Almost ready to bob the A3

[ApopkaFL]

I own a 1993 M35A3 (425 Miles ) its a soft top. I found a 5 ton that is a soft top. I want to use that one to build a 4 door truck. Useing that older truck as the rear on a 4 door? I am going to use the front springs out of that 5 ton for the rear. I want to bob it as short as I can using the M35A3 bed. I am going to have custom 8" spring hangers made. I am going to be putting 1600 R20s. Do you for see any problems using the old 5 ton body with the A3? Once the truck is togther I plan on having a custom soft top made for it.

Please advise any information you may have.

The A3s Rocks by the way.....

When the build starts Ill be there with video cammera in hand to update everyone on its progress. Ill take photos as well.

Rodman

 

[wreckerman893]

If it is an 800 series 5 ton the cab tubs are the same size...the 900 series cab was wider.

Are you going to put the cabs back to back and have "suicide doors" or do it another way?

Sounds like an interesting project.

 

[shovelheadmike]

I shure wish you that would bob a M35A2, and not that A3. There are lots of A2s around, but probably much less than 5000 A3s left. from the aproximate 5,500 total ever made.

Just a thought and my personal opinion. These A3s are GREAT trucks. It is really a shame to cut up such a nice and rare MV.

 

[Floridianson]

I have one with the one peice fiberglass hood wonder how many they made of those?

 

[mktopside]

I have one with the one peice fiberglass hood wonder how many they made of those?

Step#1: Take that hood to a fiberglass guy and have him make a mold of it

Step#2: Make hoods.

Step#3: ?????

Step#4: PROFIT!


I'd buy one. My A3 has a perfect body, but the hood looks like it was made from hull scrap off the Titanic.

 

[ApopkaFL]

I have three of these trucks. I am just going to 4 door one of them. As it stands only 3 people can ride I wanted to make it crew cab so more of my freinds can ride. The suicide doors sounds like great ideal, It would not be too hard to do that. Just have to cut the tub and hang it backwards to the frame then re attach the back of the tub.

 

[Elwenil]

Be aware that the cabs are narrower at the firewall and wider at the back wall.

 

[ApopkaFL]

Thats nothing a plamsa cutter and a mig welder can not fix.

 

[197thhhc]

Bob that bad boy. Are you going to single out the rear axle and leave the frame the original length. If you do that you can cut down the bed and it will still be a decent size. Good luck, post pics.

 

[ApopkaFL]

Bob that bad boy. Are you going to single out the rear axle and leave the frame the original length. If you do that you can cut down the bed and it will still be a decent size. Good luck, post pics.

Yes one axle is going to be removed. As far as the bed goes I am not sure how long it will be untill I get the two cabs together and see how long I want it. Keep in mind I want the bob look so I will shorten it as much as I can. Maybe Just Maybe I will throw a flat bed on it and do away with the duce bed. I dont knnow, I do have one that I can place on there just to see how it looks on the truck.

 

[goodguyzy]

look at C&C crew cab truck, its an A2 but still basically the same project.

 

[ApopkaFL]

look at C&C crew cab truck, its an A2 but still basically the same project.

I did and I took lots of photos with my Dell Tablet so I can show my build guy. of course ill be there to help with the project.

 

[Flyingvan911]

Good luck with your project. A guy near KC has a 4 door 5-ton names ELMO. It is very impressive.

 

[goodguyzy]

i hate to see an A3 cut up but its your truck to do what you please. I'm glad you have help. I started a bobber project only to realize i was way over my head and hired a guy to do most of the "heavy lifting"

 

[ApopkaFL]

i hate to see an A3 cut up but its your truck to do what you please.

Try to look at it this way. With it going to a 4 door truck more people ( Family ) can ride in it and enjoy the truck.

 

[mudguppy]

... I am going to have custom 8" spring hangers made. ...

this is a concerning statement. could you explain more about the design? what design does the builder intend to duplicate?

there have been several examples of what 'good' looks like when it comes to lifting the front; and they're not just taller brackets with long shackles (which i hope is not the builder's plan).

just want to help.

 

[ApopkaFL]

this is a concerning statement. could you explain more about the design? what design does the builder intend to duplicate?

there have been several examples of what 'good' looks like when it comes to lifting the front; and they're not just taller brackets with long shackles (which i hope is not the builder's plan).

just want to help.

What would you suggest? I am not going to be using frame on frame. I do not think that looks good at all. I feel that is a cheap way to lift the truck.

 

[mudguppy]

What would you suggest? ...

lift springs.

... I am not going to be using frame on frame. I do not think that looks good at all. I feel that is a cheap way to lift the truck.

it may not be astetically apealing, but is quite strong.

if mimicing the spring hangers shown in the pics, i'd be doing a lot more cross-bracing. and not lateral cross-bracing: x-type connections that go back up to the stock frame channels. or, a robust I-beam type of cross-member between the two hanger brackets; I's have the highest natural moment of inertia for resisting deflection.

i think i'd also increase the length of the contact area on the frame (the long side of the bracket). i know that it's more than twice the length of the stock spring hanger, but the moment forces (i.e. leverage) are likely several times more than stock.

also, don't skimp on the cross-bracing for the shackle hanger brackets either - minor deflection combined with wear in the shackle bushings equals death-wobble.



so, by the time i was done, it'd have likely been easier to add a frame section and cross-member or use lift-springs.

just my (which doesn't go real far in a recession).