Man, I'm really impressed with the way your rig has turned out. Very nice. Heck, I'm trying to get to where I can do all of my own work. I'm pretty savvy when it comes to engine and mechanical problems but the custom fab work is a trade I don't possess right now. I guess it's time to get a torch and welder and get to practicing.
About 3 yrs ago I couldnt weld at all (still cant really lol) but I look at it this way. Since all the cool aftermarket goodies are so freaking expensive, especially for the 80, it just makes sense to spend that cash on tools and get to learnin. There are things you obviously cant make yourself but why not make the things you can like bumpers/racks/sliders ect.
Friends who wheel and are handy are priceless as well. All the tube bending except for the sliders (me) was done by my buddy Sam who's an awesome fabber.
Not to detract from any of the vendors on the forum but for the price of a pimp rear bumper for your 80 you could purchase a 220 mig, a small plasma, all of your consumables, and all of your steel! The best part though is seeing something you dream up bolted to your van.
Give it a try man.
D
PS Im learnin the mechanical stuff you have down pat right now so its a trade off.
I know what you mean about how pricey the custom stuff can be. The LX450 I own was purchased from a guy right here on MUD. The list of things that he had done totaled up to be a lot of cash. Fortunately, or unfortunately, however you wanna look at it, there's not much left to do on it fab wise. I do however have a '72 Scout that would be fun to start cutting on and fabbing up, so maybe that's where I'll hone my skills. Time to get it did!!!
Got the front windows tinted with film I got from a fellow mudder. It matches pretty good but I have to get used to it. Drove it at night for the first time and started to rethink the whole tint thing lol. It does look badass........
Today, if I can get motivated, Id like to respray the lower part of the van. Im thinking a couple coats of liner then a top coat of the factory blue to make it all one color again. I have to change out a tie rod as well so well see what , if anything, gets done.
Doesn't look too bad. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I'm going to de-flare mine or not. I may just wait until the trail claims one and then take the rest off.
After putting the bumperettes back on last night I managed to stuff a bigger jack in the oe jack holder. The plastic needed to be trimmed a little to accommodate the larger base but it ended up fitting great and doesnt rattle. Its about 4" taller than the original and actually works unlike the original.
Next on the list is a hilift holder set up in the back somewhere. Maybe some improvised storage solutions for the tools and whatnot.
I really dig the sliders and the front bumper though I am not sure it offers as much protection as I want. I am from Maine and figure the arb with hoops would suit me best but yours seems so simple and nice! Either way I dig your whole rig, inspiration!
Yeah, I went with the minimalistic approach when I built that bumper. My Tacoma front bumper is more chunky and I wanted to try something different. I have been wondering what some Demello lookin angry eye tubes around the headlights would look like but cant seem to bring myself to alter the original.
I did have a bear run across the road about 20' in front of me the other day which made me wonder how bad the front end would have been mangled.
If i ever get around to putting something together for Squash Itll be a little different cause those old men dont have the eyesight they used to. I have it drawn up already, it looks like an arb and a slee had babies. They may have been cousins though....
HAHA sounds good, as much as I want it im just thinking the upper would be very useful! Well see, I want to go your route though and start making up my own junk!
Started on my tailgate storage yesterday. Instead of cutting one big hole Im gonna go with 3 smaller cut outs and 3 corresponding doors. I am leaving the 2 oe braces where they are instead of chopping them for more support.
I decided to use 1/2" uhmw (sp?) for the lid and piano hinges for the doors. Ill post pics if it ever gets finished.
I used carriage bolt type things/nuts/washers to bolt the plastic to the gate and the same bolts only spaced out for the handles/latch posts. I had the spring loaded latches or whatever you want to call them sitting around. Theyre kind of like the rubber latches that hold heap hoods shut but are all steel with an internal spring. The latches combined with some pipe insulation around the edges of the remaining inner tail gate material (I left a lip all the way around each compartment so the doors were better supported) keep the doors shut and rattle free.
Finished it in a weekend, about 6 hrs total, and best of all I had all the materials already. I did spend 6$ on hinge screws and still want to get some door molding to cover the cuts..........
Havet really put anything in there yet but Im sure The space will get filled in no time.
A shot of the mint assed gas tank I got from Yardpig.
