My "Official" Attempt At A Build Thread
Seats are paid for, still waiting on 6LE for the seat brackets. Then some small stuff over the weekend, and maybe I'll get to post a startup video 
Pic of the seats
Pic of the seats
Last edited by Turnin20s; Apr 27, 2012 at 10:54 AM.
So today was great 
I went out to the shop, installed the bracket for the TA onto the rear axle, torqued it down, and a couple minutes later I heard a pop.......started looking over the welds and sure enough the welds that the "professional" welder put on didn't hold up. Broke on the top side of the housing all the way along the weld. I don't know what to do...I'm over the 8.8 into my car, now to find an axle to fit my needs. Something that will let me keep the air bags, watts link, and my low ride height.
So back to square 1 on this build and sticking way more money into this thing.........FML
I went out to the shop, installed the bracket for the TA onto the rear axle, torqued it down, and a couple minutes later I heard a pop.......started looking over the welds and sure enough the welds that the "professional" welder put on didn't hold up. Broke on the top side of the housing all the way along the weld. I don't know what to do...I'm over the 8.8 into my car, now to find an axle to fit my needs. Something that will let me keep the air bags, watts link, and my low ride height.So back to square 1 on this build and sticking way more money into this thing.........FML
Sorry to hear that. I spent the weekend removing the "home built" 69 Impala 12 Bolt from my 97 SS. A friend and I set it up to be a bolt in and use the stock brakes and everything EXCEPT for a TQ arm. I went with mini-ladder bars because I have seen so many problems with welding them. Well it all worked out and fit, but the thing would bounce you to death. Traction was awesome, but I don't want to daily drive the thing. I ended up biting the bullet (wallet?) and going with a used Strange 12 Bolt. (If I were buying new, I'd probably go for the S-60.) Guess I'll save the mini-ladder bar rearend for a drag only car if I ever build another one.
Worst part is that I may have to go back to a PHB with the s60, MWC mentioned that the watts may not clear the s60. I'm leaning towards a 12 bolt now, but am unsure about the strength since my car is a M6 and staying that way. It will see some track time, possibly with slicks, but its probably the most compact package and will allow me to stay as low as I a now.
Now I just have to get my truck sold so I can afford to make a purchase
Now I just have to get my truck sold so I can afford to make a purchase
Got my quote back from MWC, my dad wants to buy my truck from me, so if all goes well I should be able make an order soon.
So now I'm going to have somethings going up for sale soon
UMI TA
UMI TA Relocation Kit for M6
UMI Double Adjustalbe Poly/Poly LCAs
And maybe some 8.8 parts, unless my buddy buys everything from me for his car
So maybe someday this damn thing will hit the road again, only now it will have a pretty much bullet proof rear axle
So now I'm going to have somethings going up for sale soon
UMI TA
UMI TA Relocation Kit for M6
UMI Double Adjustalbe Poly/Poly LCAs
And maybe some 8.8 parts, unless my buddy buys everything from me for his car
So maybe someday this damn thing will hit the road again, only now it will have a pretty much bullet proof rear axle
Got my quote back from MWC, my dad wants to buy my truck from me, so if all goes well I should be able make an order soon.
So now I'm going to have somethings going up for sale soon
UMI TA
UMI TA Relocation Kit for M6
UMI Double Adjustalbe Poly/Poly LCAs
And maybe some 8.8 parts, unless my buddy buys everything from me for his car
So maybe someday this damn thing will hit the road again, only now it will have a pretty much bullet proof rear axle
So now I'm going to have somethings going up for sale soon
UMI TA
UMI TA Relocation Kit for M6
UMI Double Adjustalbe Poly/Poly LCAs
And maybe some 8.8 parts, unless my buddy buys everything from me for his car
So maybe someday this damn thing will hit the road again, only now it will have a pretty much bullet proof rear axle
My dads little Ranger that he has been driving for the past few years decided to give up every gear except 3rd today on his way to work, that and the fact that it has been running on 5 of the 6 cylinders for a month or more. He decided that he wants to buy my Dakota and help me fund the rear axle.
