[ColoCruiserJeff]

You mean we have to wait till Weds to see the pics??????? That's just not good enough!

[dr_claw]

I took a little time of this last weekend for a ride. 480 miles on a dirt bike is a little much. Fun though. Pic is from the Hope BC landslide.

[dr_claw]

I wanted to keep a little of the original style of the rear tub body mounts. I came up with this to replace the rusted crap. The last pic is it just sitting on the tub. More pics of the finished product welded on tomorrow. I am very happy with how it turned out.

[dr_claw]

I have not touched this thing since the end of the school year. I have got back at it and I am hoping that the cab will look like a cab by the end of the week.

Here are the new rockers I bought from real steel off ebay. I am happy with how fast they were shipped and the quality.

The ONLY reason that I bought these new instead of fixing/making my own is for the proper alignment of the rear cab section to the fire wall.

[dr_claw]

here are the old inners I will try to reuse.

[dr_claw]

Because I am running a tig'd alu. fuel tank under the bed, I blanked out the sender, but kept the factory shape. I was just going to smooth out all, but I wanted to keep it sort of stock.....

I also want a sub under the factory bench

[dr_claw]

I am using a different firewall, witht the original floor. I used the tunnel to mock up where everything should line up. Looks like it worked!

I am going to start welding tomorrow. Enought grinding and cutting for today.

[dr_claw]

I have got a lot done in the last week or so.

I needed a very important measurement because I built the rear of the cab w/o the step down. I figured it out with some help from mud, and this is what happened.....



http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-...asurement.html

[dr_claw]

mockup etc pics

[dr_claw]

side view...

[dr_claw]

here is the rocker all finished! I used a flap disk to smooth it out. A small skim coat of bondo is all that will be needed to cover up the seam.

[dr_claw]

on her back, sides all welded up.

[dr_claw]

Ok, here is a body work lesson that I learned from a local guy named Ron Morris.

My dad is into vintage cars and hotrods so I picked up some skills from him and his club.

Anyway, I watched Ron turn a 1940 four door ford into a tudor by splicing the frame and roof section of the two cars.

Step one....

Cut out some cardboard stencils. ( I didn't take a pic of that )

Step 2

Cut out the sheetmetal the same shape as the cardboard. I am using 16 gauge HR.

Step 3

Tack the piece into the hole in two or three places. I realize that I am out by about 3/8" to 1/2" the whole way around.

[dr_claw]

Step 4:

Spray paint the rear of the panel with white or bright spray paint. Only on the seams

[dr_claw]

Step 5

Remove the panel and cut the remainder with a zip disk.

Step 6

tack back in

Step 7

Continue all other panels until all are done!

[dr_claw]

all tacked in!

[dr_claw]

Last pic for now,

I am using these neat sheet metal body clamps. Basically just a 1x1" piece of square tubing with a pin and a threaded rod. They worked well.

[dr_claw]

k,almost last pic. I just saw that buck used the same style clamps on his 45.

[crawlin cruiser]

lookin good dude, word of advise, attach the doors and hard top so you are 100% sure things will close and line up when its all welded up

Dan

[dr_claw]

Dan you need to change your sig.


I have done a lot over the last while. Welding is all done on the tub.

Here is the plate that i fixed the rocker rear corner with. A little filler will be needed.

[dr_claw]

here are some more pics of stuff i have fixed, filled. There will be a deck in the glove box, maybe the amp in there too. The new plate on the dash will be for the sirius radio.

The spot beside the gauge cluster will now be for a autometer 3 5/8" tach.

[dr_claw]

something is missing

[dr_claw]

The inner rockers were half salvaged from the old tub. I just used the top inch or so.

I am not super concerned how the inner panels look because they will be under 3/16" of bedliner, sound deading material, and a factory floor mat. I wire wheeled the seams so slag and crap isn't going to screw anything up.

I am going to paint the floor, behind the dash ect with POR 15 before I get the bedliner sprayed.

[dr_claw]

The body work on the cab is almost done. I am starting to work on a trailer because I have no way to move this to the paint booth

[Rhinoliner]

So, I'm guessing you're a non-smoker.....haha

I couldn't tell how you ended up doing the holes in the short vertical panel behind the seats. I only saw where you marked out where they would be. What did you end up doing there?

Keep the pics coming.

[LC_Hamma]

Superb job so far! I like the fact you're bringin a *questionable tub, in that shape, back to life. Good patience & quality skillz. Looks like you've done this before. You using .25 wire & some type of heat absorption mat'l. to keep it from warping?

[dr_claw]

sounds like drive train work will start in about a week !

[John Smith]

dr_claw, Sorry to hijack your excellent thread but I could not help noticing the supplied air respirator. What brand / model and are you happy with it? Great build!

[dr_claw]

Thanks for the positive comments,

The respirator is made by North products and the air inlet tube is by the same company. I am still very happy with it.

http://www.uvex.us/products/products...=36rescription

safety glasses are made by Uvex. I am also very happy with them and I strongly recomend anyone with glasses to get a pair. Clip in inserts and removable lenses are great for welding and grinding!

[dr_claw]

UPDATE!

The body work on the tub and cab parts has been done for about 2 months now. I have been stalling to the "christmas break" to paint the tub.

My work is shut down for 2 weeks. With no one in the shop, and the dust level down. It has a paint booth but is only like 8' x 8'.

The plan is to paint the body at work in the shop, then take it back home to finish all interior stuff on saw horses.

I can paint the top, doors, and small body stuff in the booth whenever, but the tub has to be done, NOW!

Pics shortly.