Thread: Low-budget/T-Bucket Pickup

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Next step - making the front batwings.

First, I cut out a paper template for the bat wings, so they would fit my axle. Then I marked them out on 3/8" thick hot rolled steel, and cut them out. I then ground and sanded them to the right shape. I also drilled holes in them for the radius arm mounts and the transverse leaf spring perches. I then mounted them to my axle using a piece of threaded rod to hold them straight and parallel to each other. I measured them multiple times to make sure they were centered on the axle and at the correct width, before welding them on. (31" inside to inside, for use with my 26" leaf spring.)

On a side note, I cut out the first bat wing using my torches, and the second one using a 4 1/2 inch metal cut off wheel and an electric angle grinder. The second one took much less time. (I forgot to take a picture of it in progress.) The cut off wheel cuts a little slower than the torches, but it leaves a much smother edge, which then requires far less grinding to get it finished.

paper template a.jpgtorch cut a.jpgfinnished bat wing.jpgmounted bat wing.jpg