all well and good :/ but im im in with the "?s" like the LAWS. Quanto para uno?

 

I don't know, maybe Aaron or Taz would be interested in the final design? If I were to guess just labor costs alone? I made the cups on a regular lathe, so say about 1/2 hour each. 2 hours so far. Rear pipe bend, half an hour for setup etc... Front bar the same... so 3 hours so far, then measure and cut the 4 cross braces, another hour.
Plus you need the hydraulic bender.. think that's worth a few grand... If I were to make jig that's going to take some time. then it all has to be welded... So how much does a typical shop charge for labor? Up here about 80 per hour. If I charge per hour how much I would make as a machinist at work you're looking at 30 per hour plus materials.

I'm doing this so some of you can can see how it is done. I would love to make these and get some extra cash but I don't have the facilities to mass produce.

I know it can be done without losing too much ground clearance. My personal cost is zero. I have access to scrap material at work. If it's in the garbage, I can use it for what I want as long as I don't do it during regular work hours.

 

I would shoot for making a jig, after you are done with test driving and all that....but it's looking nice thus far! As for my questions...concerning how many pieces are left, I'm looking @ the front LTB section as 1 lateral support, the rear as a lateral support, then a couple of longitudal supports connecting the rear to the front forming a box then for rigidity within the box, the "X" brace is welded in.....Kinda like this....

 

I'm going to make it similar to the other style, more like a W than an X. Main reason is an X will be hard to line up and weld.



terrible sketch but you get the idea.

 

One thing I noticed and it was screwing with my mind... The pivots (king pins) for the LCA's are not at the same height. I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me but the lca's are at different positions on the engine cradle. This is why there is a left and a right end link...

check it out....

http://www.mattblehm.com/imagens/sus...stage1_ltb.jpg

 

Ok, I get what path you're on.....more like a ladder, except the two middle will be angled.......

 

All 4 will be on angles the rear bar is half the length of the front bar

 

Ok I gotcha..... If this comes out beautiful like I'm thinking, I might be interested in one depending how it performs in the realworld....potholes, speedbumps, drain covers, road debris etc.....it's gonna be an eye popper!!!!!!

 

Ok, I thought i'd update since it has been a while. I'm ready to start welding almost. The front bar is good, the rear bar is good. I just have to add the 4 braces. I have them measured out and here are a few pictures of them mocked up.


in this first picture, because it is only a mock up and the bars are not machined to length, I added a few notes to show where a few of the bars have to move. The second bar from the left needs to move to the other side of the flex section on the rear bar, and the second and third bar need to move closer together on the front bar to increase the angle. The 4th bar should be ok where it is.

Here's the front bar by itself... There is about 3/8 clearance between the bar and the skid plate.

 

Looking good!

 

Just remember triangles do wonders structurally when your adding your cross-members.

 

bringing this back from a long layoff due to the inclement weather.

Well, I got the front and back welded and installed today. I just have to add the angle pieces. Took it for a quick boot around the block and did the local 1 lane traffic circle at about 90kph with no tire squeal. Haven't tried it over bumps yet. I'll do that tomorrow when I drive over the local train tracks which is usually murder on the car. In fact last week I crossed the tracks in the left lane instead of the usual right lane and I hit the bumps so hard that my gas gauge needle fell out. LOL
Anyways, more teaser pics...

As you can see ground clearance is excellent, only about 1-1/4 inch less than the skid plate on the cattman headers

 

nice!! now make me one lol