2007 Silverado - Buy Once, Cry Once: 1-tons, 40's & a Custom Camper
- Thread starter Andrew_S
- Start date
Andrew_S
Observer
^ thanks, that's good to hear, the wife hates them. I need to finalize the rear flood lights and license plate lights.
Finally found the perfect tank for the air system, this little 14 gallon gem made in 1989 should do the trick.
Took a minute to wrap my head around how to do this manifold and where I wanted to feed air to, but this should work. I'll have 2 bulkhead fittings on either side of the truck in the midship storage boxes for airing up, the other 2 ports are for the locker solenoids.
Lastly, this package arrived courtesy of Accutune.
Hoping to do a big final push here in August to get the truck on the road.
Truer words were never spoken. It also doesn't help my machining tools are a 4" grinder and cheapo drill press. I must have made 15 different cardboard templates for that one...
Finally found the perfect tank for the air system, this little 14 gallon gem made in 1989 should do the trick.
Took a minute to wrap my head around how to do this manifold and where I wanted to feed air to, but this should work. I'll have 2 bulkhead fittings on either side of the truck in the midship storage boxes for airing up, the other 2 ports are for the locker solenoids.
Lastly, this package arrived courtesy of Accutune.
Hoping to do a big final push here in August to get the truck on the road.
Andrew_S
Observer
Managed to get a full day in on it today.
It won't be long and he'll be the one lying under the truck asking me to pass him tools.
Made up the lines and got everything oriented just right
Checking line length at max droop
Tons of slack
Took a minute to get all of the air out of the system but it's mint now.
This was definitely money well spent. I can dry scrub 40's with one finger on the wheel now. Also the larger sector shaft and all of the other good stuff that comes with the kit,
Onto the air tank. New bung for a new orientation
Also added a plate to mount my manifold
1/2" feed from the compressor, in line check, to the 4-port manifold. 2 ports for the air chucks and 2 for lockers.
Finished off with a coat of engine enamel black,
It won't be long and he'll be the one lying under the truck asking me to pass him tools.
Made up the lines and got everything oriented just right
Checking line length at max droop
Tons of slack
Took a minute to get all of the air out of the system but it's mint now.
This was definitely money well spent. I can dry scrub 40's with one finger on the wheel now. Also the larger sector shaft and all of the other good stuff that comes with the kit,
Onto the air tank. New bung for a new orientation
Also added a plate to mount my manifold
1/2" feed from the compressor, in line check, to the 4-port manifold. 2 ports for the air chucks and 2 for lockers.
Finished off with a coat of engine enamel black,
frojoe
Adventurer
You will definitely enjoy the big 6-bolt box.This was definitely money well spent. I can dry scrub 40's with one finger on the wheel now. Also the larger sector shaft and all of the other good stuff that comes with the kit,
I have one on my 2nd gen Dodge and it is literally as tight as the day I installed it ~2019. I do regret not initially getting the ported one for the *option* of future ram assist, but so far I have not discovered a big enough need to re-buy the same box, or to haul it out and drill/tap it myself.
I have run 2X sets of 37's and about 50% into a set of 40's on this same box; I just drove to/from Rubicon (live in North Vancouver) and on the highway I barely have to steer much more than between 11:50 to 12:10 off of center for the box to turn/lane-change etc with absolutely zero slop or dead spot.
Andrew_S
Observer
^ thanks, that's great to hear first hand feedback.
This news hits way too close to home -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-off-roader-couple-1.7606428
For anyone who wasn't familiar with their channel, they were BC based and had some great content. The similarities between what they did and our aspirations are eerily the same. I was just watching their island rock crawling collab with Dirt lifestyle on youtube Saturday am. Super sad to see this happen.
This news hits way too close to home -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-off-roader-couple-1.7606428
For anyone who wasn't familiar with their channel, they were BC based and had some great content. The similarities between what they did and our aspirations are eerily the same. I was just watching their island rock crawling collab with Dirt lifestyle on youtube Saturday am. Super sad to see this happen.
Todd780
OverCamper
Very sad. There is a thread about it as well.
Andrew_S
Observer
Onwards and upwards, as they say.
Picked up our new flat deck boxes, some assembly required.
4x10 /125" sheets
Measured up the flanges for the rear drive line.
I'm off for a few days and have dubbed this week' Flat Deck Week. '
Got the air tank situated.
Next, I tacked in my corner 3/8" plates that I'll utilize for bolting down the camper.
Finished the day by running the tube up the center of the deck, where my sheet seam will get welded into place.
Picked up our new flat deck boxes, some assembly required.
4x10 /125" sheets
Measured up the flanges for the rear drive line.
I'm off for a few days and have dubbed this week' Flat Deck Week. '
Got the air tank situated.
Next, I tacked in my corner 3/8" plates that I'll utilize for bolting down the camper.
Finished the day by running the tube up the center of the deck, where my sheet seam will get welded into place.
Andrew_S
Observer
I did more running around today than actual work, but I think I've set myself up well for the next week.
This should be everything I need for materials, and I'll have plenty of leftovers to finish out the boxes, hopefully.
Checking my collapsed gasket height against the angle for the box door frames.
Decided to add a water trap just before the manifold, clocking it for the right orientation
Calling this officially complete, ready for final install
Mocking up the boxes for a visual reference
Lastly, the final piece of the puzzle arrived.
Little shop SLM York 210 compressor, really nice piece.
Hoping to make some physical progress tomorrow.
