PilotHouse2500

Spent the day yesterday SLOWLY drilling the bed strip holes...60 in total thru structural U channel....all while under the influence of my shingles booster shot....but I got it done. Here is my "favorite" version of the back plate (for all intents and purposes legally read that as "bumper"). orange dot is camera, yellow is trailer connections. I just don't know if the marker lights are "out" far enough or not. I might need to trim my stake pocket bits a bit to push them out further.

I have a bed... Things left: 1. Fuel fill bracket 2. Tie down backers 3. Drill holes for bed strips 4. Drill holes for marker lights 5. Make bed tail plate for turn, brake, back up, plates,back up camera and trailer power

Front sitting on a cross member, rear set correct with cart.

Bed "on" the truck. Not at final height yet. Amazing what you can do by yourself with no ready hands to help.

Bed progress

Cab marker lights set

broke the bed down to these 4 parts, with these and $1200 at CoreMark, I'll make a new bed with out all the "historical issues"

Spent more time with the parts yesterday, a few cut off wheels and a few scary moments with large pieces by myself....I've secioned it into 4 pieces now, but have decided to just build a new one, these parts are just too beat up to match up to a nice clean cab and frame. So off to CoreMark I go to spend unplanned $$.

and on to the bed

I've been helping the painter build his new 5000sqft building to knock some of the cost off the project. He THINKS he'll be all buttoned up here in early Oct. So we'll trailer him over in early Oct and he'll "start". No idea how long he'll be working on it....but needless to say I HAD orginally hoped to be reeassembling by Oct....so a few months behind. Money will be the big driver on my side now. Meanwhile I'll start working on the bed frame.

Pic of a full size mock up of the running board below. Meanwhile I've plugged unused holes, made ones needed, made a mount for the gauges computer, welded in place the wing handle mounts, welded on mounts for wiring and cable controls. At this point I'm pretty much ready for paint. Hard to believe.

running board progress

been a while...but punching holes in the firewall for cable controls, wire harness and acc cable. Building running board mounts and frankensteining an acc pedal

I THINK that is still needed to set idle....looking for confirmation is all.

Are the circled parts needed when converting from Auto to Manual transmission on the throttle linkage?

Hey guys, getting back on my project truck again and I need a little help. Looking for a picture or two of the location where the throttle cable goes thru the fw and where it routes in the engine bay before I start punching holes. A quick tape measure if the location would be even better. I appreciate any help.

being home is the best healing you can do!

I can't imagine hte struggles you have right now. Makes things going on in my life seem very small and petty. Keep plugging forward, the universe still has plans for you moving forward. Know that while I may not "know" you or have ever talked to you (beyound a truck website), I do think about your plight and see your strength in this.

fer sure!

the results, 1.5" at the bend now and 1.25" at the 4" outlet....more pics on the build thread I have if curious. thanks all!

After getting my 90° down tube...figured I needed a tich more room (advice from others I was FORCED to listen to, LOL). The results:

OK great, I'll finish fit up and weld this week. Hammer formed on a wood bock, frame rail on my 51 COE (unstarted future 6bt conversion project), and two pieces of steel I have to help make curves and rounded areas.

Yah cut out a section and planning a fill panel to weld in. Still plan on a wrap and heat shield. Top pic is the fabbed fill panel, second I'd cut out and third is that panel set in the cutout.

Where I'm currently sitting...thoughts? 1" of depth added.

good idea! I'm hitting a yard or two this weekend so I'll see what I can find!