Yes you CAN make parts at home

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

Here is what I have been working on. I made a set of transom plates for my gullwing. I used a jigsaw,bench sander,diegrinder with carbide rasp's,90 degree grinder with roloc disks,dewalt drill, spring loaded center punch,countersink bits, calipers,drill press with a x and y axis vise and a set of cobalt drill bits. It is time consuming but when your done its all worth it!
here are the ride plate stiffeners. They are 1 x 3/4 6061 aluminum. I drilled them with a 1/4 bit. I used paint on them so I could scribe my lines.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/stiffeners1.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/stiffeners2.jpg
In this pic I am mocking them up to make sure that holes line up. I traced the plates from another set. I changed them because they were too thin for me.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr1.jpg
another mock up pic
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr2.jpg
Cut a hole for the bilge plug
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr3.jpg
Another shot of bilge plug hole with plug
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr4.jpg
The next few pics were taken after I took a red roloc disc to the pieces. This will allow you to remove the imperfections in the metal before they get hit with a DA.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr5.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr6.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr7.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr8.jpg

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

In these pics I drilled holes for the bulkhead fittings. Two of them are -4 for bowl and suction pressure and the larger hole is -10 for my water inlet bulkhead fitting. I had to mock the plate up in the hull to check transom clearence. Once I marked the plates. I then found the center point by nicing the distance and dividing the area by 2. I use a mic and keep everything in decimal figures.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr9.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/521/adptr10.jpg

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

Please note that there are no special tools needed! There are alot of you newbies that can do this. It just takes a little time and patience. If you have any questions and need help, please ask. Just think what I could do with a mill and lathe!!!!!!!!!:eek: :eek:

[76ANTHONY]

DAM! NICE WORK. how long that take you to do?:eek: :idea: :D

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

DAM! NICE WORK. how long that take you to do?:eek: :idea: :D
Thank you;) Actually I have been doing bits and pieces here and there. I honestly have about 6-7 hours in it total. I have been jumping from project to project so Im havent been consistant on everything. The hardest part was shaping the plates to the pump. Good thing for carbide bits.
I will be starting the rideplate,transom tie down brackets,oil filter relocator bracket,fuel water seperator bracket and pump brace bracket next week;)
I use wd-40 and a wood cutting but in the jigsaw to cut the 6061 aluminum. It cuts alot faster and smoother;) My next tool will be a bandsaw to make things easier;)

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

When my new mini DA sander arrives, I will post the pics of everything that will be sanded and then polished;)

[BrendellaJet]

Looking good 496:D
I dig the way the handhole is kept outside of the boat. I wish i could have done that with my plates. The hand hole on the Jacuzzi is so much bigger than on a berk I'd need a piece of 12 inch pipe to pull it off. I just wrote off the hand hole and hopefully I wont need to get in there...

[SmokinLowriderSS]

So, the trash can is not usable for this, only for rebuiulding pumps? :D
The 12" cover on the Jac pump is not a hand hole, it's a HEAD-hole, for close inspection purposes. :D
Nicely done there 396. :)

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

Looking good 496:D
I dig the way the handhole is kept outside of the boat. I wish i could have done that with my plates. The hand hole on the Jacuzzi is so much bigger than on a berk I'd need a piece of 12 inch pipe to pull it off. I just wrote off the hand hole and hopefully I wont need to get in there...
Thanks Brendella;) I know how the jacuzzi's are. I had one before and they are huge.

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

So, the trash can is not usable for this, only for rebuiulding pumps? :D
The 12" cover on the Jac pump is not a hand hole, it's a HEAD-hole, for close inspection purposes. :D
Nicely done there 396. :)
You know how we do it on the "east side" :D The trashcan is strictly for pump overhauls :D
Hey Aaron, I ll look through my scrap when I get back from the races;)

[77charger]

Looks good.
now whats with the autozone brake and parts cleaner i thought you work for kragen!!!:D :D

[wsuwrhr]

Nice job there.
Next time you should consider 1/2 for your transom plate, 3/8 just might not be thick enough.
:eek: :eek:
Just funnin with ya.
Good work.
Brian

[wsuwrhr]

Our country fought in and "won" two world wars, 40 years before CNC machines were developed.
Many parts can be made with simple hand tools if someone were to dedicate the effort.
Like I said, good job.
Just a suggestion, put a chamfer on all the edges of the plate before you install it. It will look nice and will stop the plate from becoming a shear against your transom by taking away the sharp edge.

