53 GMC 5 window RestoMod Bagged

[WorkinWrenchs]

Update: I got the airbags and upper cups today, but no lower cups. The guy called ThorBros and Jason said "I guess they didnt get shipped". SMH So now we play the waiting game again. Hopefully it will be here quicker than 5 weeks. On the other hand I should get my plasma cutter on the 30th. At this rate I guess I will do suspension next spring and try and tackle some of the cab work.

[99 to Life]

ah man that suuuux, again just no excuse for that service. and as for the plasma, now I don't feel so bad, I got free 2day shipping, but I paid 80$ more than you with the sales tax. I wanted it for the xmas break as I'll be trying to log some hours. I hate the wait game. but sure, might as well knock out some cab stuff. Need a sturdy cab to keep putting it on and off the frame. My cab mount areas were so bad, I cut it all out, made all new ones.

[reaper71]

Keep us all posted on the performance of the Plasma guy's

Mark..

[lower50's]

This will be you guys real soon It's not me. Sucks about the parts.

[99 to Life]

hahaa, I hooked mine up today and got no arc. Not sure wtf is up. I had to put a new plug on it and boy oh boy were the wires sketchy. They had a off green, another off green with white stripe and a light brown or pink. I copied what they had wired on their plug and transferred it to my plug. The directions say there might be all these different color wires so "beware" so to speak. I could possibly have it grounded wrong, but its how they had it set up. either that or I got a bogus machine. I'll keep you posted.

[joedoh]

man I love my plasma, just got some stencils so my holes dont look like they were gnawed by a wolverine any more




I agree a year wait for control arms is baloney. thor bros started out as jason thorbecke "this aint no damn corporation" friend of minitruckers and it changed about 5 years ago to "we know you'll wait for it".

[aknovaman]

Made quick business of cutting off factory rivets on front and rear suspension. Noce not to have to buy cutting torch gas every month.

[99 to Life]

I got my Lotos working, I was being a retard (never had a plasma) thought Id have a pilot arc and its not that kind. so I used it some today and its cool, I think it will make life a lot easier. Now I just need to find or make a dual plug so I don't have to keep unplugging my welder and going back and forth! joedoh, stop buying stuff we don't have and making us feel inferior!

[joedoh]

tools man, tools! always the best investment of time and money!


workin you are close enough and I get to okc and tulsa infrequently for deals, if you ever need a hand.

[WorkinWrenchs]

lower50's I like this one also



99 to Life I am happy that you figured it out I was a little worried and still patiently waiting for mine to show up.

JoeDoh Anytime you are headed to OKC let me know I could always use a hand

As for update on the project it is kind of at a stand still right now. We are expecting to get a 1/2" of ice and 4" of snow tonight through Monday. I did get a great Christmas present from the wife and that was $150 for "truck parts" so I will order some metal to do the floor on Monday so I can have that ready once the plasma shows up. Hopefully the lower cups show up this week also so I can do the front suspension and get it laid out.

[WorkinWrenchs]

Got the plasma cutter today. Still waiting on the lower cups and metal to come in. Wont be able to use the plasma yet since we have been with out power since Sunday.



Here is a picture of my pathetic tree in the front yard. We got about 3/4" of ice through the storm and about 2" of snow and they are calling for more snow tonight.

[Advanced Design]

Good luck with your plasma. Terrible weather there! If we had that much ice we would probably lose power. Hope you guys don't.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by WorkinWrenchs

Wont be able to use the plasma yet since we have been with out power since Sunday.

Hope you power is back by now. About 3 yrs ago ice storm had us without power for 7 days, that was the pits...Jim

[solidaxel]

I don't know how you folks live in that kind of weather!

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Hope you power is back by now. About 3 yrs ago ice storm had us without power for 7 days, that was the pits...Jim

Oops, sorry I missed that! Hope it comes back on quickly!

[84blaze]

Do you guys recommend that Lotos Plasma cutter? It would be a great tool to have in the garage, I just don't want to buy something that doesn't last.

[aknovaman]

Co-worker just ordered a cut50 for $299. Looks exactly like my collasal. I can post he remarks. I use the snot out of it.

[99 to Life]

I used mine twice. first time was just cutting some plate on frame, worked good. I wish it had a pilot arc but its still good. Second time I thought I'd try and blast out some rivets. all hell broke loose. Perhaps I had a bad angle and or my air pressure dropped (when I was done I noticed my air at 30 psi which is too low) so I ended up getting slag all over the cup, wiped it off and the tip crumbled. They give you electrodes and tips but not cups.

