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ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0

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zmotorsports

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I'm currently building a cooler kart (haven't posted any pics of the build yet) and I will be a using a small light bar (8" long) for the headlight. It's small, powerful, and cheap, but it won't be used on the highway so maybe you can forgive me? ;)

Seeing as how it won't be on a Jeep or equivalent I think I can get past it Vincent.

I'm excited to see your cooler kart. Should be pretty cool.:beer:
 
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fordkid88

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You know Mike Omax has a new machine on the market with a very attractive market entry point...aint say'in it is cheap but a little side work and it will cover the payments...

Software is intuitive and easy to use. Only limited by the measurements of the operator/designer.

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I've seen these becoming more prevalent but I'm not sure I want to give up the real estate in the shop for the little bit of fabrication I'm doing. Who knows, maybe one day.

Have you considered fabricating a smaller one. There is plenty of resource on doing such and with your skills it would be difficult at all. And as far as cad flat pattern layouts are easy to whip up in no time.
 
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zmotorsports

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A few pictures from tonight’s progress on the WJ winch bumper.

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Thanks for looking.
 

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zmotorsports

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Looking great (as always) Mike!

Ya I thought the same thing once I got past my mount....lol


Just kidding bud, I have no doubt you guys already have this all figured out. And as usual it’s looking great Mike.

Thanks guys.

I'm not gonna lie Cam, I've kind of ran out of steam here lately. I work for a couple of hours in the shop and I'm ready to be done and relax with the wife when she gets home from work. Last weekend I didn't even step foot in the shop for some reason. The wife and I took off on a drive Saturday and Sunday went and visited in-laws.

I can't seem to focus enough on working lately, all I can think about is hopping in the coach with the wife and heading out somewhere. I need to get my head right so I can get some things accomplished. I usually get down a bit in the winter because I am unable to travel in our coach but for some reason my winter slump is a bit deeper this year.
 
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zmotorsports

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Can’t take the coach and go south?

Why can’t you take it out in the winter?

It would be simple to just head south as we have a large number of our RV'ing and Jeeping friends there now but unfortunately that isn't possible in our current roles.

Between the wife and I this is never a good time of year. November and December being our company's busiest time of year and January is our company's end of fiscal year we simply haven't been able to get away for the past nearly 20 years in our current positions. One of the many downfalls of both the wife and I working for the same company and one who's busiest time of year is the holidays.

We generally have to put the coach away in November and usually aren't able to get it back out until mid-February at the earliest but only for a short time as my wife has out of town meetings every year around late February to mid-March that we have to juggle our lives around. Basically it's that whole work thing. Come on retirement.
 

LXCam

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Having been a fan of yours for a few years and believe it or not -paying attention. I’ve actually been surprised to see your recent trips since you’re always so dang busy this time of year. I was going to comment on that last month but figured it’d be better letting sleeping dogs lie. Lol

Well damn Mike, maybe it’s not a bad thing to take a break for a bit once you get past your sons project. And if time allows and you want some AZ sunshine, I have no doubt Paco, myself and a few others down this way would welcome you with open arms.
 
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zmotorsports

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Having been a fan of yours for a few years and believe it or not -paying attention. I’ve actually been surprised to see your recent trips since you’re always so dang busy this time of year. I was going to comment on that last month but figured it’d be better letting sleeping dogs lie. Lol

Well damn Mike, maybe it’s not a bad thing to take a break for a bit once you get past your sons project. And if time allows and you want some AZ sunshine, I have no doubt Paco, myself and a few others down this way would welcome you with open arms.

Thanks Cam, I appreciate that. I'm assuming you mean my lack of trips lately seeing as how our last time out was back in October.

And yes, historically I'm usually quite busy this time of year because when we were running our business I knew we didn't travel between November and the first part of March so I usually booked myself with work to keep busy and money flowing in which usually assisted with the year's traveling. That being said, since closing down our business in January 2017 and a couple of years of getting the house, yard and shop setup to my liking I think I'm getting to the point of wanting to slow down a bit.

My wife apologized to me that I didn't make it out into the shop over the weekend but I told her no need to apologize, it was my idea to go for a drive and I enjoyed the day perfectly. Had I wanted to work in the shop over the weekend I could have very easily but I was more concerned about spending some quality time with my wife.

I am also to the point that I have been wanting to spend more time with my wife. Not to get too deep or too philosophical, but after my son moved out last June I was nervous about how my wife and I would get along because for 27+ years of our 30 years of marriage our son was front and center in our lives. I was worried that now after all this time and without our son there that maybe she wouldn't like spending time with me anymore but it has turned out to be the exact opposite. I think we have actually grown closer to one another and want to be around each other more and more.

