We trust you've followed No Limit Engineering's progress on the 2006 F-100 Supernationals giveaway Ford Racing-themed '56 F-100. Led by owner, engineer and master fabricator Rob MacGregor, No Limit technicians have a reputation for performing top-quality professional custom classic car and truck building. They also manufacture many industry-leading components for vintage custom trucks, street rods and musclecars.
No Limit's artistry is so astounding, if we hadn't witnessed them working firsthand, we'd think we'd somehow been trapped in a netherworld of fabrication fairy tales. In my most recent visit to San Bernardino, California, at No Limit Engineering's manufacturing and distribution center, I watched Rob construct a custom transmission hump out of sheetmetal. Given this article's allusion to fairy tales, what could be a better title than Humplesteelskin? After all, No Limit Engineering would be constructing a hump comprised of steel skin to cover the high-performance Tremec manual transmission.
Without further ado, why don't we watch and learn more about No Limit's wizardry with fabrication and engineering? See how the myth of Humplesteelskin became a reality in less than a day. The best thing is, no trolls were killed in the creation of Humplesteelskin!
Before fabricating Humplesteelskin,...
Before fabricating Humplesteelskin, a sheetmetal-skinned transmission hump...
...Rob measured the opening...
...Rob measured the opening he'd previously cut into the toeboards and floorboards of the BeBop's fiberglass cab...
...Tremec manual transmissions...
...Tremec manual transmissions are longer than many auto trans, hence the necessity of having a long and large opening in the floor.
No Limit marked where to drill...
No Limit marked where to drill holes on the trans hump brackets.
Rather than drill the holes,...
Rather than drill the holes, Rob used the 3/8-inch-diameter hole punch on the Ironworker and made fast work of the brackets.
With two of the frame pieces...
With two of the frame pieces in place, he rechecked some measurements he'd already made.
To prep the brackets for being...
To prep the brackets for being tack welded together, Rob ground the brackets' cut surfaces smooth with the freestanding grinder/sander.
It's far better to fine-tune...
It's far better to fine-tune components before they're put together than to tweak them afterward. By studying the separate pieces, No Limit determined the most effective plan of Humplesteelskin attack.
Since the frame pieces would...
Since the frame pieces would be welded together on a workbench, the protagonist of this fabrication tale carefully laid out the sections.
Rob donned his gloves and...
Rob donned his gloves and mask, fired up the MIG welder and started tacking the sections together.
Shearing the ends of some...
Shearing the ends of some of the sections to the correct angles in the Ironworker came next.
No Limit welded the pieces...
No Limit welded the pieces together that would be flat.
While holding the pieces at...
While holding the pieces at the desired angle, Rob tack welded the sections together to form a frame.
Confirming the component had...
Confirming the component had the proper fitment came next.
Humplesteelskin would be made...
Humplesteelskin would be made in two sheetmetal sections. The portion closest to the engine/toeboards would be 11.75 inches long, while the part closest to the seat would be 10.5 inches long. Soon, you'll learn more from this cardboard template.
Transferring the cut lines...
Transferring the cut lines to some sheetmetal came next.
Before cutting out the skin...
Before cutting out the skin for Humplesteelskin, Rob cut away the excess sheetmetal in the step shear.
Rob cut out the sheetmetal...
Rob cut out the sheetmetal in the bandsaw.
His handiwork looks good....
His handiwork looks good.
To turn the flat skin into...
To turn the flat skin into a three-dimensional cover, No Limit used a press break.
The cardboard template checks...
The cardboard template checks the cover's angle. It's close.
By holding the beginnings...
By holding the beginnings of Humplesteelskin in the press break, No Limit performed some manual metal manipulation.
Now the angle is spot-on....
Now the angle is spot-on. By repeating the press break process on the other side, the part became 3D.
Rob revealed how the skin...
Rob revealed how the skin would rest atop the frame.
Some of the hump will angle...
Some of the hump will angle up. Using tin snips, Rob cut off the piece that would eventually be welded at a gradual incline.
By sitting the skin on its...
By sitting the skin on its foundation, No Limit determined Humplesteelskin was taking shape.
Tack welding the metal skin...
Tack welding the metal skin on the frame was quick work for Rob and a trusty MIG welding torch and unit.
Measuring for the toeboard...
Measuring for the toeboard skin came next.
With a Sharpie, Rob drew the...
With a Sharpie, Rob drew the desired dimensions of the metal atop the toeboards.
The deftly drawn diagram is...
The deftly drawn diagram is ready for the step shear and bandsaw.
Rob removes excess sheetmetal...
Rob removes excess sheetmetal in the step shear.
As in the back portion of...
As in the back portion of Humplesteelskin, Rob adroitly cut the toeboard section in the bandsaw.
Careful bending in the press...
Careful bending in the press break ensued.
The toeboard piece looks to...
The toeboard piece looks to be a perfect fit.
Rob MIG tack welded the toeboard...
Rob MIG tack welded the toeboard piece...
...and laid down some bead...
...and laid down some bead welds.
One last piece would need...
One last piece would need to be cut and welded in to cap off Humplesteelskin.
Humplesteelskin's end cap...
Humplesteelskin's end cap was MIG tack and bead welded in place.
Finish work with the freestanding...
Finish work with the freestanding grinder made Humplesteelskin into a first-rate transmission hump.
Humplesteelskin's a perfect...
Humplesteelskin's a perfect fit!
Through the 3/8-inch punched...
Through the 3/8-inch punched holes in Humplesteelskin's frame, Rob drilled attachment holes in the BeBop's fiberglass floor.
Stainless steel fasteners...
Stainless steel fasteners will keep Humplesteelskin in line.
Though No Limit still needs...
Though No Limit still needs to cut a hole for the gearshift lever, Humplesteelskin is a most classy cover for the Tremec manual trans. No Limit Engineering will be doing more first-class fabricating in the next issue of Custom Classic Trucks. Keep reading.