custom diff cover?

[TX Ranger]

yea sometimes new welders take some getting used to. nothing some practice won't fix, and I'm sure you can find some scrap for that. I've been laying a pretty good weld recently, but I'm curious as for the strength of the welds, was thinking maybe some junior college tech class could test some of my welds ...

 

[88_Eddie]

i think a metal chop saw would be more accurate than a metal bandsaw, wouldnt it? especially for angled cuts......my grandpa has a horizontal bandsaw that is on a stand, but it seems like a handheld would be almost like using a chainsaw to cut a 2x4.


i was thinking about taking a class at a community college as well, couldnt hurt. it would be cheap and well worth it IMO

 

[TX Ranger]

eh i dunno about that, maybe some others can chime in. i would think the bandsaw would help get the sheet steel down to the size you wanted it and then you can make the final cuts with the chop saw, unless you already have access to smaller pieces. or else they won't fit in the mouth of the saw.

 

[88_Eddie]

oh yeah, that's true.....a bandsaw would be better for big sheets of metal. i usually get the 1/4" thick x 12"x4" pieces from lowes and cut them up with my angle grinder.
that's what i did for my D35 and the gussets i made for my lift brackets

i've just recently found a good metal supply outfit here in raleigh, but i dont have anywhere i could store a 4x8 sheet of metal....i only have a one car garage to work out of. wife would bitch and moan for weeks if i took up the garage to store something like that. i'll need to get something like that eventually to do my bumpers though.

 

[BONES]

Added capacity diff cover with serious beef, I used 1/4" plate. Pretty simple design and was easy to build. I welded inside and out to make sure my welds wouldn't leak gear oil.

 

[TX Ranger]

I like your style Bones, too bad our diffs aren't round like the AMC model 20, I'd cut a section of pipe and cap it off, presto; it'd be ugly as hell, but work.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

just finished mine yesterday, im still contemplating adding some flat plate inbetween the 2 vertical rods on each side of the ring gear though.

 

[BONES]

Flat plate on that guard would add some performance as well, making it like a ramp so it can slide up and over stuff easier.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

yeah i thought about that when i was making it, but i want it to be able to drain if it gets mud or soggy leafs trapped in it. maybe cut out some butterfly bandaid shapes to weld between the rods, then drill a hole in the center or them to lighten em up? i mostly wanted to make sure i wouldnt smash the cover when backing down my side yard to get my dirtbike trailer. the gutters on the house go under ground until they get to low ground, then they come out of the ground and they are surrounded by medium sized rocks to keep the drains from getting smashed .......... so this should solve it! or maybe i should just not be smashed when im getting my trailer?

 

[TX Ranger]

eh, I think a custom diff cover for protection while smashed is a good plan.

I agree some additional plate would do well, just don't run it the full length of the bar on all sides and you won't have a problem with it holding material.