I finally started cutting the frame boxing plates today. I am so happy to have a plasma cutter again! It's nothing fancy, a Titanium Plasma 45 from Harbor Freight, but it cuts through 3/16" steel like warm butta!! I was facing going after these outlines with a 4-1/2" grinder and a cut off wheel(s). This tool does it in 1/10th the time.

 

Nothin' like having the right tool for the job.

 

After getting the engine mount adapters finished, I started to sort out the cross member for the transmission. I am using a Hooker Black Heart unit that is made for the Chevy S-10. Racer X Garage on Youtube found out these fit the Dakota just as well, since the two are very close to each other. The 6L80E trans I am using made the pinion angle too steep when bolted to the cross member. I decided to try and fit some 2" x 2" x .12" wall square tubing between the frame and the cross member brackets. This set up brought the pinion angle to 2.9 degrees. All of the research I have done has indicated a maximum of 3 degrees, so this corrected my issue. To finish them off, I will take them out and weld end plates to each end of the tubes prior to painting and final assembly. That will help strengthen them against crush loads.

 

Think I might cut some internal spacers where the bolts got thru as well.......

 

8' per side of chassis boxing plates ready for clean up. I will paint the sides facing the frame rails with primer/sealer paint prior to starting the welding. Did I say I love having a plasma cutter? No?! The funny looking notch in the middle is to clear a cross member I do not want to remove.

 

Here is the first test fitting of the thicker boxing plates. More trimming is needed, and a few filler pieces to make as well. The plates go all the way past the axle, ending at the stock shock mount cross member.

 

I have been away for a while on this project. I spent 10 days in Alberta, fly fishing the Bow River, and visiting some of my brothers. What an awesome time! I got in late last night, and this Thursday a group of friends are coming to visit for the weekend. So it looks like next week will be the return to working on this truck. I have set a goal to hear the engine breath fire for the first time by April '26. Not drivable, but to hear it run. Before the fishing trip I was struggling with the welder set up for inverted MIG welds on the chassis boxing plates. I have some good support from a good friend who was in the welding industry for his career. So we will see how his set up changes work next week. I hope everyone had a good Labor Day weekend!

 

Vacation is always a good time.

Lookin' forward to some more progress.

 

As I work on my personal property claim (not on my truck), I have been knocking out other small projects that aren't so expensive. Here is the latest addition to Shop 2.0. My neighbors (best in the world!) made a sign for the new building. It is an actual old spoked car wheel, so it weighs over 50 lbs. He found a Studebaker hub cap to go on it. Another neighbor has a cnc plasma cutter, so he cut out all the text. Some clear coat for the weather, and mounted to a recycled plastic 2 x 4 to anchor it to the wall.

 

That's rather cool.