Garrett's build thread

[garrett83]

Re: Work party Temecula

You know ill be there with my pile lol, hopefully will have the new spring kit to do my front locker by then, also need to get the rear alxes in and a few other small odds and ins....ill bring some Blue Mountains!

Better make it a 30 pack of those silver bullets!

 

[garrett83]

Re: Work party Temecula

how much did the tube bender set you back if you dont mind my asking??

I'm at about $750 including the air/hydro ram.

I will be renting/trading this out to people I know to help recoup some costs. I know a few people that were willing to pitch in to my personal fundraiser to be able to use it.

 

[mako my day]

Looking fantastic.

 

[premoxj]

Re: Work party Temecula

I'm at about $750 including the air/hydro ram.

I will be renting/trading this out to people I know to help recoup some costs. I know a few people that were willing to pitch in to my personal fundraiser to be able to use it.

nice. i'll hit you up when the time comes

 

[garrett83]

Got a bit more progress done this weekend. A big thanks to wrtusmc for all his help yesterday, bending tube is definitely a two person job!!

Here's some pics... Enjoy

 

[garrett83]

I'm going to do a small write up on this bender in the tool section. I'm pretty happy with it overall.

 

[markw]

If you haven't already picked one up, since it bends in a vertical plane, you can use one of those digital magnet based angle finders. I think they're about 30 bucks at sears. Put it on your tube, zero it, bend until it reads the proper angle, done.

 

[garrett83]

If you haven't already picked one up, since it bends in a vertical plane, you can use one of those digital magnet based angle finders. I think they're about 30 bucks at sears. Put it on your tube, zero it, bend until it reads the proper angle, done.

That's a great idea! I'm struggling with tryin to read the dial in the wheel. I've already over bent one out of 5 bends. I was able to reuse the piece elsewhere, but at the price of this tube, I'd rather not mess any up.

 

[Vanimal]

looking good bro!

 

[cracker]

That's a great idea! I'm struggling with tryin to read the dial in the wheel. I've already over bent one out of 5 bends. I was able to reuse the piece elsewhere, but at the price of this tube, I'd rather not mess any up.

That is why I am not running out to put a hydraulic ram on the JD Squared I have.....I am good going to each 'click' for now and praying not to go over.

 

[garrett83]

That is why I am not running out to put a hydraulic ram on the JD Squared I have.....I am good going to each 'click' for now and praying not to go over.

I can definitely see the benefit there.

My issue seems to be that I have to go 2 or 3 degrees over what I want, then when I release pressure, it bounces back to "about" what I want.

I am going to try the digital angle finder to see if that helps to be more accurate.

And thanks Dan, this is taking a whole lot longer to build than I would have liked it to. I'm motivated to get it done now, so it's just time. I'm having fun with it, making it all worth it.

 

[cracker]

I can definitely see the benefit there.

My issue seems to be that I have to go 2 or 3 degrees over what I want, then when I release pressure, it bounces back to "about" what I want.

The 'bounce back' changes a lot depending on the material and diameter you are working with.

This is why I enjoy the 'click' of the manual bender. 99.9% of the time the angle is irrelevant as long as it is close....making the second tube to match is the bigger issue and with the click it happens every time with the click method.

I would love to have $2K of tube to burn and just practive to get better at it....it just takes me so damn long to do cagework....

 

[garrett83]

The 'bounce back' changes a lot depending on the material and diameter you are working with.

This is why I enjoy the 'click' of the manual bender. 99.9% of the time the angle is irrelevant as long as it is close....making the second tube to match is the bigger issue and with the click it happens every time with the click method.

I would love to have $2K of tube to burn and just practive to get better at it....it just takes me so damn long to do cagework....

That's just it, I'll be good at bending tube by the time I do my last bend... Then I won't touch another cage for awhile and have to start the learning process all over.

It's just so damn easy to sit there and push a button and let the ram do all the work.... Guess I can get it all together, roll it, then blame any irregularities on the roll!!

 

[cracker]

That's just it, I'll be good at bending tube by the time I do my last bend... Then I won't touch another cage for awhile and have to start the learning process all over.

That's just it....you need to do it all the time. Your first cage will look....simple. If you do it a couple of times you can use some other angles and change the shape of the cage and givce it a nicer 'look' to it. It takes a long time to get 'good' at it and not everyone is. I got lucky and Randy Slauson did some of the tubework on my buggy (before I got it) and he charged $4000 for the upper portion of the cage all tig welded chromoly.

There is a reason why the good guys charge so much and can nail the compound bends and all.

 

[markw]

Here you go, just ordered one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140636422546?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[jeeperjohn]

Here you go, just ordered one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140636422546?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Marked the page for future reference, I gots to have me one!

 

[garrett83]

Progress!!

I got about 75% of the cage work tacked in place, I just need to pick up some more tube to finish the rest, then burn it all home.

And with the help of my chick, we got the front frame stiffeners completed... Went a little over kill and torched out some 3/16 plate

Aaaaaaaand the laundry list to get it drive able for socal fest...
Finish cage
Fab new sheet metal body panels
Fab steering
Hydro assist
Track bar
Axle gearing
Shorten driveshafts
Brakes!!
Lights
Reinstall gas tank
Harnesses
Paint
Have new New windshield installed
Drink beer
Test drive


....... Sigh

 

[premoxj]

lookin good dude! i'm taking notes

 

[garrett83]

lookin good dude! i'm taking notes

Thanks man, you're going to have to swing up and check it out someday

 

[premoxj]

agreed! i'll let you know when i roll up to pick up that truck. PS my buddy said he'll tow it back for me. i just need to find a trailer big enough now...LOL