Build 97 on 40s Expo Build

[joez]

Thank you, you gain about 12" on each side. Maybe I just take stupid lines, but I seem to tag them just as often as my frame rails

My rear bumper has definitely saved me, but the quarters don't take the beating the rear most part does. My rear bumper is bent in the middle from the beating it has taken, but short of bobbing it I won't be able to stop that from happening.

Good thinking outside of the box again though, I do like it.

 

[jcardona1]

That's an extreme quarter panel chop, nice work! I thought I took mine pretty high but this one is nuts

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

I added some light.

View attachment 1564621

What lightbar did you get and how did you mount it?

 

[ExpoMax]

What lightbar did you get and how did you mount it?

Eurolight 52", custom brackets

Still need to work on them a little bit, think I'm going to angle them up.

 

[Nay]

That's an extreme quarter panel chop, nice work! I thought I took mine pretty high but this one is nuts

I’ll be interested to see the tube integration along the lines of the Grand Cherokee pic posted earlier.

The problem I had with figuring out those lines was how low the frame is back there and bracing tube back to it. You put that on a major angle and it’s mostly a damage multiplier. That Jeep design is intriguing, but the GC also doesn’t have a frame (unibody subframe) so it’s higher clearance in the base design back there.

The 80’s primary visual problem is the ‘elephant sitting in a bathtub’ look from the rear - I’d like to see a pic of the quarter panel work from the rear in full body shot at a bit of a distance to see both tires and above rooftop.

Also, the relatively low frame of the 80 makes additional clearance work sit way above the frame, which is where we all hang up anyway. As others have noted, damage tends to be from leans into things well above rocker or quarter panel lines, not that gaining slider and rear clearance at the sides isn’t a really good objective despite the breakover and departure angle problems.

Keep going

 

[jcardona1]

I’ll be interested to see the tube integration along the lines of the Grand Cherokee pic posted earlier.

The problem I had with figuring out those lines was how low the frame is back there and bracing tube back to it. You put that on a major angle and it’s mostly a damage multiplier.

That Jeep design is intriguing, but the GC also doesn’t have a frame (unibody subframe) so it’s higher clearance in the base design back there.

The 80’s primary visual problem is the ‘elephant sitting in a bathtub’ look from the rear - I’d like to see a pic of the quarter panel work from the rear in full body shot at a bit of a distance.

Yeah the rear end of the frame hangs really low on these trucks. On mine I cut off the rear body mounts and integrated them into a high clearance bumper so I could tuck it in a bit more, but you really don't gain much ground clearance unless you do something drastic.

 

[Nay]

Yeah the rear end of the frame hangs really low on these trucks. On mine I cut off the rear body mounts and integrated them into a high clearance bumper so I could tuck it in a bit more, but you really don't gain much ground clearance unless you do something drastic.

Right. Really fixing that problem is suggestive of routing the frame upwards by keeping the line it has at the wheel well instead of the downward curve it takes.

Of course, if he cuts out any more he can’t be ExpoMax. Look at all the expo storage he just killed at the quarters. That could have been converted into better storage to carry more weight.

 

[ExpoMax]

I’ll be interested to see the tube integration along the lines of the Grand Cherokee pic posted earlier.

The problem I had with figuring out those lines was how low the frame is back there and bracing tube back to it. You put that on a major angle and it’s mostly a damage multiplier. That Jeep design is intriguing, but the GC also doesn’t have a frame (unibody subframe) so it’s higher clearance in the base design back there.

The 80’s primary visual problem is the ‘elephant sitting in a bathtub’ look from the rear - I’d like to see a pic of the quarter panel work from the rear in full body shot at a bit of a distance to see both tires and above rooftop.

Also, the relatively low frame of the 80 makes additional clearance work sit way above the frame, which is where we all hang up anyway. As others have noted, damage tends to be from leans into things well above rocker or quarter panel lines, not that gaining slider and rear clearance at the sides isn’t a really good objective despite the breakover and departure angle problems.

Keep going

You make some really great points. Yeah I'm kind of still trying to figure out how far I want to jump into this clearance stuff. I'll get some far away pics later today (still only have 1 side done).

This is definitely what you end up dealing with when you chop a high as I did. I'm starting to look into what it would take to move those frame rails up like 10in. The one thing major I am not sure what to do with is the tailgate. I would have to mod the tailgate heavily to essentially move it up outa the way.

