My 71 Maverick Grabber Build.....

Thanks..... The towers wil need a little more trimming, but nothing that wasn't already thought about.....

If it's hotter then hell there and the humidity is nearly 100% then it's got to be close.....

Someone else who's been there..... Like you said, trying to keep the primary length equal is a real pita.....

 

Finished the 2nd tube(cyl #6) and 3rd tube(cyl #7) this morning..... So far the 3 tubes I have tack up are within 1/4" overall length..... I am taking the 3 tubes I have tacked together this week and I am going to mae my first real attempt at tig welding, I have played around with a tig once about 2 years ago for like 15 minutes..... I guess we will see how it goes.....

Here's the 2nd tube(cyl #6) and then the 3rd tube(cyl #7), each tacked up on the bench.....





and here's the the firs 3 tubes in place.....

 

Very Nice!! I should post a pic of the Explorer headers I pulled off today, they are disgusting.

 

I can't wait

 

Please don't, I've seen them before.....

 

I have a hard time calling what came off of Explorers as actual "headers" ... they are pretty much a class of their own ... "many-folds" ... because they are almost pinched closed in a few spots.

Frank, the headers look great. You ought to make a pattern on these, someone else may want some. You could sell them for the low, low price of $999.

 

Thanks..... and hell no I don't want to build any to sell, judt too much of a pain to build..... Plus my motor more then an 1" lower and slightly further back then AJE normally makes these k-members, so they probably wouldn't fit so great anyways.....

 

Had a chance to mess around with the tig welder this afternoon after work for a little while..... I practiced on some scrap pieces for a little while and then welded 1 of the joints on 1 of the header tubes.....

Here's what the first one looks like, not fantastic by anymeans but plenty strong enough..... I think it doesn't look too bed for someone who has about an hour or so using a tig and no training.....

 

Ummm Yeah looks uhhhh great LOL Looks not to bad for a first try. On headers if you get the gap fit nice and tight you can fusion weld most of it. Thats just mild steel tubing right??

 

There was pretty much no gap and I was not using much filler, and yes it's mild steel..... My biggest problem is going around the tube without trying to stick the tungston in the weld, it's just a little awkward feeling right now..... While playing aroud with is I tried butting a couple pieces of 16 gauge sheet metal, that weld was much better looking then the one around the tube..... Once I get some more pratice with it I think it will start looking better.....

 

It's all about practice. Hell if I haven't tig welded for a while I always start with a piece of scrap to practice a bit LOL

 

I hear ya, Yesterday I finished the tube I started and it is getting a little better..... Like you say pratice, pratice, practice.....

 

With exhaust tubing the inside of the weld is way more important than what the outside looks like. As long as the weld penetrates without leaving a metal "ring" on the inside you can grind and polish the outside to look good.
Nice work - and yes, it will get easier with practice.

 

I agree, I did the first welds towards the ends of the tubes where I could see in them the easiest..... It looks very good on the inside, I can see the welds have great penetration with nothing protruding into the opening..... I also cleanded up the outside a little, plus they will be coated.....

 

Got the 4th tube on the driver side and the 1st tube on the pass side tacked up today..... Also got all the rest of the head flanges ready to go.....

4th tube on the driver side on the bench and then in the car.....








1st tube on the pass side on the bench and then in the car.....