devianteng
Well-Known Member
Hi all!
My kit is ordered and will be a couple of months at least before I see it, so I'm working through my donor disassembly (see build log below). In the meantime I've been thinking about other things, such as performance mods (got a K04 turbo kit ordered for my LSJ, some cooling mods, shopping clutches, neutral balance shafts, etc), which got me thinking about frame modifications.
I have ordered the extended length full cage, and I know I will add bars across the top, but just not sure where. Maybe 2 bars in the middle running in parallel, like this:
(@Jim Holley)
Or maybe do a "V" pattern with the 2 converging near the front middle.
Taking inspiration from @DCMoney, I plan to cut and weld tabs in the middle of the bars so I can get aluminum panels to set inside the bars, making the side bars visible (instead of covering those up with the DF panels). May even use this as an excuse to buy a CNC plasma table that I've been wanting forever.
Also like DCMoney, I want to do a custom hood with tube and inset panels, hinged at the front. Unlike his, I believe I want to bend tube instead of having sharp corners at the front (I don't want to copy his design, but it will likely look somewhat similar).
Anyway, I wanted to see what other frame modifications are being done, either for functional or aesthetic reasons. Anyone know what diameter/thickness tube is used for these frames? Standard CREW, or DOM?
Lastly, coatings. I know most people are having their frame powder coated. My only concern with doing that is I wont be able to touch up the coating if I have to grind away to weld a tab/bracket here or there. So, I'm thinking about automotive paint instead. My FIL has a makeshift paint booth, big compressor, HVLP guns, and car painting experience, so I can do my initial frame modifications, hang, and paint. And any changes later will be easy to touch up. At least that's my thinking. Any feedback on paint vs powder coating?
My kit is ordered and will be a couple of months at least before I see it, so I'm working through my donor disassembly (see build log below). In the meantime I've been thinking about other things, such as performance mods (got a K04 turbo kit ordered for my LSJ, some cooling mods, shopping clutches, neutral balance shafts, etc), which got me thinking about frame modifications.
I have ordered the extended length full cage, and I know I will add bars across the top, but just not sure where. Maybe 2 bars in the middle running in parallel, like this:
(@Jim Holley)
Or maybe do a "V" pattern with the 2 converging near the front middle.
Taking inspiration from @DCMoney, I plan to cut and weld tabs in the middle of the bars so I can get aluminum panels to set inside the bars, making the side bars visible (instead of covering those up with the DF panels). May even use this as an excuse to buy a CNC plasma table that I've been wanting forever.
Also like DCMoney, I want to do a custom hood with tube and inset panels, hinged at the front. Unlike his, I believe I want to bend tube instead of having sharp corners at the front (I don't want to copy his design, but it will likely look somewhat similar).
Anyway, I wanted to see what other frame modifications are being done, either for functional or aesthetic reasons. Anyone know what diameter/thickness tube is used for these frames? Standard CREW, or DOM?
Lastly, coatings. I know most people are having their frame powder coated. My only concern with doing that is I wont be able to touch up the coating if I have to grind away to weld a tab/bracket here or there. So, I'm thinking about automotive paint instead. My FIL has a makeshift paint booth, big compressor, HVLP guns, and car painting experience, so I can do my initial frame modifications, hang, and paint. And any changes later will be easy to touch up. At least that's my thinking. Any feedback on paint vs powder coating?