Draynor Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 So I have been talking about building some steering box braces for a while now. Tonight was the night I got started on it.Right now I am just mocking the first prototype up. After I make a couple and have tested them on mine and other peoples cars and have them where I am happy, I will start selling them.Not sure on what a final price will be, to early in the build. But I will be shooting for $30-$45.Today I almost got all three pieces cut out, limited on time. Tomorrow I will finish cutting, and hopefully have the first one welded up :D. I will add some sort of gusseting, not sure how I am going to attack that yet, all in time...I am making these out of 1/4" plate. Not pictured, but I do have a plate for behind the strut tower. I cut these with a acetylene torch, Will probably use the plasma on the final product.I will be updating as I go, Hoping to have a few I can bring to Canby :cool:* This is the first mock up, this will be cleaned up and the edges rounded out later on. Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 But I will be shooting for $30-$45. Clarify? Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Clarify? $30-$45 2 Quote Link to comment
Draynor Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Weird, I already edited that once, and it went back to being all messed up :confused: Quote Link to comment
RTB Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Wouldnt it be stronger as a bent piece of metal with a gusset vs 2 pieces of metal? Also I would make a longer gusset as it will resist flex more. Quote Link to comment
Draynor Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Wouldn't it be stronger as a bent piece of metal with a gusset vs 2 pieces of metal? Also I would make a longer gusset as it will resist flex more. Yes. But I am only working with what I have. Don't have anything capable of bending that plate. and really this is more for the fun of it and to get some people box braces that would never really want them before cause of the price. I'm gonna shoot to make the asking price on these as cheap as possible, while still being very durable. For a cheaper alternative to the $80 ones. 1 Quote Link to comment
CorAce Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 I like your thought proses. keep up the good work. 1 Quote Link to comment
danfiveten Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 You can do it :) Quote Link to comment
KlassicMotion Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Weird, I already edited that once, and it went back to being all messed up :confused: It's something that started a couple months ago. Everytime you edit your post that has a $ in it, it will do that. Also, if you edit your post and hit delete, it will erase a "quote" if you have one in there. If you hit backspace, it doesn't do it.... at least that what happens to me. Quote Link to comment
Draynor Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hmm that sucks. I was wondering how that happened, Cuase I swore I put the numbers in regular on the first post lol. Quote Link to comment
datrod Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 So your calling us cheap ??? :rofl: 1 Quote Link to comment
hosestop@msn.com Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Nope just you and me cheap skates. Quote Link to comment
Just Joel Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 A welded and gusseted corner will be plenty strong for this application. And as a side note... if your need a clean bent corner, you can cut your shape out of a piece of box ;) especially 1/4" because of the nice deep radius that makes up the outer edges. You can even change it slightly after the fact and still keep it clean with a little heat. 2 Quote Link to comment
jrock4224 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 nice draynor!!!!! ... just dont use my hub as a brace... i was at adams last week with^^^^totally forgot to let u know but i meeting ^^^^ again this weekend too...i have thought about making my own brace too... i like it keep it up.... adam has your money ,... lol good luck getting it Quote Link to comment
Draynor Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Didn't even think About doing it that way. Thanks for the idea Joel! Only have scrap plate to work with here, I might have to go find some 1/4" boxes. Quote Link to comment
Draynor Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 nice draynor!!!!! ... just dont use my hub as a brace... i was at adams last week with^^^^totally forgot to let u know but i meeting ^^^^ again this weekend too...i have thought about making my own brace too... i like it keep it up.... adam has your money ,... lol good luck getting it Lol your hub is safe ;). No problem, Just let me know, and i'll get it to you... Quote Link to comment
dr.feltersnatch Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 A welded and gusseted corner will be plenty strong for this application. And as a side note... if your need a clean bent corner, you can cut your shape out of a piece of box ;) especially 1/4" because of the nice deep radius that makes up the outer edges. You can even change it slightly after the fact and still keep it clean with a little heat. is it 90 degrees from the top of the steering box to the inner fender? i thought thats why they were welded is to make that slight angle correct. i could be wrong, i have never measured it. Quote Link to comment
Just Joel Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Really close actually... I used the above method with stainless rather than carbon steel and it worked great :) I did adjust the angle slightly with a little heat to make it just right ;) Edit: sorry, I used stainless not aluminum... 1 Quote Link to comment
Draynor Posted February 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Luckily I now have access to a parts car to test fit it on :)Well didn't get much done today, only had about 20 minutes.Did a little clean up on the box piece, Should have it welded tomorrow, I hope... Size comparison. Quote Link to comment
Draynor Posted February 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Alright, got it welded up tonight!I'm not to happy how the welds turned out. The inner corner I was a little higher on one plate, So I had to run another bead, it built it up more and now looks a bit bulky :(. Also the outer bead was a little wavy... This was done with a stick welder, 7018 rod. Once I get access to a Mig machine, that will be used.I took a grinder to the outer weld, came out looking nice :D Going to weld some gussets and drill some holes in this one and call it good. This was just a first mockup piece, Going to change the design a little bit on the next one, give it a better look :) Quote Link to comment
RTB Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 I think the plate you're using is just too thick. While it does give some stiffness, a proper gusset provides way more of the structural integrity. Plus it would be cheaper for you and, subsequently, others. Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Yea, that has come up. Ive been talking to him. The thinking is, how rigid does it need to be? My guess with 1/4" steel, it doesnt even need a gusset. But with thinner steel and a gusset, it would look stout and be plenty strong. 1 Quote Link to comment
Draynor Posted February 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 I think the plate you're using is just too thick. While it does give some stiffness, a proper gusset provides way more of the structural integrity. Plus it would be cheaper for you and, subsequently, others. The plate isn't much thicker than the TTT* brace. and really its all I have access too at this time. We put it through some test, and its damn strong as it is with no gussets. When I can get some other material, that will be tried out. Right now I am just having fun getting the design of the thing down. Quote Link to comment
RTB Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Yea, that has come up. Ive been talking to him. The thinking is, how rigid does it need to be? My guess with 1/4" steel, it doesnt even need a gusset. But with thinner steel and a gusset, it would look stout and be plenty strong. Just like the rest of the 510 it should be overengineered. You want to be confident that it wont move even under hard turning on a autox course. Because you're not only bracing it do that it doesn't bow in and out, you also want to prevent torsion. I would do 2 long gussets down the sides and be done with it. 1 Quote Link to comment
MicroMachinery Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Awesome stuff man! Way to go! 1 Quote Link to comment
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