thanks for the input. i know what you mean by the rust thing. it is a nasty creature. i will be sure to update when i get this all done. i will be mounting the exhaust today and determining the cut lines and modifications i want to make then tuning and mapping the ecm tomorrow and probably removing it to cut and modify next time it rains or the next time i get a free moment.
D&D Dilemma
- Thread starter 2004xb12s
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I made the cuts and it turned out pretty good. With the way the pipes were welded together they left a pinhole sized gap that was covered by the bottom plate which i cut off...leaving me a pinhole in the bottom of my pipes. This is currently being welded by a family friend who owns a body shop. I can take some pictures when I get back home. (Currently at college) I ground all the metal pieces down flush with the pipes so they look clean. When I get it back from the shop all it will need is some touch up paint or powdercoat and it will be ready to go.
Alright so I got it done and mounted on the bike. It is getting pulled off soon for ceramic coat but I wanted to get it on and take some pictures so you guys can see how it turned out. I will post more pictures this weekend on the difficulty that came after cutting off the chin brackets. Any questions feel free to ask
Build one, it's cleaner that way.
brightbuell
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- Oct 15, 2009
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- 1,438
For lightnings it might look ok but for Firebolts not having a chin fairing may not look so good.
I've been welding off and on for 25 years I guess. Started back in high school, then didn't use it for 15+ years. Got into it again at a machine shop in the mid 90's. I didn't learn to really tig weld until maybe 98 or 99. I only went through one certification class that was specific to the job I did. Since then, it's been hit and miss with welding up until 2 years ago.
It's not that hard and you get better with practice. Lots of tech schools offer welding classes. I got a part time job in a machine shop and learned a LOT there. I can weld aluminum better than the shop owner now, although he never liked doing it to begin with. I do side jobs for him since I picked up a Syncrowave a few weeks ago. Between building pipes, side jobs and my regular job, I stay pretty busy.
You may not have the technical know-how right this minute, but it's certainly something you can learn. I did. One of these days I intend to learn how to fly an airplane.
It's not that hard and you get better with practice. Lots of tech schools offer welding classes. I got a part time job in a machine shop and learned a LOT there. I can weld aluminum better than the shop owner now, although he never liked doing it to begin with. I do side jobs for him since I picked up a Syncrowave a few weeks ago. Between building pipes, side jobs and my regular job, I stay pretty busy.
You may not have the technical know-how right this minute, but it's certainly something you can learn. I did. One of these days I intend to learn how to fly an airplane.
I bought a '05 Firebolt about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and it had the D & D exhaust with no chin fairing. The dealer told me up front the chin fairing was missing (along with the left mirror). So naturally I felt it was a part that was "missing" and determined I needed to get a chin fairing. It actually had occurred to me (early on, before I saw this thread) that the previous owner was "intentionally" running it without the chin fairing. But to me, styling-wise on the Firebolt, it "needs" the chin fairing. That is what EB had in mind for the style. To each their own of course. But I agree that for the Firebolt in particular that it looks "complete" with the chin fairing in place. Of course I am glad that the previous owner left the bottom plate and chin fairing mounting brackets in place. But here is a pic of how the bike looked "before" (without the chin fairing):
