Spirit Body on a Total Performance Frame

[AndyMenon]

Hi,

I'm planning to go for a 23 T body with a 20" pickup bed from Spirit. But I'm not sure how to locate and drill the mounting holes into the body.

Any ideas on how I can do this? I already have a pre-drilled frame from Total.

Cheers!

 

[bucketkids]

If your frame is tapped they make a set of punches you screw in and transfer the holes. In other words. grind the heads off 4 bolts to a point. screw them into the frame and tap with hammer. (i would put tape on body first.)

 

[AndyMenon]

If your frame is tapped they make a set of punches you screw in and transfer the holes. In other words. grind the heads off 4 bolts to a point. screw them into the frame and tap with hammer. (i would put tape on body first.)

Thanks! Let me see if I can get these punches.

 

[Youngster]

I don't like the idea of a tapped hole in the frame rail as a body mount. Not enough treads for one thing and no inside fasteners for the other. I have seen the treaded holes strip out and the compression rubber mounts put out of the hole in a total frame. Fred might be able to attest to this. I weld a tab to the outside of the rail with a gusset and bolt and NUT the body in place. If your frame is painted, make the tabs a bolt on, at least these tab bolts will be in shear. Just my opinion again.

Ron

 

[Youngster]

It wouldn't let me add more by editting so .....

The above method of transfering hole is excellent. However, in my best been there, screwed this up voice, mark and drill the first hole, set your transfer point for the hole on the other frame rail, and bolt the first one down. This will ensure the body hasn't shifted while transfering holes. Repete this process with each hole. For those who have a bare frame, use 6 - 3/8" bolts, lock nuts and a fender washer or equivilent in the body and 3 in the box, one on each side rail and one centered on the rear cross member. You did glass a floor in the box right?

Ron

 

[Leon renaud]

Totals bodies mount with expanding rubber plugs the frame holes are not tapped. I have their building manual here but no way to scan this for you,You might question the strength of this mount but after seeing pictures of one of their Ts that rolled over at roughly 70 MPH on the interstate and hearing what the owner had to say about the "crash test"I'd say that they are plenty strong the body never came loose of the frame!If it can still be bought anyone messing with should really have Totals build manual almost all of it can be used on any T it's the best 25$ I have spent during my build tons and tons of good info and patterns/plans for parts.

 

[AndyMenon]

Totals bodies mount with expanding rubber plugs the frame holes are not tapped. I have their building manual here but no way to scan this for you,You might question the strength of this mount but after seeing pictures of one of their Ts that rolled over at roughly 70 MPH on the interstate and hearing what the owner had to say about the "crash test"I'd say that they are plenty strong the body never came loose of the frame!If it can still be bought anyone messing with should really have Totals build manual almost all of it can be used on any T it's the best 25$ I have spent during my build tons and tons of good info and patterns/plans for parts.

I do have their build plans. Maybe it's just me, but I could not resolve the position of the first hole with a reference point on the frame, and subsequently the rest of the holes with reference to the first one. Maybe the dimensions are distributed across more than one diagram.

Yep, I do have the body mounting plugs (Luckily!!!). I will have to drive them in first even before I set the body on the frame to locate the mounting holes.

 

[AndyMenon]

It wouldn't let me add more by editting so .....

The above method of transfering hole is excellent. However, in my best been there, screwed this up voice, mark and drill the first hole, set your transfer point for the hole on the other frame rail, and bolt the first one down. This will ensure the body hasn't shifted while transfering holes. Repete this process with each hole. For those who have a bare frame, use 6 - 3/8" bolts, lock nuts and a fender washer or equivilent in the body and 3 in the box, one on each side rail and one centered on the rear cross member. You did glass a floor in the box right?

Ron

Yep, you're right. I need to make sure that the body does not move after I drill the first hole. One idea would be to secure the body to the frame by using the ratcheting hold-down straps as soon as I drill the first hole and then move over to tap the other holes in succession.
I will get the floor & pickup bed installed at Spirit because I need to accept my limitations when it comes to doing glass work .

cheers!

 

[Third DodgeBrother]

I have to agree with Ron on the rubber body mounts: When I had a set fail on my teardrop trailer the whole cab came adrift. I now use a nylon locknut and thick holesaw slug to guarantee capture if the rubber fails

 

[spike]

Hi,

I'm planning to go for a 23 T body with a 20" pickup bed from Spirit. But I'm not sure how to locate and drill the mounting holes into the body.

Any ideas on how I can do this? I already have a pre-drilled frame from Total.

Cheers!

Another way to do this would be to make a cardboard template to match the underside of your body, then position the template on the frame & find the first hole. cut out the hole with a razor blade knife & insert the rubber push plug. Then repeat for the other 3 holes. You will now have a template to easily transfer the hole locations back to your body.

 

[AndyMenon]

Another way to do this would be to make a cardboard template to match the underside of your body, then position the template on the frame & find the first hole. cut out the hole with a razor blade knife & insert the rubber push plug. Then repeat for the other 3 holes. You will now have a template to easily transfer the hole locations back to your body.

Yep! That is really an excellent idea! Thanks much!