Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab

[RCP57]

I guess I kinda am using body filler it's just aluminum...

Today was kind of a s*** show when it came to this. I started off by adding the lower muck catchers on the front of each fender. This went fine and with a little extra rod melted on I was able to clean up some body lines in the same area. I then went to my parents to use my Dads bead blaster. That went great too and I was happy to see the body all in one color. I meant to put it down and get on with some chores outside but I just couldn't stop(no lunch, no drinking, no pee breaks). I decided that the next step should be the bumper so I got busy cutting things and bending it to shape. This where the wheels started to fall off... Once the bumper was bent to shape I discovered that the right fender was almost 1/8" ahead of the left. This obviously causes major fitment issues with the bumper especially with the new fender extensions. After a few tweaks with no success I found out that the fender does come off just like on the real truck! The only problem was that I had to use a grinder to get it off and a TIG welder to put it back on! Anyway after a nearly 3 hour battle things were back together and fitting pretty close so I put the bumper in the mill and milled out the slots and so on. Now I need to bead blast the body again and then I can do some more filing.

That was a lot of rambling, sorry... Here's the pictures








Thanks for listening and looking.lol

[RCP57]

I contemplated buying 30" rails but I wanted to see if I could make my own so I gave it a shot. It took me about an hour to make them but I think they turned out well and I saved myself some money.

[flatdeck]

What is your time worth Reg.. Hope you can cut the time down some....LOL


Wayne

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by flatdeck

What is your time worth Reg.. Hope you can cut the time down some....LOL


Wayne

Well I guess my time isn't worth much Wayne if I base it off of what I make per hour building dump boxes and so on for other people. A new set of blank rails from RC4WD sell for $25US plus shipping so the better part of $50CAD delivered to the post office. Then I have to drive there and pick it up. I don't make anywhere near half of that building stuff for other people after expenses so considering this is for me, I think it was well worth it!:

[flatdeck]

OK very good... Nice to have the equipment to do it... build is great Reg....


Wayne

[RCP57]

Haha thanks Wayne. I always have more time than money and as you said the equipment to make it happen even if it does take too long(and I agree, it did take too long).

[spudd]

great work. You have put a lot of time into it and it shows. Very nice

[RCP57]

Well, it's been a couple of months since I have done anything other than pile stuff on top of this. A while back I received a bunch of goodies from a guy that's addicted to orange and every now and then I remember that they are there and what my intentions were for them.lol I have so many different things going at the same time right now that I need to get my head checked but I decided to pull this out again for a couple hours anyway and mount the bumper. In a way by doing this I am consolidating the parts so it's a good thing right? I made up an aluminum cross member/mount and drilled the bumper from behind so that there are no bolts showing. I guess the next things will be mounting the cab and the third axle although it may be a while before that happens.

[Sphyron]

Very Good Man, very good!!!

[flatdeck]

Very nice Reg.

[thebigo]

Reg, I am amazed at the metal work on this truck, really like everything about your build!!

[JAMMER]

Looks real good Reg are you going to make the frame rails for the dump trailer also? Ed

[RCP57]

Thanks a lot guys. I'm thinking about making my own air ride for the rear but we'll see. I don't like the look of the 3rd axle hanging on half of a stock Tamiya setup.

What dump trailer are you referring to Ed?

[flatdeck]

Re: 3 axle.... I hope you come up with a design that is good looking and easy to install and will work with a servo....



Wayne

[RCP57]

We'll have to see. I've never tried to make it before so my expectations aren't that high. I just want it to work properly and have articulation.

[JAMMER]

One of your pictures looked like you started a trailer. Ed

[RCP57]

Oh, those are modified Tamiya flat deck trailers Ed. I'm using them as the base for the end dumps I've been working on.

[jffhrvstr]

Your truck is amazing!! I can't believe how good you are with building stuff out of aluminum! Very impressive build, I can't wait to see more pictures!!!

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by jffhrvstr

Your truck is amazing!! I can't believe how good you are with building stuff out of aluminum! Very impressive build, I can't wait to see more pictures!!!

Thank you! Hopefully I will have some updates again soon.

[KWT880wayne]

I currently drive a 2015 KW T880 dump truck and come across your pictures while I was online. What would it take to have a complete cab and all built or even a complete truck? That's if your even considering building these for people. And if so what about the dump boxes? I would like to have a replica of my current work truck built. I could even supply all kinds of pictures.

This truck your building looks fantastic!

Wayne