Only downside with going with a MWC axle is that MWC is on a 10 week wait and to get it bumped up to a 4 week time frame will cost me another $200. I can have everything else done and ready to go by the end of May and I would love to be able to go and pick up the axle at the end of the month. So much for starting my sleeve this month
I'm going to have to spend that money on the rear axle. Made the call to Midwest Chassis on Friday...Ended up with a little more than I originally wanted, but I think that we made the right choice and later on down the road i will be set when it comes time for more power 
Black Powder Coated Stock Width Fab 9
Backbrace w/Watts Link Tabs
Tow Loops
Remote Fill Cap
Assembled w/No ABS
1/2" Wheel Studs
Stock LT1 Brakes
35 Spline Axles
S-Trac Diff
4.30 Motive Gears
Chromoly LCAs
Long Torque Arm
To say that I'm excited is an understatement, the price tag was a little more than I was wanting to spend, but again I'm going to do this once and be done. I'm happy with my decision and glad I didn't go with the 31 spline axles. The guys at MWC are great to deal with.
Now to get everything else buttoned up so when the axle is here I can finish everything up
Black Powder Coated Stock Width Fab 9
Backbrace w/Watts Link Tabs
Tow Loops
Remote Fill Cap
Assembled w/No ABS
1/2" Wheel Studs
Stock LT1 Brakes
35 Spline Axles
S-Trac Diff
4.30 Motive Gears
Chromoly LCAs
Long Torque Arm
To say that I'm excited is an understatement, the price tag was a little more than I was wanting to spend, but again I'm going to do this once and be done. I'm happy with my decision and glad I didn't go with the 31 spline axles. The guys at MWC are great to deal with.
Now to get everything else buttoned up so when the axle is here I can finish everything up
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Verdad Gallardo Well the first payment and the caliper brackets were shipped to MWC
And on Sunday on the way back from my parent's house I hit a deer with my Yukon and did about $3500 worth of damages. So I sold my Dakota and wrecked my Yukon on the same weekend. Everything seems to be going my way and I still have to come up with another $1400 in a couple weeks to finish paying for the rear axle.
And the seats I ordered are on backorder and the seat brackets from 6LE Designs are MIA and I haven't heard much back from them yet.
Whats next?????
And on Sunday on the way back from my parent's house I hit a deer with my Yukon and did about $3500 worth of damages. So I sold my Dakota and wrecked my Yukon on the same weekend. Everything seems to be going my way
and I still have to come up with another $1400 in a couple weeks to finish paying for the rear axle.And the seats I ordered are on backorder and the seat brackets from 6LE Designs are MIA and I haven't heard much back from them yet.
Whats next?????
A little update, my parts I have listed for sale are steadily going away and my funds are getting built back up a little. My seats are backordered, but I should be getting a set in the next week or so. The seat brackets are still pending, 6LE said they shipped the day I ordered them (4/20) and now they were suppose to be built on Friday (5/11) and shipped to me shortly after.
And my Yukon is at the body shop getting the repairs done from the damn deer and hopefully I will have that back by this Friday (5/19). I have a ton of things going on, not alot of time to do them, and my bank account is running on fumes. Maybe next weekend I can finish up installing my exhaust and get a couple of the smaller things done on my Camaro for a change, only time will tell.
And my Yukon is at the body shop getting the repairs done from the damn deer and hopefully I will have that back by this Friday (5/19). I have a ton of things going on, not alot of time to do them, and my bank account is running on fumes. Maybe next weekend I can finish up installing my exhaust and get a couple of the smaller things done on my Camaro for a change, only time will tell.
Back up again if anyone is still following along.
Seats are in, 6LE brackets are in, but I have to modify the brackets to make them work, but I guess that's what I get for trying to save some $$$. I went down to MWC on Saturday and picked up my rear axle and I ordered some 150# rear springs to replace the air bags. I also just received the 3.5" band clamp to connect the Mufflex to my y-pipe.
I have some stuff left to order, but next weekend if all goes well it will sit down on the ground and maybe I'll fire it up if I have the funds to get the fluids and small stuff that adds up quick. I guess I'll see what happens
Anyway here's some pics........
Seats are in, 6LE brackets are in, but I have to modify the brackets to make them work, but I guess that's what I get for trying to save some $$$. I went down to MWC on Saturday and picked up my rear axle and I ordered some 150# rear springs to replace the air bags. I also just received the 3.5" band clamp to connect the Mufflex to my y-pipe.
I have some stuff left to order, but next weekend if all goes well it will sit down on the ground and maybe I'll fire it up if I have the funds to get the fluids and small stuff that adds up quick. I guess I'll see what happens
Anyway here's some pics........
Coil springs came today, not sure if I will need them yet, but now I have them just in case. They are Summit 10" 150# and the springs are sitting on the start of my "jack bolts" that I'm going to build if I can not use my air bags.
