Custom Framerail Installation - Rightous Rear Framerails

Rosetta and tack welds went down with precision.

Every so often allowing the metal to cool...

...Kevin laid on some artful bead welds.

At this point, there's one seam left to weld.

With the rear subframe freshly welded, Kevin commenced installing the differential and four-link suspension system.

Once the differential and suspension system were mocked up, the floor jack held the axle in the fully lowered position.

To simulate compressed airbags, Kevin made steel mock-up components that are the same height as deflated 'bags. He attached them to the mock-up towers so he could weld the airbag hats to the framerails.

To mate the airbag hats to the frame steps' horizontal portion, KA Custom used the plasma cutter to make two 1.5-inch-wide brackets. Four more brackets were then cut that will be welded onto the back and front step portions of the framerails and the hat.

Sean ground the cut surfaces of the brackets smooth so they could be optimally welded to the frame and airbag hats.

KA Custom tack and bead welded the 'bag hats to the brackets...

...which were then welded to the frame.

For welding on the shock mount tabs, Kevin got the shop's mock-up shock and measured its minimum and maximum length. The range was 9.25 inches to 14.5 inches. He proceeded to weld on the shock tabs (not shown).

Here's how the welded hats and shock tabs look--sanitary.

The '58 Chevy truck's owner, Sean Lotts, shot these two photos of the tubular framework KA Custom fabricated that same day to install the airbag reservoir....

...We would have stayed, but had to make sure the magazine made its 100-percent deadline. The '58 chassis will be powdercoated soon. We hope to run a few photos to show how cool it looks in silver. Stay tuned.