Project Slowly Underway: Berrien 295

[Ruffuss]

But wider(for better braking)stronger(reinforced) and besides anything from a Thing is Cool!

[vanapplebomb]

Thing stuff is extremely cool, Certainly much beefier than the bug drums. Couldn't pass them up when I saw them on sale, brand spanking new from Germany, for 95 bucks each! Last I saw, the few shops that had them in stock were asking 135-140 bugs a pop.


Oh, hey, this reminds me. Does anybody have a 37/64in drill bit? Maybe a spot facing tool? Hahaha, and maybe a drill press/vertical mill that can turn slow to drill out the threads for press in studs?

The drill press I have (an old Rockwell International from the late 70's I rebuilt) doesn't go below 375rpm...to fast for big bits. I have a 9/16in drill bit I tested on a worn out bug drum...drill press did not like that big of a bit. Not enough power, and too high of a cutting speed. At any rate, 9/16 was not a big enough hole...smaller than the minor diameter of the knurls. Guess they really do need a 37/64in bit. I remember when I got the 9/16in bit from a local industrial supply shop, it set me back about 20 bucks. Ouch...not sure I wan't to fork over that again for a bit I will only use once. If anybody around the Holland/Zeeland area could help me out, that would be awesome. Even out towards Grand Rapids would be fine. I'll be downstate in just a couple weeks from March 9 - 15.

I'm looking forward to Maple Syrup Season!!! Yummm. I love the smells and sounds of fire, boiling sap, and the Barred Owls calling at night.

[vanapplebomb]

Speaking of maple syrup season, we still have a few gallons canned last year sitting around. Maybe the lucky person who offers to drill out my drums will get a quart of maple syrup

[vanapplebomb]

I drove through Marquette a couple weeks ago. I stopped at a hardware shop that had a good assortment of metric hardware. They had some coarse threaded metic couplers, M12 x 1.75 mm. At less than a buck a pop, I figure they would make nice shock mounts. Unfortunately they are galvanized, so I will have to grind all the zinc off before welding them up. I also have to figure out where to place them. Fortunately I'll be home in a couple weeks so I can check out the spacing of the shock mounts welded to my frame. I'll just measure the center to center spacing between the two bosses shown in the picture below, and match the spacing on my trailing arms when I fab up the shock mounts. I should also be able to figure out how long of shocks I need for the back.





Also while I am back, I may be able to cut and turn the front beam, and reposition the old bump stops above the upper trailing arms, like this...

[MadMike]

Ha,That's Malcolm&Buds old class 1 Buggy,, I use to race back then just not in their class,cool memory's,thanks for posting

[vw1s]

Instead of grinding all the zinc off, dip them in Muratic acid for a couple minutes. DON'T BREATH THE FUMES! Give them a good rinse in straight tap water, dry them and you are ready to weld.

[vanapplebomb]

Mike, that is really cool! I could post up some more pictures of it for you if you want.

Patrick, thanks for the tech tip. Do yo think Phosphoric acid will work? I have some of that stuff sitting around. If not, where would you get Muriatic acid?...same stuff as hydrochloric acid??

[vw1s]

Not sure about the phosphoric acid. Yes muriatic and hydrochloric, same same. Usually can be found at any hardware store.

[vanapplebomb]

Awesome, I will have to look for some of that next time I'm out and about.

[Ruffuss]

Feb 24, 2014 12:31:14 GMT -5 vw1s said:

Not sure about the phosphoric acid. Yes muriatic and hydrochloric, same same. Usually can be found at any hardware store.

Or pool/spa chemical dealer.

[vanapplebomb]

Awesome ideas guys. I called up some of the hardware places around me. No HCl in stock. I'll have to try the local Sauna dealership...i think they carry some stuff for pools and hot tubs. Maybe they would have it. Hahaha, you know your in the UP when you have to contact your local Sauna joint for pool cleaning supplies

[justaguy]

My cousin owns the Rec Depot in Marquette. His name is Lonnie Katt...give him a call or stop in and he will get you what you need!

[vanapplebomb]

Reason # 2 that you know you live in the UP: Marquette is still considered local even though you live two hours away in Houghton.

In all seriousness, thanks for the lead! Small world, ehy?



Well, speaking of shock mounts, I fabbed up the plate that will hold the threaded bosses. I used a set of elcheapo fabrication magnets to hold it square while I tacked and welded it down. I'm pretty happy because I feel like my welding skills have improved a lot since I was taught by a buddy of mine who owns a sheet metal fab shop in Holland. Guess it just takes lots of practice. Again, this was all done with flux-cored wire. It looks about the same as my MIG welds did last year. Still lots of room for improvement.








I also made that gusset along the front of the trailing arm between the spring plate mount and bearing carrier. I have seen this done on lots of old school buggies that raced the Baja. I didn't have any good way to bend the strip of metal, so I started by welding one end to the spring plate mount. Then I started cutting kerfs in it so that I could pound it around until the other end met up the bearing carrier. I welded the end up to the bearing carrier and proceeded to fill in the kerfs, grinding them flush when finished. Then I just welded up along the edges. Should work great. That bearing carrier shouldn't budge.

[MadMike]

Hey Dirk,Don't post them pic's ,I'm on dial-up and I just lucked out an seen the one,LOL
Thanks for the offer
U gonna make the BBS in Lansing this year? u relly need to swing down for this It's on a 'SUNDAY' as in No skool!!!!!!

[vanapplebomb]

Hahaha, sorry about that Mike. Any other way to post pictures up that is dial-up friendly?

As for the buggy builders show, I really really want to go. I could drive down Saturday, stay at a friends house out that way Sunday, and then drive back up Monday. I would have to make sure I won't have any tests or anything that day...or try and reschedule them for another day. I have been drooling over the pictures in the website from the past few years. It looks like a ton of fun! I will keep you updated as the date gets closer. I would really like to meet some members of out club that post frequently. So far the only guy I have met up with is Patrick. What an awesome dude. I'm looking forward to meeting you too! With a screen name like MadMike, I'm really not sure what to expect. Hahahaha. just kiddin'.