Last edited by Turnin20s; Jun 20, 2012 at 01:57 PM.
Will do & thank you sir
I'm taking Friday off to hang out with the wife and Friday night I'm heading out to work on the car. By Sunday I want it on the ground and hopefully running and ready for the alignment shop. I want to change the brakes, but I can't afford that right now, so it will have to wait a week or so.
I just hope things start going my way again, it's been a struggle for the past month or two.
I'm taking Friday off to hang out with the wife and Friday night I'm heading out to work on the car. By Sunday I want it on the ground and hopefully running and ready for the alignment shop. I want to change the brakes, but I can't afford that right now, so it will have to wait a week or so.
I just hope things start going my way again, it's been a struggle for the past month or two.
I have known a few guys with a 12bolt and m6 ,they have been fine but they were not straight track cars,im pretty sure hawk223 runs a 12bolt and m6, maybe you can ask him how its holding up,pretty sure he hits the track up alot, sorry to hear about the build,always sucks when crap doesnt work out
I have known a few guys with a 12bolt and m6 ,they have been fine but they were not straight track cars,im pretty sure hawk223 runs a 12bolt and m6, maybe you can ask him how its holding up,pretty sure he hits the track up alot, sorry to hear about the build,always sucks when crap doesnt work out
Over the past few weeks alot has happened, but I have been more worried about getting it finished rather than taking pics
Last weekend I installed the rear axle package, bolted up the watts link, installed the trans x-member, and slid in the driveshaft. Then I built my jack bolts and installed the rear coil springs. Long story short, the jack bolts don't allow the car to sit low enough for my tastes so they are getting tossed. Then this weekend I finally got my seats installed. Was way more of a PITA than I originally expected, but they are hard mounted now and sit nice and low so I can get a helmet on when I'm sitting in the car. Also installed the LS style steering shaft, loosened up the column, and got it to fit without hitting the header tube. The power steering lines are done, I finished the fuel lines, and my air intake is back on.
Now all that is left is....
fab up my y-pipe and finish the exhaust
install the serp. belts (they are ordered)
run rear brake lines & bleed the brakes
refill the tranny with fluid
refill the antifreeze
hook up the driver side o2 sensor
reinstall the battery cables
And after all of that I need to trailer it to get an alignment done, then go through the break in of the rear axle. Then I need to get a MWC driveshaft loop because the Lakewood loop won't work with the MWC long TA.
It was a little smokey in the garage, but here's some pics after I lowered the rear suspension all the way down. BTW the rear half of the mufflex is installed. After it's all welded up there won't be the clamp sticking down, and everything will be painted black
Last weekend I installed the rear axle package, bolted up the watts link, installed the trans x-member, and slid in the driveshaft. Then I built my jack bolts and installed the rear coil springs. Long story short, the jack bolts don't allow the car to sit low enough for my tastes so they are getting tossed. Then this weekend I finally got my seats installed. Was way more of a PITA than I originally expected, but they are hard mounted now and sit nice and low so I can get a helmet on when I'm sitting in the car. Also installed the LS style steering shaft, loosened up the column, and got it to fit without hitting the header tube. The power steering lines are done, I finished the fuel lines, and my air intake is back on.
Now all that is left is....
fab up my y-pipe and finish the exhaust
install the serp. belts (they are ordered)
run rear brake lines & bleed the brakes
refill the tranny with fluid
refill the antifreeze
hook up the driver side o2 sensor
reinstall the battery cables
And after all of that I need to trailer it to get an alignment done, then go through the break in of the rear axle. Then I need to get a MWC driveshaft loop because the Lakewood loop won't work with the MWC long TA.
It was a little smokey in the garage, but here's some pics after I lowered the rear suspension all the way down. BTW the rear half of the mufflex is installed. After it's all welded up there won't be the clamp sticking down, and everything will be painted black
Belts and coolant bypass caps came in today. And I ordered some braided rear brake hoses, just hope they get here before the weekend.
I just want to get the exhaust finished up so I can hear how it sounds with the new exhaust setup. Once I get to hear it fire I know I will feel a lot better haha
I'll be sure to take a few pics this weekend and hopefully a start up clip
I just want to get the exhaust finished up so I can hear how it sounds with the new exhaust setup. Once I get to hear it fire I know I will feel a lot better haha
I'll be sure to take a few pics this weekend and hopefully a start up clip