Topic: Fuel tank guard... work in progress (Read 12016 times)

wizard · « **on:** February 19, 2008, 18:25:51 »

I started to make a tank guard yesterday, and tried it for size this afternoon.
Its made from 6mm plate and weighs a fair bit.
as you can see it still need a bit of work but the basic shape is there.
I need to chop a bit of the back end, where the white line is and bend the remaining bit down slightly.
Other wise it fits very snug.

Once its mounted I'll start on the removable hitch. Could some one measure the distance between the two side plates on there removable hitch for me, as it would be nice to keep all these things more or less standard.

wizard

Muddyblue · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2008, 18:50:16 »

Hi Gerard , I have one of the early Southdown tank guards , with rolled corners as against welded sections but is basicaly the same as yours .The distance between the brackets is 135mm , on the outer edge (pretty much in-line with the 2 centre bumper bar mounts ) length of bracket is 200mm x 75 mm , the removeable hitch attaches on the outside of the brackets using x2 20mm pins placed 140mm apart (centre of hole).
Hope this is of some use ? . :?
Steve.
If we have some reasonable daylight tomorrow ! , I'll try and get a couple of pics

barny · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2008, 19:06:09 »

Hi looks great any ideas of cost ? I would be interested in one if its reasonable ... :)

Guardian. · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2008, 19:23:54 »

are we going into competition wiz! :D
i will give you 1 bit of advise, make sure you clear the difpan with ALL suspension movement, i learnt the hard way!
i think the southdown are the same as ours with a nick out the rearsection so it clears diff.
now ive told you this, i will have to kill you.
:lol: :lol:

wizard · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2008, 20:04:29 »

Hi
I dont think i'll be going into full production just yet, i just couldnt face paying over Â£250 for something i can make.
I'll check the diff pan clearance next time i fit it. i must admit i didnt think of it fowling there.

Muddyblue.. thanks for the sizes i'll post some pix of the hitch late next week.
Regards
wizard

Muddyblue · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2008, 20:10:24 »

No problem , I think the problem with diff clearance is mainly evident on standard height motors , don't think Goth Thing has anything to worry about there ! .

Guardian. · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2008, 20:22:20 »

ill send my hammers around now! there a lovely bunch off lads. your fault, you just had to know. :lol:

boss · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2008, 20:29:17 »

oi oi thats pretty bloody good!

Disco-Ron · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2008, 20:52:36 »

Quote from: Muddyblue on February 19, 2008, 20:10:24

No problem , I think the problem with diff clearance is mainly evident on standard height motors , don't think Goth Thing has anything to worry about there ! .

I have a southdown gaurd on my disco, and also a bikini type gaurd on the diff, it still fouls the gaurd, 'just', and my truck is lifted, the issue is caused by the fact that as the axle travles 'up, it also goes backwards slightly!!

Guardian. · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2008, 21:46:12 »

go on give em all away :D

wizard · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2008, 21:48:39 »

:shock:

Guardian. · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2008, 21:53:49 »

wiz, i know you havent finished it yet, but are you going to carry them sides all the way to the back?
for just a guard its great, but if you are going to be towing from it, it will need that extra beef in it, that will / could twist if you rely on just 6mm plate with no gussets at all.

wizard · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2008, 06:23:32 »

Hi
Yep i still need to make up a few bits for the sides.
Mrs wizard wanted me to make a cardboard mock up 1st and try it for size, but i couldnt be arsed with that so went straight to the metal version.
Just as a matter of opinion is 6mm a standard thickness for guards.

Regards
wizard

Guardian. · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2008, 09:57:45 »

mine are all 5mm as it saves some weight and is still well over required strength, towing mounts are 10mm so they cannot twist or bend.
ohh the end is nigh.

wizard · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2008, 16:34:22 »

I think that the next one will be 5mm as 6 mm is damn heavy.
I was going to use 10mm for the towing brackets. Hopefully it wont all go pear shaped

wizard :twisted:

Guardian. · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2008, 20:32:28 »

no, that would definately be the wrong shape! :lol:

wizard · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2008, 21:38:27 »

It would be different though.
:roll:
wizard

Range Rover Blues · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2008, 04:11:29 »

I had a spare Southdown but I lent it to someone, or you could have borrowed it.

