This page is........

The body drop.

I did the body drop in seven days. I did it on my vacation and I had a friend come over and help me for a few hours every night.

I've never body dropped a truck before, so it was new for me. I know some of you believe it should be done certain ways and everybody has thier favorite way. I decided to do a Traditional Body Drop. It was the best choice for me because I only had some much time and space. Im really happy with the out come, but there are always things that you would do different or better after its done. That comes with the experience. So here it is......

First I tore down the truck and gutted the interior..

I had to tear out the fan box and heater box too. You have to pull them because they are in the way of the cuts, but for me they were also gonna show under my new dash if i kept them. So i dont have a heater or a fan now...

Then I folded under the pinch welds.

thats what it looks like when its done.

You will have to cut a little of the pinch out at the fronat and back of the cab because its to thick to bend.

Now I figured out where I would make my cuts in the cab and cut them and cut the frame horns too.

I also cut out my drive shaft tunnel.

Dont forget to pull you radiator. It wont work any more anyways because it will be to tall.

Now when I say I made the cuts, it wasnt just that simple. You have to either lift the truck and run tube steel under the frame or have a REALLY flat surface so when the body drops from the cuts it will lay level. There are a ton of little cuts and trim areas too so be prepared.

After I made all the cuts and everything layed level. I made filler plates and tacked them in. I also tacked the firewall, the back wall and mocked up the frame horns.

After everything was tacked and level. I started the welding...

Welding the fire wall really sucked, its like trying to weld to sheets of paper together. So after all the welding on the cab was done, I finished the frame horns.

Compare those pics to the one at the top and you will see the difference and how much it dropped.

Now I fiited and welded in the drive shaft tunnel.

Next I had to mod the steering column. The second knuckle would was hitting the top of the upper control arm after the bodydrop, So I made it longer in one section and shorter in another.

Pulled the whole thing. Shortend it where the red arrow is and lengthend it where the blue is. Just used a piece of pipe to make it longer (blue arrow). then welded it all up. That brought the knuckle thats between the arrows up so it wouldnt hit the upper contol arm. The overall length of the column was shorter in the end. it has to be or it wont bolt up.

Next was the radiator. I had no idea what radiator I was gonna stick in there. I didnt wanna spend the money to have one built, So I went to the junk yard with measurements and started popping hoods. Well I found one after a few hours. It had good measurements, the right inlet and outlet and it also had an electric fan so I was happy!..... I Had to cut the radiator support wall in a couple spots and make filler plates and mounts. I removed the engine driven fan and did work!

I got some new hoses and cut them to length, ran wires to my ignition, and it works great!

The cab was basically done, the bed floor was pretty easy. I just pulled the bed, flipped it upside down and cut around the edge of the floor. Put the bed back on the truck, layed the floor in, measured square and made sure the body lines lined up. Tacked everything in place. Pulled it back off and welded it up. You have to make a filler plate back by the tailgate (the step).

Now like I said, there are a few things I would have done different, but im happy with it, and theres always next time!

Here are some random build pics!

pics below @ slamfest 08

If you post negitive, uneducated, or just plain stupid comments.

I will delete them.