Home Made Shop tools.
04-14-2013, 05:52 PM
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Home Made Shop tools. Didn't see one listed, so I decided to start a thread on home made tools, or modified tools that help us all get the job done. Fell free to add in whatever specialty tool you have come up with to make your life easier.
As stated in my group introduction, my son elkydragger and I are building an LS powered 1966 Chevy C10 shortbed for my wife to drive. The cab needed extensive work so we decided to build a rotisserie to mount the cab on. Before you get all "why didn't you do this", this was a purpose built jig that can be cut back apart when we don't need it anymore and stored for the next project. We'll modify it to fit the next thing we are doing.
Harbour Freight has a lot of junk stuff, but they have some good stuff too like these dolly wheels. Basic rig is 2x3 and 2x2 box tubing with a 3 inch diameter round tube for the body support. Cost for everything was under $200. Factory built rotisseries start at $1000 and go up.
After we got the cab back from the acid dipper and you can see the swiss cheese that has to be dealt with but this rig will make it much easier.
As stated in my group introduction, my son elkydragger and I are building an LS powered 1966 Chevy C10 shortbed for my wife to drive. The cab needed extensive work so we decided to build a rotisserie to mount the cab on. Before you get all "why didn't you do this", this was a purpose built jig that can be cut back apart when we don't need it anymore and stored for the next project. We'll modify it to fit the next thing we are doing.
Harbour Freight has a lot of junk stuff, but they have some good stuff too like these dolly wheels. Basic rig is 2x3 and 2x2 box tubing with a 3 inch diameter round tube for the body support. Cost for everything was under $200. Factory built rotisseries start at $1000 and go up.
After we got the cab back from the acid dipper and you can see the swiss cheese that has to be dealt with but this rig will make it much easier.
Last edited by 65drag; 12-29-2013 at 05:55 PM.
04-14-2013, 06:16 PM
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Another on the cheap tool was this roll around stand for our chop saw. Wheels were a flea market find for $10 and a recycled bed frame.
Swing away handle makes for easier storage.
Swing away handle makes for easier storage.
04-14-2013, 08:51 PM
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Everybody has one of these inexpensive engine lifts, but they all come with inexpensive castors that roll fine until you hang a 500 lb motor from it then they roll like they're glued to the floor. Our fix for this was another Harbour Freight set of wheels and a pair of trailer hitch inserts.
There is just enough offset of the hitch that the lift still sets level. The larger wheels and better bearings make this thing roll like it's on ice. We're thinking we may change out the rear wheels too.
There is just enough offset of the hitch that the lift still sets level. The larger wheels and better bearings make this thing roll like it's on ice. We're thinking we may change out the rear wheels too.
05-03-2013, 02:05 PM
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Here is a handy little swap meet cart made out of some leftover wood, flea market score wheels and some round tubing. Everything comes apart for easy transport if you're out of room from buying too much stuff with one bolt and one cotter key.
05-08-2013, 03:51 PM
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Good Idea there silversrtman. Does the tire keep the whole thing from walking around on the floor? We have conventional stands on our grinders. I put rubber leaf spring inserts on the bottom of ours, but they still walk around from vibration.
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05-10-2013, 06:13 AM
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Sad to say it doesnt haha, I grind with one foot on the tire. Its actually comfortable. Im going to fill the tire with sand or water and see how it is after that.
05-26-2013, 01:47 PM
#13
love what you did with the lift. Trying to roll mine around is a PITA!! Mainly when its on the side of my house. The concrete is in really bad shape, especially for those little iron casters. Been looking for a solution for it. Might have to take that idea.
Now just have to find someone who can weld lol.
Now just have to find someone who can weld lol.
06-12-2013, 06:53 PM
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I like the trailer jack idea cruisin'73, makes it easier to lower to the jack stands if you need a more stable platform for working on the body.
12-29-2013, 05:48 PM
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Another mod I made for our engine lift. I built this rig to lift the cab of my wife's 66 Pickup on and off the rotisserie and on the frame when we are done with the whole thing. You just unbolt the regular lifting arm and bolt this into place. This slides in thru the door opening sideways and lifts from under the roof in the door jambs which makes it self balancing. It doesn't look like it, but a bare cab still takes 4 men to lift it the hard way. It works pretty well, but if I had it to build over again, I would move the pivot point of the toggle arm out about 6 inches for better clearance between the cab and the upright of the lift.
Last edited by 65drag; 12-30-2013 at 10:34 AM.
