Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab

[BERNA]

Hi friend I love your work, you really have very good hands to make this work, I congratulate

[RCP57]

Thank you all very much!

Here's a small update. I spent a few hours machining the front grill. Not having CNC really sucks with this kinda stuff. I said the F word really F ing loud when the grill caught on the buffing wheel and flew across my shop, bouncing off the shelving unit that stores my models and coming to a rest under my bandsaw! I thought for sure it would be destroyed yet amazingly enough it was unharmed. What a relief! I then said some more F words surrounded by things like, _____ amazing, I can't ____ believe it isn't ____ and so on. All of this while standing alone in my shop... I think I'm losing it!

[Lil Giants]

So wifey must be at work today or she might have appeared at the doorway yelling "WT_____ is wrong with you?"

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by Lil Giants

So wifey must be at work today or she might have appeared at the doorway yelling "WT_____ is wrong with you?"

Hahaha! You got it!

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Truly amazing work as always I am stunned by your ability

[ihbuilder]

"Here's a small update. I spent a few hours machining the front grill. Not having CNC really sucks with this kinda stuff. I said the F word really F ing loud when the grill caught on the buffing wheel and flew across my shop, bouncing off the shelving unit that stores my models and coming to a rest under my bandsaw! I thought for sure it would be destroyed yet amazingly enough it was unharmed. What a relief! I then said some more F words surrounded by things like, _____ amazing, I can't ____ believe it isn't ____ and so on. All of this while standing alone in my shop... I think I'm losing it!"


I guess I'm not alone you be surprised the abuse a good grade of aluminum can take . I gotta say this , unfortunately my kids know every cuss werd in the book ( thats how I learned them ) .

Great job on the grill . watch these guys here or you'll be needin the CNC

[RCP57]

Thanks for the compliment and no you aren't alone Steve! It wouldn't have been the first time that I had a few solid hours into something only to watch it be destroyed by one wrong move. Years ago I would get mad and smash stuff but I soon realized that it is easier(and cheaper) to put it down and walk away than smash it and start all over. As it turns out, sometimes my mistakes can be fixed after taking a second look with a cooler head.

[ihbuilder]

Originally Posted by RCP57

Thanks for the compliment and no you aren't alone Steve! It wouldn't have been the first time that I had a few solid hours into something only to watch it be destroyed by one wrong move. Years ago I would get mad and smash stuff but I soon realized that it is easier(and cheaper) to put it down and walk away than smash it and start all over. As it turns out, sometimes my mistakes can be fixed after taking a second look with a cooler head.

I've come a long way but still got the (me smash in me yet ) like today , just about destroyed the shop . everything just came to a head at once , Started with a boring bar and insert order that was delayed delivery for a week do to a tec glitch on his end . Ok that stuff showed up mon. , Life is good right ?? get that op finished std blanks ready for holes now ss blanks need a different bar to finish . OK take it in the butt and order fro MSC cool in stock I'll get fri . NOT go check order shipped from mafr. will take over week WTF it said in stock now says this after I order . hen today . software glitch I didn't catch before hitting green blinky button ------- I needed that to finish an order this week !!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 days to get and have order coming in on mon from same place oh well pay more shipping

[Izzy]

Steve - more and more catalog companies are stating in stock but what it actually means is direct ship from manufacturer. Acme taps are this way - McMaster had to have tap built even though it said "in stock"

Chin up old man - business is changing around here .....not necessarily for the better though.

[ihbuilder]

Originally Posted by Izzy

Steve - more and more catalog companies are stating in stock but what it actually means is direct ship from manufacturer. Acme taps are this way - McMaster had to have tap built even though it said "in stock"

Chin up old man - business is changing around here .....not necessarily for the better though.

well todays issues what I get for werkin straight through the night I only use MSC if I have to any more like a friday night emergency call in before 4 and pick up at the dock 30min away. I like my lil guys , they're nice on the pocket and good stuff just takes week max to get .

[toniolillo]

Great job, it´is very interesting project

[JAMMER]

Reg very nice job on the cab and your welds are looking real good considering the light metal. Ed

[Izzy]

Reg - I like your aluminum skills - I've heard that welding thin sections are terrifically difficult - great work!

[RCP57]

Sorry to hear about all your issues Steve. Somedays it seems like if it can, it will.

Thanks Ed, Izzy. Some welds are fairly easy and others are a pain. Fitment of parts makes a huge difference. Sometimes I just have to blob on extra and grind it off. Lol

[dabears]

Outstanding work!!! When your done with it ill take it in red... HAHA absolutely amazing aluminum skills!!! Cant wait to see what you do next on it

[RCP57]

Haha, be careful what you wish for... If it turns out well enough I may put it up for sale.

[dabears]

Originally Posted by RCP57

Haha, be careful what you wish for... If it turns out well enough I may put it up for sale.

It that a promise?? LOL I got 1st dibs!

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by chaseracer

Looks amazing reg , you amaze me every time you build .. Look forward to seeing more

Thanks Jason!

Originally Posted by tc1cat

Not having CNC machines can be a blessing at times. 8 hrs of pushing a button can make for a very BORING night I still enjoy making things where I control everything. Manual machines are nice if you have a DRO on them. Reading dials gets to be as big pain as CNC after awhile. Grill looks great!!

Yes my father inlaw says the same thing. When I talked with him about converting my mill to cnc he said to buy a second mill so that I still had a manual machine. The DRO on my machine does make a huge difference! It makes life much easier.

Originally Posted by Acadieman

Looks great as usual! You make it look so easy!

Thank you but its not that easy for me. I'm just determined to succeed!

Originally Posted by dabears

It that a promise?? LOL I got 1st dibs!

It's entirely possible. Money does funny things to all of us! No idea what it would be worth though.

Reg

[RCP57]

I haven't looked at this in almost three weeks but I spent about an hour on it this evening and made some changes. I added some material back into the front of the wheel arch so that the whole thing could be moved back. This gets the cab forward more and the wheel arch closer to where it should be. I also rolled a piece of 3/8" round bar in my slip roll and split it down the center for the fender flares. Once everything was fitting, I welded it into place on each fender. I'm still not satisfied with how the fenders are looking but at least it's a step in the right direction. In the pictures the cab is sitting very high because of the KH cab mount sitting in the way. Hopefully when all is said and done it will sit about 1/2" lower.






Reg

[chaseracer]

Looks amazing reg , you amaze me every time you build .. Look forward to seeing more