Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

[420]

I'm finally getting around to all the little odds and ends to get this truck ready to play, and this one has been on my list for a while...

I have the Chris Keith core support, which came with fiberglass headlamp buckets. The support is awesome, but the buckets don't seem to be sturdy enough, as I get headlamp flutter out on the highway.

Have any others with this kit noticed the same thing, and what have you done to correct it? Also, does anyone have a SPARE set of the headlamp buckets they would be willing to sell?

Thanks!

- Matt

 

[mattw]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

You could ruff up the back side of those buckets and lay down a few more layers of MAT and resin...

 

[SYO237]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

Matt and anyone else with the alum support -

I would use caution with the CK alum support. MRKING's support, his hood latch ripped clean off the support and busted his windshield and folded his hood in half....and he wasnt even driving it, it was on top of a trailer.

The weld failed, and you could see it didnt even penetrate when done. After seeing that, I would be very leery to even want to bolt it on.

 

[fronzoos]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

Matt and anyone else with the alum support -

I would use caution with the CK alum support. MRKING's support, his hood hatch ripped clean off the support and busted his windshield and folded his hood in half....and he wasnt even driving it, it was on top of a trailer.

The weld failed, and you could see it didnt even penetrate when done. After seeing that, I would be very leery to even want to bolt it on.

Yeah that wasnt a good deal at all... :tdown:

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

They were EXPENSIVE ... I feel sad I bought one now, lol .

Can you use the stock headlamp buckets in place of the fiberglass ones?! ---

 

[MRKING]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

Hey matt the hardest part about the buckets is securing them to the support . The core isnt the same on both sides so making a copy of the headlight buckets to sit where the headlight is supposed to mount is not the ideal setup . When chris had the supports made he did it backwards , he should have taken the mounts and buckets first then make the support around them .

You can send the buckets to me if you want them beefed up . When he wanted the buckets made , his idea for them was as cheap and light as possible . I personally wanted to do more but he was not really concerned about that stuff . He just wanted to make money and a more expensive headlight setup would cut into his $$ .

 

[4C FED]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

I saw someone here made some out of, what looked like aluminum.
That's good to know about the hood latch bracket. I'll have to check mine out & see if it can be reinforced.

 

[MRKING]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

Its sad really . I remember my complete install and how the holes werent drilled , the location of what was there wasnt in the correct spot , and try mounting the ac parts was next to impossible . My Whole front end is off a little bit and my hood doesnt quite line up properly .

Id honestly say he took $60 worth of homedepot square alum tubing , and sold it for 400-450 .Then he wouldnt spend more than 20 for a headlight bucket . I havent really spoken my mind much about it much , but ever since the support latch broke off on the highway doing 75mph and my hood flew up and smashed my windshield and roof , ive been real bitter lately .

I know when i got mine installed , i asked if any others had mounted pitures of their supports , but have yet to see any pics other than my own .And that was a couple years ago ......

 

[Syclone#2960]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

Damn I'm so glad I read this. I drove mine for about 100 miles or so without any problems. Going to have it reinforced.

 

[4C FED]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

I got mine when they were selling them relatively cheap. I think it was about $200.
I've been intimated about installing mine. I've never had the fenders off & I was worried about getting everything all lined up correctly. I really want to install it so I can run the Treadstone front mount I have, rather than hack up the stock support.
Not sure what to do now after hearing about yours. :dunno:

Its sad really . I remember my complete install and how the holes werent drilled , the location of what was there wasnt in the correct spot , and try mounting the ac parts was next to impossible . My Whole front end is off a little bit and my hood doesnt quite line up properly .

Id honestly say he took $60 worth of homedepot square alum tubing , and sold it for 400-450 .Then he wouldnt spend more than 20 for a headlight bucket . I havent really spoken my mind much about it much , but ever since the support latch broke off on the highway doing 75mph and my hood flew up and smashed my windshield and roof , ive been real bitter lately .

I know when i got mine installed , i asked if any others had mounted pitures of their supports , but have yet to see any pics other than my own .And that was a couple years ago ......

 

[MRKING]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

A tip from my install would be to not drill the frame mount bolts on the bottom until you have the fenders, hood ,grille ,and bumper lined up just right . Set it all up , bolt it all together , make it straight , then remove the grille and drill/mount the bottom bolts .

Other than use hood pins or mod the latch mount, youll be fine .

 

[cloneman315]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

some things are better of left stock.

 

[MRKING]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

some trucks are on a diet .

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

I have the PEP support that Chris Keith copied. This is only picture I have on me, (brown cardboard is for a mockup) The PEP hood latch was super weak and bendable.

 

[blk00z28]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

Thats a sad way of making money using cheap ass parts. Its one thing to buy good shit cheap, and another to buy cheap shit.

 

[LIL QIK]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

I've got that support. But we ended up gutting the support even more and changed the design a little. We made our headlight buckets out of aluminum just because I was afraid the fibers would eventually break. We took out the factory latch because I was going to go the same route as Robert with the corner latches. You can see the mods we made to it in this thread.... http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=63036

 

[mattw]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

Id honestly say he took $60 worth of homedepot square alum tubing , and sold it for 400-450 .

I just picked up enough material to build one for $30. Renz bought one years ago and its just laying around the shop. I was going to build a cheezy wooden jig and copy it that way. I'd imagine that I could get the jig built and weld up another one in a days time..

 

[4C FED]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

A tip from my install would be to not drill the frame mount bolts on the bottom until you have the fenders, hood ,grille ,and bumper lined up just right . Set it all up , bolt it all together , make it straight , then remove the grille and drill/mount the bottom bolts .

Other than use hood pins or mod the latch mount, youll be fine .

I remember seeing pic's of yours and thought that that big hole that holds the core support to the frame horns would be weak.
Do you think it would be possible to add material around this part, basically building a block &, so that it will be sturdier?

And were you able to re-use the rubber or urethane frame mount under the support?

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

I remember seeing pic's of yours and thought that that big hole that holds the core support to the frame horns would be weak.
Do you think it would be possible to add material around this part, basically building a block &, so that it will be sturdier?

And were you able to re-use the rubber or urethane frame mount under the support?

I was able to resue the rubber frame mounts, I just used different bolts. Another recommendation I have is to use lock nuts or locktite (on fender bolts). I put about 3K mile on mine and the vibrations from the electric fan loosen every bolt on mine. I even lost a few bolts that fell out.

 

[420]

Re: Paging anyone running the Chris Keith core support setup...

Thanks for all the responses guys

I am currently using a pin on hood, so no worries about the hood latch area. If I ever end up going back to a latching hood, I will be sure to create my own mount.

As for the buckets, michael I may just pull them out and send them back to you. I need to first examine how they are mounted, and see if there is room for improvement on that front. I am very much a believer of a good diet for these trucks, but that headlight flutter was driving me crazy