Biodiesel Piggie #2 Buildup (was Sad Sad day...) (2 Viewers)

[OffRoad Rage]

Roof supports.

First let me say this is really a great thread. I have done so much virtual learning just by camping on this and other threads here in the 55 section. I'm a newer Pig owner but have done a ton of reading to understand the beast and what I was getting into. I'm inspired by your work.

To the point of my post, as you said after seeing FBen's damage on his truck a cage is a must. I was pondering if any strengthing of the roof crossmembers and vertical members might help acheive the same thing with out having to install an obtrusive cage. It just seemed like you would be in the best position to comment on this with the roof removed and being able to closely examine the pig skeleton if you will.

Yes, welding on support material would take away from the stock look but so does a cage. I'll sacrifice stock looks for safety anyday especially in a truck my family will be riding in. It would seem that at this point in your project you might be able to make a more integral support system if you so desire.

I look forward to your comments and thank you for allowing me to intude a little in your masterpiece. Keep up the fine work.

-Norm

 

[Gumby]

Looking at that roof I'd have to say mine's coming off. I think I'll do a cage as well, but I will be running the hoop down the inside of the B and C pillars for the maximum room and best look. I might have to cut the inner part of the pillar, but I could weld the tube to the pillar to make them one beefier piece.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I've been pondering all sorts of internal and even some exo options... There are definitely some options, when I have a little more time I'll post up some more including pics. A bar across the front might help but bottom line is the 55 roof frame is super thin chincy particularly in the front. They achieve some strngth by sandwiching the steel but it is all for the most part super thin, maybe 18 gauge? The B and C pillars are actually very strong... I don't plan to ever roll (that would suck actually!) but I figure a little $$ and time here to maybe possibly save even my own life, worth it while I am here I figure... I would hate to kill someone just because I was into driving crappy old unsafe cars... Again I know little about vehicle dynamics/crashes etc, it is all guessing, but again that front is super chincy.. I'll post up (or maybe Ben if you are out there?) of his rig rolled.. Scary! I have some photos of a white exo 55 that was around here for some time, there are photos of it floating around the net. RidgeRunner and I were also thinking maybe something like a D90 roll bar setup as the front pillars to the side of the firewall are pretty beefy and it wouldn't be too hard to connect to that, D90 style.. That, and then maybe a small inside cage too...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

This is an idea for now that CruiserOutfit and I were bouncing around this idea the other day.. So I drew up this crude drawing of what my interior cage might look like. He is in the market for a bender so I was thinking do it local or maybe start hounding the guys over at metaltech, who are awesome...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

also with an interior roll bar I might eliminate the front vertical pillars and have it plug into the a pillars down low which actually seem semi beefy for more room on the floor/better access to dash etc. Don't really want it too cramped in there if possible with a roll bar... Again goal is accident not necessarily to roll often.. I am sort of anti interior roll bar cosmetically, I don't think it would be too cool inside, but again probably good idea to have one as mentioned before...

 

[PabloCruise]

How did the inside of the roof cap look interms of rust?

Any ideas to strengthen the front of the roof line (besides cage)?

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Honestly didn't get a chance to look inside the cap! But I will.. Plans for now are probably only just the roll bar I think...

 

[1973Guppie]

Dre,

I have spoken with Mark several times about a pig cage, he said he is interested but is unsure of the demand, I would encourage others whom are interested to call Mark at Metaltech and ask him to make a 55 cage kit. when I spoke with him he said he would probably make 2 types, one for on road safety/restoration guys and one for hardcore 4x4 types/full cage. The more modest of the two (on road type) would basically be a simple cage that it situated behind the drivers seat and goes rearward over the passenger seats. Basically it would keep the roof from collapsing during a rollover. This I think would work perfect as it won't cramp the front passenger area but will provide some major support to the whole roofline.

Noah

 

[Gumby]

The pig is pretty weird with the B pillar right in my shoulder. A 1.5 tube running down the outside of the B would intrude into my needed space. Behind the pillar will run into the back door entrance area. Regardless of whether I stretch the driver's door, I will put the tube inside the pillar.

Obviously, that would be hard to do in a DIY kit, but I think I'm slightly larger than the person the FJ55 was designed for.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I'm 6'5 and I recall the b piller being there to my left too. What I was planning to do was actually put it about 1-2" behind the b pillar and probably mount the seatbelt off the cage too. I am now thinking I would mount the front bar into A pillar possibly, but if Mark does come up with an internal cage for the rear only, that would be pretty cool..

 

[FJBen]

Being 6'5" too I know how cramped cages can be...but trust me it's less cramped than having the roof on top of you

Even 80's when they roll seem to fold up front...there just has to be a good way to re-inforce that A-pillar/roof line to save it in a wreck.

The steering wheel/seats was the only thing keeping that front from folding more...

 

[ridgerunner]

Andre forgot to mention that as he pulled the roof and cut the seat mounts he made a new friend. They're about the same age, and they have similar interests: Land Cruisers and cheese.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Yup my little buddy, probably the guy who was making the mouse condos in the rear...




Anyway, found a couple more pics of Ben's roll, hope you don't mind me posting them!

 

[PabloCruise]

Yup my little buddy, probably the guy who was making the mouse condos in the rear...




Anyway, found a couple more pics of Ben's roll, hope you don't mind me posting them!

Ugh. This day broke my heart...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I know that was pretty shocking too.. This sounds odd but for some reason the axles look so weird suspended there in mid air, upside down.. Anyway

 

[notagp_afj55]

Andre

I am surprised that my cats missed that rodent. They used to walk around
the truck like it was possesed and now i guess i know why.

 

[DieselFJ]

This may sound odd, but if that windshield was guled in with urethane it would have added structural support to the front roof. This is why all new vehicles are required by law to have a glue in windshields and not gaskets. I know this is nothing like a roll bar, but it would have definitly helped.

Scott

 

[FJBen]

Nah don't mind at all on the pic posting... In february it will be a year.

The main problem with that roll was that is went up in the air, and then all came down on that passenger side causing that roof to cave. You can see in this pic just how much it was shoved over to the side.

It was 24 below and sorta surreal...I reccomend NOT doing that...

 

[2manycruisers]

Not to hijack, but how much/what kind of lift on your 55 FJBen? With 35s or 33s?

 

[usmcruiser]

Not to hijack, but how much/what kind of lift on your 55 FJBen? With 35s or 33s?

Here you go.

He is running Alcans, SUA with 35's.