Bringing out the dead Options

[theo]

I have a question about your welding Technique, when you weld in a piece, do you first tack it in then run a steady string of tacks around the seam, or do you run a couple tacks then jump around? Btw your car looks great.

theo

[Jeff Hail]

I have a question about your welding Technique, when you weld in a piece, do you first tack it in then run a steady string of tacks around the seam, or do you run a couple tacks then jump around? Btw your car looks great.

theo

Welding sheet metal is like Plate Tectonics. For seam welding a patch position and secure the part with tacks. This allows the patch to be adjusted if needed to for a tight fit which is key to a good weld. Then a series of quick trigger pulls to close it up .Sometimes I will get in a hurry and lay a bead. All depends on the part being welded, how it reacts to heat, how thin, cosmetic, structural, gun access etc. Moving around, starting and stopping controls heat at the zone.

[Gint]

You make me laugh Eric (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

Wait 'til you see him "live". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Eric_Shea]

Tip your bartenders and waitresses...

[Jeff Hail]

Tip your bartenders and waitresses...

Word has it around here you are a class act (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) Are you tending bar tonight or the host?


To back up a bit to last weeks intimate conversation. Here are the spacers for using the late Carrera hubs (one inner, one outer on each side of the 914 wheel bearing). Easy enough? Rotors are also Carrera. Depending on going 20mm or 24 mm appropriate caliper half spacers required.

By the way you spelled Carrera incorrectly. Two "R's always come before the single "R". I just wanted to point that out you know. I am sure the bartender or host will volley back with a good jab just for fun. Thats getting back for the Kings Lad thing.

[Jeff Hail]

For everyone else (except Shea) more instruct'iones (aka specs)

Courtesy of master machinist Mr. Ira Ramin

[ChrisFoley]

Hey Jeff,
It was good talking with you yesterday. With a little prodding from Heidi I'm sure I will get your roll cage kit out before the deadline. As I told you - I authorized her to hit me over the head regularly until it is done. Here's what I found this evening when I came back to my desk, lol.

[Eric_Shea]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/pirate.gif) Carrrrrerrrrra... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

[Jeff Hail]

Hey Jeff,
It was good talking with you yesterday. With a little prodding from Heidi I'm sure I will get your roll cage kit out before the deadline. As I told you - I authorized her to hit me over the head regularly until it is done. Here's what I found this evening when I came back to my desk, lol.

Thanks Chris and Hedi,
That rendition is exactly what I actually look like on Sunday mornings.

[Jeff Hail]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/pirate.gif) Carrrrrerrrrra... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

Arrrrgh mate! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/skull.gif)

[oh no, not again!]

Thanks Chris and Hedi,
That rendition is exactly what I actually look like on Sunday mornings.

Jeff- Did I get the nose right??? I'm a stickler for noses....lol
The beatings have commenced!
hehehe
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)

[Jeff Hail]

Thanks Chris and Hedi,
That rendition is exactly what I actually look like on Sunday mornings.

Jeff- Did I get the nose right??? I'm a stickler for noses....lol
The beatings have commenced!
hehehe
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)

Close facsimile. Live life through humor and laugh at our foibles I say!!
Just don't beat Chris when he has a firestick in hand. It could get ugly.

[Jeff Hail]

Speaking about foibles................or sh@t happens.

When Shop Equipment Attacks[u]

Visualize an older media blast cabinet with old seals and 25 pounds of aluminum oxide media decides its time to relocate to another zip code at 100psi?

Yes it did happen and took me 4 hours to clean up the mess today. Aluminum oxide is technically not hazardous but aluminum dust is well quite the pyrotechnic ingredient.

In the middle of this mess my good friend pulls up in the drive way (ironically he blows stuff up for a living in the special effects industry) and see's me with the shop vac cleaning up. He reminds me of the aluminum dust issue and motors that use brushes (spark) and exclaims" no,no, no you need to sweep". Cleanup time doubled. Like I said sh@t happens.

This was supposed to be a week off for vacation and I end up cleaning the garage?



Yeah I know Shea is grinning. Like I said you just have to laugh at stuff. It happens. After the fact I laughed too, especially since I looked like the tin man in the Wizard of Oz wearing a respirator.

