Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

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Grumpy
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Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:24 am
Location: DMZ Vietnam

Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by Grumpy »

Finally I'm able to log in ( with Matts help ), Update today (last night your time ) I might have found a MFG. that can bend the tubing, I'll know more tomorrow once I meet with them.. They have the prints & say No Problem???

Grumpy in The NAM
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Grumpy
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by Grumpy »

OK, I think I found a Mfg. here that can bend the tubing :pray: , I have sent all his info to my contact in Kansas City & hopfully they will send him a NOS sample of the bumper to make sure that he can do.. I got to see some of there work & they are bending tube in a shorter distance than the width of our bumpers. SOOO lets hope he can do for at least the same price as China qoated..
I will keep everyone informed again with the next news I have..

Grumpy in The NAM for only a few more days
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by ICCSF 108 »

Update 5/8/12, NOS sample is being shipped FedEx to VN tomorrow..

Kenny
AKA: Kenny, Grumpy, Mr. Richard Head
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by ICCSF 108 »

Update 5/31/12, I have in my possession 2 pro-types of the 78 Style Rear Grab Bar Repopped in VN they look great & on the first go around, Like it should have been from China, I'll try them on my 78 tomorrow then I'll send them out to others for testing & evaluation.

I'll keep everyone posted

Kenny
AKA: Kenny, Grumpy, Mr. Richard Head
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
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cledussnow77
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by cledussnow77 »

Awsome Kenny, keep up the good work :beers; :usa: .
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by ICCSF 108 »

Update 6/4/12, I picked up the 2 prototypes & cked them on one of my 78 CC's using 5/16" bolts the holes were about a 1/2 hole off on 4 of the bolt holes, ( IF I would have used 1/4" bolts it might have bolted right up ) Now I'm not sure how sprung this tunnel is in the rear so on a straight one they might have bolted right up?? Other than that they look real good ( my opinion ), they are made of greater thickness tubing than the OEM so that is a +..
I'm sending them out to Brian & Troy for there evaluation..
I know that the Mfg. is asking for a little more $$ than the China ones were But my supplier is negotiating that, So we'll see

Grumpy
AKA: Kenny, Grumpy, Mr. Richard Head
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
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HoosierDeereMan
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by HoosierDeereMan »

The proto type rear grab bar arrived from Kenny on my doorstep on Friday 6/8/12. Over the weekend I was able try it on my 78 Liquifire and check the fitment.
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HoosierDeereMan
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by HoosierDeereMan »

More pictures.
Attachments
100_1585.JPG
100_1584.JPG
'72 400
'73 400, (2)500's, 600
'74 295/S (restored) 2010 HOF poker run survivor.
'75 800, JDX8,
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HoosierDeereMan
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by HoosierDeereMan »

Here you can see the 90 degree bend is tighter than the original Deere bar.
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'72 400
'73 400, (2)500's, 600
'74 295/S (restored) 2010 HOF poker run survivor.
'75 800, JDX8,
'75 340/S 2011 & 2012 Vintage Challenge finisher.
'76 (2)400's
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by HoosierDeereMan »

The bar is made of much heavier wall thickness than the OEM bar. The bends are pretty much on the money. The two things I noticed is that the 90 degree bends on Kenny's aftermarket bar are tighter. The OEM bends are more sweeping. Also the holes do not align perfect with tunnel holes. They are about 1/2 a hole off. I was able to get the two carriage head bolts started in the running board on each side. With those two bolts tightened down the four bolt holes that secure the bar to the sides of the rear of the tunnel are roughly a 1/2 a hole off. That being said I could easily drill the holes in the tunnel using the holes in the grab bar as a guide. With the flat washers installed on the backside of these bolts it would hide the elongated hole. The factory fasteners are 1/4" diameter bolts and Kenny had 5/16" holes drilled in the bar. So you talking 1/8" to 3/16" off center. Overall I was pleased with what Kenny had made. I also like the idea of it being heavier to withstand more abuse.