We talked about how nice it is going to be when just the two of us can hop in the coach and take off with only a mere thought of destination and plan the route as we go. Now that seems to be about all I can think about.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my shop and how nice it is to work in it but it seems lately that the shop isn't the main focus like it has been for the past nearly 30 years of marriage and working.

As for trips this year, maybe some of the lack of planning and delay in making arrangements has been due to my MIL's health issues. We generally have the majority of our trips for the year planned out by December or so of the previous year but upon talking over the weekend my wife and I have come to the realization that we may never travel with my in-laws again.

Also, that may be part of my thinking about why I want to spend so much time traveling and being with my wife because seeing what they are going through it makes you realize just how short and how precious life really is. I lost my parents many years ago but maybe it's more prevalent to me now because I am older and I would like to think maybe a little wiser to things.

As for coming to Arizona Cam, my wife and I have talked that Sedona is definitely on our list of destinations as I hear there is some awesome off-roading in the area.
 

Bighead38

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What kind of business did you own and what are you doing now if you dont kind me asking? I would assume something automotive or machining but sometimes your surprised.
 

fnieto

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Having been a fan of yours for a few years and believe it or not -paying attention. I’ve actually been surprised to see your recent trips since you’re always so dang busy this time of year. I was going to comment on that last month but figured it’d be better letting sleeping dogs lie. Lol

Well damn Mike, maybe it’s not a bad thing to take a break for a bit once you get past your sons project. And if time allows and you want some AZ sunshine, I have no doubt Paco, myself and a few others down this way would welcome you with open arms.

Well said Cam,

A little teaser Mike, this past Monday's high temp in Tucson was 85º. ;)
 

fnieto

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Thanks Cam, I appreciate that. I'm assuming you mean my lack of trips lately seeing as how our last time out was back in October.

And yes, historically I'm usually quite busy this time of year because when we were running our business I knew we didn't travel between November and the first part of March so I usually booked myself with work to keep busy and money flowing in which usually assisted with the year's traveling. That being said, since closing down our business in January 2017 and a couple of years of getting the house, yard and shop setup to my liking I think I'm getting to the point of wanting to slow down a bit.

My wife apologized to me that I didn't make it out into the shop over the weekend but I told her no need to apologize, it was my idea to go for a drive and I enjoyed the day perfectly. Had I wanted to work in the shop over the weekend I could have very easily but I was more concerned about spending some quality time with my wife.

I am also to the point that I have been wanting to spend more time with my wife. Not to get too deep or too philosophical, but after my son moved out last June I was nervous about how my wife and I would get along because for 27+ years of our 30 years of marriage our son was front and center in our lives. I was worried that now after all this time and without our son there that maybe she wouldn't like spending time with me anymore but it has turned out to be the exact opposite. I think we have actually grown closer to one another and want to be around each other more and more.

We talked about how nice it is going to be when just the two of us can hop in the coach and take off with only a mere thought of destination and plan the route as we go. Now that seems to be about all I can think about.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my shop and how nice it is to work in it but it seems lately that the shop isn't the main focus like it has been for the past nearly 30 years of marriage and working.

As for trips this year, maybe some of the lack of planning and delay in making arrangements has been due to my MIL's health issues. We generally have the majority of our trips for the year planned out by December or so of the previous year but upon talking over the weekend my wife and I have come to the realization that we may never travel with my in-laws again.

Also, that may be part of my thinking about why I want to spend so much time traveling and being with my wife because seeing what they are going through it makes you realize just how short and how precious life really is. I lost my parents many years ago but maybe it's more prevalent to me now because I am older and I would like to think maybe a little wiser to things.

As for coming to Arizona Cam, my wife and I have talked that Sedona is definitely on our list of destinations as I hear there is some awesome off-roading in the area.

Balance is the secrete to love, peace and joy brother. I lost another friend on the third of January. This makes 12 in the past 7 years. All retired within the last 10 year or less. Life is short brother and balance is paramount. Your a wise man already Mike so follow you gut and heart.
 
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zmotorsports

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What kind of business did you own and what are you doing now if you dont kind me asking? I would assume something automotive or machining but sometimes your surprised.

I had a small speed shop/business on the side. I still have my full-time job but now mainly work on my own stuff as well as a little bit for family/friends. I don't have that many friends and many family members don't get along so mainly just my own stuff.
 
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zmotorsports

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Well said Cam,

A little teaser Mike, this past Monday's high temp in Tucson was 85º. ;)

Balance is the secrete to love, peace and joy brother. I lost another friend on the third of January. This makes 12 in the past 7 years. All retired within the last 10 year or less. Life is short brother and balance is paramount. Your a wise man already Mike so follow you gut and heart.