[oh no, not again!]

Just don't beat Chris when he has a firestick in hand. It could get ugly.

No prob, mon!
When you see him with one in his hand, let me know, will ya?
hehehe

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_bump.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_bump.gif)

[Eric_Shea]

Yeah I know Shea is grinning

Ut uh... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/busted.gif)

I would have kept using the vac. It would have been cool (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blowup.gif)

[Jeff Hail]

Didn't get much done today.

Fit the Tarett Engineering Anti Sway Bar. Holes measured drill and punch a 1-1/4 inch hole.

The brake line bracket didn't want to leave home peacefully which ended up with a slight wound requiring a quick weld and some grinding.

Measuring and installing the kit only takes about 30 minutes. It took another hour to true the wheelhouse sheetmetal so the bar doesnt bind on the bearing blocks.
If the bar binds the bushings will turn in the bores (not good) and become loose. I don't think I have to say what will happen if the bar doesn't move freely while in operation.

I also added Engmans reinforcement to the wheelhouse. Easy to understand what it's purpose is. A few folks say it doesn't do anything. I disagree. If you know how thin the wheelhouse sheetmetal really is I think it can't hurt.

The bearing blocks must be parallel to each other or the bar will bind and this is the tricky part. Engmans reinforcement helps achive this and keep them parallel.
This section and the sheetmetal directly below the fuel tank cavity are similar to a 911's design yet they are very different. This is an area I feel is a weakness in the 914 compared to the 911 body. The 911 also has it's own inherant weakness as there is no bulkhead between the strut towers. The 911 towers tend to splay open where the 914 also does just not as much. Long story but some homework supports this.

I am contemplating welding a tube from side to side to each nutplate triangle. The bar will ride inside the tube. This will keep the bearing blocks parallel at all times eliminating the what if part? ( I hate what if's when they come later)

[Jeff Hail]

After the reinforcements were welded in I used some Wurth Panel Bond Structural Adhesive around the perimeter of the plates. First to seal the edges from any water getting behind them and second to give an aeshtetic blend once they are coated. Third they ain't never going to move ever! (Better Living thru Chemicals)
Once the Structual Adhesive has cured I will smooth the area out with a DA and final coat of primer.

The left wheelhouse still needs the old coating's removed and has two small rust spots at the pinchweld (flash in my book) that need to be addressed before epoxy primer can be applied.

[Jeff Hail]

While waiting for glue to cure I played with some other parts.

U-Tabs welded to the front control arms and the bushing friction points POLISHED.
Yes POLISHED!

Brake line brackets fabricated, backing plate brackets painted. Rear caliper halves done....The inners are somewhere in Utah. (plug for Shea)
The caliper outers are color matched to Porsche Monoblocks. They are very red but appear very orangish in the photo.

After much thought the inner calipers would be too much a pain in the ass to powdercoat. The area where the e-brake lever pivots doesn't have enough clearance to apply 4-6 mils of powder without rubbing. The inners will be plated by Eric (two plugs for Shea in the same post) because he is THE CALIPER MASTER. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

On another note I am envious of Chris Foley. He now has an assistant. I could use an assistant.....couldnt we all? CFR has added Heidi to it's staff who is internet savvy, artistic and from what I hear she has taken control of Chris's shop with an old 914 (thumper) torsion bar to ensure things get done. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/brain.gif)

[Jeff Hail]

Final prep of the reinforcements, one last mockup of the bar and bearing blocks (pivots with finger pressure), weld on the brake line brackets and squirt some primer. Enough for today.



Have a (IMG:style_emoticons/default/birthday3.gif) to attend.....Mine and I am going to do some heavy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
and get (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif)

Tomorrow is Father's Day and will be (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jsharp.gif) with pop and will do some more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/287.gif)

Until next week..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/67.gif)

[ChrisFoley]

Heidi's been following me around all day with one of our new Solid Trailing Arm Pivot Shafts in hand. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/splat.gif)
So here's a couple pics of today's rollcage progress for you Jeff:




I've gotta go home and tend to my wounds now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)