Her Name is Frank

[THK Matt]

thats one hack lookin back half job.... definately needs a new one.
can't wait to see what you do with this one

[Twisted Minis]

Started laying out the rear frame rails, and got one welded up.

[82 HiLux]

i like the long sloping frame rather than the big C notch it looks way better

[GJToyotabug]

thats going to turn out sick man

[kneedownnate]

New frame rails look nice man    My friend just got a project 87 2wd toy that was in the process of being bagged from a friend of his.  I think the po bought an a-arm kit for the front, IIRC the rear frame is already notched and set up.  If I remember, I'll snap some pics next time I'm over there.  It's not much to look at yet, but I'm sure he or his dad will paint it before too long too, though they may wait for warmer dry weather.

[Twisted Minis]

Put some shear load gussets on one rail and capped the end off. Will have most of the frame finished tomorrow since everything is pre made after the first rail.

[TheCookieMonster]

beautiful welds  ...that rear frame section is gonna be sweet i can already see it 

[twistedtoy92]

VERY NICE!!!

[Twisted Minis]

Finished the other rail, then welded a 3/8" blind tapped bung to the bottom side to mount a low profile Energy Suspension bump stop.


Then I squared it up and welded the rearmost crossmember in.

[Twisted Minis]

Finished the last crossmember in the back half, plugged all the holes and pressure tested it. I couldn't find any leaks with the soapy water technique, and it held 120 PSI for over an hour without dropping. So it's off to a good start, but I am leaving it pressurized overnight to see how it does. Also built some link brackets, and a shot of the bump stops I am using.

[Thomas P]

the frame/tank idea is sick, one less piece to look at, good work dood, keep the pics coming!

[82 HiLux]

you build the sickest . its gonna look so good with no air tank sitting in the back of the truck

[BUDDERS]

I didn't realize you were going to use the frame for the air tank.  That thing is gonna look clean when you are through with it!

[Twisted Minis]

Thanks guys.


I quit early today because I'm not feeling that well, so I didn't get much done. The tank was at 118 PSI when I came in today. So it dropped about 2 PSI in about 15 hours. I think the schraeder valve is leaking because that was the only thing I got to bubble this morning. But I got the backhalf squared up and welded in place. Building the whole backhalf on the table rather than piecing it together on the truck was so much easier. It only took about 10 minutes to square the rails up once I slid them into the stock frame. So it's welded in place, but it still needs some shear load gussets where it ties together, and I want to wrap the bottom of the frame with some 3/16" plate to keep the transition from being drug.



Also made this bracket for my neighbor, to mount a computer monitor to the wall.

[pumkin toy]

the frame looks sick man!!  very very clean!    so are the monitor brackets going into mass production??  lol

[Twisted Minis]

I doubt they would sell well! Lol.

Okay a lot of people asked about the frame tie in, so this is how I did it. I split the stock frame so that I could slide the new rails in since they are entering at an angle. I bent it up until the rail slid in all the way then welded it up.


Then just added a shear load gusset over that.


And I built a link crossmember.


I'm still moving at this pretty slow this week, as I'm still a bit sick. Hopefully I will be over it by mid week.

[boggerunner]

looking sweet, gonna do any work to the crusty rear of the cab, it looks like crap

[Twisted Minis]

Lol, everyone asks that. All I am being paid to do is the rear frame and suspension. The whole cab is pretty bad. I think it would be a better idea to get a whole different cab. There is no drive line tunnel, just the center console which isn't really held down well. Theres holes in the floor where it was cut for the bodydrop. Dash is ugly, looks like a spaceship. And the worst thing, is the driver side door is suicided, but you have to lift it up to close it because it's about an inch too low to close it.

[LilChief87]

looking sick man you got some MAD skills

[Twisted Minis]

I picked up my motor. It turned out to be a 302.

[82 HiLux]

im so jealous. your truck is going to F L Y! holy
are you just gonna do a stock build on the motor? or are you gonna beef it a little? maybe just a mild cam?? 
it looks like it runs pretty good as it sits now

[THK Matt]

mild cam and advance the timing a bit.. and you will free alot of HP.

[Twisted Minis]

I'm going to do a stock rebuild. Probably a new stock cam and stock internals. Electric water pump, one off headers, stock intake manifold from an 84 Mustang, and a a Holley 450. Goal is to keep it smog legal, but I will have to referee it with a stock carb from 84. I don't think I can fit it under the hood with an aftermarket intake manifold. But I heard I might be able to mill down a Performer intake about 3/8" which would put it damn close to the stock intake. I want to keep it mild, and keep the exhaust mild as well with turbo mufflers to try and keep it quiet. I think 200 horse will do fine in my truck. I'm getting tired of how loud my truck is, and I'd like to avoid getting pulled over a lot. And I don't want to kill my chances of it passing at the pipe, in case it ever needs to.

I was able to finish up an order for some lower arms. I did a budget set without the lower adjusters to cut the cost a little bit. Saves about $50 in parts.


I also took on my first part time employee. I am getting too busy to handle everything on my own. Today was his first day, showed up on time with his own safety gear and got to it all day. Wouldn't even really take breaks. We'll see how it goes. I had him start some link bars for the D50, he takes a lot longer than I do, but everything came out perfect. I'm excited.

[THK Matt]

how awesome, is he an experienced fab guy?

[82 HiLux]

hiring an employee is a big step in having your own shop!

[Twisted Minis]

Ya he actually has a lot of tools of his own in his garage and is collecting parts to build a prerunner S10. He has a job that has him welding and grinding a lot. He's anal like I am so that should be good.

[twistedtoy92]

nice!

[topar]

  Sounds like things are going well in your shop!  Hope you are able to keep it up with the economy the way it is right now.  Good Luck.  Work is looking killer as always! 

[beyondlogic]

what metal do you use for your control arms?  i am thinking of making my own for my truck.

[Twisted Minis]

Thanks guys.

The size and thickness of the tube depends on the vehicle and weight.

Yesterday Drew came out to help while I got caught up on some orders. He cleaned up the axle since I can't find a replacement, and he cut out the link bars. I got a chance to weld them together today.