 

[ExpoMax]

Right. Really fixing that problem is suggestive of routing the frame upwards by keeping the line it has at the wheel well instead of the downward curve it takes.

Of course, if he cuts out any more he can’t be ExpoMax. Look at all the expo storage he just killed at the quarters. That could have been converted into better storage to carry more weight.

Haha what do you use your lower quarter panels for? Iv never had a good use for the lower part - except a place for crap to get caught in. I'm also trying to stay as light as possible - never care to have an insane heavy expo rig....I'm at like stocks weight at this point, maybe a tad above.

 

[Nay]

Haha what do you use your lower quarter panels for? Iv never had a good use for the lower part - except a place for crap to get caught in. I'm also trying to stay as light as possible - never care to have an insane heavy expo rig....I'm at like stocks weight at this point, maybe a tad above.

Mine have been gone, at least partially, for like a decade and I went low weight/high clearance from the start - it’s cool to see builds going much further. I like like digging at expo stuff because “armor” just screws these heavy pigs and people spend so much money to add it.

Anyway, my goal at the time was to keep the outer line of the rear bumper just barely behind the outer point of the rear hatch so the hatch wouldn’t take first hit backing into something.

You can see in the pic below that I could have quite a bit more clearance tucked in like yours, but I welded in a flipped hitch to triangulate the frame and bumper so that’s never changing.

You can also see the problem of wrapping tube around the quarters - it’s high clearance but further out from the body than I would like and I hammer it out there occasionally. That’s my interest in your revised quarter panel protection, because it’s the one area I’m not satisfied in terms of reasonably achievable clearance.

But then look at the frame, trimmed up here, and what do you do? That’s why I violated my weight guidelines just a little bit with the welded in hitch: there’s just no way to ever bend that so the frame is fully protected and it’s recessed from the frame ears.

I would also have to give up my sweet hockey puck bumper braces under the trimmed quarters, though, and I’m not sure I’m willing to do that, but I think I could improve both clearance and aesthetics at the quarters.

 

[ExpoMax]

Mine have been gone, at least partially, for like a decade and I went low weight/high clearance from the start - it’s cool to see builds going much further. I like like digging at expo stuff because “armor” just screws these heavy pigs and people spend so much money to add it.

Anyway, my goal at the time was to keep the outer line of the rear bumper just barely behind the outer point of the rear hatch so the hatch wouldn’t take first hit backing into something.

You can see in the pic below that I could have quite a bit more clearance tucked in like yours, but I welded in a flipped hitch to triangulate the frame and bumper so that’s never changing.

You can also see the problem of wrapping tube around the quarters - it’s high clearance but further out from the body than I would like and I hammer it out there occasionally. That’s my interest in your revised quarter panel protection, because it’s the one area I’m not satisfied in terms of reasonably achievable clearance.

View attachment 1565859

But then look at the frame, trimmed up here, and what do you do? That’s why I violated my weight guidelines just a little bit with the welded in hitch: there’s just no way to ever bend that so the frame is fully protected and it’s recessed from the frame ears.

View attachment 1565862

I would also have to give up my sweet hockey puck bumper braces under the trimmed quarters, though, and I’m not sure I’m willing to do that, but I think I could improve both clearance and aesthetics at the quarters.

View attachment 1565860

Yeah this all is definitely the dilemma for our trucks. I have never really digged the heavy expo stuff either. Its hard for me at least because I often take this thing on 4+ day trips, and storage is a huge thing (I also sleep in the thing). This bumper build of mine is going to be pretty hard to do honestly. Having swing outs, spare, and possibly fuel all at a light weight is going to be really hard. And the fact I want it ultra high clearance too. If I can pull it off I know it'll be awesome, but definitely going the tube route like you to keep the weight down.

 

[ExpoMax]

Mine have been gone, at least partially, for like a decade and I went low weight/high clearance from the start - it’s cool to see builds going much further. I like like digging at expo stuff because “armor” just screws these heavy pigs and people spend so much money to add it.

Anyway, my goal at the time was to keep the outer line of the rear bumper just barely behind the outer point of the rear hatch so the hatch wouldn’t take first hit backing into something.

You can see in the pic below that I could have quite a bit more clearance tucked in like yours, but I welded in a flipped hitch to triangulate the frame and bumper so that’s never changing.

You can also see the problem of wrapping tube around the quarters - it’s high clearance but further out from the body than I would like and I hammer it out there occasionally. That’s my interest in your revised quarter panel protection, because it’s the one area I’m not satisfied in terms of reasonably achievable clearance.

