ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Kreg on March 21, 2004, 12:10:36 PM
-
I started to make some rocker gaurds today.
I'm making them with steel tubing and they will kind of take on the look of a nerf bar, but they wont act as a step.
The side profile is gonna look like this.
_
_/
I'm using a bender so the whole guard will be one piece of tubing.
I was origanally gonna weld the ends onto the frame, but my uncle suggested that it might be better to weld a plate onto both ends of the tubing, then use U-bolts to hold the plate onto the frame.
They will probabaly be done tomorrow so I'll take some pics for everyone.
-
I'm interested to see how they are going to turn out (and see what your talking about in more detail via pictures) since I've been planning on fabricating up something like this sometime in the near future.
-
dam i wish i had a shop like your unc's kreg ;D
-
I have a related question... would drilling holes to mount somthing like this weaken the structure of a Tracker frame? Would it be better to weld it on?
-
I personally wouldnt want to drill holes in my frame unless I had to.
If you did drill holes I would go right through the frame so you can slide a bolt through and toruqe it tight. If you were just gonna lag bolt it to one wall of the frame it would be pretty booty fab.
Even welding will weaken the frame but I would rather weld than drill holes.
I liked my uncles U-bolt idea, and I know I've seen some rocker gaurds attacted like this before, so I'm gonna go that route.
-
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA awsome pic kreg
-
i dont have a web site, so i will send you some pics of mine here in a min. it it more for show than as a guard but i can stand on it and bounce up and down with no prob. they are welded tubes with gussets. hope it helps.
-
what happens when you drag the frame down a rock ???
Stu
-
I guess your U-bolts would take a bit of a beating.
I came up with a better Idea today. I'm just gonna use another plate and sandwich my frame in between the two, then bolt them tight. I'll make one of the plates "L" shaped so it will act as a guard for the bolts.
The guards arent done yet. I had to stay late for work today so I never got a chance to go to the shop. Hopefully they will be done tomorrow.
-
Mine have plates where the bars are WELDED to the frame.
-
Well whats better? Welding or Bolting?
-
Well whats better? Welding or Bolting?
Personally, I'm not sure, but Spidertrax (who built and installed mine) assured me that welded was better in their opinion... Now my roll cage, is bolted AND welded.
-
Most frames like your Chev's and Fords and harden C channeled frams.  You won't find many welds on them.  If you weld them it will cause the frame to soften in that spot and will fateage (sp?) and break at the weld.
The trackers are make of cold rolled steel tubing.  It's ok to weld on them.
I think welding is stronger, but you can remove a bolted on piece.  So it come's down to personal prefance.
-
I remember hearing somewhere about the deal with welding something to the frame would cause the frame to be really weak at that point and break, which is why I originally asked that question. Since this doesn't appear to be the case, I think I'll weld mine right to the frame :D
-
I just found out that if you have anything welded to your frame in B.C. that your vehicle won't pass inspection, if a cop ever nails you with one.
So I'm glad I'm going the bolt-on route for that reason.
I just need to find some suitable plate for the guards and they will be done.
-
when i build some it will be more like tube with some 1/8 plate on them WELDED to the frame. cops don't know shit around here other than, "your tires stick out too far" and, "I can't see your taillights".
Stu
-
well, the cops here in BC are rather enormious dinks, they bitch and squak about everything, they are good at eatin donuts and pullin kids over for 4x4ing or quadding in the local gravel pit. haha they are worthless, they think crime calls in sick every day
-
The trackers are make of cold rolled steel tubing.  It's ok to weld on them
Ya Lil Truck never done any welding on his frame ::)
Nice Lift :)
Wild
-
I guess your U-bolts would take a bit of a beating.
I came up with a better Idea today.  I'm just gonna use another plate and sandwich my frame in between the two, then bolt them tight. I'll make one of the plates "L" shaped so it will act as a guard for the bolts.
The guards arent done yet.  I had to stay late for work today so I never got a chance to go to the shop. Hopefully they will be done tomorrow.
That's a popular way down here in Australia,works well and saves drilling holes in rails .Rather than use two plates you can bend one plate in a U shape and just bolt it at the top.
Charlie
-
Hey Wild, are you still building turbo headers for trackers?
Stu
-
Ya, I can build you one, I need to know
the turbo flange to match the header, or
I could supply a turbo for you if you don't
have one yet.
