Arrived home last night to the last of my parts awaiting.
My hoses from Flex Technologies arrived. I wanted black silicone hoses but they only had one 90-degree and the straight section in black in stock. The other 90-degree and the 45-degree were at least a week out and they couldn't guarantee me delivery by the time I needed it. I wanted a bit more subdued and OE look, but these will have to do. I know Prevost when they were using the Detroit engines were using these blue hoses as was Newell and they looked ok, but I really wanted black. I should have started this project when I originally intended which was a few weeks ago but the Shelby GT500 came knocking at my door and I could use the money so I took it in. Now that I'm pressed for time beggers can't be choosers. Oh well, they will perform and do the same job, just not have the appearance I was after.
The constant tension clamps on the hoses were in fair condition, but being 23 years old with 150k miles, I figured I would replace them as well. I stopped by my local Fleetpride supply last week and they wanted $12.09/each for these things. We've used Breeze brand at work for years with excellent results but I was able to find a box of 10 for $77 so I ordered them and they arrived yesterday as well.
Lastly, my local Grainger called just as I was leaving work and said the 1" NPT stainless coupler that I ordered the day before was in so I swung by there on the way home and grabbed it. I ended up going with the schedule 160 as the schedule 40 coupler they had in stock seemed a bit thin and with the weight of the 90-degree and the barb along with the makeup hose hanging on it, I didn't want to risk a fatigue crack or failure down the road. They were pretty proud of these based on the price though.
I didn't realize until I arrived home with it that it was the exact same one as Monaco/Roadmaster used only in carbon steel.
Next I laid out the original tube to mark where I wanted to place the weld joints.
Then began cutting the tube sections based on the weld joint marks.
Making sure they are perfectly square to allow a tight fitment.
I grabbed my trusty old hose clamps from my fabrication drawer to aid in assembly.
The two 45-degree tubes are in slightly different planes so once they were aligned, witness marks were place on the tubes, the hose clamp was installed and tacked.
I try to make short, quick autogenous welds (without filler) to keep the final welds consistent. I don't get full penetration with the tacks, just enough to fuse the tube sections together as I don't want them to sugar inside. I will use an argon purge during final welding but I generally don't during mockup.
The nice thing is I have a pattern to follow so it went relatively fast. This takes much more time when building a tube structure from nothing and have to build to follow routes and avoid interferences.
Stay tuned for more pictures.
My parent's had a little concrete in front of their house as the residence driveway to the carport, but EVERYTHING else was gravel, road base, dirt, mud (when it rained) and basically anything my dad could get his hands on cheap. We were not necessarily allowed to park in the house driveway, although I did at times after washing my truck and before heading out for my evening activities. I think my dad was a little more lenient about that by the time I came along but I hated paring behind the house in the "yard". I despised gravel and dirt from the street back to the barns and shop because it was next to impossible to keep my vehicle clean. I swore when I had a place of my own, I would have lush green lawn, concrete and curb & gutter.
That's how we all got on the topic. I was just making a joke, but there must be more truth there than any of us originally thought. 
