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'65 Rubicon Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by timsresort, Dec 27, 2020.

  1. Jan 26, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    After the first bend we thought -OH NO-that doesn't look right. But-calm down, it's fine. After that I trusted it, and we have the first side hoop.
    [​IMG]
    Of course we had to set it in there, and it's money. This thing actually works.
    [​IMG]
    But can we repeat it? That's the hard part. While bending the second hoop, we set the first up there to check parallel.
    [​IMG]
    Down to the last bend, and we had a little adjustment to make, parallel is what anyone will see, so shooting for that.
    [​IMG]
    Moved the jeep inside and set them up there. I could not be happier, all measurements and eyeballs say this is good.
    [​IMG]
     
    73 cj5, Ol Fogie, jeepstar and 10 others like this.
  2. Jan 27, 2022
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    I started with the pro-tools 105 bender and then converted it to a vertical air over hydro.... Never looked back. I build one of these to use my dies with.

     
    timsresort and blalp! like this.
  3. Jan 27, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    Looking good tim! What’s your plan to tie into the frame at the front? Can you show some pics when you do? I need to figure this out too eventually
     
    timsresort likes this.
  4. Jan 27, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    Nice. Sam's is the JD Squared Model 3. And If it were mine, I'd go hydraulic too. I'm still sore.
     
  5. Jan 27, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    Thanks. I don't think I'm going to the frame. In the rear, I have bolts though the side of the body for vertical shear, in the front I am going to go through the rocker guards that bolt to the side of the body and wrap 6" under the floor. It's a mild trail rig, not racing it or hill climbing. I might change my mind and tie the front in to the frame. We'll see.
     
  6. Jan 27, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
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    We decided to start at the front floor with that dimension, and move back. So the first cross bar is the lower windshield bar. A cut, 2 notches, mock-up to see where it looks good, and the WS latches will clear.
    [​IMG]
    Next is the upper WS bar, same length. Put it up there and checked diagonal for square, and we are perfect (we used other words). (I'm actually not sure about the language rules here).
    [​IMG]
    Moving to the rear, the main B crossmember cut to the same length, and ratchet strapped up there. I'm not welding this one yet because we have a parallel issue (1/8", probably just deepen a notch). and we were running out of pre-approved shop time from upper management, (wives).
    [​IMG]
    I'm happy with the look, obviously a lot still to do, and I hate that I'm rushed, but there are only so many hours in the day.
    [​IMG]
    The last look before I load it up and head back up the hill. This will suffice. And a huge thank you to my brother.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Jan 27, 2022
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Oct 25, 2006
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    5,798
    Love this build.
     
    timsresort likes this.
  8. Jan 27, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    Thanks!
     
  9. Jan 29, 2022
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
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    Jun 13, 2012
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    814
    That's looking pretty sweet!
     
    timsresort likes this.
  10. Jan 29, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Started off the morning with tracking down a coolant leak (water neck), and fixing the carb stumble (acc. pump). Then, with the jeep back home, time to move ahead on the cage. I removed the tacks holding the wheel well angles so I can get them in the drill press for cargo hooks. Marked, drilled and tapped 1/4-20 holes for the 4 hooks.
    [​IMG]
    This is thinking ahead to the eventual load we always seem to have, like last summer, going in to the Springs from Tahoe.
    [​IMG]
    With the angles done, I tack them back in there, added some tacks to strengthen it for lifting out of the jeep, and got it out on the floor for welding.
    [​IMG]
    Flipped it over to get welds underneath, and got it pretty much completely welded. Actually went pretty fast.
    [​IMG]
    Now I'm looking for gussets...
     
  11. Jan 30, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    May 30, 2008
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    Be happy to help you plasma cut some if you want a specific shape or wanted to add some art or graphics/words/outline of Tahoe etc.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  12. Jan 30, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    I hadn't thought of going custom. After looking at several designs, Nick and I chose one and ordered them, (they're pretty simple). But thanks for the offer.
     
