Pictures of my custom rollbar

['74 UA FJ]

Nothing flashy. Just pulled out the factory bar and replaced it with heavier tube that I bent myself. Added a front hoop. It was built more for comfort(not hitting head on bars, etc.) than to be bulletproof in a rollover. It will still hold its own in a roll. I might add a few reinforcing bars before paint.

[dgangle]

I would tie in these two points on each side. Looks nice. What type of tube and bender did you use. Cost?

[dgangle]

Oh and another suggegstion....

If you run hard doors you may want to put them on and make sure the clearances side-to-side are acceptable before you weld everything up. Don't ask me how I know this!

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by dgangle

I would tie in these two points on each side. Looks nice. What type of tube and bender did you use. Cost?

It was either 14 or 16 gauge. Don't remember. About $35 for 20ft. I probably have $100 in the steel.

The bender is just a manual hand bender like this:

Model 3 Manual or Hydraulic Tubing Bender at Van Sant Enterprises, Inc.

[gmarshall7]

Do you ever knock your knees getting out? I know I would. I'm planning on doing the same thing just for the behind the front seat part.
Looks GOOD !!

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by dgangle

Oh and another suggegstion....

If you run hard doors you may want to put them on and make sure the clearances side-to-side are acceptable before you weld everything up. Don't ask me how I know this!

Thanks, good suggestions. I've taken all of this into account. I'm not going to add side bars right now for a couple of reasons. 1) I don't like banging my head on them. 2) This 40 isn't a hard core wheeler right now, so I don't plan on rolling it.

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by gmarshall7

Do you ever knock your knees getting out? I know I would. I'm planning on doing the same thing just for the behind the front seat part.
Looks GOOD !!

I'm 6' and I don't knock my knees. I usually prop my left foot on the rocker when I'm not using the clutch. And there is still plenty of room in the clutch area that the bar isn't a hindrance.

[dgangle]

Originally Posted by '74 UA FJ

.. This 40 isn't a hard core wheeler right now, so I don't plan on rolling it...

Gotcha, but I am predicting a hellstorm of criticism to come from this statement! Nice job nonetheless.

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by dgangle

Gotcha, but I am predicting a hellstorm of criticism to come from this statement! Nice job nonetheless.

Yeah. I figured this much. Half of it will be from people with a factory roll bar...

[213_dan]

I'll take it! Just like it is...now go make yourself one!

j/k

Looks really nice!

[85roktoy]

Originally Posted by 213_dan

I'll take it! Just like it is...now go make yourself one!

j/k

Looks really nice!

X2!! Where are you in AL and do you have any tube left??!!

[Volunteer]

Originally Posted by '74 UA FJ

This 40 isn't a hard core wheeler right now, so I don't plan on rolling it.

Nice job I like it I don't consider myself a harcore wheeler either and I never thought I'd put my 40 on its side. Than it happened, and then a second time. 1st time was on the trail with a bad spotter, a beep owner not wanting me to make it to the top. The wheel came down in a ditch on the driver's side and pitched me on its side. 2nd time was putting around town on the way to pick up my 5 yr old and a stupid lady on the cell phone pulls out in front of me. I locked up the brakes and swerved to miss her putting the 40 again on its drivers side. Moral of the story accidents happen and there are stupid people in the world. Its never a bad idea to be too safe. That little factory bar saved my neck twice. I'm probably going with the meataltech family cage but with a wild hair I'd consider doing it myself. I like the way your design looks though I see where it would clearly benefit you by moving the center supports out toward the doors like mentioned above.

[cruiserbrett]

looks good. I would add straight spreader bars as mentioned above.

Also, did you really use 16 ga Hrew? thats awfully thin, like around .065"

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by cruiserbrett

looks good. I would add straight spreader bars as mentioned above.

Also, did you really use 16 ga Hrew? thats awfully thin, like around .065"

I said I don't remember. 14 or 16. About $35-40 for 20 foot sections. It's twice as heavy as the factory bar. Go figure. Do some strength tests with it and let me know what you find.

[JJS]

Originally Posted by '74 UA FJ

I said I don't remember. 14 or 16. About $35-40 for 20 foot sections. It's twice as heavy as the factory bar. Go figure. Do some strength tests with it and let me know what you find.

The pole for my basketball hoop was heavier than the factory bar.

[camcruiser13]

the factory crap is like tin foil. or conduit.


looks good

[LC_Hamma]

Looks very nice & uniform. Perfect spreader location for an overhead console. Is that the plan? Did you use a welding blanket to cover them seats? I didn't, instead used some old rags & got some burn thru, now I have pin holes in my seats

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by LC_Hamma

Looks very nice & uniform. Perfect spreader location for an overhead console. Is that the plan? Did you use a welding blanket to cover them seats? I didn't, instead used some old rags & got some burn thru, now I have pin holes in my seats

I have been thinking about what I could put overhead...

I just tacked the bar in the front. I am going to pull it out and weld it all up and prep and paint it and then put it back it. So, I only have about 1 pin hole in my seats.

[jimd4x4]

Any pics or details of the body attachment. I like the shape of the spreaders. This may be my winter project. After my body work is done.

[JJS]

Post some pics of the blue 40 next to it.

[78-FJ40]

Looks good 74. I'd also add the supports that dgangle suggested. I have them and never hit my head and I'm the same height as you. I actually use that bar to grab on to when getting in.

Beautiful area you live in.

Oh, and you might actually more uncomfortable looking seats then I do. I didn't think that was possible.

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by jimd4x4

Any pics or details of the body attachment. I like the shape of the spreaders. This may be my winter project. After my body work is done.

For the rear, I cut the factory bar off and ground down flush to the original plates and welded the new bar in just like the factory one was.

For the front hoop, I made steel plates out of 1/4" mild steel and drilled them and the floor. I put another steel plate under the body for support. I might connect to the frame one day. The mounts are solid.

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by JJS

Post some pics of the blue 40 next to it.

Ask and you shall receive. It's my dad's '73. It has a built 283 with a nice cam and sounds sweet. It has electric exhaust cutouts on it just 'cause. Got a H42/3speed tcase. He is going to get it painted up nice one day soon. All he does is tool around on the road/dirt roads with it. My brother and I sprung it over with stock 40 springs and did a cut/turn on the front. Luke's hi-steer up front. Dad gets cheap labor from my brother and I, so we've done all of the work on it. 15/35 SS TSLs on it.

These are the only pictures that I have of it right now. These are a year or three old while it was still a work in progress.

['74 UA FJ]

Originally Posted by 78-FJ40

Looks good 74. I'd also add the supports that dgangle suggested. I have them and never hit my head and I'm the same height as you. I actually use that bar to grab on to when getting in.

Beautiful area you live in.

Oh, and you might actually more uncomfortable looking seats then I do. I didn't think that was possible.

They are factory seats with the headrests removed. They seem comfortable enough, but a 2 hour interstate drive kicks your ass. I imagine that is the case in most 40s though.

[splitshot]

Another thing you might want to consider is adding a section behind the back seats just in case you want to go with shoulder harnesses later.

Looks good.