So after the September 09 TOTM my eye caught two trucks in particular (seeing as I'm partial to black 04-08 f150s): zeruin and IDNC76. Zeruin has step bars similar to mine (they don't tuck under at the ends like mine and aren't polished stainless) and IDNC76 has the n fab type step bars. I like them both. Currently I have the Westin polished stainless side steps and I like them but after seeing these 2 black trucks I knew I wanted them black. But I didn't know if I wanted to just powdercoat mine or shell out $400 for the n fab side steps. But then I started thinking how either way my steps aren't very useful. I'm only 5'9" and I can get into my truck with not too much trouble despite 11.5" of lift up front and 10"ish in the back but my new fiance is only 4'10" and either option would be a pain in the butt for her to get in the truck. So I thought, "Why not have both!" So now I'm in the process of giving my Westin step bars an n fab look.

I started with the drivers side. The plastic step pads came off with ease


I made a jig and started fabbing up the steps



I went ahead and made all four steps


Then I welded the steps to the Westin bars



I only made the driver's side so far. I threw it on real quick to see how it looks



I still have to make the other side. Once both are done my buddy is going to powdercoat them in a way that will give them a textured surface similar to rhino lining, just not as rough. This coating is also going on my road armor style bumper I am welding up. I figure the 2 will compliment each other well. So how does it look so far?

 

I like em. Wish I knew how to use a tig.

 

I think they look pretty good, and well look even better when your done

 

Great fab. work man. Looks good!!

 

Looks good

 

looks good man... nice job

 

Thats pretty sweet wish I knew how to weld

 

very very nice.

Got any design scetches of the bumper? very intresting.

 

I have a few sketches (nothing to brag about) but basically what I have been doing is taking shots of the front of the truck from different angles and then using my high tech art program (microsoft paint) I erase the bumper, print out the photo of the truck with no bumper and then draw in some stuff with a pencil. I know, I know, kinda cheesy but I'm not the best with computers and I don't have any decent art programs. So I have been doing a little trial and error. I'm not as far as I want to be because I keep getting side tracked... welding up the steps, painting my decals, modifying a tool box I bought off of craigslist to make it low profile and mounting it in the truck bed. All that stuff was easy but the bumper is kickin my a$$. I've wasted a lot of metal, flapper wheels, cutting disks, tig wire, and patience. But it's gonna happen. I will post pics to the thread I started for the bumper once its all fabbed up from cutting the metal to welding, to grinding. It WILL be done before xmas!

 

looks good you have got some awesome welding skills there rivydzl

 

Thanks! The navy pays me to do it all day every day. But I don't look at it as a job because it's a hobby for me, almost like an art. I just wish some of you f150 guys lived around here. I'm always down for helping people with personal projects as long as there's some beer for encouragement. I've welded up quite a few things for my truck... road armor style winch bumper is in the works.

 

if your ever in SC hit me up...I don't wanna fill you with to much beer if you're welding on my truck I wish I knew some people who could teach me how to weld I have always wanted to learn...I am a gearhead and thats one skill I need to learn

 

i live not far from you, less than 30 minutes i had been trying to organize a meet and greet but no one would ever respond or i was busy or vice versa so i just gave up :o

 

I always go to race legal at qualcomm. Nateinoc went once or twice but with a buddy, and not in an F150 so I didn't see him. I was trying to get others to go in the San Diegans thread but no luck so usually I'm there by myself. There is another this Friday, only $8 to be a spectator, $30 to race. I always investigate the other F150's that are there (few if any) to find some f150online members but never have any luck. My truck is hard to miss and others always check it out but, again, never any f150online guys. But I'll be there Friday as long as it doesn't rain.

 

Nice work!!