"Z" progress.

[pro70z28]

I had a couple hours yesterday afternoon & a couple more this afternoon, so I thought I'd get organized for the upcoming "Z" firewall build. I've got some sheet metal tools that have been under the bench for a good long while now. So, I chopped up an old attachment I had for my first track loader that was just collecting dust in the corner. It had some slip tubes on it (like a receiver for the hitch). I used some angle iron I had in the shed and made this deal up. I put it on an outside corner of the shop so I'd have plenty of workin' room.



I bought a stretcher/shrinker at a car show a couple years ago. No mount so it hasn't been used yet.



Harbor Freight Planishing hammer. Might call it new old stock. I've had it for a long time too, but never used it.





I've used the bead roller a couple times. Clamped it in the band saw when I DID use it.



I'm wondering about a wing (table top) on each side of the bead roller to help feed the stock through? or maybe it would just get in the way? Any thoughts?

I still plan to make an attachment to hold the bench vise, and one for a small welding table. I'm gettin' tired of saw horses.........

that's what I've been up to this weekend.

[Solid Rock]

pro, you sure are one heck of a craftsman and an innovator!!!

I see you reenforced your bead roller. I need to do that to mine as the rollers want to move away from each other.

Great job.

[pro70z28]

Thanks Rocky.
Yea, mine did the same thing. Doesn't flex at all now, with the square tubing on there.

[Solid Rock]

I've seen a couple of different ways to modify those things over at the HAMB. One was similar to what you did and some are very involved.
I've got some square tubing laying around here so I'll do like you did.

Have you seen the radius brake on the latest issue of Nitro Madness Mag?
I'm gonna make me one of them also.

Here's a couple of different ideas.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/show ... p?t=392498

One thing I did to mine that Chuck Frietter[sp] from Rock Run Racing suggested to me was put a wheel on instead of the crank. That way you don't have to look for the crank position to grab it. He made a wheel for his. I used the steering wheel from my first race car on mine. It had been sitting around here since 1973. lol I'm not a pack rat.....no, not me!!!

[pro70z28]

Yea, I read that article too. I think I'll build one. I should have just about everything I need in my pile of random steel.

The steering wheel sounds like a good idea. I don't have one laying around, but I bet the salvage yard south of town has a bunch of them.

[WildcatOne]

This is a whole lot of amazing stuff from the Pro! Great job! WC1

[23t]

Man' I need to hang out with someone who does metal fabrication and learn how to use these type of tools. It sure it would help in building some more "little pete" carts. Which I do have some potential customers possibly wanting me to build them one!

That a neat idea Pro, a muti-purpose work station. Out of the way and many uses!!

And thanks Rocky for the link!

[Mr. Jean]

Well done.

[Solid Rock]

Here's another link to the hamb site and some how to articles.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=8

This is the kind of stuff I really like.

[Billy Mac]

Gary...the "wings" or a table before and after the bead roller will definitely help....either that, or get someone to help hold those bigger pieces and feed em' through.....

Trust me when I say, an electric motor beats the fool out of the hand crank set up...even if you don't use the equipment but a few times a year...you will thank yourself everytime you DO use it...

That's a pretty neat article about that radius brake in the Nitro Madness Magazine....I built one nearly 10 years ago...specifically for making dashes in race cars....I used a pair of 1/2 inch rachets so I could "grab another notch" and get a better and tighter bend. Mine was designed to bend the aluinum (up to 60 inches wide) into a 180* radius...made for some pretty neat dashes.