One more...
Builds DanKunz ROTW
- Thread starter GXO
- Start date
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Box Rocket
SILVER Star
Looking great. When I roll my 80 this looks like a great way to go. very nice work.
Thank you Dan for the wonderful write up. Very kind.
I bought my truck brand new with 4 miles on it in August 96 in Dallas Texas. I really miss it. When I got back from Cambodia in 2006 I was full on broke having spent a year working as a volunteer in Cambodia. Getting the rig back to the US was hard enough and I foolishly sold it to pay for expenses and editing of the film.
There is a funny story about getting the Cruiser into Cambodia.
No "Barang" (foreigners) are allowed to bring cars or drive cars in
Cambodia. Especially ones that look military grade. I didn't
have a visa or papers to enter Cambodia when we left Penang Malaysia to drive the length of Thailand in the late summer of 2005 but I was committed to talking my way in because the entire cruiser was filled with food and school supplies for the kids in Seam Reap Cambodia.
The border of Thailand and Cambodia is visually overwhelming with an endless line of hand drawn carts filled and pulled by gaunt human beings with sunken eyes that remind you of Holocaust survivors. Making our way through immigration was pretty uneventful and our Visa's granted quickly. Now we steeled ourselves for the battle of getting the Cruiser into Cambodia. Please remember we had driven the entire peninsula of Thailand, over 1200 miles, and if we didn't get into Cambodia we would have to turn around and drive 1200 miles back.
At the top of two flights of stairs was the Customs director's office where I found him taking a nap on the floor. I later learned this is not odd as most Khmer (Cambodians) take a 2 hour nap after lunch because the country is too hot to work at noon. He didn't seem very pleased that I had disturbed him from his lunch nap and very shortly told me. "No Barang vehicle in Cambodia, only Khmer."
He was pretty adamant about only Khmer in Cambodia drive but I explained that the Cruiser was filled with school supplies and he said he would call Phnom Penh but followed up with, "many barang come here and want in to Cambodia with vehicle and no one allowed. Many sleep for week in hall way waiting but never allowed."
This obviously did not sound very good as I sat down at the bench in his office about 20 feet from his desk. After sitting there for about 10 minutes he looked up at me a couple of times and then finally asked me, "what are you coming into the country for". I again explained I was coming to serve as a volunteer teacher in Seam Reap and that the Cruiser was filled with school supplies and food for the children of the school. He again looked down and continued reading the newspaper on his desk. I was the only one in the office which was filled with an awkward silence but this may have actually been to my advantage.
He continued to sneak glances at me and I wasn't sure why and after five minutes he looked up in a puzzled look and asked me, "Are you from Texas?" This surprised me but I quickly remembered I was wearing my University of Texas baseball hat and I knew this was my shot and immediately stood up and told him, "Yes, I am". He looked at me with an odd smile as I walked towards his desk and he said, "I have a sister in Brownwood Texas that owns 2 Dunkin Doughnut shops. Not missing a beat I responded, "Really... if you come to Texas some time I will be your host and will drive you around Texas in my Landcruiser... the same one outside." He immediately smiled and said, "You promise...?" I said, "Absolutely... I promise."
With that he took out his stamp and stamped my permit for a one year approval to drive my Landcruiser anywhere I wanted inside Cambodia with my Texas Plates on.
Hook'em Horns!
Robin Hood
Wake Island Adventure Team
Thinkwinwin
noakz@thinkwinwin.com
I bought my truck brand new with 4 miles on it in August 96 in Dallas Texas. I really miss it. When I got back from Cambodia in 2006 I was full on broke having spent a year working as a volunteer in Cambodia. Getting the rig back to the US was hard enough and I foolishly sold it to pay for expenses and editing of the film.
There is a funny story about getting the Cruiser into Cambodia.
No "Barang" (foreigners) are allowed to bring cars or drive cars in
Cambodia. Especially ones that look military grade. I didn't
have a visa or papers to enter Cambodia when we left Penang Malaysia to drive the length of Thailand in the late summer of 2005 but I was committed to talking my way in because the entire cruiser was filled with food and school supplies for the kids in Seam Reap Cambodia.
The border of Thailand and Cambodia is visually overwhelming with an endless line of hand drawn carts filled and pulled by gaunt human beings with sunken eyes that remind you of Holocaust survivors. Making our way through immigration was pretty uneventful and our Visa's granted quickly. Now we steeled ourselves for the battle of getting the Cruiser into Cambodia. Please remember we had driven the entire peninsula of Thailand, over 1200 miles, and if we didn't get into Cambodia we would have to turn around and drive 1200 miles back.
