Big Red Pile 91 W350 Build Thread

[CumminsPower59]

Awesome Mark!

I farted around today with the pile some more...mocked up the 2nd gen IC, piping and installed my GDS 60mm/14cm2 H1C...

Still got to finish fabbing the throttle bracket, as I just cut the top of it off for now. Everything has to come back off anyways, so it's just all thrown together temporarily..

[cmann250]

Ahhh... You got that vertical support to fit.I didn't try too hard to fit it back in. I'm interested to know how your battery tray fits back in. Mine's tight.

[CumminsPower59]

I have some 1" wide thin-ish flat stock and I will make two brackets that will bolt onto the throttle bracket support and tie into the intake plate bolts. As for batteries and the tray, I have no idea, if I have to clearance the tray, I will, no biggie. It's that I have two optima red tops side by side on that one tray...that's the tricky part.

[lucyis2Slow]

Lookin good! Keep up the good work like!

[CumminsPower59]

Made more progress, got the bed removed and cut down, transmission and transfer case are out, got some parts in from Mark, and some cab mounts from Caleb, now I am making forward progress...




2nd gen block plate and starter...


Cut 1/4" off the frame for clearance reasons...


Supposed to rain again soon, hope to be doing some welding in the next few days. Probably going to start painting the hood, doors and fenders this week...hopefully.

[cmann250]

Cut 1/4" off the frame for clearance reasons...

Is your frame tall or short? My short 6" frame needed some cutting too.

[CumminsPower59]

Shoot, I dunno. It's 7" under the cab, and 8" after that...just measured it...

Dropping the flywheel off this morning to get machined, going to get the floor section trimmed and ready to be welded into the floor of the cab. Hope to be trying out that new welder today

[RCCUMMINS89]

Frames are the same up front............ the difference is in the belly on back.

I didn't have to cut mine, I even have brake lines that run between the frame and starter....... never hit yet.

[CumminsPower59]

See, that's what I was thinkin, as at SOP, seen several frames of the short and tall height variety, I guess my frame is the 8" type...

[Mark Nixon]

When I did the install in the carhauler, I didn't like how close it was, so I used a BFC Wrench and just rolled the edge up nice and sweet.
I don't cut anything if I don't have to.

Mark.

[CumminsPower59]

I thought about that, but I just trimmed a 1/4" at most...

Well, so much for welding a floor in, very dissapointed at the moment. In myself and at the welder. First, I measured, marked, test fit several times, and then cut out the floor. In my own stupidity, I didn't leave enough material to overlap in certain areas. Second, I have been welding a long time, and I have no idea why this little welder keeps burning through the material, I have welded really thin stuff before, with lesser equipment and never had too much of trouble once the machine is dialed in. I followed the directions with the machine, and then made some adjustments in voltage and wire speed, and I can't get this thing dialed in close enough to keep from burning through...

I should have just used sheet metal screws and epoxy to put this floor in...

[RumbleFish]

so I used a BFC Wrench and just rolled the edge up nice and sweet.

I've got a hammer from this same store!

[Mark Nixon]

TACK it down, don't try to bead it in.
Let me guess, IF it does weld it, you have a porous, almost seared looking finish to the weld?
The metal these cabs are made from is total crap, not to mention it's also electro-coated.
I know that floor section I sold you was greasy. Grease and flux core wire (if that's what you are using) suck to weld with.
If you're welding outside with this poor quality of e-coated tin and there is even a hint of breeze, forget it.

I'm sure you know most of this, but still I ramble.

I've got a hammer from this same store!

BF...(Big F-Ing) Inc. has been in business for many, many generations, since even before the invention of the wheel!
For anything bigger than the job needs, they are right there with the real-world solution for over-doing the project at hand and they are one Corporation that DOESN'T mind if people use their slogan in their personal and professional ventures!
They are a more tongue-in-cheek Corporation, laid back and always evolving with people's needs.

BF...Inc.,for when you need a Big F-ing...

Mark.

[ellis93]

If you burn thru with your welder then I've found three things lead to a correction. Hand speed,wire speed,voltage. On thin metal turn it all the way down on voltage and use the wire speed to basically fill in the spot,usually the thinner the material the faster I turn the wire speed up. You'll just have to get your hand accustomed to moving quick to

Oh,the surface needs to be shiny,spotless clean with these little welders....otherwise they suck balls

[CumminsPower59]

Mark, I completely de-greased and removed the undercoating that was on that floor section, I always prep with a flap disk or a grinder to get all the paint/rust off of whatever I am welding. I even sprayed it all down with brake cleaner until it was spotless...

Ellis, I have the voltage set as low as possible, and I have the wire speed turned up some but I might have to turn it up a bit more and see if that works...

Moral of the story...I should have set the pan in and had some overlap to weld to, instead of trying to butt weld it all. Live and learn. I will be on the hunt for another floor section, and I will just have to weld it in properly then.

It's freakin hot, going inside to cool off and down some water...