View attachment 1565859

But then look at the frame, trimmed up here, and what do you do? That’s why I violated my weight guidelines just a little bit with the welded in hitch: there’s just no way to ever bend that so the frame is fully protected and it’s recessed from the frame ears.

View attachment 1565862

I would also have to give up my sweet hockey puck bumper braces under the trimmed quarters, though, and I’m not sure I’m willing to do that, but I think I could improve both clearance and aesthetics at the quarters.

View attachment 1565860

Have you had any ideas for routes to move the frame rails up? Like I said earlier the tailgate becomes the problem.

 

[jcardona1]

Have you had any ideas for routes to move the frame rails up? Like I said earlier the tailgate becomes the problem.

High clearance 80 series rear bumper

 

[Nay]

Zooming in here, it actually seems like the extra cut gives the ability to create some higher bracing off the frame.

In this Jeep design he doesn’t have to deal with body and frame separation or a body mount in the way, so it’s much easier, but you could do the exact same thing just cut hockey pucks in half as pseudo body mounts between the new quarter panel floor and the angle piece you weld into the frame.

I can attest that works really well and you pick up a little bit of roll rigidity back there by essentially having wing body mounts tied into the frame. Just make sure your quarter floor is braced.

If I was doing it I think I would cut the quarters where they bend in leaving the rest below the tail lights and not so much to fill in, but thems horses are not in the barn anymore here.

Very interested to see the visual result.

 

[ExpoMax]

High clearance 80 series rear bumper

Thank you sir! Well you guys may be seeing pics soon of my newly moved up frame rails.

 

[ExpoMax]

Zooming in here, it actually seems like the extra cut gives the ability to create some higher bracing off the frame.

View attachment 1565872 View attachment 1565873

In this Jeep design he doesn’t have to deal with body and frame separation or a body mount in the way, so it’s much easier, but you could do the exact same thing just cut hockey pucks in half as pseudo body mounts between the new quarter panel floor and the angle piece you weld into the frame.

I can attest that works really well and you pick up a little bit of roll rigidity back there by essentially having wing body mounts tied into the frame. Just make sure your quarter floor is braced.

If I was doing it I think I would cut the quarters where they bend in leaving the rest below the tail lights and not so much to fill in, but thems horses are not in the barn anymore here.

Very interested to see the visual result.

YES I certainly have a lot of options for bracing now. I'm going to keep throwing ideas out, I have till the ninth to be ready for a bumper build

 

[jcardona1]

Thank you sir! Well you guys may be seeing pics soon of my newly moved up frame rails.

I almost went higher on mine, debated trimming the tailgate, raising the frame rails, etc. In the end decided it wasn't worth the hassle. Overall this quarter panel/body mount chop gave me pretty good clearance for the amount of work involved. Good luck

 

[Nay]

I almost went higher on mine, debated trimming the tailgate, raising the frame rails, etc. In the end decided it wasn't worth the hassle. Overall this quarter panel/body mount chop gave me pretty good clearance for the amount of work involved. Good luck

I thInk you nailed it visually and functionally. The body mount relo seems key. I’d hate to lose that lower hatch functionality - it’s one of the sweet features of these rigs and the extra space is why the low frame.

The higher quarter panel trim is perfect, though. I was too obsessed with using tube in the rear and while good it leaves a bit on the table.

Of course, I’m just a hack so the fact I ever did any of this is surprising. Carry on.

 

[jcardona1]

I thInk you nailed it visually and functionally. The body mount relo seems key. I’d hate to lose that lower hatch functionality - it’s one of the sweet features of these rigs and the extra space is why the low frame.

The higher quarter panel trim is perfect, though. I was too obsessed with using tube in the rear and while good it leaves a bit on the table.

Of course, I’m just a hack so the fact I ever did any of this is surprising. Carry on.

Thanks. I have several pics of the chop and bumper build starting on this post Evolution of a Land Cruiser: My 80's build thread

Sorry for the hijack ExpoMax!

 

[Nay]

It’s a relevant hijack since he now has an acre of trimmed panel to fill

I remember when my junk looked good - it’s aging about as well as I am. Maybe I just need to re-paint it and it will be sexy again.

This probably needs its own thread, but we still need an answer as to why Monstaliner Sans Panties looks like baby food poop. Is that just a trick like the rest of life and they just cut out the middle part for expediency? F... you in a can?