RMC's el hefe build.

[Rmc]

One more crossbar, then all the roof shit and I can pull the top, slide it out and finish the tops of the joints. Last tie ins as I mentioned will be 4 windshield bars and 2 B pillars. Everything is being done in modular sections to go around cutting holes in the floor or roof.

[Rmc]

Dig the C pillar tube setup

Thanks man! the plan is to have 2 diagonals at the flat section toward the frame rails. There will be floor plates there. Under the floor will be a matching floor plate sandwich style to the frame. In the end the cab will still be removable if need be. I only plan on 6 or 8 frame attachments for the cab.

[hobbyturnedobsession]

Looks clean Robert!

[Rmc]

Thanks Randy!

[ChaseTruck754]

Dig the C pillar tube setup

Thanks man! the plan is to have 2 diagonals at the flat section toward the frame rails. There will be floor plates there. Under the floor will be a matching floor plate sandwich style to the frame. In the end the cab will still be removable if need be. I only plan on 6 or 8 frame attachments for the cab.

Sounds like a good way to go. I love the fact that you're planning for the body/cage to be able to come off the frame. Most guys don't put the extra effort in for this. It's something I try to do for the "just in case" or prep, painting, etc. factor.

[Rmc]

It would definitely make life more enjoyable in the event of a frame swap, boxing, link mounts ect later on. For better or worse I'm forced to do this build in sections. Main factor is limited space. Dudes bug is in front of this thing so it has to be Mobil to get his project out of my hair.

[ChaseTruck754]

That's the downside of working on crap for other people. It never seems to get out of your hair/way when it is supposed to. Either that or they can't pay so as much as you want it gone you can't let it leave.

[Rmc]

Amen brother!

[Smart Alex]

Where is your shop/build area?

[Wrightracing.net]

It's like you read my mind. I have the same issue with work I do for friends.

[VintageIronFab]

Robert - your cage is looking killer! I am curious how you are building it in a modular fashion-- is that so you can paint/powdercoat it in the end or just for ease of welding. I have seen some guys butcher holes in the firewall and all over and jsut wonder if there cant possibly be a much much better way??

I basIcally built an entire 78 bronco with very little actual help from the guy that owns it and got ZERO out of it. He is still my friend but ... I will never do that type of thing again without something for it. Really can hurt the friendship and in the end its just not worth the effort.

[Rmc]

The main reasoning in building the cage in sections is I can weld 3/4 of each bar as is. At that point a choice would be at hand ( normally this choice is made from the start) but anyway the choice would be: cut holes in the floor to drop the cage down to weld the tops ( my standard practice in the past) or cut the roof off. The roof removal option may actually be less work than dealing with the glue and paint in the floor area. Btw that smoke ( burning glue) stays in your nose a while. I can't stand the smell of burning urethane. On the other hand if not done this way you could just cut holes above the missed joints and patch them back in but that like the roof would require a gang of sanding, body work, prime and paint. The option I chose has no additional work downside outside of adding the floor plates. The floor plates do 2 things 1st they let you know without any doubt that good allignment between the above the floor and below the floor plates are in allignment because the same bolts fasten the body in a sandwich. 2nd you can fit, gusset, all that crap to your hearts content without having to re-do any lower section of the cage as the build progresses. One last thing it could provide if motivated mind you is paint or powdercoat all but the final weld joints before final install and only the last locations left as touch up ( hopefully behind the dash or in a easily maskable location. Just my thoughts about the process anyway. Now keep in mind guys this build was never intended to pass tech because its not a race car. My idea would be more along the line of Eric or smart Alex style if that was the case. This thing is just to bridge the gap between back up family ride and saftey when cruising offroad in gofast fashion.

[Rmc]

I really did stare and think for quite a while to minimize extra steps. Now the important part is to exicute my so called plan. Sooner the better. I'm hoping more than anything on minimal warping on the final leg of the process in reguards to the 4 dash bars.

[Smart Alex]

Where is your shop/build area?

[Rmc]

Home bro.

[Rmc]

My little lane of so called work area.

[Smart Alex]

That's cool that's all I got. Home shop is way better than living in a shop!

[snowman429]

That's cool that's all I got. Home shop is way better than living in a shop!

Unless you're shop was like this.

[ChaseTruck754]

That's cool that's all I got. Home shop is way better than living in a shop!

When you're marries - not when you're a bachelor.

I totally miss the space (shop space not living type space) of my shop. Wouldn't give up the new life for it though so I'm making due in the smaller "shop"

[Rmc]

Through the different situations I've found myself in I've had many many opportunities to have full reign after hours and weekends at 3 different shops ( full fab capabilities to waterjets through 5 aaxis machines) and my opinion is nothing is better than having space to work but nothing beats the lack of pressure of home based stuff. It seemed to me I have done my clearest thinking, problem solving ect at home without the stresses of "shoot I gotta clean this place up before I can leave" and it always felt like real work outside of 4 walls I call my own. I will have a big ass building someday but it's still a little ways out. Best of all... If I want to leave it a mess I can. It's not on purpose mind you but sometimes you have to stop at a point where stuff needs to be left out. Most of the time in someone else's building that won't fly or if it does your stuff goes Mia.