El Taco Diablo... Mall Crawlin, now with LT for tall curbs

@cbechtold when you cut your fenders, how did you trace out your lines, for your cuts?

I'm considering just tracing the fender flares, the taking them off and cut the line. I'd have to continue the line straight at the fuel door, but otherwise...

 

I got a piece of thick cardboard and made a jig that holds the sharpie centerline 1.25 inches away from the edge of the fender. I've cut a total of 3 inches out of the fenders. Worked pretty well. Lines aren't perfect, but a flap disc smoothed everything out.

For reference, the silver line on the tape was the line I ended up cutting to.


PXL_20220620_183053372.PORTRAIT by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

 

Right on. I can't go off the edge of the fender anymore. I've hacked at it a few times for clearance (that's hidden by my flares right now). If I take the flares off right now it would look like I trimmed the fenders with a chainsaw

I think I may take the flares off, tape it up, put the flares back on, trace the outside of them with a sharpie, take the flares back off, and then cut the flares... I'm trying to make room for 37s (realizing the tubbing I already did may need further attention, although I did cut and pound A LOT when I tubbed).

What did you use to cut? I'm almost thinking a jigsaw with a really good fine metal blade would be the way to go. And finish it of with some good edge trim.

 

I used a cut off wheel on an angle grinder. A jigsaw or sheet metal snip would probably work better. My fenders were bouncing all over the place when cutting.

 

You could drill some holes and make vertical cuts up to your or near your final cut line and remove the sheet metal in parts of you are getting too much vibration. Holes aren’t necessary but sometimes make it easier to hit and not worry about going past your cut line. Jig saw probably work better but I’m cheap and would probably go angle grinder and a flap disk for smoothing it out also haha.

 

That's what I did, dead simple and comes out smooth without any real effort.

 

I would recommend a body saw. Clean and controllable cuts
This thing works great for me on any fender trimming I've had to do

$63 Astro Pneumatic Tool 930 Air Body Saber Saw with 5pc 24 Teeth per Inch Saw Blades, Black, Silver

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006RF96AM?ie=UTF8

 

This, body saw is so useful.

 

Thank you! That was actually the saw I was hoping to use. But couldn't find it, because I couldn't remember what the damn thing was called.

I just looked it up and Harbor Freight has an electric body saw on clearance for under 30 bucks. I may pick one of those up today. At 30 bucks, even single use is worth it. (Right now, my only compressor that is working is just a little pancake compressor. I don't think it will run a pneumatic)

 

Yeah my Eastwood one used a decent amount of air and the 25gal would run non stop so an electric is probably your best bet.

 

Picked this up at Harbor Freight. Like I said, even if it just gets me done with the fenders, it's worth 30 bucks.



Taking a break tonight. Only thing I did is empty the fuel tank with a cheap transfer pump that I bought while I was at HF. Was hanging at the register.

Got 8 gallons out of the tank...

Meaning I was trying to lift 50 extra pounds when I was trying to get the tank back in yesterday. Should be a little easier now.

 

the snippers work really well. Or you can take a few shots of tequila and use a grinder. Not that I have ever done that..............

 

It have to be perfect. These things are mall quality built...

 

Just saw this on Cookcraft Metal’s story - basically fabbed up a jig to hold a marker a fixed distance from the hub and rotate it so he could draw a concentric circle to cut body lines.

 

More parts acquired.

 

What is the saying?

Two is One, One is none.

2 winches for the Devil Taco.

 

Dang, you didn't need my help at all, looks like!

 

Definitely need photos of this before I start on my DC! - Turns out mine was hit in the rear and the frame is bent a bit; gotta fix that before I start welding anything.

 

So far the fuel tank part is going well. I test fit it up in there. It seems to fit without issue.

I did have to move the front bracket out to the driver side from where I had it. It seemed like the tank was going to be too close to the driveline.

I did cut the pinch weld at the bottom back corner of the cab, where the fuel tank is going to be, for some clearance. But aside from that, I think it's going to be good.

With that being said, I do have a 1 inch body lift. I don't think this would being going so well if I did not have the body lift.

I DO, however, need a bit of help on the evap box relocate. I know what the big main plate does and where it goes. I don't really know what the other small parts do or go to, and I haven't been able to find any info on them.

 

I cut off the pinch weld, even with the bottom of the cab here.