Builds Chicago builds a 40

[chicago]

More pics of stuff...
Cage, seats approximated in, fuel cell.
Im gonna have to go back further with that fuel cell than planned. Im gonna have to get really creative when packing for a long trip. Que sera.

First one's are of the pipe master and how it works for those who do not know about it for notching purposes...
Last pic is of the notch set.

 

[chicago]

more of the cage.

 

[chicago]

seats mocked up. Gotta set everything in stone. And the fuel cell behind the front seat. Not too many other options as to where to place it AAAAAND keep some usable storage space.

If anyone has any ideas, lemme know. I thought about recessing it into the tub some, but it wont gain me anything and it will just be a ton more work, so...why bother.
The biggest worry about it being in that location is it getting damaged some how with stuff in the rig.
I set if far back enough that I have room to move the seat back a bit and recline some, but there is NOT too much room. I sat in the seat and I have plenty of leg room, but I might like a smaller steering wheel. That is more of a set height issue than anything else.

 

[BamaBleach]

Man, be glad you don't have a gas tank under the pass-side seat. It was a pain to figure out my seat setup with that thing in the way.

It's looking good; gotta love forward progress!

 

[chicago]

Plasma cutter took a MAJOR SH!T this AM!
Fortunately its still under warranty!
I was cutting, then I wasnt....and instead getting sprayed with molten metal! Looked down at the machine and there was SMOKE coming from the front vent.

AAAAH well. That sucks! It'll probably be a good few weeks before that is fixed and or replaced
Ill be going back to the old school methods of the angle grinder and cut off wheels till then.

 

[locrwln1]

Plasma cutter took a MAJOR SH!T this AM!
Fortunately its still under warranty!
I was cutting, then I wasnt....and instead getting sprayed with molten metal! Looked down at the machine and there was SMOKE coming from the front vent.

AAAAH well. That sucks! It'll probably be a good few weeks before that is fixed and or replaced
Ill be going back to the old school methods of the angle grinder and cut off wheels till then.

That sucks.

Too bad the fuel cell isn't wider, you know fenderwell to fenderwell width. Definitely going to have to figure out the extra gas thing, 15g isn't very much, especially for the Death Valley runs.

Everything else is looking good.

Jack

 

[rusty_tlc]

That sucks.

Too bad the fuel cell isn't wider, you know fenderwell to fenderwell width. Definitely going to have to figure out the extra gas thing, 15g isn't very much, especially for the Death Valley runs.

Everything else is looking good.

Jack

X2 on that I miss my Confer Aux. tank.

 

[chicago]

That sucks.

Too bad the fuel cell isn't wider, you know fenderwell to fenderwell width. Definitely going to have to figure out the extra gas thing, 15g isn't very much, especially for the Death Valley runs.

Everything else is looking good.

Jack

Jack...
I know what you mean. I was hoping to get a 20 gal tank in there somehow, but...I could get a 20 gal in the RCI, but id have to set it back in the cargo bay even further. Itd be 12x12x30. This one is 12x9x30. Ill be carrying 10 gal. of fuel on the swing out, and Im gonna leave provisions to be able to carry more fuel on the fender wells being secured by the cage...Aside from the off the shelf tanks, Im looking at a custom tank. Not out of the realm of possibility especially given its location.

Additionally, Ill be hoping for BETTER mileage with this motor.
As I said...Im sacrificing somewhere with this type of set up.
Death Valley runs are less frequent, and the tacoma pulls that duty pretty well too.
The two runs that Id be strapped for fuel would be Death Valley, and Dusey (I wanna do someday). For everywhere else, I THINK id be okay.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Jack...
I know what you mean. I was hoping to get a 20 gal tank in there somehow, but...I could get a 20 gal in the RCI, but id have to set it back in the cargo bay even further. Itd be 12x12x30. This one is 12x9x30. Ill be carrying 10 gal. of fuel on the swing out, and Im gonna leave provisions to be able to carry more fuel on the fender wells being secured by the cage...Aside from the off the shelf tanks, Im looking at a custom tank. Not out of the realm of possibility especially given its location.

