BIG strut brace update thread

The Aspirator · 08-13-2009, 12:45 AM

GabAlmighty · 08-13-2009, 12:49 AM

They're so... BIG

The Aspirator · 08-13-2009, 12:54 AM

Installed pics for those who don't know what I'm talking about:

Poik · 08-13-2009, 12:58 AM

I am so jealous of your CNC setup! John we're going to have to figure something similar out for my 242 when I have everything positioned!

2fast242gt · 08-13-2009, 01:00 AM

aluminum strut cap! whats the ship date?

Jeh · 08-13-2009, 01:07 AM

Sweet. that looks great. How much???

DNAsEqUeNcE · 08-13-2009, 01:12 AM

that's alot of metal shavings!

TIPSP · 08-13-2009, 01:13 AM

Awesome John!

do you use heat to bend or is it cold bending?

joe90 · 08-13-2009, 01:26 AM

can't find the ones for 7/9 series - any plans?

volvo245kit · 08-13-2009, 01:38 AM

I jus' luv that fancy tinsel makin' contraption! I'll bet you real busy come Christmas time. Are you still shipping by the end of this week?

supraboy · 08-13-2009, 01:54 AM

I need a lathe and a mill. right now, give me yours...please?

looks nice

Mark · 08-13-2009, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poik

I am so jealous of your CNC setup!

Me too!

I'll be busting the tape measure out when the TPI manifold gets installed to see if I can fit one of those beauties...

M.

BrickLove · 08-13-2009, 02:12 AM

Neat video, John. Your wares look so nice. Keep it up.

TIPSP · 08-13-2009, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volvo245kit

Are you still shipping by the end of this week?

Lets cross fingers and hope so.... progress does looking promising.

FunkyStankyChicken · 08-13-2009, 10:43 AM

thats awesome i cant wait for mine

drturbo · 08-13-2009, 02:20 PM

You sir, are my hero! How about an alternator bracket (w/o power steering) for the intake side of a B23FT?

The Aspirator · 08-13-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2fast242gt

aluminum strut cap! whats the ship date?

Cool huh? I really like those strut caps, I'll have to make a bunch more. I made one just before going to Carlisle, never got around to making the second one. Here's moar pics.

Unfortunately I won't be able to ship these braces by the end of this week like I had hoped. I still haven't heard back from the waterjet place as to the progress of the strut plates, but they should be done by monday. On my end I still have to drill holes in all the endlinks, I started doing it last night but the drive belt on my milling machine broke (that's what I get for using a vacuum cleaner belt from Lowes), but I got a new one today so I'll drill 'em all out tonight. Then I've gotta cut the bars, the metal store cut them all 0.625" too long, then bend them all. Then take everything to my buddy's shop for TIG welding, then I'll powdercoat all the plates. This weekend I'll notch all the firewall braces, that won't take long at all. I already have the end bits for the firewall braces machined from a big run I did a few months ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeh

Sweet. that looks great. How much???

The BIG braces were a limited time groupbuy and went for $200 Canadian. I *might* be making more in a few months, we'll see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNAsEqUeNcE

that's alot of metal shavings!

That's nothing! The milling machine makes those nice tiny shavings that get everywhere, but the lathe makes loooong stringy chips. This bucket was almost empty before I machined all the endlinks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIPSP

Awesome John!

do you use heat to bend or is it cold bending?

Cold bending, aluminum is tricky with heat, it tends to crack. For my steel shifters I use heat to bend them. The bender that I made is definitely "crush" bending, but it doesn't crush it that bad. Plus I don't have the scratch for a mandrel bender, or the need really.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe90

can't find the ones for 7/9 series - any plans?

I've "had plans" for a 7/9 brace for a year now, nothing has happened yet. What I kinda want to do is use this BIG design from the start and make them wicked awesome, I think they would sell quite well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drturbo

You sir, are my hero! How about an alternator bracket (w/o power steering) for the intake side of a B23FT?

Neat idea, but probably not going to happen from me, sorry bud. Although my power steering non AC bracket broke a few weeks ago, and instead of trying to find another one, I'm just going to make one from scratch.

JohnMc · 08-13-2009, 03:08 PM

If it doesn't clear some component on my 16V, that component is getting moved out of the way.
*Clint Eastwood scowl*

The Aspirator · 08-13-2009, 03:11 PM

Hahaha classic. I can just see a big dent going in your intake manifold. Ohh, protip, if the fuel rail or FPR hits the brace, flip it around and make new tabs. On my car I had to flip it around, fits great now!

243_Phantom · 08-13-2009, 04:11 PM

TurbOwner · 08-13-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Aspirator

I've "had plans" for a 7/9 brace for a year now, nothing has happened yet. What I kinda want to do is use this BIG design from the start and make them wicked awesome, I think they would sell quite well.

I've been patiently waiting to buy one from you instead of ipd.

v tech · 08-13-2009, 11:51 PM

great work. i talked my buddy into getting one. for his wagon. and im glad he held out cant wait too see when they ship!

FunkyStankyChicken · 08-14-2009, 01:04 AM

Hey John, hold off on shipping mine till i can get you my addy at school please.

