Boomer's Rig

[Voodoochikin04]

i figured 26$ for enough tabs to do a front or rear end was pretty darn good price.

[Doug Heim]

It is a darn good price. I can usually do these simple tags for about $1 - $2 ea.

[Voodoochikin04]

well shit!!!! i'll be ordering some tabs from ya sometime soon doug.

[Doug Heim]

And I will make them to any specs!

[Boomer-61]

This past weekend I was mounting the radiator.  I had to put a cross member in to support the radiator.  The cross member will be removable so I can get the engine out.  I drilled the frame and tapped the holes to bolt the cross member on.  Will that create a stress riser or is it ok.  Is there a better way?
Thanks,
Boomer

[Carlriddle]

Weaker, yes.  How much depends on which tube, picture???  I would also be concerned about the threads having enough bite in the tube to stay put.  There are no normal conditions in offroad.

Weld a tab-bolt onto it.
Weld a nut to tubing-thread into it.
Others?

[fabr]

Pics please. But I'd say threads directly in tube is a bad idea at best.  BTDT :-[

[Boomer-61]

Horrible picture but I think you can get the gist of what is going on here.  What you see here is the radiator fan mount.  The radiator is mounted to the tabs on either side which are welded on.  But the removable cross member that the bottom of the radiator is mounted to is attached in the same screw in fashion.   

[Grimm Reaper Racing]

This is what I use.  I saw these guys at the Fabtech show in Chicago, IL and this thing works awesome.  We had to have one so we had it ordered before we left their booth.

http://www.formdrill.com/english/index.html

[Voodoochikin04]

wow, thats neat. whats the cost on a set of bits and taps like that?

[Grimm Reaper Racing]

I don't remember off hand, but I can ask the Chief how much he paid for them.  I know he'll remember, he is always reminding everyone in the shop how much everything costs.  He thinks that if you know how much he paid for it you're less likely to break it.
I do think we got a deal on it though, because he bought it at Fabtech.  Something like 25% off I think.

[Carlriddle]

Guy with coolest tools wins!  That would solve the striped threads issue, and I don't think that tube is a very structural member of the buggy.  Some have to be in certain places just to attach crap too.  After meeting Clint's wife, She is wanting that garage back one day so, that piece of robot equipment is out.  

This is simple:

[fabr]

The formdrill is cool and makes very effective threads but I still dislike the use of threaded fasteners entering a tube. Water infiltration and rust are just one of my concerns. IMO,and it's just an opinion, is that on offroad builds we want no open tubes. Not saying I haven't done so but I avoid the practice now.

[Voodoochikin04]

so ideally a tab, or a threaded inset welded in is best?

[fabr]

A closed end welded in insert or tab is what I prefer. Not saying it's the best but I like it . I used to do threaded directly into tube for small stuff but others have convinced me the water infiltration is an issue I'd like to avoid.