CAtuned Off-Road 1Ton Runner V8

River19

Observer
Very nice build.........is that a worked over stock tranny mounted to the upgraded transfer case?


Keep the updates coming......
 

Benc

Explorer
Cool build but those welds on the shock hoops
Not to be jerk but those look a little scary. Maybe consider spending a little more time on the fitment of the weld joints.

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thethePete

Explorer
Cool build but those welds on the shock hoops
Not to be jerk but those look a little scary.

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Are you a welder? What is your basis for that comment? Because they're not "weld porn" stack-of-dime TIG welds? They look very structurally sound to me. You try welding completely out of position and see how nice your welds come out. Bench welding racecar parts is far-cry from standing on your head in a wheelwell. And MIG is easier to get a strong weld out of anyway. I'll take strong over pretty any day.
 
I weld every day and I am still learning. I figure if I'm not learning anything new, I may as well get a job.

But yes, every weld takes a different approach. You can change your welding pattern 4 times just going around one tube joint. And if you don't remember to do that, then the weld is ugly and inconsistent...but still strong.

The internet has changed everything. Now everybody has to live up to those "stack of dime" welds, myself included.
 

thethePete

Explorer
^ I feel ya. I'm a licensed mechanic and a fabricator, I grew up with a father who was fabricating transport trailers before I was born and is still active in his trade as well. I know pretty welds aren't always strong, and strong welds aren't always pretty. Just like the internet has convinced people that a car has to have nearly 1000hp to be "fast"; yet they've never driven anything with even 400hp.

WRT your earlier comment about it being a tall truck, doesn't look like it will be too bad considering it's on 40s, but I feel like they'll be hard-pressed to balance the ride height with adequate up-travel with that big-a** pumpkin hanging out up there.
 

Benc

Explorer
Are you a welder? What is your basis for that comment? Because they're not "weld porn" stack-of-dime TIG welds? They look very structurally sound to me. You try welding completely out of position and see how nice your welds come out. Bench welding racecar parts is far-cry from standing on your head in a wheelwell. And MIG is easier to get a strong weld out of anyway. I'll take strong over pretty any day.

Wasn't trying to come off as a jerk, yes I am a welder fabricator and have seen far to many welds on crucial suspension pats fail. From the pics the welds are inconstant and the joints seem to be poorly fitted. Not saying these will fail but looks like there is a possibility due to poor joint fitment. And stack of dime welds are no better if they were achieved with the trigger technique!

Sorry to the op if I came across wrong but a little constructive criticism is a good thing.
If everyone says they look great when clearly they don't it would give no reason to learn and get better.
Everyone starts somewhere and I will be the first to admit I have had my fair share of ugly welds.





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thethePete

Explorer
^ Fair response. There are a few spots that the fitup isn't spectacular, but I didn't see anything that gave me cause for concern, there are pleanty of efabbers out there that see anything that isn't "weld porn" as unfit to be on a vehicle, but I think it's fair to say that on even the highest of high-end builds there are bound to be a few welds that they might not be proud of.

ETA: Plus, I'm pretty sure someone pissed in my cheerios this morning, and I didn't get my morning coffee until 11. I wake up at 6... I'm a little unnecessarily firey today.
 
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Benc

Explorer
^ Fair response. There are a few spots that the fitup isn't spectacular, but I didn't see anything that gave me cause for concern, there are pleanty of efabbers out there that see anything that isn't "weld porn" as unfit to be on a vehicle, but I think it's fair to say that on even the highest of high-end builds there are bound to be a few welds that they might not be proud of.

ETA: Plus, I'm pretty sure someone pissed in my cheerios this morning, and I didn't get my morning coffee until 11. I wake up at 6... I'm a little unnecessarily firey today.

There is a place where you can get away with poor welds but suspension it not one of them IMO, As a welder/fabricator there are several things that concern me with those welds as should any welder/fabricator. I'm not trying to rag on the op at all, just pointing out an area that could use improvement,
I am no master fabricator but I assure you I'm speaking out of experience.
From the looks of it this is not a home brew build, it's being built by a fab shop so I would expect more than I would from a DIY job. Just my opinion and I probably shouldn't of said a thing but my intensions were to help.

Again, sorry to the op for cluttering up your thread! Carry on and keep up the good work, just keep in mind it might not hurt to take a little more time on the weld joints. Can't wait to see this beast on the trails.


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