Hey all I just acquired a 64 C10 longbed that i plan on making a quickie driver out of. Its a dead player that spent the last 25 or do years in a field waiting for my grubby little hands to get on it. The plan is a static drop getting the frame rail about 5" or so off the ground. Thats going to require notching the rear frame for clearance. I know there are kits out there but I want to fabricate as much as possible. So the question of the day is if it is safe to weld up 2x4 tubing for the notch or if plating the sides in solid pieces and then welding the top and bottom hats is safer. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The 2x4 would be quicker and easier but I just want to be safe Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I used Gambino notch kit and was very pleased. Saves a lot of time with centering, leveling, and measuring... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Doing it out if 2x4 creates alot of weak points in the notch, best way is to do it with the 4 piece notches like the picture above. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Tubing is good, just pick the right tubing. I authored this a few years back.... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=457037 I am also a fan of the 60-66 C10's also! Here's my old orange crate:
That's a good lookin truck Lake. NAES, do you or did you make those 2x4 for the step notch? That's what I am lookin ta do. I have a little notch in there, but use air shocks to stiffen it or it will hit.
Cool guys thanks for the quick replies. I haven't made anything yet. I need to drag it into the back yard and take the bed anf front clip off. Then ill get going. Heres a few pics of the monster. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I've built plenty of notches out of 2x3 & 2x4. As long as your welds are solid and you use thick enough material you'll be fine. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Lakeroadster VERY nice job on the tech info. Made me rethink a bit on a planned notching. Thank you for posting!
Lake thanks for the link. That clarifies things a bit for me! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Great job on the tech article, I really like to one other option run through an FEA program. Years ago there a was a thread (which I cannot locate) that showed a nice clean method used in the aircraft industry. Instead of fish plating the outside of a weld joint on square or rectangular tubing you actually slotted the tubing (in this case the top and bottom and p***ed a piece of plate through the center of the tube and welded the two outside edges See my ****py picture below....
Sweet, Glad I could help. Back that up with something other than opinion.... Do you have a hitch on the back that you have proven towing capacity with? On the truck arm style suspensions there really is no loading unless you are towing.
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