DanKunz ROTW

DanKunz · 02-04-09, 05:51 PM

She's home!! AMAZING work. I couldn't be happier with the result.

Thanks so much for ACC's hard work and craftsmanship.

More pics will be posted soon!

lx450landcruiser · 02-04-09, 07:21 PM

hurry hurry hurry

DanKunz · 02-05-09, 07:05 AM

Alright, the cage is done and I couldn't be happier with the result. I wanted basic cage work and ACC went above and beyond and used their imaginations and amazing skills to get the truck back together and up to snuff.

The list:

- Full cage, integrated into the frame and A-pillar (5 sheets braced and welded to .188 wall runners to the B pillar to keep it stiff and off my face in a roll)
- New B, C, and a mini D pillar
- Braced and welded sliders and rear bumper to the frame (the tree actually stretched the bolts in the bumper almost 1/4 inch from the hit, and tweaked the rear end down an inch).
- Amazing triangulation and cross bars for harness mounting when I get to that point
- cool 60" hi-lift mounting bolts
- Reworking all the battery cables
- Removed the on board air and tanks (going to C02)
- details!!! They notched, fit, and capped sheetmetal to make it look factory, and it will all support my weight if I stand on it as climb around/on things
- Body mounts in front replaced with solid blocks to allow for less flex and stress on the windshield (DETAILS!!!)
- 100 other little things I am thankful for and can't remember

The initial impressions:

- Driving in 34 degrees at 70 mph is cold.
- The battery cable fixes and the cut in weight make this thing run a LOT better, more power, better handling...like a new truck
- Did I mention driving in the cold is REALLY cold?

Next Steps:
- Bed lining the inside
- Soft Top appointment is made
- C02 and replacement tools will be ordered (most tools got trashed by the water and not being able to cut out the roof for a while after the storm).
- Camping gear will be ordered (it was also ruined due to water in the storm)

And now...the final pics!!!

I would recommend ACC for anyone needing this sort of fun or unique work in the Southeast. I have a LOT of experience with almost every shop down here and these guys are by far the best, most responsible, and talented crew I have dealt with!

Atticus · 02-05-09, 09:16 AM

That's really good work. Now you just need to fab up a "finished" tailgate and you'll be rolling.

jfz80 · 02-05-09, 10:04 AM

- Soft Top appointment is made

That be the top I was speaking of......

again looks great and glad you got her back; and in a new and improved manor

man its got to be cold ridin around in that thing

CreeperSleeper · 02-05-09, 01:00 PM

That looks great, Dan! I'm kinda jealous...

BenMara · 02-05-09, 07:02 PM

hmm can you get a pics with rear door open wanna see how easy it would be get in and out of rear seats
tkx
Ben

nicholas · 02-05-09, 10:12 PM

Awesome work. I will definitely have to look into something like this if I ever roll.

If its not too personal, do you mind giving us an estimated cost or amount of man hours?

The cado is going to be a lot of fun in the summer. I bet it might even be manageable in the winter once you get your soft top.

Edit: It looks like the door windows are removed, are you going to have "heep" style plastic windows incorporated into your soft top?

DanKunz · 02-06-09, 04:56 AM

Yeah, soft window flaps in the soft top.

I won't lie...it wasn't cheap. There were a LOT of man hours in this. The materials were cheap in comparison. I was paying for someone that knew what they were doing.

I asked for a lot of custom work, it was novel and very different, and ACC stepped up. If you want to do this sort of thing on a budget, make sure you have the skill to pull it off. My kids ride in this thing so that trumped any concerns for budget I might have had (and I suck at welding).

DanKunz · 02-06-09, 04:02 PM

C02 tank ordered.
Replacement CB antenna, cables, and mount ordered.

Liner is scheduled for a week or two out.
Appt with soft top fabber next week!

k9crazy · 02-06-09, 04:04 PM

Very nice Dan.

Michael and the boys did an outstanding job. I can't wait to see it in person!

Garth · 02-06-09, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanKunz

Appt with soft top fabber next week!

Will you being going with a "fast-back" soft top (following the lines of your cage) or the "squared-off look" of the OEM 40 soft top, closer to the original lines of the 80?

I am thinking both would look good, just wondering what you have in mind.

DanKunz · 02-06-09, 09:38 PM

fast back for sure, with some ideas I have for zipper windows.

millatruse · 02-07-09, 06:57 PM

It has turned out awesome!

PKP80 · 02-07-09, 09:58 PM

How great is the feeling? it looks great Dan, Welcome to the topless club. I hope to one day, maybe one day wheel at some midpoint between CA and GA. I'm reliving my build through you Dan. aweomse

DanKunz · 02-08-09, 05:21 AM

Thanks Sam, it is amazing to see something I imagined come to life. I too wish I get a chance to wheel somewhere westward and meet up with all the folks on here. My dream is to ship west and run the Rubicon and Moab. Time will tell, it is getting more and more likely as I get older and things shape up

Skillet · 02-08-09, 08:15 AM

Fantastic! Wheeling machine.

