Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot

[hotwheels000]

I was able to get this much flex, steering and stance before good ole sloppy turned into stiffy.





All those shots are at a 12.25"WB running tlt offset wheels.

[Highmark]

Originally Posted by bmuzz1

Tube work is looking great Jon!

I would try to keep the body as much like the green rig as you can but you may need to trim a bit more out of the front fenders then he did for tire clearance.

Thank you! I agree - it's always a performance vs. looks sort of situation with these rigs.

Originally Posted by hotwheels000

I was able to get this much flex, steering and stance before good ole sloppy turned into stiffy.


All those shots are at a 12.25"WB running tlt offset wheels.

Cool! Thank you for posting that - that's pretty close to the cut I have planned so that really helps.

[Highmark]

Here's today's project:



MadDogRc slider plates and a TSS smooth skid. I wanted to box the skid plate area so the skid can slide in an out while also smoothing out the skid place area.

Silver Soldered in the drivers side bottom.



Then the top. I had to fill the area between the flat slider plate and the curve in the frame rails so I decided to try a tig technique. Basically I got the steel hot enough that the flux formed a puddle area - then I drug the filler accross the top to bridge the gap. I also ensured that the joint melded well with the upper link mounts. It's really neat what you can do with this tiny torch.



Then I smoothed it out. - I can't wait to sandblast this frame and get all the damn flux off it.



The other side had a gap that I cut to get the stock skid out - so I soldered in the slider plate. Then I soldered a seperate filler piece in to fill the gap.





Can't tell there was ever a gap.



Now the stock smooth skid wouldn't fit because it can't slide into the rails anymore:



So I used my belt sander to trim it down to fit. It has an angle gauge so it made it easy to keep it true. I love my belt sander





I also smoothed out the leading angles on both ends - super slippery! Here's the finished product.

[Highmark]

Today was servo mount day. I wanted to do something low profile and tough so I started with a nice chunk of steel.



Drilled a bunch of holes.



Got it in position.



Brazed that sucker in there.



Nice and low:





Now it was time to start cutting that 30 year old body some more.



I'm pretty happy with it - I think I can keep most of the grill.

[Rok Out]

Looking sick man keep it up

[rebuilder]

I like it!!!! Go team Chevy ;)

[STANG KILLA SS]

Nice!

[chino63]

Originally Posted by hotwheels000

All those shots are at a 12.25"WB running tlt offset wheels.

What's a TLT?

[sam63]

I like the chop Jon. That's just how I would do it too

[justinart24]

You know I am digging this! Looking sick!

[66sprint6]

I dig the last cut you made, its starting to look awesome!

Matt

[Highmark]

Thanks a lot guys - I really appreciate the compliments. I'm taking off work early today and I hope to get some more done on it.

[sally1800]

Do you plan on opening the front fenders to fit the wheels?

[Highmark]

Originally Posted by sally1800

Do you plan on opening the front fenders to fit the wheels?

Yes- but I need the front shocks in place before I know what the wheel travel looks like and how much I need to trim.

[Highmark]

Some more progress today.

As with everything in my world - start with a chunk of steel:



Cut it in half:





Glue it to the chassis with some paste.



Solder roll-bar to pasted plate:



Check fitment:





I'm not very happy with the gap between the top of the cab and the top of the roll bar - might have to revisit that later.

I also bent up a template for the interior cage:




Aw yeah.

[FATBOYrs10]

what if you marked the rollbar on both sides just where the top half of the cab sorta breaks forward, then put just a slight bend at said marks so the top half of the rollbar leans with the cab

just my $0.02....looking good by the way

[H2Micr0]

Very nice work.

Keen to see how this turns out.

Cheers
H2Micr0

[Highmark]

Originally Posted by FATBOYrs10

what if you marked the rollbar on both sides just where the top half of the cab sorta breaks forward, then put just a slight bend at said marks so the top half of the rollbar leans with the cab

just my $0.02....looking good by the way

Thanks for the idea! Much appreciated.

Originally Posted by H2Micr0

Very nice work.

Keen to see how this turns out.

Cheers
H2Micr0

Thank you! I am too.

[Highmark]

Today was interior cage day.

I built some twins of the template piece I made the other day in stainless tube and welded it up.



Fun joint.



Checked the fitment with the body.



Then got the other one in there. I didn't notice how curved the A pillars are untill I got the bars in there.



Also started with some ideas to finish the rear hoop.



Starting to look like a real frame!

[Highmark]

Placed an order with DLUX today. Hrmmmm....