Projects Tucks AV8 Pickup build thread-----> BABE THE BLUE OX

Thanks man, Superior products Aluminum Brightener- it’s got phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid in it. I mix it down with water 1:1 or more water to make it less aggressive.

 

Slick

 

Working on casting Hemi parts today

 

Heck yeah dude! Love it

 

Bad. Ass.

 

Thanks dudes

 

The gap at the end for the plug leads is very neat, that is a beautiful job! Thanks for the front row seats

 

Damn I would buy a pair of those wire covers. Beautiful.

 

lol did you even let those cool off before you put them on? Looks killer

 

Haha the pic where I’m holding it up with a glove on? Yes, it was still fucking hot!

Thanks guys

 

Nice work ! Looks fantastic!

 

I've just saw the video on Instagram. Love this build

 

I put this in the wrong thread, sorry.
Tuck very nice work. Those larger castings are a challenge.

I have been casting for 25 years. I started with the Gingery Furnace and still run it although I have upgraded it so I can convert it to waste oil so I can pour cast iron. I started with smalls and still cast the baby Moon pedal, but recently poured the T5 to 215 buick spacer.
It is a deep dive, but check out http://www.forums.thehomefoundry.org/ there is a lot of information and some talented foundrymen.
This is the 1/3 scale smallblock in my avatar.


This is an OT coolant fitting that I did as an experiment for one of the members using the lost foam process. He has gone on to produce absolutely unbelievable multi carb manifolds.

The left hand piece is aluminum and I didn't cast the second more detailed sample since the method was proven.

And then last week I poured the spacer plate.

 

Man o man is this one great thread. Tuck absolutely kills it. Such great talent. My $50 Alliance membership is a drop in the bucket compared to the joy I get reading this shit….ok the pitch is over…..signup

 

Well… Shit. They look good on my roadster too.

thanks everyone, didn’t expect a spotlight on my thread today. Stoked everyone digs em.

I cast a couple more today, I changed a couple things and the last one I poured is the best out of all of them.. I think I have the gates and risers figured out.

 

There are so many cool details to look at! Steering box mount looks slick as do the engine mounts.

 

I’ll take the Blems! Very nice, you going to make enough to sell?

 

thanks man, (my favorite car besides my ranch) the plan is to get the truck on the road (not finished but drivable) and then I’ll switch back to working on my roadster and I’ll build that to completion.

 

I melted down all my blems!
I might make some to sell but I’ll use a foundry if I do.

 

Was the overhang on this valve cover on purpose, or are the valve covers different lengths from side to side? (Not a Hemi guy at all).

 

@Speedy Canuck i believe they over hang on purpose to sneak the plug wires out

 

Me too! Beautiful work!

 

Tuck, your talents continue to be amazing and inspiring! Like Ryan said, it's great to see that you're back at it!

 

Yeah man! Hope this new phase brings out your creative output! So jealous of your shop. My meager 1400 sqft seems so small!

 

Thanks guys, feels good to be back making stuff- I’m really grateful to have this shop and plan to utilize it every chance I get. A shop is a tool, just like a truck and I know I’m extremely lucky to have it.

I think my main takeaway is that the situation I was in prior to my divorce wasn’t healthy and that if I had stayed the course I’d never be able to finish anything, ever… (and I would probably be dead) it’s a sobering thought- there was no way I’d be allowed the time needed to invest in myself, mentally, physically, spirituality. I’m so grateful for that and my newfound self awareness that I could never imagine nor would I allow myself to be in a situation like that again. I LOVE being single, and I love my life right now.

the last two nights I was at the shop sand casting covers… I had trouble with two castings (one of them my fault) and the third one turned out perfect but then when I machine them I'm lacking material on the front of cover and it’s easy to mess them up. Welding a fuck up is a bitch! I’ve been learning a lot about how to position the gates and risers to allow for shrink and turbulence pouring- some people might think its all wasted time, even my inner dialog has shit to say but I just tell it to shut up and look at the results. It’s fucking fun making stuff that never existed before!


Money won’t make you happy but learning skills will… and tools are an investment in yourself. <— this!

So I went back and added a boss for the screw with sneaky draft angle and I’m excited to see how this one looks. I can’t wait but I won’t get a chance to be back in the shop until Friday night or Sat!

I have been working on getting my 3D printer I bought up and running and the ideas for patterns are spinning for other projects. That has me really excited- I started brushing up on Solidworks. I bought a Prusa 3d printer, we have them in the college and they’re workhorses.

My oldest turned 10 yesterday and the one thing I can’t stop thinking about is how much fun it’s going to be ripping around with them in the RPU.. going to BMX practice in it in the summer and picking them up from school! I can’t wait!!

 

Sometimes when I’m about to that fuck it good enough spot I think “if I was doing this for a client would I start over and do it again” if yes then I start over. Why should I be happy with less than I’d give anyone else?

 

I'm so glad life is being awesome to you. Keep the attitude that you have now, and you will be happy forever. Keep posting on the progress on everything, and thank you for all the info you are sharing.

 

Exactly this Tim!

 

so you're hearing voices too? how do i make it stop?