Safari Pacific MX2 Build

[schanusa]

I'm skipping ahead here. The stove arm isn't completed as of yet.


On to the body protection. I'm not going to go crazy here, just something simple. With the same material used for the bumper I cut two pieces to length.

Then I cut an angle on one end for tire clearance.

The angled ends get closed off by welding a fitted plate.

Next the welds get ground smooth.

 

[schanusa]

Using the hydraulic lift I position one side at the correct slope.

Then I tack weld into place and repeat on the other side.

Next I create a plate to cover the corner. I use a die grinder to make inside cuts allowing me to bend easily.

After clamping in place I start welding.

 

[schanusa]

After the seams are welded up I create top and bottom parts, which are also welded on.

Once both corners are finished they get ground down for smooth edges.

Next a coat of paint gets slapped on.

 

[schanusa]

Now the bumper's major components are done. Mounts for a fuel can, shovel, an ax and the stove arm are still needed.


You can see now I have very good departure clearance.

 

[TheNicky]

I love this thread!

good job man keep it up

 

[rngr4x4beast]

dam i jst read through the whole thread freakin amazing build sick fab skills man really good work

 

[triumphrider-1]

Anything new happening?

 

[shadow6]

crazy build. never seen anything like it. great work man. i love the funtionality in it all.

 

[schanusa]

Thanks everyone!

I've been on vacation for the past month, mostly because its way to hot to work in the shop through August with no AC. Like an oven at 120+ degrees...

I'm back from vacation now and its back to getting more posts up...


Although the lower portion of the bumper was built a few years ago, I've decided to keep it and built on additions. Here's an old photo during early construction.

First things first. Adding a brush guard that will follow the existing contour. Starting with measuring the old main tubing. I cut another similar sized tubing. The length is a few feel longer to accommodate the bends.

With a manual tubing bender I duplicate the curves. I use two pieces of strap bolted together to replicate the angles.

Then place double check my bends. After the angles are correct I measure how high the brush guard will be then calculate where the bends need to start.

 

[schanusa]

With the help of my dad, we square up the tubing so it will bend correctly. Once aligned I make the bends.

Next I dry fit the brush guard where I want it to be. Then measure where the excess material will be trimmed off.

Using a sturdy metal table I square up the guard and make cut marks.

Then I grind off paint on the old bumper where the brush guard will be welded. I use a welding blanked to protect the truck's body.

 

[schanusa]

I then tack weld the upper loop into place and create the middle supports.

After tacking everything in place I weld everything up.

A few days later I decided to paint the grill after I painted the bumper. The shinny grill didn't look good with the bumper being black.

Also I welded on a tab for a whip antenna. The antenna is the right height of the AT Flippac. So I'll hit the antenna before I hit the camper.

Then I too a bit of a poser shot once I was finished.

 

[Kyle M.]

Looks good! Does it block your markers or it just the pictures?

 

[schanusa]

Some news! My server connection has been down for a few days, so I'm not able to post a normal update. But I do have some video of breaking the truck down and working on the paint prep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_74ffGJMYbI

More to come once my servers back online.

 

[schanusa]

Looks good! Does it block your markers or it just the pictures?

At an angle they do block them, but not strait on.




Quite a bit has been accomplished the past few weeks. Namely thanks to Wil (Sierra Expeditions), Corbin (Zebra Sports) and Tim Joseph who have given me a HUGE hand in helping fix the body filler. THANKS GUYS!!!

Kind of a long story, but the guy that originally started the body filler work apparently didn't know what he was doing. (Yeah, I'm a little tiffed.) So Wil, Corbin, Tim and I have been working on fixing it to the best we can.

Here's teaser photo til I get more of the photos processed.

 

[ranger_runner]

that is sick, some real pro work going on here. keep it up