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Varg In Jeep's Clothing

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by ITLKSEZ, Aug 20, 2015.

  1. Feb 6, 2019
    hudsonhawk

    hudsonhawk Well-Known Member

    North Texas...
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    Feb 4, 2005
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    The work is great so far. I do have one concern. In a hard roll over I am worried the bolts through the dash will sheer off and the front of the passenger cage will collapse. I know you want to keep the doors as open as possible but I think a solid post down to the floor plate from the front hoop would be a better option.
     
  2. Feb 6, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    It never crossed my mind, because I just assumed the .120" wall tubing would collapse or 'give' long before the bolts would shear.

    Some quick calculations with some numbers I found online.
    Tensile strength of grade 8 hardware (150,000 psi) x section at minor diameter of 3/8"-18 (.0678 sq in) = 10,170 pounds of shear per bolt x 4 bolts = 40,680 pounds per plate (plus overcoming of the friction of the plates).

    I guess it's a risk, but then again, any of the plates could be under the same risk with the right impact. If you guys think it should be considered a real concern, I could probably fit 7/16"-20 bolts in there. That would bump it up to 69,000# per plate if my calculations are correct.


    I was just ready to hit "post reply" and thought of something. I can drill matching 1" holes through the center of the plates (inside the tubing) and weld in a short section of 1" round stock as a shear pin. That should fix it for good. (y)

    Thanks for looking out for me.
     
    hudsonhawk likes this.
  3. Feb 6, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
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    I just crunched numbers on the shear strength of 1" round stock and they are low. I'll use a big grade 8 bolt shaft and be careful not to lose the hardening while welding.

    I think my calculations are right?

    1" grade 2 = 4710#
    1" grade 8 = 117,750#
     
    hudsonhawk likes this.
  4. Feb 6, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    What do the future seats look like, Containment/ racing? What will the seat belts be, full 5 point? What will the head and neck restraint be, Hans device or doughnut? Will helmets be worn at all times? I don't think that the occupants of the vehicle will know if the bolts held or not........
    I don't mean to sound like a smart donkey, but unless you have some serious safety equipment, and use it properly, your most likely dead before the 3/8" grade 8 bolts break. I have never flipped a race car, but I have been in a 80mph to zero in to a concrete wall, t boned a car while accelerating and many others. Car was trashed but I walked away due to all of the safety equipment above. My dad on the other hand had a basic seat with 5 points and a helmet with no neck support. 60-70mph while accelerating hit another car head on that spun. He fractured his atlas vertebrae when his head/ helmet hit the steering wheel. He is very fortunate to have the mobility that he has today.
     
    Danefraz, 47v6 and ITLKSEZ like this.
  5. Feb 6, 2019
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    Who wears a helmet in a Jeep to get ice cream?
     
    Norcal69 and ITLKSEZ like this.
  6. Feb 6, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    The side-bars on my 3b had been through hell and back. They took the most abuse of the whole cage. They'd repeatedly get smashed against trees and rocks to the point that the leading edge was smashed flat when I finally retired them. This is the front DS mount, and the reason I hadn't given any thought to the structural integrity of the plates in question.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Feb 6, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    LOl..... you should see me try to eat the ice cream with my helmet on......:banghead:
     
    Bowbender, ITLKSEZ and 73 cj5 like this.
  8. Feb 6, 2019
    tomasinator

    tomasinator Member

    Redmond, WA
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    Aug 26, 2015
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    415
    I just want to know the date of the ecj5 group ride in N. Idaho when the Varg is revealed. I'm putting it on my calendar and I'm coming.
     
  9. Feb 6, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    You have a 2024 calendar?
    I might have to drag the 3b to the trails one time this summer.

    Maybe I can fit it in the dump truck.
     
    Focker likes this.
  10. Feb 7, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    Finally got this PITA front hoop fit. Something is out of whack... I didn't have time to figure out if it's the tub or the windshield, but the one side sits 3/4" lower than the other when I line it up to the windshield. I know the tube legs are identical from side to side.
    Held in place with sticks and tape at the moment.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    fhoehle, Fly Navy and 73 cj5 like this.
  11. Feb 7, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    mine was different too, I just figured it was something I did.. Now I know it was your fault!
     
  12. Feb 7, 2019
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    Looks fine from here with one eye shut and my head leaned to the left!

    The question my brother always poses when we are working on cars and confronted with small alignment issue is, "can you see it from the drivers seat?" If the answer is yes, multiply the alignment error by your personal OCD constant. The resultant will be number in hours you should devote trying to fixing it.:D
     
  13. Feb 7, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    This is the color I want to go with for the cage, and she wants the body a mid/dark blue.

    [​IMG]

    Front hoop is welded and in. That thing is solid! I can finally get the windshield into storage and out of harm's way. Now I can put in the spreader above the cowl that will support the steering column. I'm reaching an end to what I can do, materials-wise. I'm about out of tubing, and I need a Pull-and-Save run for steering and brake parts and a radiator.

    [​IMG]

    Oh yeah... the alignment issue was the windshield frame. I'm still not exactly sure how, but it sits a little crooked on the cowl. :shrug: Probably just in the adjustments.
     
    fhoehle, Fly Navy, 47v6 and 2 others like this.
  14. Feb 8, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Great color for the cage. Race car cages are grey so cracks show.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  15. Feb 8, 2019
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
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    My roll bar in my Blazer is grey. I bought it from Jackman Wheels at there garage sale. The bar is 4" round, but it fits with blocks perfectly...
     
  16. Feb 11, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    The whole family has been sick except for me, so I've been playing doctor (and plowing snow) instead of fabricating.

    Back at it.

    Major milestone today! All the front suspension components are done! (Fabrication-wise.)

    I made these brackets that bolt to the lower coil buckets. The lower tabs hold the spring in place at droop, and the upper tabs are the sway bar link mount.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    For the links, I cut up the stock Grand Cherokee links and welded in a section of 1/2" pipe.

    [​IMG]

    It really stiffened this thing up!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Feb 12, 2019
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    That looks like Gloss Navy Grey, which is the color I'm painting my old trailer, with the fenders being Navy Blue!
    Great combo!!!!!!
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  18. Feb 12, 2019
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
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    Well I mean, if that's the best you can do, I guess it is alright :D

    Impressive engineering and execution as always sir! (y)
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  19. Feb 12, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    This is the picture we've had on our computer since shortly after we bought this jeep. (Just a random pic off the internet.) She loves the look of this one, and it's sort of the inspiration for the build.

    [​IMG]
     
    73 cj5, Walt Couch, Dphillip and 5 others like this.
  20. Feb 12, 2019
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    That is a good looking blue! Certain colors on Flatties really pop!

    I like the sidewinder winch too!
     
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