I can't really give a great review at this time because Im not sure how long the consumables should last. I'd imagine they would last a while, but mine sure as heck didn't, but.... most likely my fault.

I ordered up some extended tips and if they work out, I'll be ordering in bulk from china (which is where all these ceramic cups and tips are coming from) yet home depot wants to charge and arm and two legs.

Iv seen a few on ebay for cheap since they were returned or refurbished. so you can get a killer deal if you look. Not sure if you'd get the warranty or not.

[aknovaman]

Water is the death of plasma cutters. If you don't have a very good water separator inline it will pop and snap and go through consumables in a few minutes of cutting. I have the toilet paper roll style separator that works perfectly. It's a Motor Guard Model 30.

My only problem is if you drop the gun, the ceramic nozzle cracks. So I have a plastic milk crate on the floor to set mine in between cuts to prevent me from stepping on it and dropping it off my work bench.

[smittster]

I saw the icy picture and knew it was home. I am in Edmond. Nice project.

[aknovaman]

My kid is an engineering student at OCU.

[WorkinWrenchs]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

I don't know how you folks live in that kind of weather!

Its not that bad. I lived in So Cal for 26 years and you couldn't get me to move back. We actually have seasons here and no liberals.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Oops, sorry I missed that! Hope it comes back on quickly!

Power came back on Monday night i think. The wife was ready to get a hotel room but they were all sold out and didn't have power either.

Originally Posted by 84blaze

Do you guys recommend that Lotos Plasma cutter? It would be a great tool to have in the garage, I just don't want to buy something that doesn't last.

I with 99 to Life. I have only used mine twice now to cut out some 3/16" plate for some filler pieces but it is definitely worth every penny so far. However, I can see going through consumables fairly quickly if not paying attention.

Originally Posted by smittster

I saw the icy picture and knew it was home. I am in Edmond. Nice project.

Ya I live in Yukon we got about 3/4" of ice. Don't know how you feel about the earthquakes but they sure do remind me of California. That is about the only thing that I missed from there, but now we are the quake capitol of the US.

Originally Posted by aknovaman

Water is the death of plasma cutters.... I have a plastic milk crate on the floor to set mine in between cuts to prevent me from stepping on it and dropping it off my work bench.

I have the cheap filter/pressure regulator they sent with the unit but I also have my regular filter that I use for when i try to paint. Guess I will have to step up and check into a dryer.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Hope you power is back by now. About 3 yrs ago ice storm had us without power for 7 days, that was the pits...Jim

Thanks we were without power for about 30 Hrs. Nothing I couldn't handle but the wife and kids are another story. When I lived in So Cal and the Santa Ana winds would kick up, we went without power for 5 days one time.


As for updates: Not much to report of other than I went and got a 4X4 Blazer rear end with disc brakes from pull a part on Sat, so now I can measure for material to make a 3-Link.



Also fired up the Lotos and cut out some 3/16" filler pieces for the front frame horns. Going to have to grind the slag off since i didn't have enough air pressure do to a several leaks, that i have now corrected.



Also got some rectangular tubing in to start replacing the floor. I haven't started that yet since i am still trying to decide if I want to replace the driver side rocker or just try and straighten it. Gotta wait for some more money first since i had to do regular maintenance to the DD's, and the wife's car needed a new battery so that was $100 that wasn't expected.

[aknovaman]

Suggestion, clamp a 1x1 of wood to the metal you are cutting and drag the cutter head along it as a guide. It will make your cuts straight and not have much for grinding or cleanup.

If you are burning up consumables, turn the amps down until it just cuts through the metal. I set mine for 10 amps per 0.10 inch. May need to slow down your cutting speed too.

[WorkinWrenchs]

Originally Posted by aknovaman

Suggestion, clamp a 1x1 of wood to the metal you are cutting and drag the cutter head along it as a guide. It will make your cuts straight and not have much for grinding or cleanup.

If you are burning up consumables, turn the amps down until it just cuts through the metal. I set mine for 10 amps per 0.10 inch. May need to slow down your cutting speed too.

Thanks for the suggestions I knew about the 1x1 just was hurrying amd well we can all see the out come. I will have to try the 10 amps per .10 inch trick I didn't know that one.

[lower50's]

[QUOTE=WorkinWrenchs;7424195]lower50's I like this one also



Love it!! so true Nice plasma. I have a 220V china tig works great for 2 years now. Have fun.