At the top of two flights of stairs was the Customs director's office where I found him taking a nap on the floor. I later learned this is not odd as most Khmer (Cambodians) take a 2 hour nap after lunch because the country is too hot to work at noon. He didn't seem very pleased that I had disturbed him from his lunch nap and very shortly told me. "No Barang vehicle in Cambodia, only Khmer."
He was pretty adamant about only Khmer in Cambodia drive but I explained that the Cruiser was filled with school supplies and he said he would call Phnom Penh but followed up with, "many barang come here and want in to Cambodia with vehicle and no one allowed. Many sleep for week in hall way waiting but never allowed."
This obviously did not sound very good as I sat down at the bench in his office about 20 feet from his desk. After sitting there for about 10 minutes he looked up at me a couple of times and then finally asked me, "what are you coming into the country for". I again explained I was coming to serve as a volunteer teacher in Seam Reap and that the Cruiser was filled with school supplies and food for the children of the school. He again looked down and continued reading the newspaper on his desk. I was the only one in the office which was filled with an awkward silence but this may have actually been to my advantage.
He continued to sneak glances at me and I wasn't sure why and after five minutes he looked up in a puzzled look and asked me, "Are you from Texas?" This surprised me but I quickly remembered I was wearing my University of Texas baseball hat and I knew this was my shot and immediately stood up and told him, "Yes, I am". He looked at me with an odd smile as I walked towards his desk and he said, "I have a sister in Brownwood Texas that owns 2 Dunkin Doughnut shops. Not missing a beat I responded, "Really... if you come to Texas some time I will be your host and will drive you around Texas in my Landcruiser... the same one outside." He immediately smiled and said, "You promise...?" I said, "Absolutely... I promise."
With that he took out his stamp and stamped my permit for a one year approval to drive my Landcruiser anywhere I wanted inside Cambodia with my Texas Plates on.
Hook'em Horns!
Robin Hood
Wake Island Adventure Team
Thinkwinwin
noakz@thinkwinwin.com
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #84
Thanks for chiming in Robin! Good to hear from you. Hope all is well.
Dan that cage looks great and I especially like the rear quarter panel capping - very clean and professional looking - Kudo's to ATL Custom Creations for a job well done.
!
cool to hear even more details about this cruisers story. Glad you are keeping it alive Dan.
Wow, that IS a great story.
As I was reading it, I thought you would say you gave him your cap; but just think, someday you might get to eat all the free Dunkin Doughnuts you want!
Thanks for sharing!
As I was reading it, I thought you would say you gave him your cap; but just think, someday you might get to eat all the free Dunkin Doughnuts you want!
Thanks for sharing!
- Thread starter
- #90
BTW Robin, if some random visit from Cambodia does happen, tell him to come to Atlanta, I can still give him a ride in the same truck and I have a Dunkin Donuts nearby...he just can't stay at my house!
- Thread starter
- #91
She's home!! AMAZING work. I couldn't be happier with the result.
Thanks so much for ACC's hard work and craftsmanship.
More pics will be posted soon!
Thanks so much for ACC's hard work and craftsmanship.
More pics will be posted soon!
lx450landcruiser
Moderator
hurry hurry hurry
- Thread starter
- #93
Update, the Cado is done!
Alright, the cage is done and I couldn't be happier with the result. I wanted basic cage work and ACC went above and beyond and used their imaginations and amazing skills to get the truck back together and up to snuff.
The list:
- Full cage, integrated into the frame and A-pillar (5 sheets braced and welded to .188 wall runners to the B pillar to keep it stiff and off my face in a roll)
- New B, C, and a mini D pillar
- Braced and welded sliders and rear bumper to the frame (the tree actually stretched the bolts in the bumper almost 1/4 inch from the hit, and tweaked the rear end down an inch).
- Amazing triangulation and cross bars for harness mounting when I get to that point
- cool 60" hi-lift mounting bolts
- Reworking all the battery cables
- Removed the on board air and tanks (going to C02)
- details!!! They notched, fit, and capped sheetmetal to make it look factory, and it will all support my weight if I stand on it as climb around/on things
- Body mounts in front replaced with solid blocks to allow for less flex and stress on the windshield (DETAILS!!!)
- 100 other little things I am thankful for and can't remember
The initial impressions:
- Driving in 34 degrees at 70 mph is cold.
- The battery cable fixes and the cut in weight make this thing run a LOT better, more power, better handling...like a new truck
- Did I mention driving in the cold is REALLY cold?
