Update time! So I got my Monstaliner in the mail and I acquired a new driver side apron. My plan was to strip the hood, aprons, and bib to get ready to line. As I pulled apart my bib, I noticed that the rust has taken it’s toll and it was in a lot worse condition than it looked bolted on the 40:
Another issue with my bib is the PO cut holes for the ugliest rectangle turn signals (since the front fenders were bobbed). I would really want an early bib for the factory turn signals. However, I am still on a very limited budget to get this thing back on the trail. That’s when Anthony from Land Cruisers NW came to the rescue! He had an early bib that he was going to use as a wall hanger and he was willing to give it to me for the project. It was not perfect, as the poor 40 that wore this bib must have hit something pretty hard, but it will give me what I need. Originally, I was hoping that I could just straighten the early bib and make it work. That proved to be a bit harder than I was expecting without a press. Here is the early bib all stripped down:
I have now spent a couple of weeks staring at these bibs trying to think of the best way to fix the early bib or graft the two bibs together without screwing up both of them. I’m not that great with sheet metal work, so I am a little nervous about any of my options.
Well, as luck would have it, my Dad happened to be in town for a job and he met up with my wife and I for dinner. He was looking over the bibs and came up with a plan. Using the original bib as the starting point, we could replace the bottom 2” with 3/16” angle. It won’t look completely original because it will no longer have the original outer shell, but it will be strong and wouldn’t rust. He then figured out the details in grafting the stamped turn signal area from the early bib to my ’73 bib. We can actually use all Toyota metal to fix it except for the angle iron. He was up for the challenge, so the bibs are on there way to Bend to have my Dad work his magic!
I feel like a HUGE weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Now I can focus on the engine swap side of things and I have a renewed energy for getting out in the garage. I didn’t realize how much dreading about the stupid bib was dragging me down.
