Mikey's Ghia Thread...

[Doogie S]

Mikey,

I've been having the same dilemma over the purchase of the tube bender until I saw a link here for blind chicken racing. If you check out their web site in the tools section, there is a section for a home built tube bender and a couple of others that people have built. :agree:

To say the least, it looks promising and I am planning to build one to test it out. I was going to use it for the custom exhaust system for the Ghia, but I have since order a A1 Sidewinder for the Ghia instead. (Should have it in a week or so)

Anyway, it might be worth a look. I have a buddy who works in a sheet metal shop who may be able to CNC Plasma cut me out the components after I CAD the thing up. I'll post some photos of the work. It might not be till the fall though, as I have to get rolling getting the garage set up before I start making tools to fill it up.

Cheers,


Doug

[Mikey]

I bought some plans similar to BCR's bender to make my own a while back, but the dies are expensive. At least from what I've seen. He said something like $300-325 in the bender. I bet it's mostly in the die, and jack.

I've also seen a few cheap benders on ebay. But I wasn't sure if they'd work for a cage or something. Since they don't have the right size die. I was thinking 1-5/8" x .134 tubing for a small cage. Seats back and maybe a pair of low door bars. I don't want to fall on them getting in and out everytime.

[Racelook]

Yep Mike, that's what I asked. There are companies that can do that against an relatively nice price (in Holland I know a couple).

WIebrand

[Doogie S]

Mikey,

My research says the exact same thing about the cost of the dies, somewhere in the $350 to $400 range, depending upon the size of the dies. There were a couple of suppliers I found on the net listing the dies separately.

One company also had a manual tube bender for around $375 (I can find the link if you want). However as soon as you added in the hydraulic option, it jumped to almost $1,000. So as far as that goes, the BCR bender is a deal with the hydraulic bending.

I'll just have to fab a couple cages and exhaust systems for my buddies to offset the cost of the dies.

Cheers,


Doug

[GeorgeL]

Originally Posted by Mikey

Thanks guys.

Rich, I'm not sure if it'll clear the tank, if it's too tall I can cut it down, but at least it's not short.

Wiebrand, I believe you're asking. Why didn't I just bend the tube? I coudn't find a tubing bender anywhere around to rent or barrow, and buying a bender just for that seemed too much to me.

Hmmm, just a wild guess, but couldn't a muffler shop do that sort of bend?

George

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by GeorgeL

Hmmm, just a wild guess, but couldn't a muffler shop do that sort of bend?

George

Good question. That was originaly one of my options, But I'd have to have the pan at the muffler shop to get the right angles. If I didn't and it was bent wrong, because I didn't figure the angles right, I'd be stuck. Welding might not have been the best choice. But I thought it was good to work with the tools and skills I have. Still, with 1-1/4" ID tubing, I doubt I'll have a flow problem. If anything it'll be too big.

[wrenchnride247]

Mikey, you could use some filler rods or coat hanger and bend to the correct angels. Then take that to the muffler shop . Just my thoughts. Have used this to bend 2in. 304SS tubing at work since we couldn't move the 150,000 lb. machine to the rebuild shop .

[Steve C]

Hi

Can you buy mandrel bends where you are? Thats what most people down here use to make custom exhaust systems.

Steve

[Rob]

Hey Mikey,

Good to see you are moving forward. I haven't done sh!t the last couple months... just couldn't get myself to go into the cold garage.

Pretty impressive to see your accomplishments. Maybe when the weather gets warmer I'll get going again.

Keep up the good work.

Rob.

[Mikey]

Danny, that's a good idea. Although I was told by Tim that a muffler shop couldn't make the real tight corners I needed, their corners have a smoother and larger radius.

Steve, I'm not sure about the mandrel bends. I'll have to look into it more once I get to my exhaust. I believe the water lines will work out fine.

Rob, I hear ya. I wouldn't be working out in the garage during the winter if Tim didn't have heat. I'd love to see pictures once you get going again.

Thanks for the kind words.

[Mikey]

YEAH! After almost 2 months and 1 failed deal on ebay. I finaly have my Subaru engine!

I started working on it a little tonight. Took off the intercooler, altenator, power steering pump, and AC compressor. It really started to take shape after a few of the bigger parts were off. I carefully removed all the parts that I'll reuse and the parts I won't. I didn't want to ruin something I might end up needing by ripping stuff off. I also began to more or less get familiar with the Subaru, running down hoses, fuel lines, vacume lines, coolant lines. To get a good feel for the location of everything.

I'm not sure where I'm going to go next. I might pull the intake, along with a few misc. peices, and start fitting it in the car. Then decide to either flip the intake or not, sort out the wireing, air filter/ intercooler, coolant lines, replace timing belt... A bunch of things to get sorted out. But at least I have an engine now.

I've also enclosed some pictures. It has a long way to go, but I'm definatly going to clean it up.

[wrenchnride247]

GO! Mikey! Go!

[yellow73]

I can't wait to see that going in. Thanks for the update Mikey.

[Rob]

Good stuff Mikey !

Congrats on your new motor !

What motor is that ? a 2.2 ?
Have you decided yet what you are going to do for engine management ?

Rob.

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by Rob

Good stuff Mikey !

Congrats on your new motor !

What motor is that ? a 2.2 ?
Have you decided yet what you are going to do for engine management ?

Rob.

Thanks guys. I'm going to spend this weekend putting it in.

Rob, it's a 2.0 Turbo. EJ20T. I'm going megasquirt with the EDIS ignition. I have the computer and the harness already, I just need to buy up the EDIS stuff.

I might end up making a removeable rear apron, I'm not sure just yet, I do know that rear sheet metal needs replaced. It'll be easier just to replace it, it's pitted and bent like crazy. The flat peice on the back, not where the latch sits. It's terible.

I was looking though your site again last night, Trying to decide to reverse the intake or leave it stock. Stock looks a lot cleaner. but I'd have to cut on the firewall. Although I'm not worried about going back stock with this body anyway. And if I turn it around I'd have to relocate the altenator. hmm... choices, choices...