I'll have a look at mine if it's not too cold.

hairyasswelder · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2008, 23:43:24 »

Quote from: Range Rover Blues on February 21, 2008, 04:11:29

I had a spare Southdown but I lent it to someone, or you could have borrowed it.

;)

wizard · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2008, 13:05:23 »

Well, i have added the side gussets and trimmed a bit off the front section.
I'll start on the tow hitch brackets this afternoon.
I picked up two 7/8 x 6 inch pins from E bay, they will be excellent for the removable hitch.

Thanks for all the info so far..

wizard

Range Rover Blues · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2008, 15:49:18 »

Commonly they are 19mm, or whatever that is in imperial (3/4 inch IIRC) and I've seen them for sale at an agricultural equipment dealers.

redhand · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2008, 16:07:14 »

Quote from: Range Rover Blues on February 23, 2008, 15:49:18

Commonly they are 19mm, or whatever that is in imperial (3/4 inch IIRC) and I've seen them for sale at an agricultural equipment dealers.

Or 0.7480292" So yes near enough 3/4"

wizard · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2008, 17:00:19 »

I had the option of 3/4 or 7/8 so if in doubt go bigger seemed like a good thought !!!!!!!!!!

wizard

wizard · « **Reply #23 on:** March 05, 2008, 22:13:18 »

Bit of an update.

I have welded on the tow hitch brackets and also swapped the 7/8 pins for 3/4.
I put on a few coats of hammerite on Monday and coated it with clear laquer today, but the laquer reacted with the paint so i ended up stripping it all down to metal and repainting.
I think it was to cold when i applied the laquer.
pix to follow............

wizard :twisted:

Guardian. · « **Reply #24 on:** March 05, 2008, 22:28:51 »

laquer will react with hammerite for ages, as it takes a long while for hammerite to proper cure. why laquer it anyway?

Jake · « **Reply #25 on:** March 05, 2008, 22:33:22 »

Why not just get it Zinc coated?
Its not as dear as you'd think
:D

Sharpshooter · « **Reply #26 on:** March 05, 2008, 22:36:52 »

Thats looking good. I cant wait to see the finished article. :)

wizard · « **Reply #27 on:** March 06, 2008, 07:31:50 »

They wanted Â£80 to zink plate it, as they have a minimum charge !!
If i had 6 to do it would still cost Â£80 to get them plated.

I thought the laquer would give it a bit of extra protection and make it look nice and shiny !!!.
I am gonna leave the guard in the main workshop next to the heater for a few days to help to Hammerite dry. Its to cold in my workshop at home.

I will post pix as soon as i get a chance.

regards
wizard

lee celtic · « **Reply #28 on:** March 07, 2008, 19:44:54 »

Hammerite contains glass particals and takes 6 weeks to cure the only thing you can spray onto it is more hammerite and you can only do that withing 15 mins of the first coat any longer and it all goes pete tong best thing for cleaning it off is petrol.

Lesson over :lol:

I only know this as we used to use smoothrite on our bike frames and engines, If you spilled petrol on it you had to strip the lot and start again and if you tried to to touch it up it went dull and rough like sandpaper.still it smells nice :lol:

wizard · « **Reply #29 on:** March 13, 2008, 16:16:18 »

Finally i had the time to fit it. It took about 20 min to jack into place and bolt on the six mounting bolts.
I still need to make up the detatchable part, and some thick angled washers for the two bolts that go through the rear part of the chassis. Otherwise i am quite happy with it.

Just got to find the time to put the bumper back on !!!

regards
wizard

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AuthorTopic: Fuel tank guard... work in progress (Read 12016 times)

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