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'72 K5 - Greg's @MightAsWellK5 Build

This is the build description. I will improve this later. (GB)
Overview Gallery Discussion
the Lab is the same size and I have a washer/dryer, bathroom, gigantor Snappie box and a giant blast cab in it.... :haha:

it's just been a godsend of a tool was really the point... :bow:
 
I gotcha..... :waytogo:

I'll make a deal with ya..... you make the straight cuts I need, and I'll TIG up anything your project needs.

We gotta start working smarter, not harder around here!!!


:deal:

-G
 
So I stopped following this thread several years ago (probably when Greg was in baby jail) and was surprised at how far it had come! I read the last few pages and then ended up just going back to start, pretty cool to see it come to this point. Reading a couple pages a day (30 posts/page) takes a couple weeks:haha:

Couple things to add, hopefully they are helpful.
When we make cuts in structure we always drill a stop hole at the corners before making cuts. Not sure if it matters in steel, but in aluminum it helps prevent future cracks. Probably too late for that one to be of much use for you, but if you do get a crack you could always use some dye penetrant to find the true end of the crack and stop drill it to prevention expansion.

The other is for your links, PHB, DL, TR, etc. If you didn't buy/make an aluminum wrench yet I've got an option that I think is better than the adjustable wrench that was suggested- Knipex flat jaw pliers.
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1368&groupID=1500
The way they are designed you get much more clamping force than you could ever hope for with normal channel-locks and no slipping like you would get with a normal open-end wrench. They are my go to for any tubing at work these days. I also have big pair I bought that I've used at home more than at work (plumbing stuff:doah:) If you want to try them out before buying (they are not cheap) shoot me a PM.

21504.jpg
 
For cutting tube; both square and round, I use a diamond blade in my cutoff saw. They are more expensive but you can take an 1/8 of an inch off at a time and it is always square.
 
2014.10.30 - UPDATE! - THE WHITE UNICORN....1.75" DOM...!!!

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that placing an order for some DOMESTIC 1.75" DOM tubing would result in a months-long wait for materials.... :doah: Yet, when I went to my local supplier he tried numerous times through many suppliers and couldn't find a source. Finally, I got a lucky break and through a friend-of-a-friend was able to locate a source in Indiana to supply the tubing!! :waytogo:

I didn't screw around. I ordered up six 20-foot sticks which is way more than I should need to complete this project... but there's NO WAY I'm going to go through this kind of delay again. The material has arrived locally, and will be delivered on Saturday so I will finally be able to get to the business of building the rear strut towers and associated rollcage structures to anchor them.... Personally, I blame Mike (NorCal69)....his tube farm projects single-handedly depleted our national supplies! :haha:

In the meantime, there is ALWAYS something that can be done to move the project forward. So I spent last night building a mirror-image rockslider assembly for the drivers side of the truck.

IMG_1350.jpg


Basically it's the multi-hole main section, plus two frame stubs... then a small drop-bracket that locks it into the B-pillar area. Once those were all welded up I started the tedious process of getting the heavy SOB up under the truck and into position....

As before, the A-pillar cab support was in the way, so I marked it and did the unthinkable for the second time.... :D

IMG_1354.jpg


I also marked and cut the inner rocker (vertical panel) to remove the excess. It makes it a lot easier to negotiate the slider into position for ratchet straps, clamps, shims and cuss words with that sheetmetal removed.

By the end of last night, I had it up into position correctly. I used a LOOOONG section of 2"x3" tubing across the underside of the truck (laterally) and clamped it under the passenger side rockslider tube....then ran it tight against the two framerails. Since everything is in perfect horizontal alignment, this gave me a "shelf" to rest the drivers side slider assembly on, and help to insure that it was perfectly level and true with the other side of the truck.

A few heavy tack welds will lock it all into place, and I'll be free to play around with the new tubing this weekend..... That will be perfect timing, since I am now pretty excited to build the visible part of the rockslider and get that mounted under the door area.


-G
 
Look awesome, as always!

I can't wait to see you drive this thing. Mine has been off the road for roughly a year, and just recently I have been taking short blasts through the streets around my shop.... I feel like a kid at Xmas every time.
 
Greg72 said:
2014.10.28 - UPDATE! - SLOW & STEADY PROGRESS.... !!!​

The first is an idea that I thought would work out better than it did.... It's a large diameter pipe cutter (up to 2.5" diameter). Whenever I want to cut a nice, square end on a piece of tubing it's always a struggle to either wrap it with tape or just some other time-wasting process. So I bought this from Amazon.