This should be everything I need for materials, and I'll have plenty of leftovers to finish out the boxes, hopefully.
Checking my collapsed gasket height against the angle for the box door frames.
Decided to add a water trap just before the manifold, clocking it for the right orientation
Calling this officially complete, ready for final install
Mocking up the boxes for a visual reference
Lastly, the final piece of the puzzle arrived.
Little shop SLM York 210 compressor, really nice piece.
Hoping to make some physical progress tomorrow.
Andrew_S
Observer
Had a productive weekend,
Started assembly of the compressor,
It's going to live in this void next to the red positive terminal,
After a fair bit of monkeying around, the final product. Really happy with this, it puts out a ton of air even at idle. It'll be interesting to compare side by side with the ARB.
Back on the deck, I started disassembly
Tacking everything up
Added a ton of little tabs to secure the boxes to something. Doesn't look like much, but this was a massive amount of work.
This is the beginning of our spare tire mounts. Took way more time than I care to admit. From here it will angle up along the camper, with provisions to mount 2 tires if needed, or 1 & storage. The plan is to have it pivot & drop down with assistance from the rear winch and double as an outdoor table.
Started sorting out the next project while the deck is off.
Started assembly of the compressor,
It's going to live in this void next to the red positive terminal,
After a fair bit of monkeying around, the final product. Really happy with this, it puts out a ton of air even at idle. It'll be interesting to compare side by side with the ARB.
Back on the deck, I started disassembly
Tacking everything up
Added a ton of little tabs to secure the boxes to something. Doesn't look like much, but this was a massive amount of work.
This is the beginning of our spare tire mounts. Took way more time than I care to admit. From here it will angle up along the camper, with provisions to mount 2 tires if needed, or 1 & storage. The plan is to have it pivot & drop down with assistance from the rear winch and double as an outdoor table.
Started sorting out the next project while the deck is off.
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ITTOG
Well-known member
That sounds very interesting. I can't wait to see it built.
Kingsize24
Well-known member
THIS!!! All the way! Lol
Andrew_S
Observer
It should be pretty rad when it's done. It'll be a massive table and something easy that the wife can push a button on her phone and it'll drop into place. It's a project for another day though. I need to finalize the camper dovetail dimensions first.
Pulled the deck for hopefully the final time for now.
I'm guessing this will be in the 500-550lb range once outfitted with boxes.
I added a couple of vertical supports to break up the rear end a bit. It was just too much flat aluminum before. This should set it up nicely for the placement of some additional LED lights.
Rather than finish the deck, I decided to go for a quick win and fab up the mounts for the rear shock reservoirs. Originally, I was going to tuck these inside the rails, but came up with a nice solution that allowed external mounting. Why have adjustable shocks if you can't easily reach the adjusters- right?
Bench is getting crowded, need to get some of this stuff bolted to the truck permanently and out of the way...
Pulled the deck for hopefully the final time for now.
I'm guessing this will be in the 500-550lb range once outfitted with boxes.
I added a couple of vertical supports to break up the rear end a bit. It was just too much flat aluminum before. This should set it up nicely for the placement of some additional LED lights.
Rather than finish the deck, I decided to go for a quick win and fab up the mounts for the rear shock reservoirs. Originally, I was going to tuck these inside the rails, but came up with a nice solution that allowed external mounting. Why have adjustable shocks if you can't easily reach the adjusters- right?
Bench is getting crowded, need to get some of this stuff bolted to the truck permanently and out of the way...
Skinhyfish
Observer
Love my daily dose of inspiration every time I click on the posting
Kingsize24
Well-known member
Andrew_S
Observer
^ Glad I can be of inspiration haha, some days I don't feel like I'm making much headway...
Today was bump day, started on the rear contact pad - not really sure what to call this?
From template
Cut out of some old 3/8" blind plate, probably overkill for thickness, but didn't want to risk it.
Added my lower limit strap mount as well. The bump can is going to drop about 3.5" from where it's currently positioned. Waiting to do that once I have the pinion angle & shock mounts finalized.
I need to mention again how much I hate drilling holes... Dropped them off at the sandblasters, looking forward to getting a coat of black paint on them and calling this little project complete.
next up was the front lower pad
Using the upper radius arm as my contact point, honestly just about the only way to do it with the coil over packaging. I just needed to bridge out a short section so it doesn't slide off during articulation.
Tacked into place, I've got my upper limit strap mount sorted for the front, just need to figure out where to burn in the lower one next.
A guy sure would get a lot more done with a plasma table and some proper fab tools. Doing all of this with a grinder, drill and die grinder is getting old fast. One day.
Today was bump day, started on the rear contact pad - not really sure what to call this?
From template
Cut out of some old 3/8" blind plate, probably overkill for thickness, but didn't want to risk it.
Added my lower limit strap mount as well. The bump can is going to drop about 3.5" from where it's currently positioned. Waiting to do that once I have the pinion angle & shock mounts finalized.
I need to mention again how much I hate drilling holes... Dropped them off at the sandblasters, looking forward to getting a coat of black paint on them and calling this little project complete.
next up was the front lower pad
Using the upper radius arm as my contact point, honestly just about the only way to do it with the coil over packaging. I just needed to bridge out a short section so it doesn't slide off during articulation.
Tacked into place, I've got my upper limit strap mount sorted for the front, just need to figure out where to burn in the lower one next.
A guy sure would get a lot more done with a plasma table and some proper fab tools. Doing all of this with a grinder, drill and die grinder is getting old fast. One day.