Builds 1964 FJ45 SWB Resto (2 Viewers)

[EWheeler]

Bump.

 

[kevos37]

Bump.

I just started back to working on it. Trying to get the cab body work done before I proceed. My body man is part-time. Wish I could find somebody in the local area that did these. I'd like to get this thing on the road!

 

[kevos37]

Well I was fortunate enough to pick up a good body guy. We've been working on the last few weeks on getting the cab rocker panel straightened out. It was a real mess. But I have that back in my shop now . We are working on the tub now. Unfortunately the tub had gathered water at the front of the bed. This caused the laminated metal up front to swell. Planning to turn it upside down and remove all of the bracing. This will allow access to be able to replace the corrupted metal and Media blast.

 

[Pics45]

Looking great Kevin. That passenger side rocker looking way better. Gotta love that SWB rev tops...

 

[kevos37]

Starting work on the rear sill. Typical Land cruiser rust. LOL. Managed to peel the sticker off. I'm planning on installing a rear wrap around bumper with a tire carrier so I'm going to incorporate later model tail lights. So (don't yell at me) I'm planning to fill in the stock tail light holes.

 

[kevos37]

Looking down at the bed floor right behind the cab The rust had built up and pushed the front wall out ending up with a 1/2-in gap. We turned the bed over cut a little bit off the wall to access the area. Going to be able to remove a part of the bed because of the rust on the floor. And reinstall new metal.

 

[65swb45]

Kevin,

When I restored my ‘65swb 32 years ago, we (me and the body shop) realized that the bed was designed that way: no attachment from the front of the bed to the vertical panel. Steve and I decided together to drill holes through the outer skin at a distance that matched the spacing of the spot welds in the sides of the bed and mig weld the two panels together through the holes to give the now-reinforced front panel a factory look.

 

[kevos37]

Kevin,

When I restored my ‘65swb 32 years ago, we (me and the body shop) realized that the bed was designed that way: no attachment from the front of the bed to the vertical panel. Steve and I decided together to drill holes through the outer skin at a distance that matched the spacing of the spot welds in the sides of the bed and mig weld the two panels together through the holes to give the now-reinforced front panel a factory look.

When we cut that bottom portion of the front of the bed off we found out that the support that came from the bottom to reinforce the bed had spot welds but so much rust had gotten in there that it caused the bed wall to move forward at the bottom approximately 3/8 of an inch. So once we cut it out we're going to put that piece in going across. But we'll have an angle that'll come from the bed to reattach to that. And we will spot weld it like you were saying.. but it is fortunate that the actual bed portion that is all rusted out is flat and can be replaced and will look seamless from the top. The pictures I enclosed show the piece in place before it got cut out and then I turned it over and gave detailed pictures how the whole thing had just expanded out of position pushing the whole bed warping it forward but the minute we cut that out the bed relaxed back to its original position. It was a mess... ,

Mark thank you for your input.

 

[kevos37]