Metal Tech FJ45 LWB/SWB Internal Cage

[LT]

We had a local customer that brought his FJ45 in for us to build an internal cage for it. So having the opportunity I was able to develop a kit for the removable top FJ45 trucks. I used the later model A pillars so they clear the handles for the windshield and made the B pillar as high as possible for maximum amount of head room. The A - B support I had to use 1" tubing because of the head room issues but over all it turned out really well. I did make a low profile seat cradle for it which I will have to go take pictures of.

Thinking of a tentative price of $429.95 for the kit. This kit will not work with the factory gas tank. There is simply no way around it given what is available to mount plates, and the time it would take to make a B pillar to custom bend around everything all strength would be lost. This kit is meant for the serious wheeler that wants to add a cage to his FJ45 and is willing to put a fuel cell somewhere else on the truck.

Onto the pictures.

 

[LT]

Mounting plates and some additional pictures.

 

[CruisinMT]

thats pretty sweet

 

[kellyo]

That is sweet LT. I need to find an exterior tank but will be getting in touch with you. Nice looking setup.

 

[arndog]

Might not be the right place to ask this but you mention that "they clear the handles for the windshield " Are you referring to the windsheild hold down clamps. I have a 66 FJ40 and I really want to maintain/use those clamps. Does this cage or any of your other cages work with those clamps? Looks like SOR calls them latches.

thanks,

arndog

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

I was recently thinking of a 45 for home use, but not too sure the wife would go for it.

If I did, I'd like the cage to include a bar across the back where three 3-point (shoulder) belts could be hooked up to. This way the three of us could go securely strapped in. Actually, I'd like this in our '64 restoration, so I'll PM ya.

 

[yzftaco]

If I did, I'd like the cage to include a bar across the back where three 3-point (shoulder) belts could be hooked up to. This way the three of us could go securely strapped in. Actually, I'd like this in our '64 restoration, so I'll PM ya.

If you did do this the bar would have to curve back, and then go across, or else you wouldn't have much leg room...

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

I was thinking above the seat back/below the rear window...maybe with some type of head rest possibilties

 

[LT]

I made a bucket seat harness for some Corbeau seats that included a seat belt cross bar. The seat belt crossbar actually sits really low to the floor due to space issues. I was able to get the seats to sit all the way back to the rear glass.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Looks great, my guess is probably not too hard to adapt versus a FJ40 kit. Looks great, I absolutely love the kit we installed into a BJ42 last summer...

 

[orangefj45]

why isn't this in the 45 section? looks good LT!

 

[65swb45]

Excellent work there! As someone who wheels their 45 a LOT, I should look into this further.

The first couple of photos made me wonder if the front hoop would also allow access to the latches at the top of the windshield, but the follow up photos make it clear that it does.

On the tank issue, my question is whether the pillar obstructs the filler neck hole as well as taking up the corner of the floor. My thought here is that I don't think it would be that hard to cut the corner off a poly tank and weld a diagonal cap to it. I've had some pretty good luck welding plastic in the past.

Best

Mark A.

 

[arndog]

I was thinking the latches at the bottom of the windsheild? Top of the dash?

arndog

 

[Leaping Deer]

Any chance we could get a pic of the right front tube where it meet the floor? I have a RHD and was wondering if it would interfere with the gas pedal.

 

[Mace]

LT, I know you guys have a plastic welder. Could you mod a stock location plastic tank?

probably would not take all that much off..

(This is assuming that a 45 and 40 tank are similar)

 

[sgirt]

Looks nice! I will be getting a cage from you for my Fj40.

 

[LT]

Any chance we could get a pic of the right front tube where it meet the floor? I have a RHD and was wondering if it would interfere with the gas pedal.

You can mount the A pillar any way you like. It will be offered as a kit so you can build the cage to suite your needs. We did build a cage in house or a guy that had a BJ41 and it was a little tight with the gas pedal but it was still comfortable.

LT, I know you guys have a plastic welder. Could you mod a stock location plastic tank?

probably would not take all that much off..

(This is assuming that a 45 and 40 tank are similar)

Yes we do have a plastic welder, so if one were so inclined to use a modified plastic tank we could do the modification in house. I would need a plastic tank to see how it would be needed to modify to work in the stock configuration. I'm sure the filler neck would need to be modified as well.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

The plastic welding I've done works but not that well, not that I would trust fuel with I suppose unless making sure it would 100% work - that sure would be a decent solution. That or a new metal tank (does anyone even make a new tank?) for a 40 modified for this...