1963 Ford Unibody Truck build

My wife is sure beer is the only reason I work in the garage.

I can recommend the Lincoln 220 mig that I got at home depot has been a good machine. Very reliable, nice welds, it's 220 so you can weld big material and it's never over heated on me. I think the machine is like $650 at depot but I caught it on sale and has a 10 percent off coupon and got it for around $500.

Harbor freight has a 220 mig for much less. I havnt seen reviews but that might be a way to get a better machine on the cheap. I know the small 220 tig at harbor got good reviews in the Horse magazine. I would like to know if they are any good.

 

My flux core is basically the same as the HF it can be converted to gas but its only 110 so I'm sure thats why it over heats. I get a pretty decent discount through my companys Airgas rep, he said he could get me a Lincoln for a little under 500 with a free helmet, and maybe a mail in rebate and or some free wire and stuff. I just have a hard time spending 500 on something I don't "have" to own yet when I need so many parts for the car!

 

I know the feeling on not wanting to spend the cash if you don't need to.

That sounds like a good deal on the Lincoln. I don't know if I will buy another machine but if I do it will probably be a bigger Millermatic with all the bells and whistles.

I don't need it now but you never know. My father in law has one that I have been trying to "long term borrow" for years but he wont let it go.

 

We got the lower links on the rear end the other day. Thanks Brandon and Ronny for the helping hand getting these all lines up:

 

Had to build the upper link mounts for the frame end.

 

Started with a Coors Light box and pencil

 

I ran out of 1/4" flat plate but had some 1/4" square tubing, it works and was free. Plasma cut them out:

 

Hit em' with some love from the bench grinder, right angle grinder, sander, drill press etc. Amazing how long it takes to make brackets with hand tools. Wish I had a water jet:



I will try to get them tacked in this week. Then it is on to the bag and shock mounts

 

I have an upper bag mount kit that came from Airbagit.com that t I paid good money for a few years back. I am going to try to integrate this into a below the frame bag mount and also use the over axle bag brackets to make behind the axle bag brackets.

I purchased a rear kit from Airbagit when we started the truck but it has taken so many turns and we are going so low that we can't use much as it is. The links are not changed and the upper link/axle brackets are not either but the rest of the kit has been modified or cannot be used at all.

I am even going to have to modify the upper control arms for the ball joint angle and the lower control arms to extend the lower shock mount out so that it does not interfer with the upper control arm.

Airbagit.com makes good stuff but make sure you know exactly what you need before ordering.

If I had to do it again I would have put a Mustang II in and the rear I would have just made most of the parts for the air bags. I am finding that "universal" is not always universal.

 

Nice work!

 

Have not posted in awhile. New job is kicking my butt!!

Anyway, got the upper and lower links in the rear and figured out the bag set up. Got the upper bag mounts in using parts from the "kit" that I originally bought.








Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

First time posting from my phone. This is a really kool app!!


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Hopefully can get more work done this weekend. Need to finish the lower bag brackets which will be tricky with the diff housing location but I have a plan. We will see how it pans out.


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Got the passenger side lower sorta put together it needs some adjusting. It looks a little wild but I have a plan with an upper support for it etc.



Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

I had to curve it in to clear the housing and weld to the tube.


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Got the passengers side finished and tacked in


Started on the drivers side about 1/2 way done




I am shooting for this week to have the bag mounts done then move on to the shock mounts


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Can't wait to see how it sits. Thanks for all the pics.

 

Should look a little like this
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=34884&pictureid=402725

 

Stupid apple will not let me me post regular pics. will keep trying to figure it out.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=34884&pictureid=402725

 

Here it goes have to post the URL

 

Very cool. This year Ford truck is my favorite. I guess I’m stuck in the mid 60’s.

 

Very good looking truck. I have a 64F100, but it's not as low. I didn't like these trucks when they came out because the front wheels looked like they set in too much and the top looked to high. I put mine on an 87 F150 frame which is wider at front and rear trac,but the top will have to grow on me.

 

Lookin great!

Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app

 

Got the drivers side done now she goes up and down

I cannot seem to post video of it. I will snap more pics later but now moving on to the bag bracket bracing and the rear shock mounts


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

It has been awhile since I have posted. I spent a bunch of time working on my bike and my 60 F100 and other peoples cars. Anyway have been working on the unibody again. I completely finished the rear suspension and short of the swaybar the front suspension is done. The engine and trans will be going in soon. I will get some better pics up

 

So long time no post but have gotten some done. Rear is finished minus the sway bar. After hours of searching and measuring I ended up with a mid 90's f350 bar that I can make work

 

Had issues with my upper a arms binding so I cut and changed the angle

 

The a arms were also to narrow at the mount and were rubbing on the upper mount so I cut that all out and will be fabbing the narrow inserts tonight