Field Trip to Ben Hanks Racing

[spencevans]

Yeah, they do good work, I still need them to install my Tcase, have my lockers hooked up and a few other small items. Overall I have been very pleased with there work and they have been more than accomodating when it comes to making adjustments to the suspension. Every time I take my truck in I enjoy walking around the shop and looking at all the projects. My favorite project is that FJ40, the highline fender lift they did is really cool. I wish I had some pics of it to share, though I do have a couple of shots of my truck that they have been working on since May.

 

[mesha]

they do some awesome work. Its funny to see how things change. I bought a jeep from ben several years ago (way before the shop). It had hockey pucks for the tanny mount bushings. where there where gaps in the tube work that needed to be filled there was a bolt stuffed in sideways and welded in.
I had to call him after I bought it cause I didn't know how to wire up the solenoid (I was a loser). Needless to say things have changed. I'll be callin for some work soon.

 

[Rusted]

Took a few more photos today. I swear I am like a kid in a candy store when I go there and I notice more things each time.

The rock race buggy had been moved out and Von's dirt bike had been moved into the show room







The DOM coffee table is cool


How many people have a computer holder that is as cool as this one?

 

[Rusted]

The buggy has made a little progress as well. I noticed some work done to the cage, and the engine bay area to give it some protection and add a stylish FJish grill. Very cool.







There is many hours put into this to give it the arch, speed holes and perfect fit.

 

[Rusted]

I walked the perimiter this time and took some photos of some of the tools.

Iron worker. This is part of the reason they can get custom parts and brakets made so fast when it would take me hours at home to get the right shape. They knock it out in a few mintues with this


Giant lathe.


Belt grinder/tube notcher. The top can be used to grind corners, etc. The clamp holds tubing and makes a perfect notch. Much better than me with a hole saw attached to a drill.




I put a short tube in as a sample so the photos would make more sense.




I wish every home garage came with a built in plasma table. All computer controlled so they can cut parts exactly and duplicate them anytime they need agian.

 

[Rusted]

I missed a few photos. There has been some work done to the YJ as well. In a similar theme to the FJ that is going on, this is really a cool blend of buggy and full body together

The sheet metal was removed (that is inside passengers side)


Then a replacement was made using new metal. Dimple added, welded between the door frame and tube fender so all is solid (that is exterior drivers side)


Then the cool part was on the inside of the tub a second sheet of metal was added with the holes cut, but not dimpled. Then the two pieces were welded together to create a thicker tub, hollow in the middle, much stronger and more ridged that before. And it looked very clean inside and out


Just stepped back a little to get a better idea of the overall project

 

[Bart]

Yep, I drool every time I go in there also. Great work, great shop.

 

[Herzog]

I need a belt sander.

 

[Rusted]

I stopped by Ben Hanks the other day, and guess who is starting ANOTHER cool FJ build. I only had a minute while I was there so I did not get the details on this one, but here is the start



And some really cool looking wooden doors for a FJ. These were not built at Ben Hanks, but I took some photos because I had never seen this before.






A scout that was in for some work.


And still my favorite full body buggy thing. I want to see this one finished. It has given me all kinds of ideas for protection, inner fenders, etc

 

[chadschoon]

Ya matts yj is my favorite rig. It's just perrttttyyyy

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Those wood doors are absolutely awesome. Take a close look at them and you can tell whomever built them has some serious skills