Frame Mounted Sliders

[Rymadd]

I saw this Write up on some frame mounted sliders, and wondered if anybody else has pictures of doing this to their bronco. I had a few questions he didn't anwser. I have some rust in my rockers near the front bottom. I would like to do the frame mounted sliders as they hold up better to beating on without damaging the body. i have a 8 year old paint job that needs to last me 3-4 more years so I can't mess it up too bad on the rocker. My questions are why does he weld the flat stock in? is it to strengthen the body after cutting the rocker? and do you need to brace the fender and rear quarter after trimming them also? How big of a gap should I leave between the flat stock and the top of the slider?

If any of you have done this I would like to see some pics

I should probably think about doing a body lift also for any thing down the road I might want to do... 351 or tranny?

http://www.getbent.4t.com/photo2.html

 

[JohnJohn]

I just finished mine a few weeks ago. I used 2x6x1/8" thick square tubing with 2x2x1/8" thick tubes to tie into the frame. I also have a 2" body lift.

The plate welded to the tub is nice but not necessarily needed. I was going to roll the 1/2" of rocker I left on to make it look nicer but in the end I let it go.
I have about 1/4" gap between the tub and the rock slider.

this project took me a lot longer than I though it was going to take. I have about 16 hours in each side.

One thing to consider is if you are going to run long arms. If you have then then its no worry but if you don't and plan to then you need to consider where the radius arm mount is now vs. where it will be. The PO left the old radius arm mounting plates on my frame and it was a bear to grind them down to make room for my rock skid supports.

 

[JohnJohn]

I almost forgot.... I also welded 4"x4"x1/8" thick plates to the frame first before welding the 2"x2" to the frame.
As you can see one of the 2x2's is at an angle where the other one is straght to the frame.
It took me a couple of hours to get that angle correct so the rocker guard was level with the tub.

 

[Rymadd]

I just finished mine a few weeks ago. I used 2x6x1/8" thick square tubing with 2x2x1/8" thick tubes to tie into the frame. I also have a 2" body lift.

The plate welded to the tub is nice but not necessarily needed. I was going to roll the 1/2" of rocker I left on to make it look nicer but in the end I let it go.
I have about 1/4" gap between the tub and the rock slider.

this project took me a lot longer than I though it was going to take. I have about 16 hours in each side.

One thing to consider is if you are going to run long arms. If you have then then its no worry but if you don't and plan to then you need to consider where the radius arm mount is now vs. where it will be. The PO left the old radius arm mounting plates on my frame and it was a bear to grind them down to make room for my rock skid supports.

Did you beef up the tub at all?

 

[JohnJohn]

I did not do anything to the tub other than cut the rocker, lower part of the door pillar, lower part of the striker, front fender and rear quarter to clear the beam.

 

[Rymadd]

I did not do anything to the tub other than cut the rocker, lower part of the door pillar, lower part of the striker, front fender and rear quarter to clear the beam.

Just curious why you didn't weld them to the body like everybody on here says? Other then then early broncos, I always heard people say if you really use them, mount them to the frame or you will end up messing up your body anyways.

 

[JohnJohn]

Welding them to the body can also work and a lot of people do this with out issues. I wanted a stronger solution vs. relying on my 40 year old tub to deal with the punishment. Also these beams are around 40+ pounds each and welding that much to the thin sheet metal just did not seam as strong as going to the frame.

The body will move independently from the frame and I may need to change bushings or something later on so that is why I went with the 1/4 inch gap. If I had put the skid on the body I am sure it would have made noise.

 

[JohnJohn]

I will say that I do like the cleaner look of the rock skids that are welded to the body vs. having a slight gap.

 

[Scoop]

I welded to the body without any frame tie-in. I've hit them pretty hard on several occaisions without any damage to the body. I think not tying to the frame allows the sliders to have a little extra give.

 

[Bundy]

I went the same way as John and also accounted for the future long arms. I purposely use my skis to pivot on rocks and they are stout as all hell. Definitely go 2x6 so you get that protrusion, it is extra protection. I didn't weld the body to the skis and it looks fine. You could do small attachments on the front fender so it is connected but I don't care enough to go that far

Here is the link to my build
http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193189&highlight=rock

 

[OKLA70]

I installed the formed 1/4" ski's a few years ago. I didn't add any bracing to the frame. The next time I put my doors on I saw that the body actually pushed in about an inch. I didn't notice it with the inserts on. Hindsight %)

 

[Rymadd]

Can anybody give me a measurment where to put them in case I want to go to ext. radius arms later on or what not, How much longer are those usually?

 

[Bundy]

I think most extended arm kits are in the 11" range from the stock location?

 

[allenfahey]

My arm mounts are 11" back from stock. I need to fab my rocker skis which will tie the cage into the frame also. So much to do before the MEB Roundup!