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2012 AK sled build

Had a fairly productive day. Since I get teased for building a mini super cub, I figured I might as well do all my riveting according to the Standard Aircraft Maintenance Handbook. Good thing solid rivets are cheap.
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Got the tunnel extension in place and all my holes drilled. Rear suspension mounts finished up and I added another hole 1.25" higher while I was at it.
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I have no doubt .040 will be plenty strong enough. With just clecos and the chromoly tacked in place it's extremely rigid, and I'm glad I kept the 45'd corners all the way back now. I did manage to get all my foot bars cut tonight so I'm hoping I can finish the running boards Friday.
 

Didn't make it anywhere on the running boards, the tunnel extension and rear tunnel tube took all day. I forgot how time consuming sheet metal work is.

Had to pull the chromoly sides off so I could take the tunnel pieces in to shear. Laid the sides on top of each other out of curiosity(to see how I did) and I couldn't have got them any closer without a building a jig. That was a big relief.
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After I sheared both pieces I put them back together to drill the holes out. I like to initially fit everything using #3 clecos.
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With half the holes cleco'd I drilled out the other holes for a #4 rivet(1/8").
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Removed the #3 clecos and drilled the remaining holes for #4's.
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Cleaned up front section ready to rivet.
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Tunnel extension ready to go.
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Finally ready to set some rivets.
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I left a few out because I may be putting a 4130 bracket there for my running boards to tie into.
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Ready to go. The tunnel skin is 10 lbs as pictured.
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I bent a 1/2" .035 tube to tie the two sides & tunnel together. I wanted to end the tunnel with a nice tube instead of just sheet metal. Had to massage the corners of the sheet a little to fit the radius of the tube but I ended up with a fit I'm very pleased with. And yes, there will be 17 rivets going into the 1/2" tube haha.
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As it sits tonight.
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Maybe I will get to running boards tomorrow.
 
I'm going to run 2012 153 HCR rails.

Everything Rick and I do is TIG. I have a Miller Diversion 165 and he has the 180. I'm using Rick's Rigid ratcheting conduit bender for the 3/4 .035 and I have a Rigid 1/2" tube bender. Both work great.
 
Heard alot of good things about the diversion 165. I need to decide what I am going to do about my boards. How much of a pain is drilling those chromo tubes? Looking good and staying tuned for the steering.
 


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