself that the tubes under the seat are only there for a GM factory assembly aid, and serve no structural purpose once bolted to the floor. will require that i take the time to align everything well, and the auto-release seat back latch won't work because the cable mount will go away, but that's fine. fwd hinge bracket will get bolted to the floor directly in front of the rib, while the back will get bolted directly to the rear rib that is under the boards. same angle mounting as pictured, just lower.

passenger seat folds just like the drivers side. great access for putting tools n junk back there. maybe even a weekend duffle bag so it's not in the bed on a trip.

https://i.imgur.com/pF0a1zr.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JNyKQpy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oSgdhVX.jpg

man ... if you were only 57" tall that might make a nice camping bed :lol:

BOOM! Time to play

https://i.imgur.com/pk7bZpe.jpg

Damn, all that and you don't already have your own plasma cutter :dunno:

That HAD to be a heavy box :eek:

:roflmao: it was quite heavy!

i've looked into getting my own plasma table before, but with access to Colin's it's just not worth it yet. eventually i'd love to have my own for sure!

started knocking out fitting the plate on. ended up spending 1.5h trying to find what was off when i measured the wheelbase and it was off. turns out the frame and crossmember and true n square (<1/8" over the whole thing), i better placed the rear axle, and the front suspension that i never did an alignment on ... needs an alignment :lol:

tonight i hope to get the WATTs link in place, and maybe even the first set of bag mounts. once it can support it's own weight, then i'll drop on the body mounts. I'm pretty sure i want to get all the fish plates at least hard tacked in place before i drop the body on too. but my goal is still to have the body n front clip on the rolling chassis before the end of the Jan.

https://i.imgur.com/ylhv8IX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CfOZZE5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/w1ZC5kQ.jpg

so i was in my gun safe today, the new one with the "antique clear" finish ... and i think i'm going to just clear coat this frame when it's done. see all the welds, finished area, etc.

thoughts?

yes Sam, i know, galvanized ... but the clear chassis should look pretty sweet against the patina body.

Bare industrial metal guy here. Bare it, see it, share it.

got the Watt's back in place, feels good to have the rear axle fully constrained again.
started to assemble the bag mounts, and did a test fit of the fish plates. for a size comparison, i do NOT have small hands ;)

https://i.imgur.com/Kpa4pyT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/u7MqThN.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pVxatOn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XjJ8mGJ.jpg

Galvanized industrial finish would look pretty sweet against the patina body.

:pimp:

https://i.imgur.com/I7WzwJL.jpg

:rock:

after a minor adjustment to the watt's brace that i put in the wrong spot, she'll lay out. full drop, full lock-to-lock steering is still good. lots of frame clearance, but touch the steering box by THAT much :lol: ride height has 1/2" clearance, and the sheet metal won't let me steer that far at drop anyways.

i'm also reasonably impressed by the steering angle i'm getting out of the stock parts. this 35deg+ will be 1000x better than the old Ram chassis.

https://i.imgur.com/Fp6TT2l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2idO9YP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/EBKwAl2.jpg

Im freaking out, I'm so excited!! It freaking sits peeeerrrfect.

https://i.imgur.com/B06lnRv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BkcO8We.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/KeLV2xt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/b4rXWAF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qBZXrRo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qpm29Dc.jpg

Dude!

i hope to dry-fit the front clip here today. ran out of energy and wife-patience-assistance last night. :lol:

i'm afraid that i'm quickly getting to the end of the big milestones that are exciting and picture worthy. now comes that part where you have to actually make it work.

Freaking sweet!

This and Damon's builds are so incredibly bad ass!

Yeah, now all the tedious small stuff and finishing details come in...yowza!! For something that sat for so long, you made some pretty quick work out of things!