The BAD AST Project - Faze II

[formula98]

I'd be up for the Autorama Dinner!

[astroracer]

I'd be up for the Autorama Dinner!

Hey Ron, if you want we can make a day of it. I don't see a thread started for the dinner but I am sure it'll get going soon. Autorama is Feb 26-28 and the dinner is usually on Sat evening. We can work out details later.
Mark

[astroracer]

I got a few pics tonight. Nothing special right now. I still have to do some trimming on the front rails for the leaf spring hangers and add the rear shackle bushing.

I got the kick ups from Chassisworks.

A little clean up work with a grinder and these are ready to weld.
Thanks for looking
Mark

[fordsbyjay]

Really cool project. I am one of those freaks that likes vans.

[dusterbd13]

im glad this build came to the top. i truly dig the oddball stuff. and an astro definately fits the bill as odd.

im watching to see how this turns out. a minivan is in my future sooner or later, so it might as well be one thast fun to drive

michael

[formula98]

Hey Ron, if you want we can make a day of it. I don't see a thread started for the dinner but I am sure it'll get going soon. Autorama is Feb 26-28 and the dinner is usually on Sat evening. We can work out details later.
Mark

Hi Mark, that would be great! Saturday would work for me.

[formula98]

I got a few pics tonight. Nothing special right now. I still have to do some trimming on the front rails for the leaf spring hangers and add the rear shackle bushing.

I got the kick ups from Chassisworks.

A little clean up work with a grinder and these are ready to weld.
Thanks for looking
Mark

Have you had any time in the last 18 months to work with the welder? I've spent some time in the last month or two building fixtures. I broke out the plasma cutter a couple of days ago. We're having fun now! Looks like your on your way, I can't wait to see more updates..........

[astroracer]

I asked about reinforceing the weld joints and got some direction from Mr Parsons He said to "cap the tube" on the inside and that got me to thinking. I worked on the design yesterday and modeled it up in UG. I made all of the "parts" today. I copied my design post from the fab thread.
Well, this is what I've come up with for my frame reinforcements. I am going to fab up these small "H" sections to weld inside the joints.


I will grind a 1/4" relief into each tube section to allow the welds to be below surface to eliminate the need to grind them.


I will weld the H inside the tube as best I can before assembling the joint for tacking and final welding.

Final welding will fill in the "slot" so a little bit of clean-up with a grinder will smooth it off...
Will this work okay?
Mark

[astroracer]

Got out in the shop and made all of the "H" beam pieces today.
I used some 3/16 x 2 1/2" scrap I had in the bin.
Laying out the cuts.

I free handed the side plates on my 14" verticle bandsaw.

After cutting out all eight pieces I hit them with a grinder to clean up.

After I got them cleaned up I stacked them together and wrapped them with tape so I could cut all of the angles at once... Much faster that way. I used a milling clamp to hold them in the H/V Bandsaw.

Once the angles were cut I did a quick mockup for welding.

That's all I got done today, my back was saying enough and I have learned to listen to it...
I'll work on the welding this week.
Thanks for looking. I would appreciate any constructive critisizm guys.
Mark S.

[dusterbd13]

in think id drill some holes and plug weld the sides of the H to the frame tube as well. more grinding, but welded area and more penetration is better.

michael

[astroracer]

Thanks Michael, The "slot" I am forming with the two notches is, in essence, one big plug weld. I doubt there would be any strength to be gained by welding outside of the "cross-section". The side pieces are only 1 inch wide so there is only 1/4 of an inch outside the "slot".
Mark

[Jon69RagTop]

I hear ya on the "back thing". Nice progress!

[formula98]

Looking Good Mark! I can't wait to see more of your posts. See you at Autorama!

[Tiger]

Mark,

good to see you back on track there.

regards

[JMarsa]

I'd be up for the Autorama Dinner!

Link here:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=64873

Hope to see you.

--JMarsa

[JMarsa]

Hey Ron, if you want we can make a day of it. I don't see a thread started for the dinner but I am sure it'll get going soon. Autorama is Feb 26-28 and the dinner is usually on Sat evening. We can work out details later.
Mark

Same goes for you Mark!

Link here:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64873

Hope to see you.

--JMarsa

[astroracer]

Same goes for you Mark!

Link here:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64873

Hope to see you.

--JMarsa

I am planning on it. 6pm @ Fishbones.

[formula98]

Link here:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=64873

Hope to see you.

--JMarsa

I'm planning to be there. Mark and I are planning to hook up on the way in. See there!

[astroracer]

Well, plans have changed. I sent you a PM Ron.
I will be going back on 66 hrs Monday so I'll be up and out of the house at 4:20am so you don't have to worry about meeting up on your way down. I will head to the show after work which will get me there around 2:30 or so. Still plan on the dinner so we'll see you all there.
Mark

[MonzaRacer]

Mark keep on keepin on. Back in the 90s(oh lord this shows my age) while working at a Chevy dealer a fella bought an Astro and the 4.3 spun a bearing, well we fixed that then wife picked up a Safari conversion van used from us and it locked up a week later.
Well we had a customer have me install a BBC crate engine in his 4x4 and his old 454 was sitting there, waiting for a home, and we had and old 700r4, well I talked to guy with astro, he swaps his fresh 4.3 into Safari, and I got radical (my service manager said insane, totally bent idea) thought of putting a 454/700r4 in an astro, and since we had room and BBC is only 1 in all around bigger it fit like a glove and we simply nodded some S10 swap plates.headers actually from a Corvette and I made the factory computer work but we used the 454 TBI.
Well firdt drive figured out subframe bushings needed swapped, made aluminum ones, then we "tied the frame together" and tada, FUN and we installed some wheels we found at salvage yard that fit and he actually still has it and drives it daily.
I did this in 93/94 and freshened up the engine in 2000 and he had trans done not long after.
FUN FUN FUN.
GOT MY TIG WELDER NOW so I am gonna have fun soon!