$250 for header bare, I can check current
price for ceramic coating in your choice of
fashion colors :D
-
I could supply a turbo for you if you don't have one yet.
$250 for header bare, I can check current
price for ceramic coating in your choice of
fashion colors  :D
So, you could put together a complete package? How much? Oh, we GOTTA talk over some beverages in Moab!
-
Beverages ehhh, I'll have a Sasparilla ;)
I can put together a package, but it's more
of a custom install, and the intercooler has
tubes that are routed over the radiator, so
you got to have a lift to use the big cooler
or re-route the cooler plumbing to fit around
the radiator, but I though this put the tubes
in a vulnerable location, at least for wheeling.
We'll talk in Moab, I'll play show and tell ;D
Wild
-
when you get the urge to make exaust headers for samis .......... ;D
Do let us know
-
Beverages ehhh, I'll have a Sasparilla  ;)
I can put together a package, but it's more
of a custom install, and the intercooler has
tubes that are routed over the radiator, so
you got to have a lift to use the big cooler
or re-route the cooler plumbing to fit around
the radiator, but I though this put the tubes
in a vulnerable location, at least for wheeling.
We'll talk in Moab, I'll play show and tell  ;D
Wild
show and tell, WILD!?!?! lol but I might be interrested in a header built for a samll turbo set up.(10 PSI max) what would you recomend. this will be on a street tracker.
Stu
-
show and tell,  WILD!?!?!  lol  but I might be interrested in a header built for a samll turbo set up.(10 PSI max)  what would you recomend.  this will be on a street tracker.
Stu
this is something i'd be somewhat interested in (if i don't just do an engine swap)... a small turbo for a daily driven trackick. just enough boost to give it a bit extra go on and off the road. :)
-
show and tell,  WILD!?!?!  lol  but I might be interrested in a header built for a samll turbo set up.(10 PSI max)  what would you recomend.  this will be on a street tracker.
Stu
8 or 9 PSI boost unless you get low CR pistons
-
when you get the urge to make exaust headers for samis .......... ;D
Do let us know
The 1.3L is very much doable, it's alot like the Kick motor.
What zip code for shipping charges ??? ;)
-
Lets talk cost for the headers... zip is Michigan 48618
And don't tell my wife! I may not live to buy em ;D
-
Shoot, I can see doing this to BOTH my 95 Sidekicks!
;D
-
how are these rockers coming along any way?
-
Heh I'm just waiting on some material because I changed the mounting design again. :P
My newest plan is to get a larger piece of rectangle tubing and hack off one end. Then I'll slide it over the frame from the bottom up and place two bolts in the top so it clamps tight.
My uncles shop didn’t have any tubing that was big enough so I gotta pick some up tomorrow from the steel recycling yard.
-
Lets talk cost for the headers...  zip is Michigan 48618
And don't tell my wife! I may not live to buy em ;D ÂÂ
You are talking Turbo Header right ?
Shipping is about $20
-
nope, just a good header for a 2 inch exaust mod ;D
-
I think a tuned header from Hawks would be
a better performer, I build headers from Sched.
40 Weld Ells and iron, it would weigh about 40 Lbs.
-
Heh I'm just waiting on some material because I changed the mounting design again.  :P
My newest plan is to get a larger piece of rectangle tubing and hack off one end.  Then I'll slide it over the frame from the bottom up and place two bolts in the top so it clamps tight.
My uncles shop didn’t have any tubing that was big enough so I gotta pick some up tomorrow from the steel recycling yard.
Got to be careful on the square tubing. The internal radius of the material may interfere with the external radius of the frame.
Have you thought of taking a square plate, welding tubing to it, then drilling the outside portion of the frame the diameter of the tube, and drill the inside of the frame the bolt diameter. Support the bolt head with a flat metal. Use 4 bolts, mounting in 3 places on the frame, and you should have plenty of strength. Then to add, make the interior plate with a flange so as to mate a skid plate to it.
Just my thoughts after laying underneath my XL7 yesterday.
-
Have you check out this one?
ftp://http://www.izook.com/tech/tracker/jimmrocrails.htm
-
i liek my rocker simple i 2 inch square tube bet 90 degres at boht ende with a plate and u bolted to the frame . i can hi lift it on to tires from them. :) :)