So Xmas came early in Fargo. I got my tubular front end today from HDK. The boxs of parts just keep dribbling in as my bank acct. creates a vacuum. Looks like I may have a busy weekend depending on how the playoffs go (NHL). I attached a picture of the K frame but omitted the rack and pinion portion and the wilwood brake pkg that goes with. Everybody knows what they look like.
From a craftsmanship standpoint the K frame is very well done. I am uber critical of all things welding and suffice to say the welds are very nice. Some undercutting on a very few and some indications of early tip pull out not allowing argon to fully seal. But overall very very nice welding. I would steal his welder in a heart beat! If my guys could pull that kind of quality off every day I would be a happy guy.
I know many are thinking if you can weld why did you pay someone to fab for you? Well until you try and tackle fabricating something like a K frame you simply do not realize the thought and effort behind it. The finished product I would guess is a compilation of about a million hard lessons. I just don't have the time to pay the tuition. I fully recognize the cost of the tuition and don't mind writing a check for this key piece in my build. To DIY it would set me back weeks.
As an example when someone hires me to weld a cast aluminum part then gripes about my fee. And I quote" what... it only took you 30 minutes to do" my reply is you are correct. But it took me twenty years to learn how to do it in 30 minutes. Go out and buy a 5,000 dollar water cooled heli arc machine and do it yourself.
Sorry you hit a nerve right there and I got on my soap box.
Long story short I paid for some welding and I got zero regrets it is a nice piece. Clearly in need of some powder coating tho! Hah! I will likely scratch it to pieces putting it in and out a dozen times, then I will powder coat it.
View attachment 1715169154