My "Hero" Blog

[Jeep450r]

My 110 is dying lol... And I really don't want to use flux core on it

 

[blondejoncherokee]

damnit. i like your notching. makes me think i should have used a notcher, and actually should have measured or tried to measure my cuts instead of eye balling everything. yah 220v with gas would have mademe so happy when doing my cage instead of 110v , flux core, and eating taco bell and having gas in a small garage.

 

[zachandandy]

Kevin, you're welcome to borrow my Lincoln 175hd, my gas bottle is empty(about $70 to exchange at tractor supply) and you'd need wire since I've been rockin flux core for my recent projects. Hit me up and I could drop it by after work 1 day.

 

[Jeep450r]

Wow Zach, thanks a bunch for the offer! My dad and I just got back from Lodi where we picked up a nice Millermatic 180 Autoset with half full tank and wire and all for a pretty good price. We sold our tig welder to get this guy. Now if only the outlet in the garage was a 50 amp rather than a 30 amp 220v. But really, I appreciate the offer!

Didnt get much done today. Last night, a transformer blew up down the street from me and left me without power for most of the day. I was across town when the transformer blew and I could see the explosion light up the sky. Twas crazy.

I did however finish up the connector between the c and d pillar spreaders. Also got one of the a pillars whipped together.

Pics tomorrow... I'm tired.

 

[zachandandy]

Congrats on the new welder. How much tube have you used so far? Planning a similar cage out of 1 3/4" as soon as I have some free time. Is your electrical panel in your garage? If so, I could help you install a 50 amp outlet for the cost of the materials.

 

[Jeep450r]

Congrats on the new welder. How much tube have you used so far? Planning a similar cage out of 1 3/4" as soon as I have some free time. Is your electrical panel in your garage? If so, I could help you install a 50 amp outlet for the cost of the materials.

I've used about 4.5 sticks so far. But that's including scrap and mess ups.

Yes the electrical panel is in the garage. That would be awesome if you could help out. What is your schedule like/ when would be a good time for you?

This kinda sucks because I was hoping to have the cage burned in today and I'd clean up the jeep and get it mobile Friday because I'll be spending all day Saturday packing for school andbthen I'm outta here.

Another question for all you welders. My miller came with about 8lbs of .030 solid wire. From what I've read, .030 is perfect for cages (.120 wall). The dude I bought it from told me to use .035, but he didn't really know what he was talking about. What do you guys think I should use?

 

[Jeep450r]

Well today ended up being a success. Got both A-pillars done. It turns out that a 35* notch fits PERFECTLY on the awkward halo bend. I have no easy way to pull the windshield though, so if the window breaks i will chop off the A-pillars and put in flanges or tube adapters.

Then I spent a bit of time getting everything centered and aligned and got it all tacked together so I could pull it off the jeep to weld up.

Zach ended up dropping by after work and wired up a 220v outlet for my welder (THANK YOU SO FREAKING MUCH). Then I spent a few minutes practicing on scrap and moved on to the cage.

Everything is burned together right now. Tomorrow I will go back out and look for any little gaps I missed and will be grinding down/re-welding a spot or two.

Heres some pics:

mmmmmm, welding with gas is lovely.


List to be completed tomorrow:

-Look over welds and grind/reweld
-Cut and cap ends (by D-pillar) and grind smooth
-Clean off slag
-Paint
-Make A-pillar to cowl tie in plates
-Put halo back on
-Tack B and C pillars
-Weld base plates
-Lift through roof and weld B/C pillars
-Drop down and weld B/C pillars to plates.
-Paint interior tubes
-Burn A-pillars in to rocker replacements and cowl.
-Notch fenders to fit around a-pillars
-Reassemble (trim, carpet, front clip, etc.)
-Admire my work
-Leave for school

 

[blondejoncherokee]

looks damn good you dirty monkey.

 

[knucklehead 61]

you will be fine with .030 wire on .120 wall.
.035 would be a bit much, but sill work.

 

[Jeep450r]

Heres a shot of how I tied the A-pillar into the cowl. Welded a plate to the cowl and then welded the pillar to the plate. the pillar didn't line up as well as I had first imagined (too far back) so I added a little brace to the front of it to even out the load on the plate.

Then I notched the fenders around the tube both on the top and the bottom.

And then I took some pics. Not all that great of pics since I was on my way out to school, but pics nonetheless. I will have some better pics to show when I get back from the Rubicon this weekend.

Overall it fits pretty tight, except for the D-pillar spreader which sits a tad high for my liking.

My biggest concern right now is that the spreader that goes forward from the B pillar spreader to the front (center) above the cage is touching the roof right above the windshield. Hopefully it doesn't put any pressure on the window itself because if the windshield breaks, I wont be happy. At all.


Soooo... Waddaya think?

 

[blondejoncherokee]

looks good.

 

[zachandandy]

That may be the best looking hybrid cage I've seen to date. Top notch job for an almost sleep cage.

 

[connor0770]

i think you need bigger tires

 

[blondejoncherokee]

time for 39s....

 

[#S194]

Very clean. I dig the way you hid the front pillars behind the fenders. Nice work.

 

[connor0770]

time for 39s....

I agree 101%

 

[Forceful Llama]

Very nice, I really like how it is snug to the body.

 

[Jeep450r]

Thanks for the compliments guys! And I agree with the tire comments. Im getting an itch to bump up to 35's, but my gearing with the 33's is soooo perfect. I think 35's might be a bit tall. Maybe if I could get my hands on a set of 35's to borrow for a wheeling trip I could make up my mind. But until then, 33's it is.


I found a pic or two that I never posted up here from the weekend of the Sierrafest. My two personal favorites.

Lookout off highway 4

Mt. Reeba Ridge

Rubicon this weekend, so I should have some more pics come Monday or Tuesday.

 

[Jeep450r]

Well I took it out to the Rubicon this weekend for the Cantina for the Con. Wheeled in from Loon to Spider and camped at the bottom of the box with the Dirt Bag Posse. Only got a few pictures, but got a bunch of compliments on the cage. I will be heading back home from school in a few weeks to grab some stuff, and I will grab a bunch of tube while im down there so I can plug away at the internal part of the cage. Anyways heres some pics.

Had a killer time out there. Can't wait to get back out there with some more tube added to the cage!

 

[connor0770]

sweet pictures!! I wish you got some of me =/