Project DirtShark: 97-03 Dixon Brothers 4x4 Long Travel Suspension
#182
so quick update on the truck. still tearing apart the dash little by little when I actually have time. trust me when I say I will be so glad to make things very simple and clean when I go to build and panel my dash. Its been fighting me the whole way and even took a jab at me when I wasn't paying attention and closed the metal flap attached to the spring in the glove box on my fingers when I took it out.
but besides that, I had a awesome time sitting down with my buddy matt whos my go to with solidworks and modeled up the frame and lower portion of the bulkhead to start. we really got every measurement right and critical so that when we go back to cut these things out and I weld them, they're not a nightmare to fit and put together. heres a few pics of what we got done.
the frame will be 2x6" square tubing that tapers to a 2x4" and it will connect to the bulkhead right at where the trans and engine come together. understand that these are baby steps and I have a long way to go before really cutting into things. our goal is to finish the bulkhead, start arms/spindle in the next coming months and virtually cycle before cutting out so I can spend less $$ on material and more money elsewhere. bracing isn't there yet because I have yet to honestly figure out where I want the bracing to even be. I'll need to mock the motor and trans up and figure out where exactly I need to place it so that this truck isn't a mile long ha.
question for the guys who have the same year truck as I do. can anyone measure the distance from the front of the door, to the front of their grill? I need a overall measurement because I don't have my core support obviously and I need to know how long the front nose of the truck is. thanks!
but besides that, I had a awesome time sitting down with my buddy matt whos my go to with solidworks and modeled up the frame and lower portion of the bulkhead to start. we really got every measurement right and critical so that when we go back to cut these things out and I weld them, they're not a nightmare to fit and put together. heres a few pics of what we got done.
the frame will be 2x6" square tubing that tapers to a 2x4" and it will connect to the bulkhead right at where the trans and engine come together. understand that these are baby steps and I have a long way to go before really cutting into things. our goal is to finish the bulkhead, start arms/spindle in the next coming months and virtually cycle before cutting out so I can spend less $$ on material and more money elsewhere. bracing isn't there yet because I have yet to honestly figure out where I want the bracing to even be. I'll need to mock the motor and trans up and figure out where exactly I need to place it so that this truck isn't a mile long ha.
question for the guys who have the same year truck as I do. can anyone measure the distance from the front of the door, to the front of their grill? I need a overall measurement because I don't have my core support obviously and I need to know how long the front nose of the truck is. thanks!
#186
Hey guys, sorry about the immense lack of posting. I have been doing like nine million things and honestly have put my truck on the back burner for the time being. At least the physical portion of it. When I first posted about redoing it I had a buddy start to help me with it because I wasn't proficient in CAD. Now thats changed and I do it daily at my job haha. funny how quickly you can learn things when it interests you. anyways we finished up the front end bulkhead and I've been working on doing arms/spindles/steering. The rest of the truck will be drawn too including all the tubing and housing and mounts and all that tideous stuff. working in it truly makes me realize why they cost 500k+. it takes a LONG time to figure everything out on the computer so that when you go to actually spend the money its as efficient as possible. I'm not a millionaire so everything I have to do has to make sense to me and spending 20k on trial and error doesn't. So look for more virtual pics in the near future here soon.
in other news I bought a new truck! seeing that this is a ford site I'll probably get some hate on it but hey thats alright shes everything I've ever wanted and I'm glad I finally was able to buy something new with the hard work I've been putting into life. Also in case anyone cares, we're 2nd in points in the 6100 truck class so thats pretty rad! took the truck to its first race which was vegas to reno which was pretty cool! hopefully after I add a few things to it I'll just take it to every race and have a blast doing it. below are a few pics to hold you over.
bulkhead
new truck: 2015 Ram 2500 Crew Cab Laramie Cummins Diesel Black Appearance Package
cab lights installed
in other news I bought a new truck! seeing that this is a ford site I'll probably get some hate on it but hey thats alright shes everything I've ever wanted and I'm glad I finally was able to buy something new with the hard work I've been putting into life. Also in case anyone cares, we're 2nd in points in the 6100 truck class so thats pretty rad! took the truck to its first race which was vegas to reno which was pretty cool! hopefully after I add a few things to it I'll just take it to every race and have a blast doing it. below are a few pics to hold you over.
bulkhead
new truck: 2015 Ram 2500 Crew Cab Laramie Cummins Diesel Black Appearance Package
cab lights installed
#187
Also wanted to update about this because it was such an awesome experience. I've been in the truck scene since I was in HS, and I have met SO many people and have honestly gotten to where I am in life because of trucks and the community we have. Earlier this week I had heard about this story of a little kit who had died from a rare form of cancer and who loved trucks, especially big trucks. A family member reached out to facebook to see if maybe ONE truck could attend his funeral. Well we gave him a whole lot more than just one. There were over 300+ trucks from different forums and different groups that attended and it was honestly a sight to be seen. I drove in this procession with many of my buddies with their lifted trucks to honor this little guy that we didnt even know. It was a great showing of how a community of truck owners could come together regardless of brand or modifications and give the little boy a proper send out. Below are a few pictures as well as a link to the news story. Honored to be apart of it.
link to news story
http://www.abc15.com/news/region-sou...o-loves-trucks
link to news story
http://www.abc15.com/news/region-sou...o-loves-trucks
#189
Suspension
Hey I know I'm a few years late but I'm turning my f150 into a prerunner very soon I'm going with the DBR or what is now Vegas desert fab long travel kit but I have a few questions for you hopefully you or someone else can answer them is the picture you took all the parts that come in the kit? What fox coil over shocks and bump stops did you use exactly I'm having trouble matching and finding the same ones you have thanks
#190