[skipr]

396, Is the pump in that thing setback or not? I was thinking of doing the same thing but was not sure how to tackle the hand hole deal. Thanks for the great pics.:D
Steve

[SmokinLowriderSS]

Our country fought in and "won" two world wars, 40 years before CNC machines were developed.
Many parts can be made with simple hand tools if someone were to dedicate the effort.
Like I said, good job.
Just a suggestion, put a chamfer on all the edges of the plate before you install it. It will look nice and will stop the plate from becoming a shear against your transom by taking away the sharp edge.
Heck, it was all that time and skill with files, drill presses, and grinders that BUILT the first lathes and manual machines, let alone the CNC's.
Yes, good call, no need to put a haevy bevel on the edges, but a nice small chamfer to round off all the parts is a definte yes-yes.

[G-Body]

Very nice. How did you make the bowed part for the handhole? There must have been some welding done? I want to make a cover like that for my dads boat, but the handhole has always stopped me, I don`t have aluminum welding capabilities yet.
Another thought for cutting aluminum is to use a router. There was a guy who used a router to cut out the accessory brackets for his LS1 into an astrovan swap and it turned out nice. I think he used a carbide router bit, but I can`t remember for sure. I would put a link to the thread, but I can`t seem to find it.

[flat broke]

Spitter,
The plates are lookin good. Definitely post up some pictures of how you did the handhole relief as there are lots of folks that would like to try that mod.
As for using a router, yes you can do it, but you have to make very solid templates with a smooth edge so you can use a guide bearing equipped bit. You'll also want to cut as close to dimension as possible on a bandsaw so the router bit is pulling a cut on as little of the diameter of the bit as possible.
Chris

[BigBlockOldsJet]

Great job, you made some quality pieces

[DEL51]

396,Good Job! I haven't commented much cause it is hard to get a word in with all the responses. I really like the rool up your sleeves lets do it theme.I am seeing Ideas I can use in my own projects. Thanks, I do understand it takes time to do things and then photograph, then explain. Hang in there and keep it up, to my benefit. DEL

[1968Droptop]

They say the first time is a learning curve...........I'm bring my Daytona over to your house for second session. Have the tools out n ready :D :D :D . NICE WORK 396 !!!!

[TJS]

Looks good 396. You would love a Bpt machine with a DRO. Nice Job.
T.J.
www.tjsperformance.com

[BrendellaJet]

I haven't tried a router, but a jig saw with a fine toothed blade or a table saw with a plywood blade cut up to half inch aluminum like butter.

[widowmaker]

They say the first time is a learning curve...........I'm bring my Daytona over to your house for second session. Have the tools out n ready :D :D :D . NICE WORK 396 !!!!
I'll second that, that my friend is some sharp looking work. You can work on my daytona any day:)

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

Looks good.
now whats with the autozone brake and parts cleaner i thought you work for kragen!!!:D :D
Thats from when I used to work for Autozone. Now I work for Car Quest:D NEVER Kragen :yuk:

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

Nice job there.
Next time you should consider 1/2 for your transom plate, 3/8 just might not be thick enough.
:eek: :eek:
Just funnin with ya.
Good work.
Brian
LOL, I believe they are 1/4. I have a thinner set but they flex so I made them thicker. Im thinking of maybe 1" next time :D :D
Our country fought in and "won" two world wars, 40 years before CNC machines were developed.
Many parts can be made with simple hand tools if someone were to dedicate the effort.
Like I said, good job.
Just a suggestion, put a chamfer on all the edges of the plate before you install it. It will look nice and will stop the plate from becoming a shear against your transom by taking away the sharp edge.
I will round all the edges when I polish them;)

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

396, Is the pump in that thing setback or not? I was thinking of doing the same thing but was not sure how to tackle the hand hole deal. Thanks for the great pics.:D
Steve
The pump was setback when I got the boat.

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

Very nice. How did you make the bowed part for the handhole? There must have been some welding done? I want to make a cover like that for my dads boat, but the handhole has always stopped me, I don`t have aluminum welding capabilities yet..
Spitter,
The plates are lookin good. Definitely post up some pictures of how you did the handhole relief as there are lots of folks that would like to try that mod.
Chris
The part that your reffering to was made "Brian Busby". I can take more pics of it tonight.

[Bigern]

nice work michael. the intake worked great, thanks again:)

[BUSBY]

The part that your reffering to was made "Brian Busby". I can take more pics of it tonight.
That part was kind of a pain in the ass to make ... a lot of tig welding and posterboard templates.
I started with a 6" piece of alum pipe and cut it in 1/2 ... heated it with a torch and started bending it to spread it ... it took about 2 days to make ...
As 396 said ... anything can be done with paitence and some basic tools.
Looking good Mike!
BB