Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by TRUCKMAKER

WOW Nathan nice router work!, and what? no jigs or templates to boot! Must be that calibrated eye!. All seriouness aside, it looks very good and I can't wait to see it move a little faster, I mean done! Just one thing I'd like to see some one do is put rubber fender extensions on the front fenders when running super singles. Ok enough of my 2 cents. Keep up the great progress!

Thank you Kent. Actually, I don't own a router either, otherwise maybe..... I don't think anyone wants to see this project done more then I do. I've been working on it for such a long time now, but I've gained some momentum back. I just have to keep it rolling. I'm doing a little every day, when I can, but more so on weekends. That's when I seem to have the most time to play with things. Funny you mention the rubber fender extensions, because it is on the list of things to do, but that list is quite long at the moment! Maybe what I need, to put the pressure on me, is a feline supervisor, like you have!

[SWAGGER]

Holy ..........those steps are out of this world!! Watching eagerly.

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by SWAGGER

Holy ..........those steps are out of this world!! Watching eagerly.

Thanks Swagger. The tool boxes are coming along nicely. I'm a bit surprised at how well they are turning out, actually. I had a vision in my head and it's becoming a reality. I am really getting into this machining!

So, a small update. I've been finding the time before work each day to do a little more on the boxes. The last two days I've been working on the steps, which will bolt up to the tool boxes. The side members are all done! It was a tedious process to machine such small parts. I did run with the 0-80 screws, which seem about perfect for the task of holding things together. I'm glad I didn't go smaller. I think these are the smallest I would want to try and use for a build like this. They are so tiny! Drilling and tapping went without a hitch. I also milled the side members and gave them the proper angle on their face, to match the 1:1 boxes. These little buggers are really taking the time to make. I think I have 15 hours of work in them.

Pictures of the last couple days of work.





I think I'm on a machining high right now! Still more to do. I need to make the tool box doors themselves, and drill and tap a few more holes to bolt the steps to the boxes. Also, the top tread plate is still not bolted down either. This should be a simple job, after accomplishing today's work.

[rcguyfarms]

Nice work and attention to detail.

[ihbuilder]

great job nate "I think I'm on a machining high right now!" It doesn't take long does it

[Roadmasters]

Those steps look outstanding. Why not countersink the screws though?

[Tamiya Cowboy]

WOW! Very nice for sure.. Probie on the real ones some brands have alum rivets in the areas that he has the screws.. I like the look it is a nice touch..

[TRUCKMAKER]

Turned out real nice Nathan, those screws look good!

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by rcguyfarms

Nice work and attention to detail.

Thanks Scott. I appreciate that.

Originally Posted by ihbuilder

great job nate "I think I'm on a machining high right now!" It doesn't take long does it

No, Steve, really all it takes is to have some success with the things a guy wants to machine, and when they turn out good, it makes a guy feel good.

Originally Posted by Roadmasters

Those steps look outstanding. Why not countersink the screws though?

Thanks Archie. Yeah, I'm on the fence about counter sinking the screws. I really wanted to do it, but the material is quite thin at the edge. Only about .0625" room there, and the flat heads I wanted to use would have hung over the edge, which is no good. I can still counter sink the heads of these socket head screws, but there will be .007" or so meat left, which isn't much. Not sure if I'll do it. I want to polish the parts, and a .007" lip would probably tear out on me, ruining the part. I could counter sink the holes after polishing though. We'll see. The real steps have bolts or rivets that show as well, although they are not quite as pronounced. Sometimes you have to compromise. I still think the steps look good. Once on the truck, the screws might be less noticable and I wouldn't have to worry about it. The heads look bigger right now because there is nothing else to compare them too. The small 2mm screws used everywhere else on the chassis are huge compared to these.

Originally Posted by Tamiya Cowboy

WOW! Very nice for sure.. Probie on the real ones some brands have alum rivets in the areas that he has the screws.. I like the look it is a nice touch..

Thanks Paul. I'm kind of liking the screws too, but I'll make a decision once these are done and on the truck.

Originally Posted by TRUCKMAKER

Turned out real nice Nathan, those screws look good!

Thanks Kent. Almost finished with these things. Then it's onto the the next set of parts. Some nicer fuel tank saddles, if I am capable!

[Cossett]

Nathan those are the best steps i've seen great job the only thing missing are one slam locks

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by Cossett

Nathan those are the best steps i've seen great job the only thing missing are one slam locks

Thanks Tracy. I'm actually working on the doors with lock details. Have to see what I can up with. These aren't quite finished yet.