Troy
'72 400
'73 400, (2)500's, 600
'74 295/S (restored) 2010 HOF poker run survivor.
'75 800, JDX8,
'75 340/S 2011 & 2012 Vintage Challenge finisher.
'76 (2)400's
'78 Liquifire 340,440
'79 Spitfire
"If it has Tits, Tires, or Tracks it's gonna cost you money!"
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400brian
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by 400brian »

I had a box on my doorstep on Friday as well.


First impressions of the bar as it came out of the box;

Heavy duty unit! Noticeably heavier wall thickness. Bare steel, no paint.

90 degree bends are slightly tighter radius than original. Drilled holes match diameter of OEM bar, bigger than 1/4", smaller than 5/16"



Impressions of fit:

Best fitting bar to date. Bends are accurate, does not require bending, warping, or tweaking to install.
I was reminded of this as I was removing the previous prototype bar that was still on the sled. All the fasteners had to be screwed out, and the bar still had to be pried off the tunnel. This one drops on like the OEM bar.
The holes are drilled cleanly. They appear to be square and on center to the tube. They measure around .308 - .316" diameter.

With both vertical bolts installed through foot boards and snug:

Right side: Horizontal holes line up imperfectly. Upper hole in bar needs to go 1/2 hole up. Lower hole is off center, but bolt will go.

Left side: Horizontal holes line up even worse. Upper hole is full diameter too low. Lower hole is close enough that a quick ream would make it work.

I eyeballed the installation, and took a few measurements. It looks good. It appears to sit square to the tunnel, looking at it from the back and the top.

Conclusions;

The bending is pretty much spot on. The difference in the radius of the 90 degree bends isn't a deal breaker for me. I did notice it as soon as it came out of the box, but on the sled, I doubt anyone will really notice it.
The fact that it fits without prying and warping it, is a big plus to me.

As for the bolt holes, yes it would be nice if they lined up better. Kenny mentioned to me that he might send them a fixture to check the fit against. Perhaps that would help, who knows. These are being made in Vietnam, and there is the language problem. We could spend a lot of time and money trying to get these better. The size of the drilled holes closely matches my OEM bar. Kenny says a 5/16" bolt can be coaxed through, I did not try that. At any rate, if you need to go up to 5/16" bolts, it wouldn't be too big a deal to make that work.

I can live with it the way it is. It depends on how fussy you want to be. Kenny has been beating this horse a long time now.

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Sprailfire340
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by Sprailfire340 »

Thanks for the report guys. I'll take my 5 just the way they are. Not like they are going on NOS tunnels anyway - probably need to open up a few of the bolt holes regardless.
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eppjd
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by eppjd »

I also see no issue with these prototypes. Thanks for all your hard work Kenny. Adam
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by ICCSF 108 »

Thanks Guy's BUT I also have a little bad news, my supplier wants a $ 4.00 ea price increase per bar, From what I can gather the Mfg. in Vietnam didn't come in at as low a price as I had hoped, or as low as China was, ( BUT then again that might be why they couldn't do the job in the end?? ) maybe because of the increase of wall thickness resulting in the price of steel in VN??
I will understand IF any of you want to back out of your orders..

Let me know your comments on this

Kenny
AKA: Kenny, Grumpy, Mr. Richard Head
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
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eppjd
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Re: Kenny's next reproduction: '78 style rear bumpers

Post by eppjd »

I will still take the 2 I spoke for; peanuts really when you consider all the work you have put into this project, and the quality of work that I have seen would be hard to beat. Thanks again, Adam.
Adam Epp
Winnipeg, MB, Canada

74 400 (2 - sold)
75 800 (motor in pieces, next on the resto list)
75 X4 Special (bare tunnel, stripped)
76 340 Cyclone (resto in progress)
76 340 Cyclone (bare tunnel, stripped)
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