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Hat Channel

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by colojeepguy, Aug 12, 2019.

  1. Aug 14, 2019
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
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    I looked at mine the other day. It has cracked again. Thinking of a new way to reinforce it.
     
  2. Aug 14, 2019
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    I would almost just cut the tops of the hat channel off in that section. Pull the wood out. Sleeve the body mount. Put U mounts inside, or tube supports in the hat channel for supporting the top and weld the top back on. That is if you can't replace the hat channel as an option.

    To do that, you would need to lift the tub up a bit at least so you have room to work.
     
    Dave Deyton likes this.
  3. Aug 15, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    I have a buddy who's a retired bodyman and very good at sheet metal work....he's going to weld some new metal over the top of what's there.
    Definitely need to do this.
     
    cj3may likes this.
  4. Aug 15, 2019
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    Mine are shot and I subscribed to this thread for ideas to fix.
     
  5. Aug 16, 2019
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
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    How about a Hat Channel Cap. I bent some 18 gauge steel with my new bender. It may not look pretty when I'm done. There's a few weld in the corners I had to clear.

    I also noticed a crack where my floor and tool box are welded. The hole at the top left is the inside box floor drain.

    [​IMG]

    New bending tool. Magnets hold the dies to the vice.

    [​IMG]

    Channel Cap ready to be tack welded together.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Aug 17, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    More info on this tool please!
     
  7. Aug 17, 2019
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
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  8. Aug 21, 2019
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
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    The cap is made, not sure when I'll get around to install it. Still need to clean the paint off the floor supports.
    [​IMG]
     
    Vanguard, sgogpn and dane71 like this.
  9. Aug 21, 2019
    liquids

    liquids Old Member

    Detroit-ish
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    There's gotta be a story behind that ...
     
  10. Aug 21, 2019
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    Forget buying the dies, sheet metal and maybe a vise that's large enough....

    You could manufacture these!
     
  11. Aug 22, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Got my tool in the mail yesterday, I an going to attempt to build something similar to Scott M's....probably won't be as good though!
     
    Twin2 likes this.
  12. Aug 24, 2019
    Ric-san

    Ric-san New Member

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    Luckily being a aircraft structural mechanic, I have access to all sorts of shop tools at work, to include several cornice and box and pan breakes. I’d much rather get the Eastwood version of the tool mentioned above if I absolutely needed one.

    Eastwood 6 Inch Vise Press Metal Brake
     
    Tom_Hartz likes this.
  13. Aug 31, 2019
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
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    My progress.

    Welded the cracks in the supports.
    [​IMG]

    Applied weld though primer.

    [​IMG]

    Fit tested the cap.

    [​IMG]

    Welded the cap. (My over head welding skills needs work.)

    [​IMG]

    Applied more primer. Now it's ready for finishing.

    [​IMG]
     
    Hellion likes this.
  14. Aug 31, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Nice! Wanna come to Colorado and do mine?
    ;)
     
  15. Aug 31, 2019
    Iandavidh

    Iandavidh Member

    California
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    Me too:D
     
  16. Aug 31, 2019
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
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    You guys can do this. it's not hard.
     
  17. Sep 1, 2019
    sgogpn

    sgogpn From the top of Lions Back... 2022 Sponsor

    Glendale, AZ.
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    Nice work Scott. That'll probably take care of that spot for good.

    Mike
     
  18. Sep 1, 2019
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    Yeah, but ball park figure here—what would you charge for a pair (L and R)?
     
  19. Sep 1, 2019
    Iandavidh

    Iandavidh Member

    California
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    Lets all just peer pressure him into doing it:lol:
     
  20. Sep 1, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Progress today...I cut the rivets off and removed the body mount from the frame, then cut open the hat channel and chiseled all the old wood out of there. I need to come up with a spacer to replace the wood, I'm open to suggestions for that.
    20190901_134021.jpg
    20190901_134029.jpg
    Then, using Scott's pictures as a guideline, I made a cardboard template for the reinforcement.
    20190901_134040.jpg
    And cut and bent some sheet metal.

    20190901_143823.jpg
     
    melvinm, Twin2 and Iandavidh like this.
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