Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Wow! Very impressive :eek::eek: Great job! Can't wait to see next step ;)

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks Brian! I'm kind of a detail nut job. :D Glad you like them.

Thanks John! I'm not sure about making these for the aftermarket. These things are by far the most time consuming parts I've been working on. I'm afraid if I did produce them for everyone, they'd be way to expensive, after all the time put into them.

Thanks dabears! I'm looking forward to seeing these saddles done too! Then I can move onto the next set of custom parts.

Thanks Neil!

Thanks Steve. Still more to go yet, but I'm pretty happy with the results so far!

Craig, thanks buddy!

Nick, thanks for the kind words!

Thanks SWAGGER! I don't even want to think about the total time invested, but it is a labor of love, so I haven't been keeping track.

Thank you B-Train Hauler! I can't wait either. Seems like a long road to completion yet!

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan, those brackets are freaky accurate man! :eek: That is some serious skills I wish I could do that level of work. And, the side steps are insane also! Man I hope you get fired up to us some more updates w/ pic's soon.:D >Marty<

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nice job.....

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

wish i could just whip up some tank brackets. very accurate looks good !

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Whew, it's been a while since I've had something new to share on the build. I've had a little more time to play with my mill, so I continued the work on the fuel tank saddles. These parts have been a great challenge to me. After making my share of mistakes, I've finally got a set of 4 that match, and are nice enough to use on my truck. These aren't quite done yet, but very close. Some minor machining is still necessary, but it's all the easier stuff from here on out. Usually the mistakes were stupid errors, but I'm glad to have gotten past all that! Anyway, to keep the build alive, here some photos.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...tomuchwork.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...anksaddle2.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...trialpiece.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...almostdone.jpg

One trial part for practice is milled out completely. I've got start working on ideas for the tank straps now. I have some good ideas, but I just need to see how they work out. I thought I would try making the straps out of brass strips, rolling an end, soldering it, and putting a t slot with a piece of threaded rod through it, so I could replicate the real method used on 1:1 tank straps, to tighten them up to the tank saddles. Seems easy enough. I have never soldered brass, so that will be new. If I use brass, I will either have to get the parts chromed, or paint them. I'm leaning more torward the paint, with a polished tank. I've seen it both ways.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

:eek: good Job on the mounts Nate :cool: Craig is gonna need a set you know :rolleyes:

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Man Nathan, your build is just awesome! When I look at your truck it makes me think mine should go out in the trash.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Great job Nathan but if I may make a suggestion, for straps why don't you get some thin stainless and do like you wanted to do with the brass only with the stainless and then silver solder the ends it would be stronger. Ed

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Hey Nathan go to youtube, lot's videos there, maybe this on will help? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4bUd8tl7-Y

Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks Steve. Coming from you, that means a lot! I'd love to make parts for everyone else, including Craig, but I need to get better at this machining stuff before I go into production.

Thanks Craig. Don't sell yourself short. Your truck is coming along really well. You'll have a really sweet ride, when it's done too. Probably before mine!

Thanks Ed. I didn't know it was possible to silver solder stainless. If it works, I'll give it try.

Neil, thanks. Believe it or not, before I made my post this afternoon, I was watching that exact video! Doesn't look to hard, does it?

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

I just read this entire thread. And I come to realize that I may have bitten off more than I can chew by getting into this hobby. Your machining skills are very impressive. The research you perform prior to actual build is incredible. And then to have the hand and eye coordination to put it all into place is amazing. I may be rethinking what I am going to build if at all now. Keep the build alive and the photos coming, I am enjoying the heck out of it!

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks Tinbender. I just want to encourage you to enjoy the hobby, and not feel you've bitten off to much, especially when looking at some of the incredible builds posted here. We all started somewhere. I would have laughed at anyone who told me I'd be machining my own custom parts for this build, a few years back. I didn't think I had those skills. Funny thing how that works. If you want something bad enough, you figure out how to get it. Never stop learning, and never sell yourself short.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thank Espeefan. I know from my past I have some of the skills but I am always eager to learn. I have been wanting to get a mini mill, now it looks like I have a real good reason to invest into one, I already have the mini lathe. I hope I didn't hi-jack your build.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

wow wow wow what else can i say this is just a talented man

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan those tank saddles look great I know you have a lot of time in them but it was well worth it keep up the good work. Ed

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Wow i finally sat down and read this build thread and all i can say is :jaw: just excellent work!!! I can't wait to see more pic's!!!

Mike

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

your work is amazing the detail is unbelievable pure beauty

perry

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the comments. Unfortunately I don't have any updates to share right now on this build because it's taken a back seat to my Kenworth needlenose project. It might sound crazy, but after doing all I have with my Kenworth, I've sort of raised my expectations of what a truck should be, and this Peterbilt will follow the same tracks. A new chassis, new axles, new suspension, and new ideas will be coming. All of the goodies I've made so far will carry over, so not all is lost. I will be rebuilding before finishing .... again!

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

No update on the Pete?