IMG_1321.jpg


It worked great for exactly ONE tube. It scored the line I needed and I was able to then follow that score line with my cutoff wheel and get a good result. Unfortunately, I think the cutting wheel isn't designed for harder metals (like steel) and now it "walks" all over the place instead of cutting straight...... if I ever need a barber-pole mark on my tubing, this will end up being really useful. :whistle: I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a hardened cutting wheel replacement, but if I can find one this tool would be an awesome time saver.-G
Click to expand...

I have a similar pipe cutter I use for exhaust pipe and it works fantastic. Quick, easy, straight cuts with no cutting mess. Never had a problem with it but it is a high quality piece, no idea what it cost, inherited it from dad. And of course I have never tried to cut anything as thick as you are trying.


Greg72 said:
In other news, I've pretty much decided to pull the trigger on the Miller Dynasty 200DX TIG welder in the next few days. I've wanted to learn TIG for a long time now, and it would be great to be able to weld up my own fuel tank (in either stainless or aluminum) and maybe even do all the finish welding of the rollcage in TIG instead of MIG.


-G
Click to expand...

I have a 200DX and it is a sweet piece. TIG isn't near as hard to learn as some people say, you will love it. I like everything about it, except that it is so small for portability. It is easily the most expensive per pound piece of equipment in the garage. Hopefully if I ever get robbed, the thief won't know what it is. I would rather they walk off with the TV than the welder.
 
My dad has always been pretty influential in my life, most notably in terms of creativity and fearlessness when it comes to being a DIY-kind of guy. Growing up, it never occurred to me that I couldn't build things or do things that I wanted to do.... our home was always under construction, and watching my dad adding foundations, walls and roofing really demystified the whole process and taught me that even a complex task is really nothing more than a long series of smaller, simpler steps...

It was quite surprising (and flattering) to be featured as the subject of his monthly newsletter. You see, my dad is a REAL artist. Not like those "Draw Tippy the Turtle" artists, or the ones that you see on PBS teaching how to paint happy clouds... he's the real deal. To hear him speak of my humble truck build in terms of artistry, creativity and process was quite a proud moment for me. :bow:

Anyway, I thought you'd get a kick out of seeing the article and some familiar photos.

BBSN.jpg



....and for Colby specifically, you will probably enjoy surfing around the rest of his website and checking out examples of the art work he is currently doing. It's impressive.....

http://www.bruceblanchette.com






-G
 
Your Dads art is epic wasnt hardly a peice on his page I didn't like.

On the dom tube sometimes steel places get huge orders and stuff for us little guys gets well gone for a while.

Several years back we couldn't get 1.5 hrew for nearly a year
 
Greg72 said:
Personally, I blame Mike (NorCal69)....his tube farm projects single-handedly depleted our national supplies! :haha:


-G
Click to expand...

That is so unfair. The last time I was in Eric's garage he had like 15 sticks. :whistle:


I'm not saying that I was a help to the national stock pile of DOM tho. :rolleyes: :haha:


Way cool on the article. You're dad is very proud of his kids. Not much of a better feeling a dad can have. :bow:

So when do we get to see this removable outer rocker thing? I think it's a pretty crazy idea. Maybe you could use some cool looking jeweled head self tappers through the top of the outer rocker into the floor. Kinda a retro industrial look. :waytogo: Ya know, you'd need to keep your drill abound to remove 'em on the trail tho. Maybe build a sweet metal holster for it that you could hang off your console. :pimp:


Man, I'm full of great ideas tonight. It ok with me if you use them too. :whistle: :tongue1: :haha:
 
NorCal69 said:
So when do we get to see this removable outer rocker thing? I think it's a pretty crazy idea. Maybe you could use some cool looking jeweled head self tappers through the top of the outer rocker into the floor. Kinda a retro industrial look. :waytogo:
Click to expand...

The outer rocker actually will end up being a "press fit" against the inner rocker. The 5 tubes will act as the guide to install it. There will be small flanges on the back side of the outer rocker that bolt to those 5 tubes... Each flange can be shimmed in or out to set the rocker position correctly, and the holes will be slightly ovaled so that the door gaps can also be set perfectly. Once everything is "just right" I can crank down on those bolts and dab a little Loc-Tite on them so they stay put. It's a bit hard to describe, but it makes sense in my head. :D

bigcatt said:
dude72

you never stop amazing me.:bow:
Click to expand...

Looks like someone finally got all caught up on this thread! When you were talking about "new" monolith stuff, I knew you were still a couple of months behind on your reading! :waytogo:


-G
 
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