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Gas tanks has been finalized and send to the laser for the first one. I still need to test my design to make sure it won't slow flow due to the height of the filler inlet. The Vent should be large enough to compensate.

Also finally found a CNC tubing bender that isn't insane about his prices. So I drew up the back half of the exhaust and send that and the program off to bend them this morning. This is my first jump into CNC bending so here's hoping its painless. If it is I'm going to be able to cut an easy 200-250 bucks off the cost of the exhaust systems for the Nerd Rods Frames.

The turquoises parts on the frame are revised from the first frames we built and sold thanks to this project and some feedback from guys who wanted to bit the bullet even though I've not gotten as far as I would have liked on this project yet. Nothing major, just subtle things, increasing or decreasing tolerances of different parts or keys. Adding little extensions and there was one slot I forgot to put into a rail but that's all taken care of now.

Later
-Russell

Just out of curiosity, why not put the tank in the back?

Everyone does that so a customer can just buy one of those if they want.

Mostly I wanted to use the stock filler on the cab but also to get more room in the cab. I didn't want all that dead weight hanging out behind the truck and from a collision stand point is safer. You also get better balance, and a more centralized CG for the racing guys and with the PT-57 getting one of these soon after I finish this one, anything that I can do for both works for me.

Later
-Russell

More updates, The exhaust front part is too complex to have 1 piece bent. Some of the bends are too close together and the motors are mounting is different frame to frame so that bit need a little custom attention to make fit exactly. So we got this part mocked up and the braided brake lines finally showed up. I have to order custom lines to have an AN-3 on one end and the 10mm on the other AND have a DOT stamp on the lines. Kore 3 does good work with quality American parts so I don't mind the short wait. These are getting on and worked out as well. The rear half exhaust has been XYZ'd and has been ordered.

Now for the real reason most of you are here, pretty pictures!!!!
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Later
-Russell

Nice work so far...:thumbsup:

Looking at the CAD pics, won't the gas tank gather quite a bit of heat from the mufflers? Or are you doing a shield of some sort?

Good eye! Yes I'm welding stainless bolts to the muffler head first and Dad's going to roll some beads onto a thin sheet of aluminum to make a heat shield between the mufflers and the gas tank.

Modern cars have heat shielding all over the place. My subarus are almost completely covered end to end with shielding plate on the exhaust.

Later
-Russell

Alright! CNC Bent exhaust back half was a success! Unfortunately its not but a few buck cheaper after shipping but its still WAY nicer and there might be some discounts in the future when I start working in some kind of volume.

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Gas tank is also completely welded. I just need to install the pump and sending unit to finish it up and have the hold down brackets finished up then it will be ready for powder coating. Once we finish the heat shields for the mufflers then it will be ready for final install.

One thing is for certain, I need my own sheetmetal brake and soon. The brake I've been using isn't well cared for and I end up setting it up each time but on this tank the setup was a bit off because I didn't bring my mic's with me and it shows if you know what to look for. That's why I sanded off a good chunk of the welds and smoothed them out.

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I'm also making a drive shaft protection that will be sold with the tank as well so if a U-Joint breaks the drive shaft will be held in with steel not banging into your aluminum fuel tank. Although if you think you might rupture a drive shaft then this tank isn't for you and I don't think it will clear a live axle anyway.



But it looks good in the frame!

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Later
-Russell