Devastator's upgrade

[jt1967]

Sweet

[tikotiko]

Yes sweet

[Devastator]

Dune trip a success! Drove it back on the trailer. Had to set the valves once during the trip as it was starting to sound like a diesel engine back there. Think I need to increase the fuel under boost or back off the timing a little because I thought I heard a touch of detonation occasionally. I think the E85 that was already in the barrel, from last year, was not very good and that's lowering the octane overall. It ran without pinging until i added fuel from the barrel. Didn't get to try new lights because the wind picked up and I decided against going out that night.
Thinking about side panels now. Any suggestions on thickness of AL to use?
Dev

[Ol'fogasaurus]

What alloy do you plan on using, what/how do you plan on attaching it and is there any fancy-schmancy work to the panels like bead rolling planned. I would suspect that your overall choice is going to end up between a 5000 alloy or a 6000 alloy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_alloy

http://www.mandelmetals.com/5000-series-aluminum-alloys Gives the use of several alloys including 2000, 5000, 6000 and 7000. I don't recommend 2000 especially if it is clad (w/pure AL) if you plan on painting or wrapping it. Too soft and will dent easily. 7000 is most likely stronger than you want to play with. You would have to anneal it to a -0 or -W condition to get tight bends then re-temper it or let it age harden.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?10 ... y-Question Welding 5000 AL discussion here.

http://www.thealuminumsource.com/tech/alloys.htm 6000 discussion here.

http://www.aws.org/wj/supplement/09-2002-MOSSMAN-s.pdf Welding AL.

I am sure you knew I was going to give you too much info didn't you!

Lee

[Devastator]

I don't mind too much info as long as you don't mind my not reading all of it Lee.
After a responding PM from CWB, I'll likely go with .04 5052.
Here is the mock up. :

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Not at all!!! The reason I posted so many was that there were different bits of information in each write-up that might have helped in your decision which is why I posted them all. Once painted (the surface protected) unless you damage the protective surface; in your dry air down there either one would not be that big of a deal.

If you haven't bought yet, if you are going to paint them then don't waste your money on Clad stock. The cladding (pure AL sprayed on) is expensive and used if no additional protection is used.

Maybe see you guys down there for a few months just after the first of the year.

Lee

[Devastator]

Off to the dunes again this holiday weekend.

[TimS]

Be safe. Take pictures.

[Devastator]

Another dune trip ends and I still haven't broken anything very serious.
Had lighting issues but got them under control long enough to decide I needed a light bar.
Have a weird steering issue still to sort out.
Didn't take any pictures...but my daughter did.

[BAJA-IT]

Looks like someone had some fun.

[TimS]

Yee ha!! Nice!

[59Bisquik]

Great pics!!

[Leatherneck]

Looks like it was a blast

[ajdenette]

I think the steering works better when the front wheels are in contact with something ideally the ground .

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I think the steering works better when the front wheels are in contact with something ideally the ground .

That's what the turning brakes are for. The idea is to see how far and how fancy-schmancy of an lizard track trail you leave on the rear wheels. Just be careful on a hard landing on the front wheels.

Lee