CK5 - The Full-Size GM Off Road Community

** UpDate - New pics added

Drivers side is getting real close. Hopefully it will look better when both sides are done and the hood is back on. I was going to make it narrower but the fender was giving me some trouble. That is about as tight as I can make it with the headlights and the fender not looking too bad. About 10" per side when I'm done. I also skinned everything out to lose some weight.

The passenger side might be tougher as the heating stuff is all there. I might dump it all and go with a universal setup on the inside firewall.

I'll get better pics when its done and on the tires. I also plan to do some serious cutting on the fenders.

The grill didnt turn out as nice as I had hoped but oh well.


http://www.planet4x4.net/pics/narrow1.jpg
http://www.planet4x4.net/pics/narrow2.jpg
http://www.planet4x4.net/pics/narrow3.jpg

http://www.planet4x4.net/pics/narrow4.jpg
http://www.planet4x4.net/pics/narrow5.jpg
http://www.planet4x4.net/pics/narrow6.jpg

Its not tilted, thats me.

I'm out of time to mess with it anymore this weekend. Next week I'll Start dropping the nose down to see how much I can get away with.

Looks like a hell of alot of work!

woah>>> that is bizarre with that bumper sticking out like that. Definitely need pics when its all done. How about a write up on how you do it...

Looking good Matt! /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

The passenger should not be that bad, just cut some of the inner skin of the fender.

Holy Section King, Sandman! Lookin real nice! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So how much for the bumper?? /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif Looks good, I wouldnt be surprised if UAV gets something like it in the future /forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif

Here is what I think it will look like when completed.
http://coloradok5.com/photos/data/500/246narrow2.jpg

That looks really good. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif I second the write up on how you did it.

Looks sweet!!!!

We Need a Write up.

Later

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I wouldnt be surprised if UAV gets something like it in the future

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Shhh /forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif

Sure I'll do a write up on it. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

It wont be a step by step though. I put the fender on 50 times untill I had figured out how much I needed to cut out. Its also angled in enough that the stock hinges will not work. I might really skin the hood out and then pin it down on all 4 corners. I wanted to leav it hinged so I might figure out a solution.

You do end up with an ugly gap between the fender and the door. With the doors off, it wouldnt be noticable though.

I'll take more detailed pics when I do the other side. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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So how much for the bumper??

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It kills me to lose that bumper. I love it. I thought about cutting it down but it would mess up how it all works together. I might have to sell it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'm going to see if there is a way I can put it in my dually first. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Looks pretty cool. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Are there any plans to drop the hood down a couple inches too? Don't get me wrong here, I'm no rock crawler, but wouldn't that be as much as or more important than losing width (so you can see better). /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

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The grill didnt turn out as nice as I had hoped but oh well.


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That's odd...looking at the pictures I thought the grill looked pretty nicely done. /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

Looks good. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Wait, now its about the same width as my front clip. /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

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Looks good. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Wait, now its about the same width as my front clip. /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

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Yeah, but Matt's is straight. /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

damn that looks sweet /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Actually, you can keep the hinges, I did with a more drastic narrow than that. Since they are mounted to the cowl rather than the fender as the earlier trucks were, all you need to do is angle them in along with the fender. I skinned out the hood, build a new "frame" and cut the front 5" or so out of the hinges. Then welded a piece of 1" x 0.125 angle to the hinge and bolted it to the hood frame. There are a few pics on my web page.

I have been thinking about doing this but I am in the design stage still, I plan toi follow the 2 inner hood lines.

I want to plasma off the fender's inner frame crap and leave just the skin, then add supports to the radiator area via tubing to the fire wall and angle the radiater support back 7 inches. Yhe tack some pipes in a vertical position and bend the fender over the pipe to allow it to form its-self inward tward the narrower radiator core support..it all sound good in my head /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

After I have it all together I will mount my Duz fasteners and the fenders will be removable and the hood will be mounted using hood pins /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Cant wait..there is nothing like choppin up a truck you just finished /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

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Here is what I think it will look like when completed.
http://coloradok5.com/photos/data/500/246narrow2.jpg

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only if he is gonna have 2 braking systems... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

j

Looks good Matt, can't wait to see the finished product.
I've thought about it too. Maybe somewhere down the road.
I'd like to drop the front height down for better viewing also. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

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Are there any plans to drop the hood down a couple inches too?

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I'm running a three inch body lift. I plan to drop it to a 2" if I can (The exaust is run real high as is the gas tank) and then drop the front nose down to a 1" body lift or none. I do not plan on securing the back of the fenders untill I have looked at this some.

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, you can keep the hinges, I did with a more drastic narrow than that. Since they are mounted to the cowl rather than the fender as the earlier trucks were, all you need to do is angle them in along with the fender. I skinned out the hood, build a new "frame" and cut the front 5" or so out of the hinges. Then welded a piece of 1" x 0.125 angle to the hinge and bolted it to the hood frame. There are a few pics on my web page.

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I'll look into that. Thanks.

I was just thinking about skinning the hell out of it and then just pinning it down on all four corners. The only problem with that is that you have to find a place to put it everytime you take it off.

If I do hinge it, I will have to leave some of the bottom so it doesnt warp. It will be the last thing I do so I'll just back burner it for now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I built a new frame of 0.5 x 0.062 square tube to support the hood. You'll need something to support it anyway, and with a little planning, it will support hinges too.

