ASAP: Needing a fab shop between Columbia, SC and Rockingham, NC

[tony-muscle]

Long story short. As i am in the Hot Rod Power Tour today the bracket that holds my clutch cable cracked and bent which left me without clutch. Luckily it was as i was coming into the venue. With the help of friends from Colorado we made a temp fix. They even found a local shop to welded but cracked again. Right now the temp fix is working but I will feel more comfortable if a weld shop or fabricator would help me to reinforce the bracket. Ideally it will have to be on Wednesday. I guess today since i am writing this at 12:45am. Long day. Any pointers to a good shop in the way will be helpful.

 

[Hemikiller]

No idea if they'll help, but these guys are right in Columbia. They have a laser and press brakes.

http://mef-inc.com/home.html
This looks like a small fab shop

 

[giantpune]

Is that the full picture of the bracket? Basically an L shape with 2 holes in it? And you want some sort of triangle gussets to strengthen the part where it bends?

That doesn't look like a hard part to make, even a midas muffler shop could knock that part out pretty quick.

 

[detritusmaximus]

Is that hole the mount or the cable hole? If it's the mount, can you put a heavy washer on it to provide some clamping support?

 

[73pony]

That looks like the old MDL bracket. Mine did the same thing. They have a new version available. Much more sturdy. I know this doesn't help right now but might want to contact them so it is waiting for you when you get home.

 

[giantpune]

That looks like the old MDL bracket. Mine did the same thing. They have a new version available. Much more sturdy. I know this doesn't help right now but might want to contact them so it is waiting for you when you get home.

If this is an off-the-shelf part, american powertrain does have a list of installers OP would be near that may have one on the shelf.

 

[tony-muscle]

This is our temp fix with a cut wrench. I feel very good about it but i want to start working on a beefier bracket just in case. I stopped at Home Depot and got some heavy duty ones. I just have to find someone in the tour with a grinder and drill to make it fit. I talked to MDL so that's another option. American Powertrain is at the tour so i will talk to then once i get to Rockingham.

 

[tony-muscle]

That looks like the old MDL bracket. Mine did the same thing. They have a new version available. Much more sturdy. I know this doesn't help right now but might want to contact them so it is waiting for you when you get home.

I called them and told me that the new bracket has two mounting holes. Does the second one has to be drilled? I just dont have all the tools with me on the road.

 

[giantpune]

I just have to find someone in the tour with a grinder and drill to make it fit.

Which way is the tour touring? I'm an hour west of columbia up I20. You're more than welcome to grind and weld here.

I had contacted MDL a week or so ago. They are currently recommending hydraulic clutch setups, and new quotes include an Under-dash master cylinder. I think its the malwood, and MDL is working on their own design.

 

[tony-muscle]

Thank you everyone for your input. We ended up finding a small shop on the road and they made the bracket. However, the MDL one is not exactly 90 and fits better so i will continue with the jurry rigged version and keep this other as a spare. The fix with the wrench reinforcement is working great. I already talked to MDL and i will order the heavy duty bracket as a permanent fix. Busy day. I need to find time to post some pictures.

 

[Stanglover]

I've been following this saga and so glad you're sort of fixed up and on your way. That must have been as frustrating as hell. Heck it was bad enough when I had a throttle cable break and I was only a mile away from home.
Now hopefully you can relax and enjoy the rest of the trip.

 

[donkost]

Glad you were able to get operational again pretty quickly. Did you happen to see Emily Compagno run a 13.5 in her '72 Mach 1? The one with flames on the sides. She said she was taking part in the HR power tour.

 

[tony-muscle]

Glad you were able to get operational again pretty quickly. Did you happen to see Emily Compagno run a 13.5 in her '72 Mach 1? The one with flames on the sides. She said she was taking part in the HR power tour.

I didn't get to see it. I ran 13.6

 

[tony-muscle]

Thank you again to everyone. I made it home last night after 2500 miles. The makeshift fix held well. Once i get settled i will make a post about the Tour.