W350 Crew Cab - The ultimate first gen - Pics and history

[RSchwarzli]

As they say..." Rome wasn't built in a day" .... but then the Romans had a large army to build it with It does take a little bit longer when you are a one man army. While "we" all want to see it finished as I'm sure you do as well it is best to do it once and do it right. I'm glad I'm not the one paying the insurance for it once it's on the road. Hope it doesn't cost too much.

Keep up the good work and keep the updates coming.
David

David, you are 100% correct. It is a work of art and rushing and cutting corners isnt an option. However I just got an idea....need to hire an army.

Beat me too it!! Good one! :-laf

Looking good! Did you taper cut the front of those to keep the contour line with the rear of the front fender? I can't tell in the photos.... Hopefully I'll get to see it next year somewhere.... maybe?

Oh pipe down! lol Yes, the back of the rear running board is cut to the same curved profile as the dually fender. The ss flap will also be curved to match. Was working on getting that done this past weekend.

Oh, that was smooooth!!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Oh dont encourage him! He doesnt need more of that! You know how big his head is gong to be now that he thinks his joke was funny? We will roll into diesel events and we will have to pry him out of his truck as his head will be too big to get out the drivers door. :-laf

 

[Simplysmn]

Rome May have not been Built in a Day But it Didn't take 10 Yr's Either LOL:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[RSchwarzli]

Rome May have not been Built in a Day But it Didn't take 10 Yr's Either LOL:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf

:-laf Touche. I have nothing other than it isnt 10 years. Its 9.

 

[Simplysmn]

We have to have someone to pick on It's All in Good Fun though . But the Best way to make us stop is show up at May Madness 2016 ???????? The First nite's stay is On Me .

 

[RSchwarzli]

We have to have someone to pick on It's All in Good Fun though . But the Best way to make us stop is show up at May Madness 2016 ???????? The First nite's stay is On Me .

Hahahaha. Yes, I would pick on me too, hate to admit that. lol

Sweet! Not that far a drive right? EDIT: Google says 38 hours! Thats not that bad!

 

[Simplysmn]

AWWW come On it's just a Few day's Drive LOL

 

[RSchwarzli]

Riiiiiiiight.

 

[Simplysmn]

Well Let's see 10 hour's a day driving only take you 4 day's LOL

 

[RSchwarzli]

10 hours!? Good lord i'm not a pansy! Made SLC in 3 days with trailer and a stop along the way a few years ago with the 90. More use to like 15 hour days.

Wait....not helping my own cause here am I? :-laf

 

[Simplysmn]

OK OK I didn't want to Push you I am sure you could Push it and make it alot faster then we Think .

 

[RSchwarzli]

Small little update as I upload more photos. Been making GREAT progress! Next up was the rear door. As you recall the glass was shattered….. Thanks to a helpful TDR member in western Canada, I got some glass for the door so it was time to clean out the old glass and install ever so carefully the replacement glass.


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Also the final mounts were finished for the rear power windows:



Next up was dealing with all the upside down Hella lights. That was now taken care of with some custom printed high quality to prevent stone blasting, decals. The Mopar ones are off the 90 to give an idea of what else can be done with these covers to make them look good. Those have been on the 90 for 3 years worth of driving and are still perfect. The hope is to inspire more being done this way.


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So, what use to look like this….


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Now looks like this:



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[RSchwarzli]

Now that the running boards were the right length, we have to mount them. I went over many different ideas but at the end of the day, I decided I didn’t want to drill into the rockers at all so all would have to be supported by the frame channel. So the brackets began:


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Using C clamps, I basically set up the brackets to sit where I wanted while the running boards were supported by the big blue buckets.



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Then did some marking and drilling….


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Then a test fit and all looks good:


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And same for the other side.



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After some testing, I found too much flex in the bracket as I suspected so I made up some little corner supports and TIG'd them into the bracket. You can see the square prior to cutting it corner to corner, and then after it was cut:



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You can see all 6 completed.



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Next was to get the general shape and size of the read mud flap sheet to match the contour of the gen 1 dually fender. So measurements were made and then cut on the band saw. Final cut on the boards themselves to match the flap, and then the flap is cut. Thanks to a buddy I had a second pair of hands for this trimming.



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frame brackets were cut out of some old steel pipe and then polished prior to powder so the rust would be removed. You can see the amount of rust that came off when polished with an emery cloth in a lathe:




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Now there were a few parts from the original running boards that was supplied that I am reusing, so I had to sandblast the old powder off so they would all match. So also spent some time in the booth.



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After many weeks of modifying and fabricating, the brackets are done as are several others for the truck. This is my table of parts to go for powder coating.



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[RSchwarzli]

Next task was to make the rear semi Cummins flaps fit. This is what I started with:



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First step was to cut 1” square tubing to size and clamp it to the ¼” plate I machined up to straddle the shock mount bracket reinforcing angle. Then I set it in place, market it, and then got to welding.


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I didn’t want any flex at the welded plate to tube area so I reinforced the top of the flap arm with some angle so it would give extra strength in the area prone to collapse.



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Mud flaps were then cut to size and the parts were ready for powder. The two flat bars sandwich the flap to is is more than just nuts holding it on.




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For the fun of it, I also thought I would do a underbody shot to show what the driveline looks like:




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[Simplysmn]

Robert I have to say that is 1 heck of a Amazing job with that truck Man . That is going to be The Nicest truck on the Planet .Great Job .

 

[RSchwarzli]

Robert I have to say that is 1 heck of a Amazing job with that truck Man . That is going to be The Nicest truck on the Planet .Great Job .

Thanks! I appreciate that.

Wait till you see the next batch of pics waiting to be uploaded though....was the first time I have stood back from the truck and seen the vision in metal, that I saw in my head 10 years ago. Hard to believe it was that long ago. It has really started to take shape though. Actually looking better than anticipated.

 

[Shadrach]

I've heard that some people actually go to a dealership and buy a truck already to go. Where's the fun in that
Good thing you are not paying someone by the hour to build this truck.
David

 

[RSchwarzli]

Buying a completed truck at a dealer? Pffft. I did that once. That is how I got this truck. lol

Yeah, I estimate I am close to 8000 hours. At $1/hour, it is more than I would want to pay already. lol

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

It looks amazing and I look forward to seeing new posts on this thread!

Buying a completed truck at a dealer? Pffft. I did that once. That is how I got this truck. lol

Yeah, I estimate I am close to 8000 hours. At $1/hour, it is more than I would want to pay already. lol

I'll give you 10k PLUS a kidney if it becomes too much of a burden... Just let me know if you want the left or right one lol!!

If you want a real shock, just add up time only at minimum wage :--)

 

[DVolk]

Robert you need to call a magazine as your truck needs to be in one its really that nice

 

[RSchwarzli]

Yay! Great news. Only a few minutes for you but two weeks later for me, all the parts are back from powder! Wooo hoooo!


Remember this?


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Now it looks like this:


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So time to get on the install! First step, I had to restick the original step pad down now that the welding of the rear mudflap bracket onto the bottom of the board. So debur, degrease, and shtick-em. Also all edge trim to avoid sharp edges was installed.



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Same for fronts:


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Next before install on truck, we had to install the front Mopar fender flares. These really look good once on the truck.



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Got all my fasteners lined up, the next step is to start mounting the brackets to the frame, boards are places on, and then the multi hour job goes to aligning everything 100% perfect as well as shimming everything as need be so all sits level.




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