Thanks for the teaser Paco. I'll remember that when it's 85 degrees here and you're sweating your *** off in 115 degrees.:lol_hitti Actually the past couple of days it's actually been in the low to mid-40's here so not terribly cold.

As for balance, I hear ya brother. I've always tried to make sure there was family time even when I was busier than hell between my day job and the home shop. I NEVER missed a single one of my son's ball games, practices or a parent teacher conference. After his extra curricular activities were over I would then get home and go to work out in the shop. However, now it seems like I am ready to slow down and enjoy more quality time vs. running around like a chicken with his head cut off.

As for friends, I don't have many to begin with but I did lose my closest a couple of years ago and that took more out of me than I thought.
 

4 FN 27

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Balance?

What is that? I struggle with the concept.

Mike if you are not interested in AZ...there is always Minnesota this time of year...mild this week...but subzero is around the corner.

Nice work on the Bumper Project Mike!!!
 
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zmotorsports

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Balance?

What is that? I struggle with the concept.

Mike if you are not interested in AZ...there is always Minnesota this time of year...mild this week...but subzero is around the corner.

Nice work on the Bumper Project Mike!!!

Thanks Pat. I'll pass on Minnesota right now. That would be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire, only in reverse.:lol_hitti
 

aka Larry

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Mike if you are not interested in AZ...there is always Minnesota this time of year...mild this week...but subzero is around the corner.

I'm convinced that Pat is either insane or a Polar Bear! Or maybe an insane Polar Bear? :lol_hitti

The good news is I doubt there will ever be any overcrowding in MN.
 

4 FN 27

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I'm convinced that Pat is either insane or a Polar Bear! Or maybe an insane Polar Bear? :lol_hitti

The good news is I doubt there will ever be any overcrowding in MN.

Yeah, I think you may be on to something there.:bounce:

I am 6' 1" @ 175 lbs. Far from a Polar Bear. But I do get too warm in the summer. Turn the heat down in the house every night. When I stay at my buddies Cabin when Snowmobiling I close my Bedroom Door so it is between 45-50° in there and sleep like a rock.

So I am going to go with insane...

My natural habitat:
 

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zmotorsports

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Tonight’s progress consisted of mounting the lower valance under the winch to the lower radiator support. This panel will serve a couple purposes. It needs to allow airflow to the lower section of the cooling stack plus add cosmetic appearance to hide the lower radiator support and yet not impede approach angle.

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Next we will focus on enclosing the winch and building out the center section.

Thanks for looking.
 

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zmotorsports

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What is this tool? Does it pop-rivet threaded inserts?

It is to install threaded inserts or "threadserts" into thin material. There are different variations but this one is the more industrial one from Marson. I have all SAE mandrels from 8-32 up to 3/8"-24 and a couple of the more popular Metric mandrels as well.
 
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zmotorsports

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More winch bumper progress.

Welded the lower valance together and cut pieces for the winch box.

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Thanks for looking.
 

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lilscorpion

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Colorado
Like how the winch fair lead plate has a similar shape to the winch which flows nicely with the grill. It already enhances the front is the vehicle.

Say, are all of the pieces cut and welded together or are you using a press brake to bend pieces here and there?
 
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zmotorsports

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Like how the winch fair lead plate has a similar shape to the winch which flows nicely with the grill. It already enhances the front is the vehicle.

Say, are all of the pieces cut and welded together or are you using a press brake to bend pieces here and there?

Thanks Matt. The angle or step on the front plate was a trial and error with cardboard before we came up with a design that slightly mimic'd the taper on the front of the winch. Trying to make a "box" look sleek and blend isn't exactly easy but we're working through it. I think we have a couple of hours in just staring at it and tossing ideas around.

As for the pieces everything so far has been cut on the vertical bandsaw and welded together. I like to try and keep open corner joints so as to gain as much strength in the weld yet also allow very little material removal to blend the corners.
 
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zmotorsports

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Looks damn good Mike. BTW, what are you using to cut the large holes?

Thanks Vincent.

The holes for the bolts at the front of the lower valance were cut using my Hougan Rotacut annular cutters to allow socket to pass through to the bolts. The large angular cuts in the valance for air flow were just cut in using my plasma cutter, the least favorite of my cutting tools.
 

aka Larry

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The large angular cuts in the valance for air flow were just cut in using my plasma cutter, the least favorite of my cutting tools.

That is the part I was curious about. Did you make a template/guide for your plasma cutter when cutting those holes?

I know my little HF plasma cutter isn't the best, but even if it was, I find it impossible to do anything that even resembles a straight line going free hand. Even with a straight edge as a guide, any burr or flaw along the metal's surface will cause my torch to jump and leave a ragged edge. I guess I need to invest in a roller type guide to avoid this, but I use it so rarely I haven't bothered.
 
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