Problem #2 with pinned hood, it takes 2 people to open it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

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Problem #2 with pinned hood, it takes 2 people to open it

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On the last two race cars I built, I completely skinned out the hood and it ended up so light, I could lift the whole thing off with one arm. I am going to give it a shot, if it doesnt work out, I might be PM'ing you on the details. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

I think it looks great!!! /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gifI really like how it looks with the factory grill. Anyhow I do have a ? on how wide it is at the front? Just curious for something I
m tring to figure out.

Thanks. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I measured the grill width at 52" wide.

I tired to go narrower but it would not work out very well. Right now, the stock heater housing is about an 1/8th inch from the skinned put fender. I also had to do some cab surgury to make it fit.

Put a hoist ring in the middle of the hood maybe. Pull it up with a hoist in the garage or under a tree. Leave it hang until you're ready to put it back on. Just a thought. Looks nice. This may be a very future mod for me.

that is absolutly beautiful---good job man /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

looks awsome man!!!!

/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif frt is looking great, can you get some pics of the fender to door gap ? Are you doing anything to correct it ?

I'm messing with that now. I decided to dump the fan and go with an electric setup. This allowed me to move the core support back about an 1" and gets rid off some of the gap. I am also dropping down the fron about 1.5". Right now, its about all mocked into place. The bottom fender bolt bolts right in and the top fender bolt behind the door is real close. I had to notch the bracket to make it. The top fender mount has been removed. The bottom of the fender is flush and the top has about a 1" gap. Doesnt look to bad and will not be noticable at all with the doors off. I am also going to put 1/2 rod to independtly support the core support. The fender being all skinned out and trimmed does not have the strenght anymore.

The fans will be ready tomorrow. Then I will be able to set everyting right and bolt it all down. Then I'll get the hood done. Might be done this next weekend. Now I have to figure out where I want to put the battery.

Can you give us detailed pics of the radiator support mods and inner fender mods when you do the writeup?

Looks real good. Man, do I need to get busy! /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

No problem. Its turning into quite a job but it should work out well in the end.

mount the battery on the frame, I did this and can stuff with no problems /forums/images/graemlins/deal.gif

I have my optima battery under my passenger beard seat/cage. It is mounted on it's side with the top terminals facing out. Totally out of the way, protected and easy to give people a jump start. Oh, and it really clears up the engine compartment. I also don't run a factory heater set up. Instead I run a Mohave heater from flexalite.

I think I'll figure it out tomorrow. I should have the front end about figured out then. Should be done with everything but maybe the hood.

Seems like a lot of work for something to beat on, oh wait, it is a lot of work for something to beat on! Hope yours lasts a little longer than mine did.... I think mine lasted 1 day before the major crash.
Battery behind the front seat worked for me.
I was able to keep the stock heater but had to use a box from a '74 K5 since the AC box was too big. It got crunched too so the next step is a mojave heater for me.

I like it better the old way, put it back /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

It reminds me of that old Kids in the Hall sketch - "I'm squishing your head!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seeing your work is what caused this effort to happen. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I have most of it about rounded up now. Just working on the hood. I'm still torn if I want to skin it and run hood pins or If I should try to hinge it. The stock hinges wont work anymore. After that I'll fit in the cowl.

The stock AC setup made it OK but I wanted to remove it just to get rid of the weight and the space it takes up.

Looks like its going to end up working out OK. I ended up moving the radiator support back some so now I can move the bumper in some.

A few more nights should do it. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Update? Pretty sweet /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Looks real good Matt... /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/deal.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Sandman, I was wondering if you could clue me into how you mounted your fenders? I started on the front end tonight. I removed the passenger side fender and the blower assembly then cut away that part of the firewall so the fender can angle in as much as possible.

Yeah any new pictures? We narrowed a friends 78, and another friend wants to do his 85 now - seems to be an epidemic /forums/images/graemlins/pimp.gif

Yep my 84 is going narrow.

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Yep my 84 is going narrow.

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Your still going to be too wide at the center, might as well cut the fire wall down and get rid of that pesky windshield. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

don't think I haven't considered such a thing...

I was going to pull it out of the garage tonight and take some pics as I have to pull the rear bumper off. Now its raining like hell. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I still have the blower motor on as I wanted to keep the heater. This is what I cut:

- The metal that sticks out next to the blower motor
- Cut off the top fender bolt on area. The fender bolts on with the bottom bolt and the one behind the door.
- Skinned out the fender except for the rear area and the very front so I could use the stock fender holes.

You cant go in to far without ending up with a huge gap between the fender and the door or having the fender stick out further than the door.

Up front, I cut out the headlight bucket areas, chopped down the core support, and then remounted the headlight buckets back onto the support and then used the stock three holes that are there. The fender only needs to hold itself up now so the mounting can be a little more cheesy.

Here is all I have.....


http://myweb.cableone.net/mattsanders3/front1.jpg
http://myweb.cableone.net/mattsanders3/front2.jpghttp://myweb.cableone.net/mattsanders3/front3.jpg
http://myweb.cableone.net/mattsanders3/front4.jpghttp://myweb.cableone.net/mattsanders3/front5.jpg

thanks man, PA gets cold but hey I won't be wheeling in winter. As for door gap, probably just going tube door or something similar.

It gets wet too from what I remember. I used to live in Paoli. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Yeah well not this next summer but the next one, hopefully anyway. It definetally gets wet, and snowy, first snowfall of the season(that stuck) was yesterday into today. I'm going out soon to continue on the front, I'm gonna rip the driver fender off as well then the core support. I think I'm gonna fab a new tube core support to lose a little weight. Maybe move it back a little bit to close up the gap if I decide to keep doors. Not going to keep my headlights or front markers either. Just going with some off road lamps on the front end.