Just some neat fabrication 
Some of you know, but most don't i guess... i'm working on my wide-body pickup truck again, because i need a tow-vehicle for my race karts. For more info on it, check out the following link: http://www.iconmedia.tv/icon_galleries/Project_Tacoma/index.html
So anyway, i need to make this thing look good. Part of that is lowering it a LOT. Well, i messed around today, and got the C-Notch about halfway done today, and i'll finish it next week maybe Monday hopefully. hehe. Anyway, i'm cross-posting this to another forum, so here's what i wrote over there:
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Well, its time to start working on the custom rear C-Notch on the truck... I decided against buying a basic C-Notch, part, because i have semi-custom requirements, and well.... i just can't bring myself to spend that much $$ on something i can just make myself.
So, i first started out with an aluminum template. A lot of prople would probably use paper, but i needed it to be -ACCURATE-, and paper flexes and moves too much. So, the aluminum template made the most sense.
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I then bought a 4' x 4' sheet of 12 Gauge steel that i'll use to make the pieces. First things first, is putting it up on jacks so i can cut it.
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Then, i traced the outline from the template to the steel. I wanted the top edge to be absolutely -perfect- straightness-wise, so i used each of the 4 sheared edges of the sheet as my straight portion.
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Kinda hard to see the outlines, but they're there... haha!
Next up, is to pull out the plasma. I'm just using it to cut each piece into a manageable size.
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Now that all 4 pieces are cut out, its on to the bandsaw
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I just got this new vertical bandsaw, so this'll be the very first project i get to do with it... man, it does things so nicely. It was definitely a worthwhile investment I'd take pics of me cutting the pieces on the bandsaw, but i'm only one person, no helpers at this time, so i can't get certain pics... hehe.
Anyway, the inside-rail pieces also need holes drilled through them so that i could run some tubing through them. The design i'm going with uses 2 pieces of DOM Mild Steel tubes that run from one side of the truck to the other. This will be used for strength, but also to be the mounting bas for the gooseneck ball, and the air bag supports for towing.
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Ok, now i have two inside, and two outside pieces
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Then, i cut the DOM Mild Steel tubing to the exact width on my horizontal bandsaw
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Ok, now that the pieces are in place, its time to start assembling things, and tack welding things in place.
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Notching the inner-pieces to provide a positive mounting point on the frame for alignment
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Then it was time to grind down the outside frqame rails for attaching the outer pieces
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Outer piece in place
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Everything tack welded, ready for the next step
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Hint of what is to come with the hitch piece in place.. should work out very nicely!
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Here is the start of creating all the plates to box the rails in. So far, these are all just set in place, as there is a lot of welding that needs to be done before they go in permanantly.
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Yea, yea, yea... not CRX related i guess, but still fun to post about... haha!
Some of you know, but most don't i guess... i'm working on my wide-body pickup truck again, because i need a tow-vehicle for my race karts. For more info on it, check out the following link: http://www.iconmedia.tv/icon_galleries/Project_Tacoma/index.htmlSo anyway, i need to make this thing look good. Part of that is lowering it a LOT. Well, i messed around today, and got the C-Notch about halfway done today, and i'll finish it next week maybe Monday hopefully. hehe. Anyway, i'm cross-posting this to another forum, so here's what i wrote over there:
----------------------------------------------------------------
Well, its time to start working on the custom rear C-Notch on the truck... I decided against buying a basic C-Notch, part, because i have semi-custom requirements, and well.... i just can't bring myself to spend that much $$ on something i can just make myself.
So, i first started out with an aluminum template. A lot of prople would probably use paper, but i needed it to be -ACCURATE-, and paper flexes and moves too much. So, the aluminum template made the most sense.
I then bought a 4' x 4' sheet of 12 Gauge steel that i'll use to make the pieces. First things first, is putting it up on jacks so i can cut it.
Then, i traced the outline from the template to the steel. I wanted the top edge to be absolutely -perfect- straightness-wise, so i used each of the 4 sheared edges of the sheet as my straight portion.
Kinda hard to see the outlines, but they're there... haha!
Next up, is to pull out the plasma. I'm just using it to cut each piece into a manageable size.
Now that all 4 pieces are cut out, its on to the bandsaw
I just got this new vertical bandsaw, so this'll be the very first project i get to do with it... man, it does things so nicely. It was definitely a worthwhile investment
I'd take pics of me cutting the pieces on the bandsaw, but i'm only one person, no helpers at this time, so i can't get certain pics... hehe.Anyway, the inside-rail pieces also need holes drilled through them so that i could run some tubing through them. The design i'm going with uses 2 pieces of DOM Mild Steel tubes that run from one side of the truck to the other. This will be used for strength, but also to be the mounting bas for the gooseneck ball, and the air bag supports for towing.
Ok, now i have two inside, and two outside pieces
Then, i cut the DOM Mild Steel tubing to the exact width on my horizontal bandsaw
Ok, now that the pieces are in place, its time to start assembling things, and tack welding things in place.
Notching the inner-pieces to provide a positive mounting point on the frame for alignment
Then it was time to grind down the outside frqame rails for attaching the outer pieces
Outer piece in place
Everything tack welded, ready for the next step
Hint of what is to come with the hitch piece in place.. should work out very nicely!
Here is the start of creating all the plates to box the rails in. So far, these are all just set in place, as there is a lot of welding that needs to be done before they go in permanantly.
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Yea, yea, yea... not CRX related i guess, but still fun to post about... haha!
