Custom Fabrication thread

[Motostroker]

I have searched high and low. And no dice. So I wanted to start this.

I have a certain project coming up and wanted I discuss various methods and materials used is custom fabrication such as up-pipes, turbo mounts, etc.

Don't get me wrong, there are company's that make great products, but this thread leans more towards the builder type guy. I want to ( from the ground up) build this project truck I'm purchasing. (More info on that later).

First question
- what material would you use for uppipes? Which bellows have you found that work the best?
- which type of welder would you recommend?
-considering building my own traction bars, which heim joint would you recommend? Preferably a H/D greasable, which tubing?
- truck will have a hood stack, best mounting techniques?


Sorry for so many questions, but i wanted everybody that has custom fabricated, chime in and share your do's/ and don'ts....

 

[bigrpowr]

I have searched high and low. And no dice. So I wanted to start this.

I have a certain project coming up and wanted I discuss various methods and materials used is custom fabrication such as up-pipes, turbo mounts, etc.

Don't get me wrong, there are company's that make great products, but this thread leans more towards the builder type guy. I want to ( from the ground up) build this project truck I'm purchasing. (More info on that later).

First question
- what material would you use for uppipes? Which bellows have you found that work the best?
- which type of welder would you recommend?
-considering building my own traction bars, which heim joint would you recommend? Preferably a H/D greasable, which tubing?
- truck will have a hood stack, best mounting techniques?


Sorry for so many questions, but i wanted everybody that has custom fabricated, chime in and share your do's/ and don'ts....

for uppipes 321 stainless and the best tig welder you can get your hands on. thats all i got lol

 

[Motostroker]

for uppipes 321 stainless and the best tig welder you can get your hands on. thats all i got lol

Awesome! I'm thinking vibrant bellows. Not sure yet. I'm going to V band everything

 

[bigrpowr]

Awesome! I'm thinking vibrant bellows. Not sure yet. I'm going to V band everything

i actually wrote 2 responses, the first got jumbled trying to reply to your quote line by line.. yeah im pretty sure the vibrant bellows are your first choice.

 

[Coxey Diesel]

I have a certain project coming up and wanted I discuss various methods and materials used is custom fabrication such as up-pipes, turbo mounts, etc.

Hmmm, wonder what it could be? Lol

 

[Powerstroked162]

Vibrant for your bellows for sure. Make sure you get the interlocking mesh bellow rated for 100psi. Those things can take a beating.

As far as traction bars go, I wouldn't recommend any heim joint. I'd use a ford radius arm busing up front and a shackle in the rear. Similar to what Dustin did on Oprah. Heims always wear out and can be noisey.

40wt pipe will always hold up but I honestly think 20wt would suffice plenty if the bars are setup right and in the right diameter.

Hood stack, I say fender stack

.

 

[Dzchey21]

like steve said, i prefer using a radius arm bushing instead of a heim, you might use a ballistic joint or something similar on the axle end, my tubing is like 1.5 inch round .18 wall thickness, they worked fine, nothing special by any means

I always leave uppipes to people who have a engine on a stand, which i dont and usually when my cab is off im in a hurry lol

aluminum piping for the air charge pipes if you can do it.

 

[Spectre32]

Why use 321 Stainless as the base material.

 

[09stroker]

As opposed to what 304? Better fatigue strength and heat resistance.