The Aspirator · 08-17-2009, 02:06 PM

Weekend update, got quite a bit done recently. Just heard that the waterjet place is done cutting my plates, so I will pick them up tomorrow if I have time, they're kinda far away. I got all the endlinks drilled out and chamfered, all the bars cut and bent, and all the firewall braces notched. Well, sorta. I goofed up the angles on two firewall braces so now I'll have to use those tubes for another project, then I got into a groove and ended up making 10 drivers side tubes instead of 5 drivers and 5 passengers. So right now I'm off to the metal store to buy 10 more tubes so I can make 10 passenger side ones, that'll give me 4 extra pairs to have in stock, which is a good thing! Also I accidentally cut one of the big strut braces about an inch too short, which made it worthless for making a bent bar, so I decided to whip it into a straight bar for my car! I had to bend it a bit wonky to clear my intake manifold and have it fit into the notch, but that's okay, my whole car is a bit wonky. Should work good. I think I'll polish it.

WeezilUSA · 08-17-2009, 03:05 PM

Just a wee bit wonkey... Looking good though, way to crank stuff out sir!

08-13-2009, 12:45 AM	#1
The Aspirator It's a girl! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vinemount, Ontario CANADA	BIG strut brace update thread __________________ '83 242 '95 T5R '98 S70

08-13-2009, 12:49 AM	#2
GabAlmighty Board Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Port Moody, B.C.	They're so... BIG __________________ 1981 242 DL Crushed - 1982 245 Sold - 1982 242GLT Sold - 1992 4Runner Sold - 1985 Toyota pick up - 1984 242t - 2002 Cummins 2500

08-13-2009, 01:00 AM	#5
2fast242gt cheeseland highschool kid Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: appleton WI	aluminum strut cap! whats the ship date? __________________ 1980 241gt 6.0 lq4 swaped

08-13-2009, 01:13 AM	#8
TIPSP Got Boost? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Moorpark, Ca	Awesome John! do you use heat to bend or is it cold bending? __________________ 91 745T: Modified. 82 244T: Modified. Last edited by TIPSP; 08-13-2009 at 01:19 AM..

08-13-2009, 01:26 AM	#9
joe90 From up north Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Montreal, Qc, Canada	can't find the ones for 7/9 series - any plans? __________________ 1989 740 TIC red aut 358kkm - winter beater 1991 740SE TIC red aut 201kkm - out of order ! 1991 740SE TIC black aut 313kkm - back on the road! 1993 940 TIC black M90 208039M - out of order!

08-13-2009, 12:54 AM	#3
The Aspirator It's a girl! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vinemount, Ontario CANADA	Installed pics for those who don't know what I'm talking about:

08-13-2009, 01:07 AM	#6
Jeh Has a Jaaaaaag Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: on a crappy road in Edgewood NM	Sweet. that looks great. How much???

08-13-2009, 01:38 AM	#10
volvo245kit Board Member Join Date: May 2008	I jus' luv that fancy tinsel makin' contraption! I'll bet you real busy come Christmas time. Are you still shipping by the end of this week?

08-13-2009, 10:43 AM	#15
FunkyStankyChicken Rad Panda Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ithaca NY	thats awesome i cant wait for mine __________________ '79 242 GT - Project '91 SR5 Pickup - Work Beater '84 BMW 533i - Summer Daily

08-13-2009, 02:20 PM	#16
drturbo Visit Swedishiron.com Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kent, WA	You sir, are my hero! How about an alternator bracket (w/o power steering) for the intake side of a B23FT? __________________ Check out my excellent feedback! Need a part? Visit Swedishiron.com! Send me a PM or email with your want list!

08-13-2009, 03:08 PM	#18
JohnMc PV Abuser Join Date: May 2004 Location: St. Louis	If it doesn't clear some component on my 16V, that component is getting moved out of the way. Clint Eastwood scowl __________________ '63 PV Rat Rod '93 245 16VT Classic #1141

08-13-2009, 03:11 PM	#19
The Aspirator It's a girl! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vinemount, Ontario CANADA	Hahaha classic. I can just see a big dent going in your intake manifold. Ohh, protip, if the fuel rail or FPR hits the brace, flip it around and make new tabs. On my car I had to flip it around, fits great now!

08-13-2009, 04:11 PM	#20
243_Phantom Joe Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

08-13-2009, 11:51 PM	#22
v tech Board Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ottawa ontario	great work. i talked my buddy into getting one. for his wagon. and im glad he held out cant wait too see when they ship! __________________

08-14-2009, 01:04 AM	#23
FunkyStankyChicken Rad Panda Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ithaca NY	Hey John, hold off on shipping mine till i can get you my addy at school please.

08-17-2009, 02:06 PM	#24
The Aspirator It's a girl! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vinemount, Ontario CANADA	Weekend update, got quite a bit done recently. Just heard that the waterjet place is done cutting my plates, so I will pick them up tomorrow if I have time, they're kinda far away. I got all the endlinks drilled out and chamfered, all the bars cut and bent, and all the firewall braces notched. Well, sorta. I goofed up the angles on two firewall braces so now I'll have to use those tubes for another project, then I got into a groove and ended up making 10 drivers side tubes instead of 5 drivers and 5 passengers. So right now I'm off to the metal store to buy 10 more tubes so I can make 10 passenger side ones, that'll give me 4 extra pairs to have in stock, which is a good thing! Also I accidentally cut one of the big strut braces about an inch too short, which made it worthless for making a bent bar, so I decided to whip it into a straight bar for my car! I had to bend it a bit wonky to clear my intake manifold and have it fit into the notch, but that's okay, my whole car is a bit wonky. Should work good. I think I'll polish it.

08-17-2009, 03:05 PM	#25
WeezilUSA Fair Enough... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Vancouver WA	Just a wee bit wonkey... Looking good though, way to crank stuff out sir! __________________ R-Sport International Customer Service For all RSI related messages, please email me (no PM)... Thanks! ben@r-sport.org

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