1964 FJ45 LB “RB1” Project

[tuppu]

This is THE thread to follow. You are doing amazing work

 

[miker]

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for the nice comments!

 

[miker]

Just wondering where you got the idea for it. Are you a die maker by trade?

No, I'm not a die maker. The idea came from researching the web, doing some metal shaping experimentation on my own, and visiting local metal fabrication shops. One local shop had a very large press with interchangeable dies which looked promising for bending up the panels I wanted however; they had limitations on how close they could make each bend that didn’t suit my needs. I talked to them about building dies, and I was going to make dies to fit their press to bend up what I wanted but then, after thinking about it some more, I decided to just make a frame myself and see what it would do. My frame is puny compared to theirs, in fact, it’s like a kids toy compared to theirs. In the past, I made a shop press that I still use today. I just took that design and reworked it to be a lot wider and stronger in the horizontal plane.

I may still go back that local shop for some other items. I know they could do a fantastic job at making stock looking long bed floor supports.

 

[ColoCruiserJeff]

So, any new progress over the long Turkey-day weekend??

Just checking in on ya

Jeff

 

[Rhinoliner]

Wow, I just got caught up on your project thread. Awesome is the word that comes to mind. Keep up the great work.

 

[miker]

So, any new progress over the long Turkey-day weekend??

Just checking in on ya

Jeff

Hey Jeff, Thanks for asking but not much progress made. I did rebuild the front box panel. After looking at the first one I made a bit closer, it was not as flat as I originally thought. So, I made another panel, made the top Z bar because the original one was already welded onto the first panel. I got the new pieces welded together. I then attempted to make several of the front panel supports like the originals but after several attempts, they did not turn out like I wanted so I'm trying a little bit of a different design for these supports. Oh I also welded the front corner supports to the front panel. I don't have any pictures at the moment. I'll take some later and post.

The original fronmt panel I made I'll save and I may use this for a small trailer. I think I can make a small trailer box that will look like a 45 long bed. That will be a future project.

 

[kulangot]

Your work is amazing! Even if you did have all of the tools Jesse James does, that would still be outstanding! In consideration of what you have accomplished with simple tools, I can't exaggerate how impressed I am.

I have the exact same FJ45 with out a bed, I may shamelessly borrow from your work.

Respect!

-Stumbaugh

 

[miker]

I finally got some pictures taken of the latest progress. Here are a couple of the front bed panel and the corner supports welded in place. The panel is clamped to the bed floor. The lower left of the pictures is a piece of angle iron I'm using to aid in clamping so that's not part of the bed. ;p

 

[miker]

The next thing I did was to get the front panel and the rear corner supports in their exact position and squared up so I could get some accurate measurements of the side panel length I needed. Once I had the measurements, I made the 90 degree bend in the rear end of the driver side panel. I already had the front bend made in the panel as shown months ago in this thread.

Here I have the passenger side panel clamped in place. I sill have one detail to finish on the rear end of the side panel, as well as a few minor fitting adjustments but it's very close to being ready to weld in place. Oh, and have to make the rear bed rail end 'cap'. Mine were missing on both sides but I got some pictures from bkcruiser's FJ45 long bed awhile ago so I know what they are supposed to look like.

 

[miker]

And I have one more picture of the side to show what it looks like from the outside. In the pictures, the length looks very short but in person, I think it looks just right.

Sorry for all the clutter in the picture. I have way too much stuff in one garage for a project like this...

 

[merbesfield]

Very nice work. Excellent fabrication skills. I have been working on a press like you built for way too long so I was really happy to see yours and know that I was not crazy to dream it up. Maybe some day I might actually finish the press. Ha ha. Great job. Keep the pics coming.

 

[Gus]

Impressive fab skillz, that press is very cool. Looking forward to the rest of the build up.

 

[tuppu]

What is the current situation for this project...?

 

[miker]

What is the current situation for this project...?

I'm still working on the bed. The bed floor, front panel, and wheel wells are complete. I'm working the bed sides. Both sides are cut to length and have been test fit but not final welded yet. The original drivers side was in very bad shape so I ended up replacing the entire lower two-thirds of the bed side with new metal. I want the bed sides to fit well with the rear bumper so I'm at the point where I'm trying to come up with a rear bunper design. Once I have an idea of the rear bumper shape, this will help me decide exactly how to shape the lower rear bed sides. I don't want it to look too squared off in the rear. It tends to look like that now because of how short and tall the bed is so I'm probably going to slope it up to reduce this effect. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.

 

[miker]

Not the pictures I intended to show next...

This is what happened when the storm went through the area here thursday and friday:

 

[miker]

Here's a couple more:

 

[JohnnyC]

home owners insurance can cover?

the tree that fell was on your property?

 

[miker]

home owners insurance can cover?

the tree that fell was on your property?

Yep, our tree, our car. Should not have parked it there. Glad no one was hurt. Not sure yet if home or auto insurance will cover the damage but I've got a claim started with our auto insurance and I'll go from there.

 

[KT40]

That sucks Mike.
At least nobody was hurt.
Good thing the 40 or 45 were'nt parked there.
FC would be more than happy to cut that off for you

 

[miker]

Finally, some progress pictures

The tree is all cleaned up. The FJ62 is in the body shop and they start work on it today. Our auto insurance's comprehensive coverage on the FJ62 is supposed to cover the damage from the tree. We got a quote and payment per that quote but we are still concerned about the body shop finding more damage once they start work on it. The body shop said they may have to replace the roof and if that's the case, I suspect the insurance may not pay for the repair. We should know more in a few days.

We've had a lot of rain so working on the 45 has been more difficult and just not very enjoyable but I did spend a little time on it. I'm still working on the bed sides. I finially decided on where to cut the bottom of the drivers side. I also decided on the wheel opening dimensions, cut this out, then formed a wheel well lip and have it rosebud welded onto the side. I'll be welding the side onto the bed with additional rosebud type welds since I don't have a spot welder. The holes are drilled for those welds.