DanKunz · 02-10-09, 11:38 AM

I just had my first appointment with the soft top people. They took pics and measurements, came up with some ideas. They are going to design the top shelf "all in" view and then build it back to a minimal start so I can build it over time and reduce immediate out of pocket

josharre2000 · 02-10-09, 02:24 PM

That is just awesome!

DanKunz · 02-11-09, 05:56 AM

Soft top estimate is done. I will be going in for measurements on Friday!

mad_african · 02-11-09, 11:04 AM

That turned out very nicely Dan. Glad you figured out exactly what you wanted in the end. You went from inner cage to half inner and we started on a front exo to meet up with the inner - in the end it turned out perfectly and they did a fantastic and clean job of it. I'd let my child ride with you in that.. Looking forward to seeing it in person.

DanKunz · 02-11-09, 02:58 PM

Now I am designing a custom soft top and considering gutting the stereo and starting over because I found at least two shorts from water damage (amp and somewhere in the wiring).

Weeeee

PKP80 · 02-11-09, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanKunz

Now I am designing a custom soft top and considering gutting the stereo and starting over because I found at least two shorts from water damage (amp and somewhere in the wiring).

Weeeee

I ditched All the factory stereo equpt. and wiring and now run 2 front speakers; 1, 10" sub; and two "outdoor" weatherproof speakers off the rollcage that can be turned to face outward toward the rear (tailgate party style). They're all powered off a 5-channel amp that is integrated into the sub box while I custom made to fit right behind the center console. Oh and a pioneer headunit w/ bluetooth I didn't run the speakers off the headunit b/c on the freeway, it doesn't have enough juice to over power the combo of wind and tire sound when the windows are down (not that great with the windows up either).

Everything is mounted as far up as I could get them. If I were to redo it (which will happen someday) I'd go All marine grade audio Equiptment except for the Headunit, b/c marine headunits just flat out suck. I'd also consider mounting the amp in place of the passenger air bag. If you have any Q's, I've rewired my rig and done different audio setups quite a few times and would be more than happy to help

Cheers.

DanKunz · 02-11-09, 04:01 PM

I just gutted it. I am going to go marine head, amp, and speakers. There are a lot of nice low cost units. I am going to use the doors still, and the amp and sub will be in the rear passenger quarter.

The wiring and install on the old stuff was pretty ugly...functional, but ugly.

AMSarge · 02-11-09, 07:06 PM

Looks great. Unfortunately the back seats are worthless for passengers now. The B-pillar bar makes it very unsafe back there.

DanKunz · 02-11-09, 11:14 PM

Considering I drive it a max of a few thousand miles a year, most of those offroad, I think I can discount some of that concern

Road = 100
Offroad = 80

PKP80 · 02-12-09, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMSarge

Looks great. Unfortunately the back seats are worthless for passengers now. The B-pillar bar makes it very unsafe back there.

You sure you mean B-pillar (that would be the one all the way to the front of the passenger)? that is actually pretty far from the passenger, in fact the whole cage is laid out pretty well IMHO and you can always add some foam around the sensitive "potential" areas. Lastly if Dan is going to run race harnesses (which is the only way to fly) once you're strapped in you're not going anywhere. Have them weld in and gusset a horizontal behind the 2nd row. With a cage I wouldn't want to have the slack of a regular seat belt. my $.02 Marine audio is definitely the way to go...I'm just not a fan of the headunits they offer, but to each his own. Cheers

DanKunz · 02-12-09, 05:47 AM

Harnesses are on the short list. I plan on adding a bar behind the rear seats when that happens.

Just so much to do at once!

71-CRUISER · 02-12-09, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMSarge

Looks great. Unfortunately the back seats are worthless for passengers now. The B-pillar bar makes it very unsafe back there.

Please Explain.....If you are concerned about back seat passengers hitting it (the harness bar) in the event of a frontal colision I guess it isnt as soft as the back of the front seats. However any one that is in the back seat and is properly restrained, with the stock belts or 4 points, will still be far enough away from the harness bar that it shound never be an issue even for a full size adult.

And Dan, if you want us to add a harness bar to the C pillar just run by the shop and we can stick it in for you.

DanKunz · 02-12-09, 09:39 AM

I think I will get the lining in, the soft top on, and the new stereo I have planned in then do harnesses.

Cage build 2.0! :P

Some factors:
- My kids are in boosters that tighten the seatbelts to where there is not as much slack as stock or adult passengers (major reason I didnt do harnesses right now, they are still young and need the boosters).
- Minimal road mileage, and a very careful and skilled defensive driver (I had a guy a guy cross into my lane at 80 mph, fully boxed in, and managed to avoid any collisions to any cars around me...happens all the time in Atlanta).
- Short term plan to install harnesses which would eliminate any further risk

So, that said, we beat this one to death, and we can move on