Build Flopped My Rig, Time To Chop The Top!

[OGBeno]

Really awesome work here and nice thinking.

My fab manager decided to follow your lead a bit...



Alex's rig is going to sport 14 bolts/Atlas/5spd/6BT on 37's

 

[Delancy]

Did you weld the fender lip after folding?

 

[VCCruzr]

Did you weld the fender lip after folding?

No welding. I trimmed back the inner fender well about 3/4" and hammered up each tab. I then drilled and riveted each tab to the inner fender well. While I was doing the bondo work on the DS fender, I mixed extra to fill in the notches and sharp edges on these tabs. When I spray the liner on the doors and fenders, I will hit the fender wells as well.

 

[Tenzig Norgay]

Man that truck looks sweet. Like how you did the front fenders. I notched and bent my 4 runners rear wheel wells like that, but glassed it all in. But wow, I love your 80.

 

[sdnative]

Looks great Derrick!

 

[Delancy]

May not be the most relevant question, so pardon if it sounds ignorant, or out of place.

Short of body work on the outer fender, (assuming a minor fender bender) under what circumstances is removal, or separation from the inner necessary?

Had planned to remove the power antenna and swap for stationary, but other than that, I don't know why else they shouldn't be joined permanently.

 

[Wrench]

No welding. I trimmed back the inner fender well about 3/4" and hammered up each tab. I then drilled and riveted each tab to the inner fender well. While I was doing the bondo work on the DS fender, I mixed extra to fill in the notches and sharp edges on these tabs. When I spray the liner on the doors and fenders, I will hit the fender wells as well.

That's a lot of rivets...

 

[VCCruzr]

May not be the most relevant question, so pardon if it sounds ignorant, or out of place.

Short of body work on the outer fender, (assuming a minor fender bender) under what circumstances is removal, or separation from the inner necessary?

Had planned to remove the power antenna and swap for stationary, but other than that, I don't know why else they shouldn't be joined permanently.

I am hoping I won't have to go back in there as mine are permanently attached. Well, not permanent enough for a cutting wheel to handle.

That's a lot of rivets...

Yes, very time consuming. It's all these little details that are dragging this project on.

 

[kidglove13]

Derrick looks sick my friend

Do you have any pics of what the inner fender looks like from inside the hood?

How much did you trim the inner fender and was it hard?

How much crap did you have to remove from under the hood to deal with the fenders?

Looks great

 

[VCCruzr]

Derrick looks sick my friend

Do you have any pics of what the inner fender looks like from inside the hood?

How much did you trim the inner fender and was it hard?

How much crap did you have to remove from under the hood to deal with the fenders?

Looks great

Thanks Roger! I don't have any pics yet. I trimmed the outer edge of the inner fender where the outer fender lip bolted to it with the 10mm bolts. I trimmed it back with a cutting wheel about 3/4". The outer fender tabs that were created when I notched it 1" O.C., were folded in (hammered in ). These tabs overlapped the inner fender well so I drilled and riveted. I did this to retain as much strength as possible on the outer fender edge. I have seen many people trim their fender wells and remove the inner fender all together, but this sheet metal is so thin that it even dents when you look at it.

 

[Ozdunc]

Progress?

 

[VCCruzr]

Progress?

Unfortunately no. I had to travel on business, but I will resume now that I am back. I am going to prep for a Rubicon run that I am doing in a couple of weeks.

To Do List:
Finish Al's Liner on Exterior
Fix leak on front diff
Replace both the drive shafts (they are really beat-up)
Make my own bikini/soft top


My buddy, whose shop I use, is working out of state so the rear quarter exo and final gusseting/detail work will happen later.

More to come.....

 

[VCCruzr]

Derrick looks sick my friend

Do you have any pics of what the inner fender looks like from inside the hood?

How much did you trim the inner fender and was it hard?

How much **** did you have to remove from under the hood to deal with the fenders?

Looks great

After taking a few weeks off. I got back into the swing of things. I fninshed the DS fender trimming and took some better pictures of the steps I took. These show how I riveted the tabs to the inner fender well.

 

[VCCruzr]

....and More Al's Liner

I also had time this weekend to put the second row doors back on and finish spraying the Al's Liner on the rig.

 

[VCCruzr]

A few more...

More pics. And now I can get back to more tube work.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

Looks awesome! I still really want to line my rig like yours, v1.0. But some other things have come up and cosmetics have taken a back seat.

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[Townsend]

And like that, I now have a new favorite rig. Bravo.

 

[Delancy]

Man, that's a lot of rivets.

Looking good.

 

[FJFOOL]

Yeah, lots of rivets, but it's that attention to detail that makes your rig stand out. Bravo ! What is your plan for a spare tire location, and are you making a soft top for it ? Very cool !

 

[Smokinrodder]

Looking good!! I like the look of the whole thing! Doing a damn good job!!

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