Kenworth 850 Off Highway

[RCP57]

I don't know about that Rob but maybe a canopy for our fullsize truck...or I might have to start towing our cargo trailer...

[RCP57]

Todays progress....Frame rails....





Reg

[RCP57]

After about a day and a half of bouncing back and forth between my Dads shop and my own, I've made a little progress on the big KW. I've finally got a good start on the rims(took forever) and managed to do a little welding on the frame and cab today too....

Here's some pics from todays progress....Thanks for looking!













Reg

[Exile Trucking]

As a guy that has made his own share of wheels, I like where these are going. What size round stock did you have to start with?

Mike

[chaseracer]

looking great Reg, wheels are really taking shape

[RCP57]

Thanks guys.

The front rims started out as 2 3/4 round bar. I still have a little machining to do on the one wheel and all the mill work to do on the other. After they've spent their time in the mill I plan on smoothing out the corners with a dremel to make them look more realistic. The real rims/hubs are pretty crude so that takes the pressure off a little.

[RCP57]

Finished the front wheels today...They are far from perfect but they are some what realistic looking...some what.

[Exile Trucking]

That's a good looking wheel. My ? is. How muck does it weight

[Lil Giants]

You really do have a knack for being resourceful Reg & I really admire your patience to tackle anything.. I don't see any reason to be less than proud of your selfmade wheels.

Thanx for taking the time to take step by step pics as you make your models.

[Espeefan]

The wheels look pretty darn nice to me! Especially since you shot them with some primer now. The contrast in the shape is easier to pick up on. I think the chassis is looking really nice as well. The whole truck is going to be awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished. You build fast too, so it won't be a long wait, by my standards!

[catmack]

Hi Reg,

Looks great, I was thinking of a Haynes down the road. What drive gear are you going to use?

Colin

[Hemi1966]

Looks great Reg, and as no CNC was used to make those wheels that's even greater achievement

[Southgate]

Those front wheels are awesome looking. Man, I need to get a rotary table! Dan

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by Exile Trucking

That's a good looking wheel. My ? is. How muck does it weight

Haha, I'm not to sure but they are fairly heavy. I'll have to put one on the 'wife to be's' food scale... She loves it when I do that.

Originally Posted by Espeefan

The wheels look pretty darn nice to me! Especially since you shot them with some primer now. The contrast in the shape is easier to pick up on. I think the chassis is looking really nice as well. The whole truck is going to be awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished. You build fast too, so it won't be a long wait, by my standards!

Thanks very much! The wheels are actually just bead blasted at the moment. I did that to remove the sharp edges left after milling. I'll try not to keep you waiting too long! I want to see it finished soon too! My Argon bottle is nearly empty and the supply place where I exchange it has no more until late next week. I guess the company that fills the bottles has sent them all out at once to be tested. Now none of their depots have full bottles.

Originally Posted by Lil Giants

You really do have a knack for being resourceful Reg & I really admire your patience to tackle anything.. I don't see any reason to be less than proud of your selfmade wheels.


Thanx for taking the time to take step by step pics as you make your models.

Thanks Joe! As a friend of my Dad's always says...Time, patients and perseverance! I'm just not sure where I have developed these traits from in the last couple years. I guess I'm getting old!

Originally Posted by catmack

Hi Reg,

Looks great, I was thinking of a Haynes down the road. What drive gear are you going to use?


Colin

Thank you Colin, I plan on using a 12v or 18v drill drive for the power source. I have a few of these collected up and haven't decided if I will use a single or two speed drill. The front axle and rear diffs will be scratch built. I would like this to move at least 100lbs easily so everything will be heavily built!

Originally Posted by Hemi1966

Looks great Reg, and as no CNC was used to make those wheels that's even greater achievement

Thanks Ari! If a master builder like you thinks that they are OK then I must be on the right track! Everytime I see one of your builds it makes me want to improve on my own. I don't know if I will ever build at your level but you set a benchmark that keeps people pushing to achieve it!

Originally Posted by Southgate

Those front wheels are awesome looking. Man, I need to get a rotary table! Dan

Yes Dan you do need a rotory table! I'm not sure how many hundred times I turned the handle on that thing in the last two days though....cnc would be very nice!

Thanks again!

More pics tonight I hope!

[ihbuilder]

wheels look great Reg . word of caution with those tires and weight . Fill them with something other then the stock foam they have . My mack is forever losing them loaded . I rolled foundation sill seal inside the fronts which has helped considerably . I just need to do the rears . Oh , and paint

[D8R]

Nice progress, like the spoke wheels, looks realy prototypical. Will you have claws to keep rim in place to?
Dan

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by ihbuilder

wheels look great Reg . word of caution with those tires and weight . Fill them with something other then the stock foam they have . My mack is forever losing them loaded . I rolled foundation sill seal inside the fronts which has helped considerably . I just need to do the rears . Oh , and paint

Thanks Steve, The same thing happened with my Euc so I picked up some really dense foam from an automotive upholstery shop and made my own. I will be making some up for this for sure as it will be a lot heavier. These rims are way larger than a 2.2 and the bead is really stretched on there so I don't think they will go anywhere providing the foam holds the weight.

Originally Posted by D8R

Nice progress, like the spoke wheels, looks realy prototypical. Will you have claws to keep rim in place to?
Dan

I plan on making it look like it uses those to hold it together but I probably should have drilled the outter holes further out toward the bead. That would have left me more space to put something there.

Thanks guys!

[chaseracer]

wheels looks really good Reg , you nailed them. can't wait to see more

[RCP57]

Well I managed to get a few little things done today before the bottle was empty. On the welder of course... I made the cab and fender mounts, the inner fenders as well as the cab floor and some other odds and ends. I guy I know from Denmark has been kind enough to share his extensive 849-850 Kenworth photo collection with me and it is helping immensely. I don't have a lot of photos of these trucks and every one seems a bit different so it's nice to have the help from a fellow enthusiast!












Thanks for looking!

[RCP57]

....I almost forgot...Mike the front wheels are 17.3 ounces each with the tires on....

Reg