Squall Line's Frontier build

[AlabamaWill]

hey Squall Line were in GA are do you live; I just moved to Macon. I dont know any place to go camping or wheeling.

 

[Squall Line]

Will: I actually live in north Florida. My girlfriend and I wanted to see the mountains that weekend, so we went for a little drive... We explored the Oconee and Chattahoochee national forest among other things.

---
I have started working on the bumper. Here are the pics so far. Progress may be slow, but it should be interesting to see it come together.

not a very good before picture, but I forgot to snap one earlier

a lot of low-hanging junk

cleared out

4X6 3/16" steel

more mockup

working on the brackets 3x3", 1/4" steel angle

needs a little tweaking

brackets done

I don't know when I will be able to work on it next, but I will post progress as it comes. I have a pretty neat idea for the tire carrier, so I will have to see how that works out. I am not sure on the wrap arounds just yet, but that should be fun to figure out...

Eric

 

[Squall Line]

Finally got some time to work on this some more. I have the hardware coming in tomorrow for the tire carrier from mcmaster. I will be welding in ports for use as an air tank (calculated roughly 5.1 gal). I will be doing a slight notch of the bed as well, and wrap around protection. It should really start falling together in the next few days.

tacked in position

I notched the brackets for more surface area, and to pull the bumper in and up a bit.

grinding the curve into the end caps

 

[soonenough]

Nice work! Those welds look like they were done with TIG, but the only welding equipment I saw in the pictures was a Linclon MIG setup. If you did MIG weld those, can I come by for some lessons sometime?

EDIT: nevermind, I just noticed the cord for the TIG torch on the bench in that last picture.

 

[4Rescue]

That is one good lookin truck mate, and I am admitedly not the biggest Nissan fan. Love the 255/85's, is there any truck they DON'T make look expedition worthy Nice build now we need some action shots of her out in the dirt and rocks.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Red Zebra]

Nice work! Those welds look like they were done with TIG, but the only welding equipment I saw in the pictures was a Linclon MIG setup. If you did MIG weld those, can I come by for some lessons sometime?

EDIT: nevermind, I just noticed the cord for the TIG torch on the bench in that last picture.

Some people weld....others are welders. He's definitely the latter! :bowdown:

 

[bigdog]

great looking rig. My shrockworks bumber should be here by x-mas, can't wait. Love the AT mount location, seems like they are up and out of the way, but not blocking your view. And that tire size is very interesting. I went with the 295/75/16 to get the 33+" but that winds up being a little wider then I would have liked. Interested to see how that rear bumper turns out.

 

[Squall Line]

Thanks for all of the comments! I have been trucking along on the bumper the last two days and finally have something to show for it.

the only fab work I have outsourced so far: I had the local metal shop punch out the holes for the receiver. In hindsight, I would have been better off with a small cutoff wheel and drilling the corners...

I ditched the end cap that was there, and decided to give this setup a shot for the tire carrier. The bushings are just for mock up; the real piece is still on the way.

Got the hitch on today:

 

[Squall Line]

NPT port for the air chuck. The weld was giving me some grief, so I welded up the backside to ensure no leaks. I should have cleaned it better before welding.

New endcap tacked up.

Ground the shackle mounts to fit flush without having to grind that weld.

Where it will sit.

Bearings mocked up.

I left off here tonight. Tomorrow I am going to get the endcaps ground flush, then weld em on. I need to throw two more ports on the back side for onboard air in the future. Hopefully I can get the quarter protection on and the bed cut tomorrow, and call it good until the tire carrier part gets here. Just a note on the shackle mounts: I choose that location based on strength, and having little real estate with the tire carrier. They give up a small bit of departure angle, but they are no lower than the shackles which are less than a foot forward. Any comment or criticism is appreciated! It's been a long day :beer:.

Eric

 

[Squall Line]

Here is the work from yesterday. I am on to the wraparounds today.

Ports

at work

 

[bigdog]

now that's an integrated receiver hitch!

 

[Squall Line]

I finally got some work done on Sunday and today. The bed is cut, and sliders tacked in place. I need to finish-weld em, and add another brace to the frame on the back end.

cut

masked and painted

More to come after Thursday (hopefully!). The bushing for the swing-away finally came today... I still cant decide if I want to add a top rail to the bed sliders (like many on this site). I like to look and protection, but there is no clean way to do it as far as angles go.

Eric

 

[hovenator]

Awesome truck....Great welding and pics to prove it.....That is going to be one sweet set-up! You do really great work.

:bowdown:

 

[mcm4090]

Nice work. Do you know much the bumper will weigh?

 

[The BN Guy]

Excellent! Another bed cut! Not too many of us around.