Opps....forgot the shop tip.
If you need a handle on something, tig'n on some filler rod works really well. This stuff is pretty dang strong, yet easy to clip off and sand flush. I was trying to keep my little end cap disc from falling in the tube when tacking it. It was made from a slice of...
Updates....
Added some tabs for the rear of the belly pan. These are just little sections of box tube I cut out, made one for each side. These will get clip nuts too for final assembly.
I needed to add some support for the front of the belly pan. This area is pretty protected by the...
Hello and thank you,
My day job is as a mechanical engineer.
I am trying to build my fab skills up as a semi-retirement plan.....I don't want to work for the 'man' forever :)
.....and I just like building stuff.
It was like groundhog day on the #LX45. Got up and worked on the exhaust all day. Passenger side is now done other than the o2 bung.
One note....
The aluminum belly pan is working out nice. I had to pull it to remove the passenger side of the Y-pipe. This was pretty easy by myself while...
Today was a challenge on the #LX45. I haven't done much exhaust tubing work, but I put my ducks in a row and made it happen. This is all 2.25 inch mandrel bent cut to fit and tig welded. The astute will notice my 3d printed layout cheater blocks with the top secret mailing tube straight section...
Panel seam dressing how to....
This is what the seam stared out as. This seam was tacked with the MIG way back when and then TIG welded between tacks. I then dressed the seam down with a 4" flap wheel just to knock the top off the high spots. As soon as I see the flap start to touch the sides...
This evening I made a big expensive piece of 1/4 inch thick 6061-t651 aluminum into a belly pan for the #LX45 using some common hand tools and a little wax. Weight is 30lbs so far but I need to add a few ribs to it. Overall not terrible for oil pan to past the transfer case coverage.
Trying to do something every day ( and not slack at thread updates!)
I cleaned up a few things on the grille and bezel. I'd like to at least get these parts painted before assembly so I don't have to remove them later. With the grill mounted I can have the entire cooling system all closed up...
Nothing crazy....
I've been trying to button things up on the frame before I stick the tub back on. I think for everything I do, I think of something else that I should be done. I did manage to get a few things going...
-Lots of final welding on the rocker and motor mount frame pads.
-I...
Weekend weather window mission accomplished on the #LX45 tub. I was able to get the bottom and firewall of the tub sprayed in some epoxy primer on this fine day.
If you are spraying paint, roll up a little masking tape and stick it in all the threaded holes so you don't have to clean them...
Details Details
With the tub sitting up on its back I was able to weld up all the holes on the bottom of the dash lip. These would have been near impossible for me to get access to in the vehicle. With the tub in this position it was easy to just sit in the tunnel hole and use the TIG. I...
Trying to get caught up....
More TIG brazing with Silicone Bronze on the upper door seal area. I dig it, but I think I get it a little hot. Always trying to learn.
I did like it much better when the tub was on the chassis. I'm really looking forward to getting it back together...
Patching holes on the #LX45 floor. Cutting wafers out of bar stock to match the hole opened up with a step bit is the best way I have found to do this. I use a magnet to hold the wafer in place for the tack weld with the TIG welder.
Another night of TIG welding on the #LX45 in the books. I tried some tig brazing with silicone bronze for the seal surround at the top of door opening. Kinda fun.
Probably not. I honestly don't have the patience to take things that far just for looks. I'm more interested in the function of it. The slightly proud TIG weld is going to be stronger and more fatigue resistant to cracking in the long term.
The floors are going to get custom cut modular thick...
Some shop tech, how to make sheetmetal patches for stuff like the firewall...
Cover the area you want to fill in two layers of crossed masking tape. Then cut out the template with an sharp small razor knife.
Transfer you sticky template to some sheetmetal that is close to the same...
Hey look, more TIG welding on the #LX45 tub. No way! I actually enjoy it, so much less drama than mig welding. The other side is gonna be easy compared to this one, it had all the seams from cutting out the fuel tank sump. I also tried tig brazing for the 1st time on another section, that seems...
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