Thanks, I liked Don a whole lot too, much rather he just be here messing with it. I definitely take a step back on every idea and think what would Don do? I'd like to think he would approve so far.
Can't get any better than ZUK, he definitely has done clamshells. Don't know what he is up to lately though. His website is a toyota diff encyclopedia. Toyota Gear html table - http://www.gearinstalls.com/index1.htm
Trimmed the fj40 hinges and weld them on. Remounted and welded the push bar vertical. I just placed my light bar there for now, I need to modify it a little to run below the bar like before. Overall I like the progress. Hood opens and closes nicely. Waiting for some hood latches and hood bump...
Got a little side tracked on re-working the front push bar. Never likes how far it sat out. I cut it off, removed the turn signals as I don't have any plans for this to be street legal, shortened it about 3 inches and reclocked the light tabs. As some point I will redo the whole winch mount as I...
Is that return line in its final configuration? I would be concerned that under heavy engine torque (i.e stuck in rocks in 4 low) you don't have enough flex area in the line and the hard line will be forced to flex. Everything else looks stellar.
Tacked the half on and had to massage the raised bump to match the nose as best as it would let me. Pretty happy with it so far. I will tackle the other side tomorrow. I like how the existing firewall tube curve matches the fj40 factory curve almost perfect.
Then cut the center rib out, shortened it and cut one of the hood halfs at the right angles and lengths. Tacked the center rib back on and tried to get the hood seams as close as I could.