77K5. The IronMaiden...9/2 headed for Blazer Bash 20!

[blazinzuk]

The bender does quality bends, it was actually some times really hard to find the beginning and end of the bend. It is easy to work with overall but if you have bent with another bender you have to kind of reverse your thinking.

An air powered bottle jack would be simply awesome but the normal one is just fine if your not using it alot.

Rick, we did actually bend the grade 8 of the bolt you guys broke, but I put in one that was longer so the load was entirely on the shank, yours was a little short()

best thing about this bender vs a more conventional bender is the fact that it is in fact powered by a hydraulic jack so unlike other benders that you have to anchor into the concrete or get an expensive conversion you can take it anywhere.

Overall I would say the bender is certainly good but if you are going to bending alot of cages I would not get this one. Bending a couple bumpers and a cage for you and a buddy and other small things, great, but if put into heavy use I think it would wear out rather quickly. Although if heavy use occurred there are several things that you could beef up very easily to make it more durable



Dave those rear bars look cool man diggin it.

 

[folkenheath]

Thats cool. it bent pretty good though.
Its kinda sadI got about $750-800 in my model 32 from JD2, had it for a year and I've already bent more on your bender than my own. And I only made 2 bends with it

You have a model 32, isn't that the one that can bend 2" x 1/4" wall? (with hydraulics). Nice. I'd buy that for a dollar!

Dave, the progress is looking good!

 

[76zimmer]

Rick, we did actually bend the grade 8 of the bolt you guys broke, but I put in one that was longer so the load was entirely on the shank, yours was a little short()



Dave those rear bars look cool man diggin it.

Dave, the progress is looking good!

That looks good Dave.

Eric, I did use a bolt that has the shank portion going all the way through also on the 1.5 die...those are holding up well.

Thansk for the comps guys, it helps with progress

 

[shady]

You have a model 32, isn't that the one that can bend 2" x 1/4" wall? (with hydraulics). Nice. I'd buy that for a dollar!

Dave, the progress is looking good!

Yeah, it will do 2"x1/4" and 2.5"x.120 if you convert to hydraulics. I cant remember what web site I was told to see how to do a homemade conversion though. I'll have to check youtube.

 

[76zimmer]

Hey Rick, check in the tool shed, I think there is a thread on that conversion there.

 

[jekquistk5]

The only thing the worries me about that bender ir the die. I think Eric and I had a 15 min conversation about what material it is. It certainly isn't steel. As long as you keep it lubed and only use it for your small stuff it will work great as you can see in pictures.

 

[76zimmer]

Their ad says aluminum for the dies.

 

[blazinzuk]

The only thing the worries me about that bender ir the die. I think Eric and I had a 15 min conversation about what material it is. It certainly isn't steel. As long as you keep it lubed and only use it for your small stuff it will work great as you can see in pictures.

Their ad says aluminum for the dies.

Yah the dies are not terribly high quality pieces. That's why I say this is good for a couple cages and some bumpers you are going to build. The dies may last much longer than I think but if you are going to be doing a lot ( like using it a couple times a week) I would say go with another one.

On the other hand if you want to bend a cage and some bumpers for your rig, great bender.

One thing for sure is to make sure your tube is very, very clean before bending it. We used scotch brite Dave had to clean off all the tubes before bending. I do this with my bender too but I think it is an absolute must with this bender

 

[76zimmer]

Yep, they really do come out nice and smooth too.


So I've been wasting my day on the Sec/State, and have now been in contact with a Sheriff's deputy, he says as long as I have a clear title, get insurance and plate it. If someone does inspect the vehicle for any reason, make sure to have that glove box sticker showing the same VIN.
He is going to run the Body VIN, and the Chassis VIN to be sure they aren't stolen. As long as they are clean it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I miss it being that easy. It's far easier to register a car in Michigan than Kentucky.

Did you have questions about the history of the truck?

 

[76zimmer]

My Sheriff buddy ran both of my VIN #'s and they are both clean, so no worry about a theft recovery coming back on me.

AJ...Yeah, someone took the riveted on VIN plate off the door jamb at one time, and never put it back on....the only VIN match I have, is the Options sticker from the glovebox door, but at least it matches.
The frame is from a 75 model year K5, so that VIN don't match either.
My concern was, if an officer wants to get picky about my vehicle, or its in an accident, usually they look for a VIN# for insurance purposes for repair.
If the officer can't find a VIN#, how can I prove I legally own the vehicle????

 

[JDNobodi]

I think they (DMV, Highway Patrol) can issue a new vin.

 

[76zimmer]

I think they (DMV, Highway Patrol) can issue a new vin.

The Sheriff (in my case anyway) has to do the VIN inspection looking for any and all VIN numbers on the chassis, and body components. Those are filed on form TR-54 and sent to the Sec.State, and they do a VIN search for those numbers and if they are clean, they can issue a new State VIN#, with a matching title....or so it goes in MI anyway.

 

[76zimmer]

Got more bars added today....
I need to put the top back on and bolt it in place before final welding...

When I sit in the seat the top of the headrest is even with the top of my head, so looks like a few inches to spare of headroom.

A few of Kerts tube gussets tacked into place:

Some of my welds turn out pretty good...right side up:

And some not so good....upside down:

 

[stumpjump]

Looks awesome man, one of the best looking blazer cages i've seen...

 

[shady]

^^^^^what he said

 

[jekquistk5]

very nice dave, if you have any extra of those little support bars let me know I'll take them off your hands

 

[76zimmer]

IF....I will do Jess, but I'm going overkill on em, just ordered 10 more from Kert.

 

[blazinzuk]

Needs more triangulation!

Looks cool dave and dang sturdy


I may have put a few more bars in but at some point you do have to stop

You stopping yet? Like maybe 2 more bars?

 

[shady]

needs some like this tied to the lower mount points. plese excuse my inferior paint skills