Next Steps:
- Bed lining the inside
- Soft Top appointment is made
- C02 and replacement tools will be ordered (most tools got trashed by the water and not being able to cut out the roof for a while after the storm).
- Camping gear will be ordered (it was also ruined due to water in the storm)
And now...the final pics!!!
I would recommend ACC for anyone needing this sort of fun or unique work in the Southeast. I have a LOT of experience with almost every shop down here and these guys are by far the best, most responsible, and talented crew I have dealt with!
Alright, the cage is done and I couldn't be happier with the result. I wanted basic cage work and ACC went above and beyond and used their imaginations and amazing skills to get the truck back together and up to snuff.
The list:
- Full cage, integrated into the frame and A-pillar (5 sheets braced and welded to .188 wall runners to the B pillar to keep it stiff and off my face in a roll)
- New B, C, and a mini D pillar
- Braced and welded sliders and rear bumper to the frame (the tree actually stretched the bolts in the bumper almost 1/4 inch from the hit, and tweaked the rear end down an inch).
- Amazing triangulation and cross bars for harness mounting when I get to that point
- cool 60" hi-lift mounting bolts
- Reworking all the battery cables
- Removed the on board air and tanks (going to C02)
- details!!! They notched, fit, and capped sheetmetal to make it look factory, and it will all support my weight if I stand on it as climb around/on things
- Body mounts in front replaced with solid blocks to allow for less flex and stress on the windshield (DETAILS!!!)
- 100 other little things I am thankful for and can't remember
The initial impressions:
- Driving in 34 degrees at 70 mph is cold.
- The battery cable fixes and the cut in weight make this thing run a LOT better, more power, better handling...like a new truck
- Did I mention driving in the cold is REALLY cold?
Next Steps:
- Bed lining the inside
- Soft Top appointment is made
- C02 and replacement tools will be ordered (most tools got trashed by the water and not being able to cut out the roof for a while after the storm).
- Camping gear will be ordered (it was also ruined due to water in the storm)
And now...the final pics!!!
I would recommend ACC for anyone needing this sort of fun or unique work in the Southeast. I have a LOT of experience with almost every shop down here and these guys are by far the best, most responsible, and talented crew I have dealt with!
That's really good work. Now you just need to fab up a "finished" tailgate and you'll be rolling.
jfz80
Cruisin’
- Soft Top appointment is made
That be the top I was speaking of......
again looks great and glad you got her back; and in a new and improved manor
man its got to be cold ridin around in that thing
That be the top I was speaking of......
again looks great and glad you got her back; and in a new and improved manor
man its got to be cold ridin around in that thing
That looks great, Dan! I'm kinda jealous...
BenMara
Asian Redneck
hmm can you get a pics with rear door open wanna see how easy it would be get in and out of rear seats
tkx
Ben
tkx
Ben
Awesome work. I will definitely have to look into something like this if I ever roll.
If its not too personal, do you mind giving us an estimated cost or amount of man hours?
The cado is going to be a lot of fun in the summer. I bet it might even be manageable in the winter once you get your soft top.
Edit: It looks like the door windows are removed, are you going to have "heep" style plastic windows incorporated into your soft top?
If its not too personal, do you mind giving us an estimated cost or amount of man hours?
The cado is going to be a lot of fun in the summer. I bet it might even be manageable in the winter once you get your soft top.
Edit: It looks like the door windows are removed, are you going to have "heep" style plastic windows incorporated into your soft top?
- Thread starter
- #99
Yeah, soft window flaps in the soft top.
I won't lie...it wasn't cheap. There were a LOT of man hours in this. The materials were cheap in comparison. I was paying for someone that knew what they were doing.
I asked for a lot of custom work, it was novel and very different, and ACC stepped up. If you want to do this sort of thing on a budget, make sure you have the skill to pull it off. My kids ride in this thing so that trumped any concerns for budget I might have had (and I suck at welding).
I won't lie...it wasn't cheap. There were a LOT of man hours in this. The materials were cheap in comparison. I was paying for someone that knew what they were doing.
I asked for a lot of custom work, it was novel and very different, and ACC stepped up. If you want to do this sort of thing on a budget, make sure you have the skill to pull it off. My kids ride in this thing so that trumped any concerns for budget I might have had (and I suck at welding).
- Thread starter
- #100
C02 tank ordered.
Replacement CB antenna, cables, and mount ordered.
Liner is scheduled for a week or two out.
Appt with soft top fabber next week!
Replacement CB antenna, cables, and mount ordered.
Liner is scheduled for a week or two out.
Appt with soft top fabber next week!