Need HELP with mini-tub frame cut-outs

[2fast4u]

Today i wasted the whole day making my frame and shock tower cut outs for the 3" dse mini-tub kit. I'm having a hellava time getting the right bend on the frame rail cutout(driverside) toward the rear-most portion of the cutout w/ 1/8" steel. I need an almost 90 degree bend that fits flush against the frame rail. 2 sides are flush and the other two are off by 1/8-1/4". I'm using a a vice and piece of 3" pipe and beating the sheetmetal against it. I tried heating it w/ a propane torch to soften it but that didnt help much. I'm onto my 3rd try...i'm running out of cutoff wheels.

Any suggestions?

BTW, I'm using sheetmetal thats slightly bigger than 1/8" steel...is that okay? I figure bigger is better when it comes to strengthening a modified narrow frame-rail.

Thanks, chris

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Chris,

I used 1/8" 1018 cold rolled steel for my close outs and for boxing the rails. I know this doesn't help much, but I just massaged the close-out until it fit prefectly. Are you having a problem getting the metal to form or just getting the perfect shape? What size exactly is the metal you're using?

Also, I responded to your email a few days ago, drop me a line if you want.

[2fast4u]

Ralph, I never received your reply. Re-send it if you can([email protected]). Where did you purchase the 1/8" 1018 cold rolled steel??? Its been tough tracking some down around here. Is there a difference if its cold rolled or not??? I cannot recall the exact size as I purchased in Florida a couple of years ago before i moved to NY. I remember it was the next size thicker than 1/8"- just fractionally thicker. Its kind of hard to notice the diff. between the two.

I'm having a hard time w/ the bend forming smoothly and flush against the framerail.

-chris

[Camaro Zach]

whenever I was doing my minitub i used 1/8" cold rolled steel as well. And when i was ready to box the frame i basically just cut out the whole side (so that you could see inside the frame rail) Then i bent the piece of 1/8" plate with a hammer over a piece of pipe. Once i got the curve right i slid it inside of the frame rail and tacked it in place. Then i cut away the excess (top and bottom portions of the frame) and continued to weld it up. Not sure if that helped you with your question any but i hope it did. Maybe some of these pics will help too: www.cardomain.com/id/43zach