I CHANGED THE HEADER TO ENCOURAGE MORE UNIVERSAL FAB-IDEAS FROM THE LJ COLLECTIVE GENIUS. IF ONE OF YOU "HITS IT OUTTA' THE PARK" I'LL REWARD YOU APPROPRIATELY IF I UNDERTAKE LARGE-VOLUME PRODUCTION HERE IN MX.
MY LATEST: In the spirit of serp-driven DIY accessories, how about a simple TWIN'd metal pulley, so that you'd have a protruding 2nd pulley available to use as/when desired?
A 2-wide pulley could function like a poor-man's PTO, providing a reasonably-robust "energy source" for all kinds of whacky stuff, maybe even something useful! How about a serp-driven small, clutch'd, 110vac generator and/or air compressor in place of the VH, and/or replacing Idler Pulley B, mounted on that side of engine?
ANYBODY KNOW HOW UNIVERSAL THE LIBBY'S SERP-BELT IS? WHAT ELSE (other jeeps?) USES THE 6-RIBBED, SAME-WIDTH BELT?
REGARDING A CUSTOM MECHANICAL FAN BRACKET, ALL DESIGN SUGGESTIONS ON THE TABLE, please. I'm employing a local (Ensenada, Baja) metal fabrication shop to execute the custom Mechanical Fan (MF) replacement bracket. Absent better design ideas and/or greater interest, I'll proceed with a one-off design to meet my own needs. I'll post pics and results.
In any MF-delete setup, a reduced-size bracket: - Provides more room for installing an electric "puller" fan - Permits installation of a larger upper-pulley on bracket (useful for avoiding the tensioner-pulley in PS/Idler/ALT routing, among others) - Reduces annoying protruding MF hub/pulley assembly - ???
I had envisioned a fairly simple substitute bracket that just chopped-off the lower-portion of the original bracket, deleting the MF hub/pulley/shaft/bearing assembly, including the longer (4th) mounting bolt. However, it occurs to me that there may well be other more advisable and/or versatile design concepts.
One design alternative: keep essentially the entire original bracket design, but substitute a pulley-spec threaded-sleeve in place of the stock MF pulley-shaft. That design would: - Retain an upper/lower dual-pulley bracket, but substitite a smaller, MUCH lighter lower-pulley in place of the MF-hub, reducing serp-drag and increasing the clearance available for substituting a larger upper-pulley - Replicate the stock MF-pulley's increased serp-contact around the harmonic balancer - Be somewhat less protrusive than the stock MF-hub.
Obviously, the more complex the design requirements the higher the cost of fabrication. A balance between cost & complexity could be struck, making the bracket as useful as possible to as many people as possible at the lowest possible cost.
I intend to obtain pricing on 1/10/20/50 units. It's true that compared to the US most MX shops do not have the latest, greatest equipment. However, the skilled pros here take great pride in their trade and craft and create very good work. I am not interested in fancy-finishing the metal surface of the bracket(s). Upon receipt, others are welcome to prime, paint, powder-coat or plate(lol) to their own liking.
In small-volume, any jeep-related fab-runs of brackets, boomerangs, etc. constitutes a "hobby" side-project for me. Accordingly, I am open to LJ members suggestions regarding what would be reasonable per-unit remuneration-above-cost for my time coordinating the design, fabrication, test-fitting, packaging and shipping of custom products.
For enhanced delivery time/reliability, all shipping would originate in the US (excepting any MX destinations). As I suspect some are aware, currently there's some political turmoil surrounding nafta. Nonetheless, at least regarding the importation of limited-run parts to the US in 'discrete' quantities, I doubt there would be any "duty" liability. After all, the loveable Sgt. Fido is not trained to sniff-out contraband custom jeep-parts. Yet.
Regarding undertaking MX fabrication of WW's custom "boomerang", I'm mulling it over. It would be helpful to have some sense of the # of people seriously interested. It's size, weight and shape present unique packaging as well as transport, import & shipping-expense challenges. This April, I could hand-deliver orders to Socal-Vegas-Phoenix & possibly Norcal-Reno. I'll try to obtain boomerang fab-estimates while filling the bracket order.
Thanks, and Suerte!
_________________ '15: bought '05 w/138k. '16: HG/Rockers/ARPs/Thermo/H20pump/TbeltKit/ Seals/ Mounts/Kennedy fuel pump. '17: bought manual Gas donor for its' ARB F/R Airlockers, OME 2.5" lift (gas-rated), JBA UCAs, ARB bumper. '19: Trans w/Suncoast/Transgo/HDdiscs, new OME CRD-rated lift, electric tri-fan setup, BlackMagics/Centric Premiums, Airbags.
Last edited by Gypsy62 on Mon Jan 15, 2018 1:28 pm, edited 9 times in total.
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