Thread: The Ultimate FC

DSCN0660 by john smith, on Flickr
DSCN0661 by john smith, on Flickr
DSCN0664 by john smith, on Flickr

Went and purchased some 6mm steel plate.
I made MK 3 stainless steel tailgate rubber retaining strip bending jig which works very well in my small hydraulic press.
This time I shaped the internal side of it using proper radius, paper templates ect and not from the old corroded steel bits.
Can bend to 120 degrees if required and the new set up allows for spring back of the stainless strip and is of a bolt together design so the bent strip comes out easily and the internal shape can be changed easier too if required.
The strip bends well without losing its cross ways radius pressed into it.
DSCN0666 by john smith, on FlickrDSCN0665 by john smith, on Flickr

Far out Ron. Thats pretty amazing. I would have no idea how to do that. Keep it up! Its awesome reading

Well it been along time since I have done a progress report.
The fact is the stalwart has been winning and not me.
This summer on the lower East coast of Australia has been one of our hottest for along while.
If it hasn't been 40c degree temps with high humidity , its been rain.
The Stalwart is parked out side and I have to work in the elements.
Not much fun when I have to sweat it out for my normal work, let alone to work on the stalwart after work.
The tail gate is around at a marine place( who is flat-out and the tailgate is in a queue)
The top edge of the tailgate is going to get a square alloy strengthening tube welded to its top edge.
I was planning something similar for the inside of it ,as the inner sheet of it moving and popping.
The marine place thinks they can do some alloy spot welding, as the alloy was just dropping away under heat trying to weld in the inner strengthening bars.
Some more stainless steel strip has been cut and a radius pressed into it as before, as I now realise I need great quantity and now in two different sizes.
Removal of the rubber sealing from the tailgate reviled the strip which holds it into place is smaller than what's on the vehicle itself and the strip removed is in poor condition.
It also means my little bending jig for this strip has to be reworked so it now can handle two different thickness strips and radius.
Some patching of the rear RHS muffler box has been going on, but not much.
Also trying the idea of a swing open door for the muffler box........I am going to do this, but I now decided it needs to be larger than the one in the following pics.
Ron

DSCN0706 by john smith, on Flickr

DSCN0707 by john smith, on Flickr

The above shows the little plate now welded over hollow tube which runs the width of the rear of the vehicle to stop water getting though and flooding the vehicle when swimming...........I am going to work things a little bit different to keep the strength in the muffler box.

20170312_111403 by john smith, on Flickr

Muffler box access door MK 1

20170312_153829 by john smith, on Flickr

A bit more plating.