Builds Father, Son, and the Unholy UTE

[2fpower]

I was planning on chopping the outer rocker skin off and putting a slider there, not attached to the body by 3/4 inch. After looking at the cross section of the rockers, and how little ties the floor to the B pillar, I decided to leave the rockers there. I want the rockers to extend to the back of the cab section to give the side one uniform look. Unfortunately, that will be about 6" past where I cut, so I just welded about a foot back on, and will make the final cut when we have a final placement of the rear section (sequoia hatch).

Still waiting on the metal shop to get the hoop done; however, before then, I can get the floor back together where the new body mount/roll cage tie in point will be.

 

[Robkc]

Awesome to see these action shots of you @7powernerd.

When I get back in town I need to stop by your parting out stash and settle up with you on some stuff.

 

[2fpower]

Was able to go out last night and weld a little bit getting the patch pieces done where the roll cage will mount. Before doing so added the light to the welding hood. Thanks @

 

[2fpower]

Well the Metal Shop continue to be backed up, so decided in the pipe myself. Gave myself 50-50 odds of doing it without having to cut and splice. Josh came out and help with a few bends. Ends up that the sun shone on this frogs ass today.

 

[2fpower]

Did a little tweaking here and there and looks like it's going to fit pretty darn good.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

That's awesome. Did you just bend a little, move down, bend a little, move down, etc. ? That's a nice smooth radius!

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

And that is why I made that mount turn on the bender! Good job. Great use of family time

 

[cjmoon]

Nice work you don't need no stinking shop...

 

[Robkc]

Looks awesome! Can't wait to find some time to get over there and see the progress in person.

 

[2fpower]

Many thanks to @tornadoalleycruiser for free rent of bender.

And that is why I made that mount turn on the bender! Good job. Great use of family time

Tacked it in place then slid it all back to get a good weld at the top. I had just rough fit all the other pieces and did not weld in place so I could do this. Will slide it forward then weld it at A and B pillars and weld in the front cross tube. I think I have a good plan for the floor mount.

 

[2fpower]

That's awesome. Did you just bend a little, move down, bend a little, move down, etc. ? That's a nice smooth radius!

Thanks for all the kind words. For the slight bends I marked every 6 inches or so and did a very small bend--more like a tweak. I would take it out, compared to my pattern and typically bend it again. Only had to unbend it in two spots and that was because my pattern wasn't perfect, and had to revise on the final install. For the top corners that die is a 5 1/2 inch diameter which was perfect. I would guess 50 individual bends.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Thanks for all the kind words. For the slight bends I marked every 6 inches or so and did a very small bend--more like a tweak. I would take it out, compared to my pattern and typically bend it again. Only had to unbend it in two spots and that was because my pattern wasn't perfect, and had to revise on the final install. For the top corners that die is a 5 1/2 inch diameter which was perfect. I would guess 50 individual bends.

Looks very good. I didn't even consider that. I was trying to figure out how I was going to get a nice sweeping end like that. I guess I just did.

 

[2fpower]

First step paint a line straight down the middle of the pipe. That will help you keep it straight in the bender and be flat one diminsionally.

 

[Robkc]

Sounds like the bender worked quite a bit more efficiently than the loader frame, body weight, stump and a gimpy friend in a cast did for Foo's cage.

 

[Robkc]

Looks like you might need a little short triangulation at top corners unless the Sequoia hatch has pretty good structure across the top to weld to and keep those corners from folding.

 

[2fpower]

Sounds like the bender worked quite a bit more efficiently than the loader frame, body weight, stump and a gimpy friend in a cast did for Foo's cage.

Those memories are worth all the crazyness. Only difference is I learned patience here, lots of bending and rebending. Used three different colored sharpie pens to keep straight were to bend. All pastel colors so it looks like the easter bunny threw up on the cage.

Looks like you might need a little short triangulation at top corners unless the Sequoia hatch has pretty good structure across the top to weld to and keep those corners from folding.

Plan is to put a Taco gusset in that spot. @half k cruiser told me about these things. Ruff stuff sells this one. Only 4.25 inches long, so not sure if that is too small.

90 Degree Saddle / Taco Large Gusset Formed (Single)

Rogue fab makes a press to create these things. Pretty cool. I could likely adapt my press brake to do this, but seem like a ton of work for very little use. I may call up Ruffstuff or Rogue to see if they can make these larger.

Can't figure out how to spin that image of the press below. Tilt your monitor. Sorry.

Gusset press brake die (Taco die)

 

[Robkc]

That type of gusset does look perfect. Agreed that it looks like a lot of work to make that jig for pretty rare number of uses. Cool tool to have around though and could be made to slide over your current base.

I think that a piece of notched tubing your desired length with triangular opening filled by gusset would be a lot stronger and quicker to make.

 

[2fpower]

You could be right. Plan is to get cage in place, put a seat in there and see how much of a bludgeon risk we have and determine how big of a support I want to put in place.

Busy week at work; however, really awesome to see this progressing again, so we will see how much sleep I get. May have some early mornings in the shop.

 

[scrowley]

@2fpower Looking great. Those bends are tough! I made protection for my rig and I bent the radius of the rear wheel well archs. Same thing...took a ton of little bends. It is satisfying once you are done

 

[2fpower]

@2fpower Looking great. Those bends are tough! I made protection for my rig and I bent the radius of the rear wheel well archs. Same thing...took a ton of little bends. It is satisfying once you are done

Thanks!