[Snowman]

Nathan, this build is the boom daddy. Those steps look great and are totally unique. I'm impatient to see the finished article.
Have you considered half counter sinking the screws? They wouldn't stick out so much and there would still be enough material for it all to be secure. You could even mill the protruding part of the screw off at a later date. Just a hare-brained idea.

[Stepside]

Youre wasting no time breaking in that mill!! Love the custom parts, looking forward to seeing more.

How will they mount?

Originally Posted by Espeefan

Thanks Archie.

that's too funny! Its actually Arioch, but I like Archie

[dabears]

WOW love the steps!!

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Nathan, this build is the boom daddy. Those steps look great and are totally unique. I'm impatient to see the finished article.
Have you considered half counter sinking the screws? They wouldn't stick out so much and there would still be enough material for it all to be secure. You could even mill the protruding part of the screw off at a later date. Just a hare-brained idea.

Hey, thanks Nick. I appreciate the comments. Yes, I've been looking at different ideas to counter sink or remove part of the screw heads as well. I've got a few different options. We'll see how it goes. I'll make a decision based on how they look on the truck, mounted up. I may find that I need not worry about it all that much. The screws might just blend in and disappear. I always appreciate the construstive criticism!

Originally Posted by Stepside

Youre wasting no time breaking in that mill!! Love the custom parts, looking forward to seeing more.

How will they mount?

Thanks Rod. Speaking of breaking in the mill, the spindle bearings needed to changed out middle of this week! I wore them out already, I guess! Actually, from new, the lower bearing had this small click in it, which got worse the more I ran the mill. I installed some high quality bearings, and now the mill runs quieter and smoother then it did from new. It's amazing the difference they make. The original bearings were garbage, but I can't complain. I knew I was buying a cheap China mill.

Anyway, the tool boxes will mount up pretty readily, from the rear. I think I'm just going to drill and tap some holes and bolt them to the frame rails. Easy and clean. The screws will be hidden!

Originally Posted by Stepside

that's too funny! Its actually Arioch, but I like Archie

Argh! Arioch, I apologize! I'm not good with names! No harm intended!

Originally Posted by dabears

WOW love the steps!!

Thank you dabears. I think da steps are pretty cool too.

Okay fellas, I've got just a small update here. This will be all for the weekend edition. I'm needing to order up some more end mills and a little more material, but I did get a start on designing and machining up a couple extra mystery parts for the Wedico. I won't say what they are yet. They are in a pretty raw state. For a hint, there are two parts per plate.





The smart guys will probably figure it out! Any guesses?

[SWAGGER]

A flux capacitor?

[Claus]

I bet I'm close!

[Vanisle]

The steps look amazing! It's amazing how much work can go into one part. I have broken off small taps and drills and it is not fun. I understand about being fearful of breaking off a tap. Although somewhat larger than a small tap, I recently broke a 1/8 carbide end mill off and was able to "drill" it out with an expensive OmegaDrill tap drill. It worked great. Unlike the last time I drilled to drill out a broken tap where I ended up trying various other drills and endmills that only resulted in making them dull.

[doodlebug]

Originally Posted by Vanisle

The steps look amazing! It's amazing how much work can go into one part. I have broken off small taps and drills and it is not fun. I understand about being fearful of breaking off a tap. Although somewhat larger than a small tap, I recently broke a 1/8 carbide end mill off and was able to "drill" it out with an expensive OmegaDrill tap drill. It worked great. Unlike the last time I drilled to drill out a broken tap where I ended up trying various other drills and endmills that only resulted in making them dull.

Thank's Richard, didn't know they existed http://omegadrill.com/

Cheer's, Neil.

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by SWAGGER

A flux capacitor?

I'm a big fan of Back To The Future, so I appreciate the humor, but I don't think this truck will hit 88mph.

Originally Posted by Claus

I bet I'm close!

If you are thinking what I am thinking, quite!

Originally Posted by Vanisle

The steps look amazing! It's amazing how much work can go into one part. I have broken off small taps and drills and it is not fun. I understand about being fearful of breaking off a tap. Although somewhat larger than a small tap, I recently broke a 1/8 carbide end mill off and was able to "drill" it out with an expensive OmegaDrill tap drill. It worked great. Unlike the last time I drilled to drill out a broken tap where I ended up trying various other drills and endmills that only resulted in making them dull.

Thank you Vanisle. I admire your work too, so your comment means something to me. I've never heard of Omegadrills before. Very cool. I've yet to break a tap, thankfully. I don't know that there is an Omegadrill small enough for the sizes I have been using. How small do these 7 piece sets go? Might actually be handy for some of the work I do at my day job.

Originally Posted by doodlebug

Thank's Richard, didn't know they existed http://omegadrill.com/

Cheer's, Neil.

Thanks for sharing the link! Definitely worth a look.