'wittle 'wesistor (Mini Jeep)

[Master Hack]

This ‘splains it better than l can….

Precision sheet metal bending, bump by bump

Bump bending remains more art than science, especially for large and thick workpieces, but using the right tools and setup procedures help make this challenging brake operation much more efficient.

www.thefabricator.com

 

[BaconBitRacing]

The back looks really great! The front looks a bit crooked, could be the camera angle. This project shows you don't need a fancy garage to make incredible stuff.

 

[Functional Artist]

The back looks really great! The front looks a bit crooked, could be the camera angle. This project shows you don't need a fancy garage to make incredible stuff.

Yup, everything "is" still a bit off

Ima still buttonin' & squarin' "stuff up"

Across the mid section (~31 1/2")

Across the back (~31 1/2")

Squared up the side panels, with the back panel

...& bolted 'em together

* Notice these
bolt holes will "bolt" (3) different panels together

 

[Functional Artist]

This ‘splains it better than l can….

Precision sheet metal bending, bump by bump

Bump bending remains more art than science, especially for large and thick workpieces, but using the right tools and setup procedures help make this challenging brake operation much more efficient.

www.thefabricator.com

Thanks for the info

Yup, I've seen that on Snow Plow Blades

My Industrial Arts teacher (back in the '80's) referred to it a "Breaking" or Break Bending

 

[Functional Artist]

Cowl re-work

I took the Cowl back off (to "fix" the bottom bending flange)

This is (1) ofthe offending edges

So, I straightened 'em back out (almost flat)

Then, drew the "new" bending lines (the left side needed ta be bent just a bit "over" 7/8")

Put 'er in the bender

...& bended 'er (hopefully correctly this time)

Re-bent

Came out lookin' like this

* Notice my supervisor (Ducky) has her azz all up in my business (as usual)

 

[Functional Artist]

I re-installed the Cowl, back on to the body

Right side

Inside look at the bolting flange

Left side

Full'er view

 

[G.W]

The shape your jeep is taking on looks like a 50s cj3b in my opinion.

 

[Bansil]

The shape your jeep is taking on looks like a 50s cj3b in my opinion.

Got the pregnant hood

 

[Bansil]

CAD drawings Computer Cardboard Aided Design

 

[Functional Artist]

CAD drawings Computer Cardboard Aided Design

Yes sir, I made (several) whole mini-Jeep bodies out of cardboard
...& then, used the "best" ones for templates, to make this body

Speakin' of templates, I used the rear wheel well CAD templates ta make some rear wheel wells outta steel

I had ta make some adjustments, like this edge needed ~1/4" extra

...& the curve in the rear needed "matchin up" (~1/2" off)

Modified CAD template

Gettin' 'er transferred to the steel

I cut (2) "blanks" & bolted 'em together
...so, I could make/create (2) pieces (left & right) at the same time

...& there were (2) (the exact same but, exact opposites)

Doin' some more bendin'

 

[Master Hack]

Thats purdy cool. Where did you find the calibrated wrenches? Are those caliwrenches?

 

[Functional Artist]

Thats purdy cool. Where did you find the calibrated wrenches? Are those caliwrenches?

Nope, not Caliwrenches
...they are Pittsburg-wrenches
...AKA Harbor Freight specials

They work great for illustrating "gaps"
...& will also turn a nut &/or bolt too

I recently saw a guy who had an ignition switch mounting wrench (used to mount the ignition switch on his mini-bike)
...& those are very rare

 

[Functional Artist]

Fresh outta the bender (careful it's still hot)

...& installed

Them rear curves filled in nicely

 

[Functional Artist]

Tailgate

Step 1. Measure & mark

Step 2. Cut

Step 3. Clean/smooth, round & deburr

Here's my state of the art material prop

On longer cuts (over ~6") it helps ta use a straight edge as a guide

After measurin', markin', cuttin' cleanin & smoothin', I put 'er in the bender & bent 'er

Moved 'er up a bit & bent 'er again

After the third bend it looked lika this

This double lip should help make the body more ridged & be safer to the touch
...& this is what itsa looksa like, installed

 

[Functional Artist]

Hey what's all of them holes, in the back, for?

Well, Ima glad you asked

Those are for the Air Brakes

When driving air flows thru them holes
...& when you apply the brakes, a flap raises up
...& blocks them holes
...which help ta slow ya down

JK...JK
...they are for mounting the tail lights

There are gonna be (3) individual 12V lights, on each side, making up the tail lights (I'll explain why later)
...so, I used some maskin' tape ta help align them

Then, used a straight edge ta help square 'em up on the body

Um...that seems a bit too high
...after readjustment (yea, that looks better)

Here is what theysa gonna look like

Another view

The center lights (on each side) will be the marker lights (on when the headlights are on)
...& the outer lights are the brake lights

The (4) outer lights will only light up when the brakes are applied
...& being twice as many, they should illuminate brighter than the marker lights, when lit

 

[BaconBitRacing]

Hey what's all of them holes, in the back, for?

Well, Ima glad you asked

Those are for the Air Brakes

When driving air flows thru them holes
...& when you apply the brakes, a flap raises up
...& blocks them holes
...which help ta slow ya down

JK...JK
...they are for mounting the tail lights

There are gonna be (3) individual 12V lights, on each side, making up the tail lights (I'll explain why later)
...so, I used some maskin' tape ta help align them
View attachment 139488
Then, used a straight edge ta help square 'em up on the body
View attachment 139489
Um...that seems a bit too high
...after readjustment (yea, that looks better)
View attachment 139490
Here is what theysa gonna look like
View attachment 139491
Another view
View attachment 139493
The center lights (on each side) will be the marker lights (on when the headlights are on)
...& the outer lights are the brake lights

The (4) outer lights will only light up when the brakes are applied
...& being twice as many, they should illuminate brighter than the marker lights, when lit

 

[Functional Artist]

Workin' on some Grille mounting brackets

Ima gonna use the other scrap piece/"doorway" cut-out (has a nice 1 1/2" "lip"

Trimmed up inta (2) pieces (8" x 2 1/2" x 1 1/2")

Ima thinkin' something about like this

Here is a closer view

The Grille...is mounted

 

[Denny]

Disappointed you did not make the sides match the front.

 

[Bansil]

Disappointed you did not make the sides match the front.

Thats what the front flat fenders are for...to hide that issue.... .. to draw eye out of the bent zone ...and front grills are like 1/3 of width so cowl is wider..looks good

 

[Functional Artist]

Started workin' on the Hood

I don't seem ta have a CAD hood template (I did)
...so, Ima gonna have ta make another one

Ima also, running low on CAD "fluid" (cardboard)
...so, Ima gonna have ta re-purpose one of the CAD floorboard templates

Here is the "rough" CAD hood template

Dry fitin' 'er on the body

Got 'er nice-n-centered

Worked on the "wrap around"
...& marked where the bending flange(s) needed ta be

Also, marked the front "overhang" (left ~1/2")

...& now, we have a CAD hood template

But, then I was thinkin' that maybe I should add a rear "lip" to the hood (ta make 'er stronger & more ridged, back in the hinge area)
...so, Ima thinkin' that Ima gonna add ~2" to the rear edge of the hood

Now, I gotta get some more 18g. steel ('cuz I don't have a piece ~31" x ~21" 18g. left)