Flattop side feed

[Freerider_79]

This should probably start with some kind of a warning... I’m not a machinist, all work is done on a manual 14x40 gearhead lathe. No milling machine. don’t stick your hands where you wouldn’t stick your....

My favourite of all bodies is the right feed but something about that little rail really sucks. I couldn’t find any pictures of a full flat top side feed. They all seemed to have some hump or bump around the feed tube. Not much info on removing that side feed either.
here’s a couple before pictures. 98 right feed. Bought off local buy and sell but it was on here too I believe

[Freerider_79]

The plan was to work towards the neck from either side. Setup the tool so the contour kinda worked best. Then nibble at that centre piece. Came out pretty good. Then a few minutes with a file and the chicklet fell out.

[Freerider_79]

Set it up for a final clean up....

[Freerider_79]

Turned out pretty good. Trying to decide what the back end should look like now.

[lew]

I just got in a '98 and thought I was fine with it until I saw this. You bastard!

Slick work, especially around the feedneck. I would leave it as-is, as it blends in nicely with the back bock.

[Freerider_79]

Thanks. This was the test subject. I also have a 2k that just got a covid/ inception from end but didn’t want to chop it. Just in case. Since I’m still set up for it I should probably do it now.

I wasn’t sure what was going to happen around the neck once material started being removed. Kinda looks like there was some support there. It seems just at solid as before. Worst case its getting welded.

[Knuckle Dragger]

Those look way better without a sight rail.

[Archdogg]

I might just keep my slab side if it looked like that.

[DavidBoren]

That does look way better. Good job.

[Grendel]

I am a big fan of Slab sided Sniper/Autocockers. You did a nice job removing the site rail while retaining the Right Feed.

[Freerider_79]

Thanks. I’m really happy with how it turned out. I was thinking about milling for a while then I was thinking about selling it. The more I look at it the more I think the original back block looks really good. Maybe just dress it up with a beaver tail, bolt and cocking rod.
Like I said I wasn’t going to do this but I asked a guy online about doing this job. He had all kinds autococker milling pictures but still no side feed mill jobs. He said not to do it this way, the feed neck HAS to be pulled and re pressed.... also said the feed neck may not be reusable after pulling. 🤔
challenge accepted.
took about 2-3 hrs and like a good 5 hours of just looking at it 😍

[Freerider_79]

Hey if anyone has some good pictures of what the feed neck looks like out and the hole it came from.... I’d really like to see. Thanks

[Magmoormaster]

I mean, you could have made it quite a bit easier on yourself by just pulling the feedneck out. It's just pressed in. Pull it, mill it, press back in. Regardless, it does look very good. Any plans to re ano?

[Freerider_79]

That’s pretty much what I did but made it easier by not pulling the feed neck and just drove around it.
you really have to think about the steps involved, the risks and where you can fail. Also the time involved is the biggest factor.

[WORR13]

looks good. you did that on a lathe?