Busy Weekend

Another busy weekend with the ChumpCar! I really feel like things are coming together now. The cage is really taking shape and is proving to be quite solid. I hope I never have to use it, but if I do, I am confident it will server its intended purpose well.

On saturday, my brother and father came down again and helped measure and notch the x-braces for the doors and floor sill bars. We really are getting better at it. Really we didn’t run into any major problems. That is, unless you count my tools. I am quickly discovering that you get what you pay for when it comes to tube notchers. I bought my tubing notcher at harbor freight, and it is barely going to hold together till the end of the project. I think that if I find myself doing more work like this, it will be worthwhile to invest in a quality notcher.

With everything fab’ed into place, we called it a day. I had a lot of welding ahead of me, and that really isn’t something I can get help with.

 

Sunday afternoon, I got to welding. It took me about 4 hours to weld everything in place. In same areas, getting a good 360 degree weld required I contort myself into unusual positions. At one point, I had to wedge the welding helmet up under the dash. I then crawled into place and put my head into the helmet. Of course, while I was welding, a bit of hot slag burned through my shirt and rolled down my arm. I couldnt really move, so I just kept welding. Burn baby burn. Maybe I need a welding jacket?

 

So I have only a few tubes left to complete the roll cage! The rear stays, the harness bar, and triangulation for the a-pillar to roof hoop. Once this is done, I really get to start cleaning up the interior and reinstalling things. I mean it this time.