Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

As many of you know my KH is the only model in my fleet besides the Bruder Mack conversion that has a plastic body(cab). I have wanted to change it since the day I bought it but the timing hasn't been right and I couldn't decide what to build anyway. I struggled with the idea of old vs new for the body but I have decided that new is more challenging. I wanted to do a Kenworth T880 a while ago to test my patience but someone else beat me to the punch and I got busy building my Hayes. The Hayes is now close to being finished so today I got to work on this. I started out this morning making some sketches(tracing) of the cab and then started to transfer the templates onto the metal. Once that was finished the real work began....

Here's what I got accomplished today....
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3f7e3192.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psc4b7faf5.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps061f85ba.jpg
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http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2c6920e0.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psf16e941c.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psd7c2ccf2.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps69969fdf.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps38ce635e.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psff06ba21.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psb7f41e6d.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1bbe9d57.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0a1f650c.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7e2691fe.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psa5f66ea8.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps74edc03c.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

oh boy there goes the N'hood :jaw:

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Looking great!!

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

This is going to be a great build.

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Reg that is just insane. Your metal skills are off the charts!

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Excellent start.:bounce::bounce::bounce: Your skills are insane.:jaw::jaw: Keep the pic's coming, I would love to see more.:D:cool:;)

Big John

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

:eek::eek: WOW!!! Welding that thin of metal is unreal!! What a start to an already great build:jaw:

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Looking good!

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

very impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Reg is like a musician with perfect pitch. Anything he creates is a masterpiece! ;):D

So should be done in a few days eh Reg? :lol:
Can't wait to see more:):bounce:

Mario

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Your totally un-stoppable Reg, watching the progress as always!:bounce::bounce:

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Thanks for all the positive comments! I would like to take this opportunity to blame you all for my lack of a social life and constant symptoms of "RC-itis":p.

In my typical fashion, this thing is coming along quickly or at least it would seem. All tolled I have about 12 hours in this already but most of the sheet metal work is finished short of trimming the fenders and cutting out the lights and grills. Now that I have it this far along I need to turn my attention back to the half round trailer I am building before Keith flies to Canada and Kicks my A$$.:cop::p

Anyway, here is today's update. I was thinking the cab was going to be a little wide but once the fenders were built, welded on and trimmed everthing looks pretty close. I still need to open up the wheel wells but I am pretty impressed with how it is all fitting together so far.

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps82cf36a3.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps733df68b.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps27fb1263.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps318d028c.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psabfddc05.jpg

Thanks for following along!

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

looks just like the t680's we have at work

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

I decided that I needed to cut out the wheel wells and headlights before I put it aside:D.

It turns out that a CD was the perfect size to mark the opening. The KH cab floor is holding it up higher than it should be but it lines up really well with the factory steps vs axle position. When I build the bumper I will just have to mount it out further from the frame rails....or build another truck.:cool:

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4dade03e.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psc94cb336.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6577597c.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1bbf409b.jpg

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

:eek::jaw::eek::jaw: you about fixed it now I just put the empty argon bottles in the truck :p:p:p:p:p

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Prompting you do pick up the TIG torch again am I Steve?:cool:

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Great job,man you got some serious metal fab skills.looks awesome.

Ed

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Very cool build Reg! :D

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

OK, last update for today I promise.

Looking at pictures I noticed that there should be a slight flair to the fenders so a little dolly work was in order. It's fairly subtle but I think it will be more prominent once painted. While I was at it, I added some more weld to the headlight area so that I could grind the corners round. After that I cut out the breather holes in each side of the hood.

I think it's finally starting to look like a T880

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7564d139.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psa138d5ed.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psd850be77.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9630a2be.jpg

Reg

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

yea I am :rolleyes: well I have to finish the blade yet on the compactor . I ran out in april and still have yet to get to the supply house and get more :rolleyes:

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

great work reg , cannot wait to see more.....

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

That cab is awsome. You sir have some nice skills

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Hi friend I love your work, you really have very good hands to make this work, I congratulate

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Thank you all very much!

