IFS Silverado Prerunner...

[KillerBlackbird]

I finished up the sliders, they're made from 3/16" solid rod and 16ga. steel for the mounting plates. I didn't want anything too obtrusive or crazy since it's more of a desert truck. Plenty strong for protecting the body.

I'm still undecided on the rear bumper. I slid a piece of 3/16" rod in the holes and I may do that and curve the ends and add an 1/8" rod on the bottom. I'll kick around ideas while I'm building the front.

I knew from the start what I wanted for a front bumper. I have a 2" Vanquish Rigid Industries LED light bar that will sit in the center of the bumper.

Here's the look I'm going for:

I try to make templates and measure everything 53 times before making it. Since I don't have a huge selection of metal working tools (hammer, vise, band saw, bench grinder, etc) it's easier to line everything up on a piece of paper or cardboard.

I trimmed the body close to the bottom of the grille and headlights so it would replicate a completely OEM bumperless truck. I'll add supports and the aluminum skid once everything is in place and adjusted.

I still have to make metal supports to mount the interior and once that and the bumpers are done I can start on styrene work.

 

[Meatwad]

The stance is spot on "thumbsup" Looking good, sir.

 

[Solid94]

Sweet build man! Big fan of pre runners"thumbsup"

 

[alexchen86]

Wow it's really crazy how rally, mud boggers/TTC rigs, monster trucks, crawlers, scalers, desert buggies/pre runners all tend to come back full circle. Rally was big in the 80s along with desert rigs and now they've made a huge comeback along with scale rigs as well.

 

[Die-Laughing]

Very cool! "thumbsup"

 

[tacocat]

If you have the time would you mind posting a few close up pictures of how the diff housing mounts to the frame please?

 

[KillerBlackbird]

Thanks guys!

If you have the time would you mind posting a few close up pictures of how the diff housing mounts to the frame please?

I will try to grab some. It actually mounts to the stock plastic frame support up front. I might try to make a metal support if I can.


I finished the front bumper. Added the supports for each side, a flat plate to mount the light bar to, and tabs for the aluminum skid plate to bolt to. I tapped the holes for the light bar and skid plate so I don't have to mess around with nuts on the back side in tight places.

The front aluminum skid plate will be two pieces similar to most prerunners. Which should look better than one with a bend in it. I'll use yellow zinc Locked Up RC scale hardware to mount everything when the time comes for a nice clean scale look.

Tapped holes for the light bar. Plate is 16ga. steel - plenty durable.

One with the light bar temporarily in place.

I forgot to take a pic, but the rear bumper is done too. Just a simple 3/16" rod slightly bent on the ends for a clean look. I also made interior supports so I have something to mount the styrene interior to when I get started on that.

 

[R A N D A L L]

This things turning out mint. Great idea tapping everything. That bumper looks spot on as well.

 

[King James]

Nice man. I'm gonna need a bumper similar to that for my ifs

 

[Bananaclip]

KBB, I like your work "thumbsup"

 

[KillerBlackbird]

Thank you!

I'm excited to start on the interior and detail work soon. Lots of ideas I'm kicking around.

 

[ranger4xlt]

Wow! Beautiful job on that front bumper!

 

[KillerBlackbird]

Thanks!

I made a rear spare tire carrier for the bed, made a bracket to support the front of the body, and did other small touches.

I found out I need a longer driveshaft too, something about 6-1/2" long :/ I might have to lengthen a JunFac shaft I have.

 

[jakez]

Oh man that front bumper with the square tube is nice. You should put some tiny sheet metal with the recessed holes in it. Would look awesome. I like the front shock hoops aswell. Looks real

 

[jakez]

What motor and eac you plan on running?

 

[KillerBlackbird]

What motor and eac you plan on running?

I have some aluminum I might knock a few holes in for the skid plate, I'll probably leave the rest as is.

Nothing crazy on the motor, maybe a 20T or 27T with a BRXL.

 

[KillerBlackbird]

Back from the dead. After going through a break-up with my girlfriend this has kept my sanity.

I made the floor of the interior from 0.060 styrene and the rest is made from 0.040 and 0.020. The battery will go in the extended cab portion and be hidden under the lid that is held down with Velcro.

I looked at a few pics of luxury prerunner interiors and went with a few ideas I saw. I have some scale interior stickers that will be placed on the interior after paint.

How it fits with body over it. Door panels fit nicely. Still needs to be sanded and filled but I'm pleased so far.

I also made front inner fenders from 0.040 and a place for the electronics. All the wires will travel through an enclosed pocket of the interior where the center hump is, keeps them hidden and protected.

When I bought the body it came with no roof since the extended cab is made from two regular cabs. The front and rear curvature is almost identical so I made curved supports which strengthen the roof and give me something to bond the outer roof skin to.

I placed a single layer of 0.020 over it and with the supports it seems stable enough for me. I still need to add filler everywhere an really sand everything down before paint. I may add another layer of 0.020 depending how I feel.

I also removed the door handles from the rear doors since this generation of extended cab trucks didn't have exterior handles.

 

[JLOC]

KILLER Build man..... "thumbsup"

 

[looneybin]

Looking sick man! A+ on the fab work!

 

[Silverado1]

VERY NICELY done! "thumbsup""thumbsup"