As part of our nod to custom dream cars and the people who help put these rides together, specifically those who channel their creativity in new directions and push the envelope, we agreed to hang out with Ruben Alvarez, the owner and operator of Monkey Bars in Pico Rivera, California. Ruben is a highly sought-after individual who is renowned for his craftsmanship and mechanical dexterity. We were lucky enough to catch up with Ruben to see if we could finally hook up a little "monkey business."
It was actually a few months before we were able to meet with Ruben in person, which happened at, of all places, a photo session involving a customer of his named Lewis Clark. The next time, though, he was with Donald Maynard's '94 Honda Civic; the same car that received an air suspension and severe tub job by Winning Edge Customs. Well, Donald decided to remove the rear seats in his Civic, add a bottle of NOS and some more tunes in place of the rear bench.
Ruben noted that each bar that he creates for a customer is unique; no two are exactly alike and the designs have progressed with each ride. So, even those who try to copy his flavor (monkey see, monkey do) still have a way to go to get in his groove. Also, Ruben has more monkey bars for show car applications, especially since that involves a lighter grade steel tubing. When it's all said and done, you can either send your monkey bar out to be chrome plated or go ape and paint it to match the color scheme of your custom cruiser. So stop monkeying around and follow along as we show you the "juicy bits" of building a custom cage.
 Ruben starts to measure the...  Ruben starts to measure the area near where the moonroof and headliner meet. |
 The steel tubing is marked...  The steel tubing is marked to where the bend will begin around the radius. |
 The hydraulically operated...  The hydraulically operated machine bends the tube to the degree Ruben dials into the machine. |
 The tube is double-checked...  The tube is double-checked to see if the angle is correct using a precision digital leveler. |
 A little time-elapsed photography...  A little time-elapsed photography gives you a hint of the motion the metal actually experiences during the bending process. |
 The tube is then trimmed to...  The tube is then trimmed to specific measurements. |
 Ruben checks to see if the...  Ruben checks to see if the spacing between the tube and the car is consistent. |
 This shot gives us an idea...  This shot gives us an idea as to how many different types of radiuses can be handled by Ruben and his crew. |
 Ruben uses his own method...  Ruben uses his own method of "sleeves" that connect the tubing. Here we see a smaller section that will be connected to the rear of the cage. |
 Some of the sections are TIG...  Some of the sections are TIG welded together and then ground smooth. |
 It's a good thing that Ruben...  It's a good thing that Ruben knows his math because there is some calculating going on in every Monkey Bar setup. Here he tackles a trick section that will follow the contour of the front pillar. |
 Since the Civic will be outfitted...  Since the Civic will be outfitted with a bottle from Nitrous Express, a perch is created that looks like part of a huge paper clip! |
 More bends like this one are...  More bends like this one are Ruben's specialty. The tube will actually be cut midway along one side and then reversed. |
 Using a special bit on the...  Using a special bit on the drill press, the end is then trimmed to fit the curve of the tube that it will be welded to. |
 The piece is then tack-welded...  The piece is then tack-welded to the horizontal section of the cage. The other end will be welded to the nitrous bottle perch. |
 The cage is done in sections...  The cage is done in sections for several reasons. The main one is that it needs to be removable! Some of the sleeves will be drilled with holes so a screw can secure both ends. |
 A detail shot of the NOS ...  A detail shot of the NOS perch. |
 Well, that's pretty much it....  Well, that's pretty much it. A little more welding and then it's off to the chrome-plating facility. As for how it'll attach to the Civic, Ruben will weld bases to the ends of the cage, which will bolt directly into the car floor. |
The finished product! |