Additionally, Ill be hoping for BETTER mileage with this motor.
As I said...Im sacrificing somewhere with this type of set up.
Death Valley runs are less frequent, and the tacoma pulls that duty pretty well too.
The two runs that Id be strapped for fuel would be Death Valley, and Dusey (I wanna do someday). For everywhere else, I THINK id be okay.

I got by for years with the 16 gallon stock tank and cans in a carrier. Dusy would require 3 cans-so 31 gallons total. I only took the 40 to Death Valley twice, and getting fuel was a real pain. At the time I could only carry 1 can, and the Shell in Pamamint Springs was not working.

I think you'll be OK, since your Vortec has to be more efficient then my tired 2F.

 

[Krazyfj]

Hey Chicago,
I got the same seats, can you post some pic's of the seat brackets you made? I am struggling with what to do.
Thanks,
Tom

 

[chicago]

Hey Chicago,
I got the same seats, can you post some pic's of the seat brackets you made? I am struggling with what to do.
Thanks,
Tom

Tom,
Ill post pics, but its SOOOO dirt simple.
3 in x 1/4 in x 20 in flat bar, and just measure the holes that are on the existing brackets on the seats.
Im gonna bolt the seat and brackets to angle iron on the cradle with 4 bolts (2 on each side) so it will be easy to remove the seats when I need to vs. struggleing with the seat bracket bolts especially on the trail.

K

 

[chicago]

I got by for years with the 16 gallon stock tank and cans in a carrier. Dusy would require 3 cans-so 31 gallons total. I only took the 40 to Death Valley twice, and getting fuel was a real pain. At the time I could only carry 1 can, and the Shell in Pamamint Springs was not working.

I think you'll be OK, since your Vortec has to be more efficient then my tired 2F.

That is what I was hoping for was the motor saving some of the fuel carrying issues.

Thanks for the input Andy!

 

[Krazyfj]

Tom,
Ill post pics, but its SOOOO dirt simple.
3 in x 1/4 in x 20 in flat bar, and just measure the holes that are on the existing brackets on the seats.
Im gonna bolt the seat and brackets to angle iron on the cradle with 4 bolts (2 on each side) so it will be easy to remove the seats when I need to vs. struggleing with the seat bracket bolts especially on the trail.

K

It looked like you were using 1"x1" tubing, can't wait to see pic's

 

[chicago]

It looked like you were using 1"x1" tubing, can't wait to see pic's

That is correct. Its 1x1x.120 wall tubing for the main frame of the cradle. Then under the 1/4 in flat bar/ plate I picked up some 1x1 in angle iron that Ill actually bolt the seat brackets (flat bar) to. I was actually considering putting the seats on latches to easy removal. With all that space under the seats, itd be RAD to have easy access under there. However, I havent seen a good way to accomplish this, so Im still thinking about the details. Ill snap some maybe today, if not this weekend.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Do it like Kevin Rowland did in his 60. Make the seats have hinges in the rear with a latch in the front so the seats can flip towards the rear of the vehicle. Very slick

 

[chicago]

Do it like Kevin Rowland did in his 60. Make the seats have hinges in the rear with a latch in the front so the seats can flip towards the rear of the vehicle. Very slick

I tested that....However, with the fuel cell RIGHT FRIGGIN THERE, it hits.
The seats are pretty much done at this point, and Im not gonna set anything in stone YET for the fuel cell...
I was ding dongin around in the garage this eve, and I MAY HAVE found an alternate location UNDER the tub that the 30x17x7 tank MAY FIT in. Itll be some work...making a bracket for it and all, but it could solve a LOT of issues potentially.
It'll have to wait till I get the rear axle kicked back.

GAWD DAMN what the hell did I get myself into!?

 

[chicago]

Hey Chicago,
I got the same seats, can you post some pic's of the seat brackets you made? I am struggling with what to do.
Thanks,
Tom

KrazyFJ...
Here are the pics of the seat brackets and cradle you asked for. My wife had the camera over the weekend.
Hope these help.

 

[chicago]

few more of the seats...
Still need to add a few more supports, but I wanna wait till I figure out what I wanna do with the inder seat storage stuff.
So...On to the SOA.

 

[spressomon]

Seats look good Keith! Moving right along!

 

[chicago]

Seats look good Keith! Moving right along!

Thanks Dan!
Little by little is all I can do.