Cebby

Geez, why didn't you start from scratch and make a buggy? There's only about 10% of the truck left.

On a serious note, will you be adding some triangulation to the cage?

crash

The cage is NO where near done, I ran outa tube (dom). Plus, I am still figuring out where I want what, so that will effect what goes where, crap, I confused myself,lol...

As for buildin a whole new rig, well, I have owned the rig since 91, and if you ask me, a buggy has no character, this does... Plus, I am trying new things that I haven't seen done yet...

Yes, that is a pro-rock 60, with the links/coilovers, I was afraid I would break the toy rear again, so, I fixed that.....

Dr. Zhivago

VERY NICE!

Those are some real purty welds you got there. (Deliverance theme plays in the background.)

Nice work, man.
G

ravencr

What kind of tube bender are you using?

Chris

doink

thats quite possibly the most amazing thing i have seen. all the fabrication and such. after i built my rear bumper, although crappy, it made me appreciate it more.

anyway, how long has that taken you to get that far...or did i completely miss something?

Mad Chemist

Looks awesome Crash! How much shorter is the wheelbase compared to what it used to be?

crash

I got the pro-tool 105hd with full hydro...

Absolutly love it, and can't keep from running outa tube for some damn reason

crash

crappy or not, you built it, its yours, definately something to be proud of...

lets see, I started it on the 24th of feb...

crash

It was origionally 112", and dropping it to around 107-108 range...

ravencr

Where do I find out about them, and how much they are etc? I would love to make something like that, but it seems so daunting, especially to make it squared up? When you tell these tube benders a certain degree you want it to be, is it exact?

Chris

jruz

Looks good Mike!

Where did you come up with the design for the back? Pretty much making it up as you go?

Jim

Shane

That's quite annoying, isn't it.

You're looking at a minimum investment of ~$500, and that's manual with one die set, no hydro or anything fancy. If you want some reading material search the PBB for "tube bender", there's heaps of info there. There's this little annoying thing called springback, you have to bend a few degrees PAST (how far past depends on the tube and angle desired) in order to get the finished angle you want. There's no dialing in a specific bend angle on these benders, it's either watch a protractor/degree ring, or compare the tube to a chalk layout on the floor. The ones that you can program run into the 5-6+ digits in cost...

crash

I am totaly flying by the seat of my pants

crash

Well, I am still poking along on it. Ran outa tube, so I decided to start going with a few small items. I popped the windshield back out and capped the pillars, just couldn't handle the hacked to death look (those who know me, well you understand,lol)

crash

Here is the front x-piece for the cage, and also will be the upper mount for the windshield




Here is the back seat bar for the front 2 seats. Due to the fact I haven't gotten the dana 300 adapter built yet, I had to figure out where the shifters for the d300 will come up through the floor, and pretty much have that figured out, just haven't built that portion yet



Finally got a part of the floor sheetmetaled where a gapping hole was left from how the tunnel/back wall was designed.

crash

Front view of how it looks so far



And here is a back shot of the back part of the cage. I still have work left on it, but I think the lines so far flow decently. I dunno if I have gone overboard with the design, but all points of impact/energy transfer are pretty much addressed (except those that I havent finished,lol). Rig now I am fighting how I want the lower/outer portion of the back passenger area. I am going to try and make it narrow as it goes down, but also insure that I have plenty of room for storage..

crash

FInally got the door bars cut/ tached into place. If ya notice the the front portion of the pillar is at 20 degrees so is the door bar, I think it not only is strong, but ads apeal to the eyes.

crash

Here is a back pic or the cage (sorry, not a good one)

crash

Here is the frame for the 3rd seat



And here it is sheetmetaled



And there it is bolted down. Its definately not going anyplace.

crash

And here is my little angel, this is "her" seat,lol. Told her when I started the prodject that she would be getting her very own seat in the rig....




So now I am doing the task of finishing the back of the cab. I have a couple of items to figure out, like how to tie the lower portion of the stock cab to the new tubing. I almost got it figured out, and the sheet metal will be placed as I go. Here are a couple of panels done so far.