Slick 60's

I think that it may be time for a build thread. the plan is to mix the old with the newer. I have a 61 SWB small window uni, a '90 dakota frame clip, and a Cougar IRS. I dont have a power plant/trany yet.

Here is the Truck.

Front clip.

rear axle.
This is how the frame and front clip fit together.


The rear axle mounts are not as easy as the front. I cut the parts out on my CNC(cardboard-n-chaulk) torch table. Here is the good stuff.

Hey there Unifarmer, it's lookin' good. I hope you post up more pics of how you're going to finish welding the front clip in. I assume you're going to weld the stock uni frame horns on the front of the Dakota crossmember? Looks like those wheels might be a little too wide by the time you drop an engine in there.
Thanks for posting. I look forward to seeing more.

Randy

Lookin good, nice fab work and I like the thinking outside the box on the components your splicing in..instead of using what everyone on these sites think your supposed to use..Keep the updates coming,

Randy, The plan was to put the stock frame horns back on. After looking at it today, I may just run some tubing to the front. The dakota frame widens and rises as it goes forward. I dont have a powerplant yet so I may wait till I know what that is to build anything. As far as the width goes I want it to as wide as I can get it.
Thanks for the input.

Thanks also to you Bigwindow.

Looking real good.Impressive fab work and love the cnc also.

Man, I love the "CNC" I guess I had one too all this time and didn't know it!

Love the build. The rearend is something I've been considering for quite a while. Do you have any instructions for the install?

oldtrucks wrote:Love the build. The rearend is something I've been considering for quite a while. Do you have any instructions for the install?

Measure, measure, measure again. I still haven't been able toget the ride height where i want it, so i am not an expert yet.

I'm in southern Idaho.

Thanks,

I was able to get the body on the frame. Im not exactly sure how much it will settle with a motor but this picture is with about 500lbs under the hood.

Looking Good!

Looking good unifarmer . Whats the backspacing on those rims ?


Rick

rickairmedic wrote:Looking good unifarmer . Whats the backspacing on those rims ?


Rick

I bought the wheels used, but i measure 3 5/8 inch backspace.
Thanks,

Ok cool most likely 3 & 1/2" then as most of those rims that are 8-10" wide seem to have that backspacing . The rims I am running on the back of mine are 10" wide Coys C5's with a 5" backspacing so I should clear the rear fenders just fine as I plan on having mine LOW .


Rick

Hey there unifarmer, I was hoping you could post more pics of how you're going to finish welding the front clip in and where did you splice in 2 frames together thanks

I like your mounts! Got a couple of questions, though.
It looks as if the point of contact at the upper would be at the fixture for the arm. On my Mark VIII setup, the point of contact is on the arm just outside the pivot. There must be a difference in the frame width at the lower edge between the uni's and my '66, or between the Mark and the cougar stuff. I have previously measured t-birds and Mark VIII's and found no discernible difference.
I have the same ride height problem currently. I need to come down 4 1/2" inches to match the front with the Mark lower arm in original position. The only area of interference to drop that much is that upper control arm mount (easily fixed), and the rear mount point, which will require modification to either frame or mounting, or both. I'm shooting for 2 1/2 to 3 degree pinion angle, which will duplicate OEM.
I am also looking at my options for the front mounting. I don't like the original mounting arm; and it would prevent use of a side-mount fuel tank.
I am considering fabbing a square tube crossmember and utilizing the vertical mounting points at the third member with a pair of urethane insulators.
Final question involves wheels. It looks as if you've solved that issue on your mock-up by simply eliminating the lug nuts
Are you running a universal pattern, or utilizing the original patterns, or modifying the hubs?
Thanks for any input!
Paul

Hey guys, I have been able to get exactly zero work done on my truck. Life has been trying to run me over all year.
I have not been able to get the front of the frame on so no pics(I will post if and when it happens).
As far as the upper rear control arm contacting the frame, it does or did till I made room. The 7th picture in the first post is before. The 11th is the after. I trimmed the frame a little. I am planning on a rear fuel tank so I made the front mount as simple as I could even if it does stick out it can't be seen under the truck.
The wheels are all 5 on 4.5. I had the rear hubs and rotors re-drilled.
Thanks for looking and commenting.

Any updates? Looks like a cool build.

Nic

I like your work unifarmer, she`s looking great!