More Fab work...Chevy bumper

[Capt Cefus Jr.]

As the title says...

Dont mind the lower IFS crossmember being out of line.








Ruger checking my structural integrity






I built it to look kind of big for this truck. Its going on a truck with 46s. Been working all weekend to get it done. Tomorrow I have to get gas and weld it, smooth it, and paint. Hope to be done tomorrow. If not Wednesday for sure. The bar on the top is for lights.

Worked out a deal with a guy making him a front and rear bumper for the truck seen in the pictures. Has a LM7 with 114k and a fresh 4l60e. In the process of pulling it and swapping it into my 98 with a blown 350. Got the harness pulled today just need to drain PWR steering and tranny then pull it. More details on the swap when it progresses.




Watcha think?

Capt, the Hypertherm is absolutely amazing. 

[Capt Rick Hiott]

Looks like the bumper is from a kit you can buy? I like it!

[Capt Cefus Jr.]

Its from a 4x8 sheet of 3/16s plate, no kit, just quality cuts with my Hypertherm 

[Capt Rick Hiott]

OK,,,,,,,I give up,,,,who showed you how to do that.

  I know you used some kind of pattern paper or card board that you made up and cut out first.

 It took me a while to learn how to do that...........

[Capt Cefus]

Rick,

I'm not bragging because he's my son... but Justin just "Gets it" when it comes to fabrication and welding.   He can lay a bead about as good as anyone I know.   And he started off doing it with a grinder and cutting wheel.  No plasma, no benders, none of the stuff that a typical fabrication shop would have.   Just a genuine desire to do this kind of stuff.  He's had some good schooling from a couple guys who know there stuff, but for the most part, he's done a lot of trial and error, and learned-by-doing.

It's amazing some of the stuff he's done.   Makes me proud.!

[Capt Rick Hiott]

I would be proud too! Thats some VERY good work.

 Back when I was young my Dad built late model race cars,,he showed me a lot. (And we won a lot of races to)

Keep up the good work Jr!

[Capt Cefus Jr.]

Just went after it Paul Jr. style...lawn chair, poster board and a sharpie. One piece at a time. I need to brush up on my CAD skills though it would make the fitment and design a lot better.

Thanks for the compliments. Still waiting on my application from airgas to come back so I can rent a bottle. I am over the flux core and the cleaning/finishing that comes with it. Hopefully can pick a bottle up today but in the meantime its time to go drain the tranny and pwr steering so I can yank the motor.

[Capt Rick Hiott]

Yeah, I don't like the flux core myself.
 You might wanna read the book, but I think you need to reverse the polarity of your welder when you go to solid wire with the bottle................

Keep up the good work!

[Capt Cefus Jr.]

Yup I reversed the polarity remembered reading that way back when. It is a completely new world with solid wire. I bought a 11lbs spool but cant find the hub that big spool rides on. Going to jerry rig something up tomorrow since I ran out of my 1lb spool.

Got the outside almost all the way welded and the inside is coming along. Going to have fun with my angle grinder tomorrow for a couple hours straight 

[coachb]

Your fabracating is awesome.
I bet you could build a rood after 15 minutes of looking at it.

[Capt Rick Hiott]

Im sure you buy the "soft grind" wire.

[Capt Cefus Jr.]

Never heard of that. ill have to look into it

[Capt Cefus Jr.]

Welded

Smoothed

Painted


Dont mind the scuff spots I kicked it when crawling out from under the truck. Needs one more coat of bed liner anyhow. Turned out pretty good I think for my first bumper. Should be able to turn bumpers out a little quicker then 30 hours next time. I learned quite a bit building it.

More progress on the other project..

[Capt Cefus]

Do I recognize that gray dolly?   Hahaha