Here's a small update. I spent a few hours machining the front grill. Not having CNC really sucks with this kinda stuff. I said the F word really F ing loud when the grill caught on the buffing wheel and flew across my shop, bouncing off the shelving unit that stores my models and coming to a rest under my bandsaw:mad::mad:! I thought for sure it would be destroyed yet amazingly enough it was unharmed:eek:. What a relief! I then said some more F words surrounded by things like, _____ amazing, I can't ____ believe it isn't ____ and so on. All of this while standing alone in my shop... I think I'm losing it!:bounce::bounce:

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps58f5cd03.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps83cfc32d.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6bbc6e49.jpg

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

So wifey must be at work today or she might have appeared at the doorway yelling "WT_____ is wrong with you?" :D :lol:

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Hahaha! You got it!

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

"Here's a small update. I spent a few hours machining the front grill. Not having CNC really sucks with this kinda stuff. I said the F word really F ing loud when the grill caught on the buffing wheel and flew across my shop, bouncing off the shelving unit that stores my models and coming to a rest under my bandsaw! I thought for sure it would be destroyed yet amazingly enough it was unharmed. What a relief! I then said some more F words surrounded by things like, _____ amazing, I can't ____ believe it isn't ____ and so on. All of this while standing alone in my shop... I think I'm losing it!"


:D:lol:I guess I'm not alone :lol: you be surprised the abuse a good grade of aluminum can take . I gotta say this , unfortunately my kids know every cuss werd in the book :o ( thats how I learned them ) .

Great job on the grill . watch these guys here :rolleyes: or you'll be needin the CNC

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Thanks for the compliment and no you aren't alone Steve! It wouldn't have been the first time that I had a few solid hours into something only to watch it be destroyed by one wrong move. Years ago I would get mad and smash stuff but I soon realized that it is easier(and cheaper) to put it down and walk away than smash it and start all over. As it turns out, sometimes my mistakes can be fixed after taking a second look with a cooler head:rolleyes:.

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

I've come a long way but still got the (me smash in me yet ) like today , just about destroyed the shop . :eek: everything just came to a head at once , Started with a boring bar and insert order that was delayed delivery for a week do to a tec glitch on his end . Ok that stuff showed up mon. , Life is good right ?? get that op finished std blanks ready for holes now ss blanks need a different bar to finish :rolleyes: . OK take it in the butt and order fro MSC cool in stock I'll get fri . NOT:mad::mad::mad: go check order shipped from mafr. will take over week :mad::mad::mad::mad: WTF it said in stock now says this after I order . hen today . software glitch I didn't catch before hitting green blinky button ------- I needed that to finish an order this week !!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 days to get and have order coming in on mon from same place :( oh well pay more shipping :(

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Steve - more and more catalog companies are stating in stock but what it actually means is direct ship from manufacturer. Acme taps are this way - McMaster had to have tap built even though it said "in stock"

Chin up old man - business is changing around here .....not necessarily for the better though.

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

well todays issues what I get for werkin straight through the night :rolleyes: I only use MSC if I have to any more like a friday night emergency call in before 4 and pick up at the dock 30min away. I like my lil guys , they're nice on the pocket and good stuff just takes week max to get .

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Great job, it´is very interesting project

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Reg very nice job on the cab and your welds are looking real good considering the light metal. Ed

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Reg - I like your aluminum skills - I've heard that welding thin sections are terrifically difficult - great work!

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Sorry to hear about all your issues Steve. Somedays it seems like if it can, it will.

Thanks Ed, Izzy. Some welds are fairly easy and others are a pain. Fitment of parts makes a huge difference. Sometimes I just have to blob on extra and grind it off. Lol

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Outstanding work!!! When your done with it ill take it in red... HAHA absolutely amazing aluminum skills!!! Cant wait to see what you do next on it

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Haha, be careful what you wish for... If it turns out well enough I may put it up for sale.

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Looks amazing reg , you amaze me every time you build .. Look forward to seeing more

Re: Kenworth T880-Aluminum cab
 

Not having CNC machines can be a blessing at times. 8 hrs of pushing a button can make for a very BORING night:eek: I still enjoy making things where I control everything. Manual machines are nice if you have a DRO on them. Reading dials gets to be as big pain as CNC after awhile.:rolleyes::rolleyes: Grill looks great!!