BBR's 83GT - 552 BBF version 3.0 (at least)

[BBR]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

Driveshaft is in! It fit like a glove. Pinion angle is good at -3.5 degrees.

Sawed off the lower radiator support and started working on a new one, but.... and this always seems to happen.... I ran out of welding wire. Crap!

Oh well, it will give me some time to double-think the support I was making. haha

[BBR]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

Worked on the lower support last night. Pretty much just need to add some lower mounts for the radiator and I'm done. FYI, Team-Z sells one of these if you do not want to make one.

2" square tube ends fit nicely up inside of old core support and butt against the front bumper 'shocks'. It looks wonky in the pic for some reason.


I will attach the lower bumper cover to it with some gigantic zip ties.





I tried to bend the tubing I had with a hydraulic bender. That was a total fail. I kind of expected it though. I think I will add a small gusset to those lower bends just to be safe.

[Tom Slick]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

the 2" - is that more of the go kart supply? That's awesome. I love to see stuff repurposed.

I stopped calling the HF thing they refer to as a "bender" an actual bender. I call mine "Crusher". The next time I try to do thinwall anything, I think I'll tack some bench weights (gym stuff) to the welding table and try that instead. I think you can fill it with sand and heat it a little (leave a steam hole in cork from what I remember.) then bend it. fwiw... read it in some really old build your own minibike book.

[STINEY]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

There is a way to get decent bends from those benders. Its cheap enough to try, if you still are unhappy you're not out much time either. I've had luck with my cheap bender using "shoes" like this.

Not sure what bender you have, but maybe this idea can improve the performance of it?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=230317&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=kinker&start=20

[Weldangrind]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

Tom Slick, do you have the HF hydraulic pipe bender or the tubing roller?

BTW, I saw Jesse James do something similar to your free weight trick but with plywood. He created a chopper backbone with it, and it worked really well.

[Weldangrind]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

This is the HF roller I bought, but I haven't tried it yet. There is a very similar roller at a local tool shop for $1000.00!

http://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-roller-99736.html

[Tom Slick]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

Weldandgrind, I have the one like Stiney showed the mods on. An actual tubing roller would be great, but is not what I bought. I was young and silly and didn't do any homework... Problem one? Pipe v. Tubing. Doh. I was trying to bend some 2.5 exhaust pipe with it. Crushed it, as you can imagine.

JJ is not against using old stuff that works. Too bad he didn't figure out old stuff that fails. (Keeping you hootus hooded when you are married for instance).

Stiney, that is a great idea. I'll have to give that one a shot next time I'm messing around.

[BBR]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

Yep the 2" is more of the metal I built the go kart out of. haha

STINEY FOR THE WIN!

Dang, I might actually be dangerous if I learn how to bend roll cage tubing.... :D

[milner351]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

With the plasma and tig, I thought you'd just cut and miter the tubing? ;D

[BBR]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

I have yet to step up to a tig, but I would like to kiss the inventor of the plasma cutter on the lips.

I needed 2 caps with notches for the 2" tubing last night and quickly chopped them out with the plasma.

[milner351]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

The work you've shown here is one of the bigger reasons there's a plasma in my shop now!
;D

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

Scott, the dude who is buildin the AMX/GTO I have been following calls using his plasma cutter, "making pictures".

[BBR]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

Went out tonight and added lower rad mounts, trans cooler mounts and a gusset on each side where the bend is. Also made the little top mounts for the radiator. Just need to squirt some paint on them and they will be ready to bolt in.



New radiator position

[Tom Slick]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

combination radiator core and body stiffener, brought to you by BBRFab. Nice.

[BBR]

Re: BBR's 545 83GT

Best part is, it cost me $0 because I already had all this metal just laying around. The upper & lower rad mount and gusset metal is a 're-purposed' locking strap for an old tool cabinet and the trans cooler mounts are 're-purposed' drum brake parking brake link bars I saw in the trash can. :D :D :D :D