Build AK HJ-75

[coldtaco]

Cut out complete.

 

[coldtaco]

Have to figure out what to do with these 90 degree bends. The outer pieces have a 90 degree bends to mate up with the inner panel which also has a 90 degree bends. The outside rails were attached to these 90 degree bends.

 

[2fpower]

You are a brave man. I would have needed to take some liquid encouragement before making those cuts!!!

 

[coldtaco]

So, I drilled out the standard head pop rivets and replaced them with solid countersunk head rivets 6-5 size. Been a long time since I’ve driven rivets, kind of fun to do these again.

Counter sink tool

 

[coldtaco]

Lower half fitted. Found out my cap(top part) isn’t as square as I thought I got it. So tent won’t fit perfectly, but as long as you can’t see all sides at the same time it will be fine.

 

[coldtaco]

My replacement 12HT Denso throttle springs came in from Spain. I ordered 4, two for me and two for the HJ61 in the neighborhood. They were almost 10euro each cheaper than the guy in the Netherlands. FedEx cost more than all 4 springs

 

[JuanJ]

You are a brave man. I would have needed to take some liquid encouragement before making those cuts!!!

Hello,

x2.

This is not for the faint of heart.

On the other hand, this setup reminds me of Andrew White's pop-top Troopie.






Juan

 

[coldtaco]

Hello,

x2.

This is not for the faint of heart.

On the other hand, this setup reminds me of Andrew White's pop-top Troopie.






Juan

I would love a pop top troopie, but I wouldn't be able to fit it in my garage.

 

[janyyc]

I would love a pop top troopie, but I wouldn't be able to fit it in my garage.

I can understand your concern... I’d have to build a new garage for the Troopy if I went pop-top.

 

[coldtaco]

I think I have the bolt it down done. It is not bolted down yet for final attachment, will wait till I have the fold up/down bed done. Because of how thin the aluminum of the rtt is I was worried that if I use some weather stripping between the bottom of the rtt and top of the cap that spaces between the hold down bolts would potentially bulge up. So I installed 1x3 aluminum angle on top of the rtt sheet metal. I placed the 1” up on the outside so that it would then also provide a lip to hold small stuff, like phones, flashlights, snacks, and what not. So next to build the bed.

 

[coldtaco]

Floor test fit. The little door at the rear I will have to re-think the hinge, I think I know what I have to do to make it work.

 

[coldtaco]

I messed up were I welded on the hinges so I will need to find new ones tomorrow, and ran out of the gas for my MIG, so have to get more of that too.

 

[coldtaco]

Time to make mounts for a lift strut for the small floor piece. Never done something like this before, another first.
Mount for on the floor part.

 

[coldtaco]

Placing the mounts

 

[coldtaco]

Looks like the hinges are done. I will have to wait to do the lift struts for the big floor piece later when I can get the truck outside. Might just go with some kind of manual system to keep the floor up.

 

[c2dfj45]

This is really cool.

It's infecting my brain with thoughts of cutting a big hole in the roof of the Troopy and putting a pop top on it

 

[coldtaco]

I wish I wasn't constrained by the height of the garage door/opening. It would have added a lot more room if I could have used a Troopie top, at least 2 feet I think.

 

[tmarx]

Very cool !

 

[coldtaco]

One thing that has been bothering me for a while is that the sides would bend down a little bit when I would put my total weight on the floor. So, then add a wife to the weight and I really didn’t like how much more the sides would bend down. When I built the cap and used 2x2 steel for the upper for/aft run I didn’t think about the reduced twisting strength. So I built a brace, no flexing now.

 

[janyyc]

Very impressive work.