Both of you hush...I was doing a bunch of other stuff before I tackled the frame today.
I want to lower the bed about 3" and re-do the shock crossmember since it's not really welded to the frame. Plus the factory fuel tank support/exhaust hanger is rusted through on the top side somehow so that's on the list to get replaced/repaired later. I took off the bed side metal which wasn't hard since the welds didn't have good penetration at all. A hammer and chisel took care of a lot of them; had to use the cut-off on a handful. Great welding; hope there isn't more of that lurking in some other important loaction. Seeing the crappy welds that connect the bed to the frame got me thinking of re-doing them and lowering it later. Like "after I get a plasma cutter" later. While staring at the bed I got the brilliant idea to build a storage compartment just behind the cab within the bed/frame area. It'd be 12"x10" and 4' long if I can swing it; I was also thinking of raising the fuel tank somehow but that would interfere with the storage box idea... unless I shorten it to 3 or 3.5 feet long. It's a long way off and I'm focusing on the frame and getting the Chevy springs in this week.
Which brings me to another thought: (I know, I'm dangerous when I think)
Should I extend the frame rails (a foot or so) so I can move the axle back/mount the Chevies? Right now it looks like the front spring mount would be just in front of the frame's curve and the rear would be just at the end of the frame.
I don't know...
>>Dan