BRC PIPING

If you are rebuilding a BRC tub, one of the difficult bits will be the key-holed shaped piping that goes all around the perimeter of the tub/cowl. Here is how Don Shook of Butler PA does it.

Materials needed

Hydraulic tubing 1" 0.side x 7/8 1-diameter length as needed
1/4 " pipe ­ length as needed

I sued 4 pieces of "piping"
#1 ­ from drivers center of door opening to center of passenger door
#2 ­ center of passenger door to passenger rear corner (mitered at corners)
#3 ­ center of drivers door to driver rear corner (mitered at corners)
#4 ­ across rear back (mitered at corners)

3" longer than needed ­ so you will have sufficient to trim and align. Do all shaping and bending after piping is made with 1/4 pipe left in side. Do all bending (heating is necessary) by shaping to body curves. After bending and curving is very close to fitting use a reciprocating saw with blade going into slot after final bench in vise.

Sample #2 after being split it enters here ready to place on B .. by spot welding or counter sunk riveting on both sides of piping. (I like riveting and grinding heads because you are assured a good fastening. I used 1/8" counter sink rivets and peened into counter sink hole ­ grind all rivets flush with piping surface.

I bent all my piping with a 5" bench vise.

1" bend your length of tubing a little at a time until it is about egg shape or 1/4" pipe enters freely ­ put 1/4" pipe in make sure it fits to the top side ­ it will be necessary to tap down here to make sure tubing is tight against pipe while you keep squeezing with vise ­ always keep saws of vise close to 1/4" pipe

It is best to use or make a set of smooth vise jaws so you do not mar surface of piping (I made my smooth vise jaws from 1/4" stock.)