  13. Feb 2, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    Taco night! Got a 10-pack of these gussets from Speedway.
    [​IMG]
    I think these will look good, understated, simple, and some added strength.
    [​IMG]
     
    blalp!, jbrucru, Fireball and 4 others like this.
  14. Feb 3, 2022
    Renegade ll

    Renegade ll Member

    Thayne Wyoming
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    Feb 17, 2013
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    772
    Nice looking wheels. Where did you get those beadlock wheels and what size are they? I don't know much about beadlocks.
     
    timsresort likes this.
  15. Feb 3, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    They are Raceline Monster beadlock series. They are really nice and well made. I figure the Ultra4 racers absolutely beat on these and they survive, so we will be fine. And really, in the beadlock world right now, they are among the least expensive. I have a slightly different model on my 3B, (with black highlights), and I love them for style, the ability to run 6-8 psi in the rocks with no issues. They don't leak either. I bought them at Summit, after shopping around and I really couldn't beat their price. This is the link, although a little different. I went 17x9.5, 5 by 5-1/2", 4.25" backspace. And I don't know where that price came from, I paid about $100 less.
    https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rlw-rt2337958032
     
  16. Feb 4, 2022
    Renegade ll

    Renegade ll Member

    Thayne Wyoming
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    Feb 17, 2013
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    Thanks. I have 15x8 5.5.5 and the Raceline wheels would be about $249 each. However that would allow me to air down lower that 10 psi.
     
  17. Feb 4, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Right, if you are in the rocks regularly, it really helps, for traction, and comfort.
     
  18. Feb 11, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Man, work has really been getting in the way of progress. But this weekend is it-get the cage done. One of the last things needed is 1 or 2 grab handles. Especially on the passenger side, as the driver has the wheel. But this thing is a little high, and there is no step like on a flatfender, so maybe one on the drivers side to grab getting in semi-gracefully. I played around with some 1" tubing and it may be something like this.
    [​IMG]
    The handle idea came up after our little oopsie at Buck Island when Nick was about 12. He was on the downhill side, and did not put his hand out, thank you very much. We can fix sheet metal. But we noticed that something to grab (besides the cage) would be nice. And yes, I did get winched over by a Landcruiser. Thanks Kevin! But in my defense, he has since bought a Jeep.
    [​IMG]
    All set up for tomorrow, cage on the floor again, looking at the taco gussets. I think this will look good, and add some strength. Hopefully we never needs the grab handles for anything besides grabbing a beer from the fridge.
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Feb 12, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Started the morning with fish-mouthing the grab handle and fitting it to the passenger side.
    [​IMG]
    Some of the gussets need various trimming where they intersect. At the B pillar, there will be a 3-way intersection. So I plasma'd out the cuts I need.
    [​IMG]
    Started fitting the gussets, this will take some work, mainly because I need to move the cage around to get a halfway comfortable welding position.
    [​IMG]
    Here are the first 2 legs of the 3-way. I was having problems with weld contamination, I think from the oil that is on the tubing. So I started pre-cleaning the best I can with acetone.
    [​IMG]
    After about another 4 hours of welding, it is finally ready to paint. Tomorrow-Steel it!
    [​IMG]
     
  20. Feb 13, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Waited for the sun to warm up a little, moved it outside, sanded, wiped down. Kind of pushing the 50 degree application rule, it was close by mid-day. The Steel-it goes on nice. Really high pressure in the can, maybe because it's kind of thick. A lot of fumes, someone walked by and commented that they could smell it up the street. No way I could spray it indoors. But boy, it goes on nice, covers well, and actually dries pretty fast for not being too warm on a mid-winter day.
    [​IMG]
    Waited about 45 minutes for the second and third coats. I used about a can for each coat, at $30/can. I could knock that in half by buying a quart if I did it again.
    [​IMG]
    Hard to see, but it has a great satin finish, not dark black, kind of charcoal. And very smooth and even. I might use it again on the tire rack that's coming up. Anyway, nice to have this done, hopefully I can get it in the jeep tomorrow.
    [​IMG]
     
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