Builds HDJ80 LHD #snlcbuilt Ute (pickup) (3 Viewers)

[SNLC]

Inner structure on the lower side is done, I may add one piece more.

OEM 79-series upper structure is welded in on the cab back now.

We just need to clean up and finish this out now.

I won’t be doing an internal roll cage. I don’t want to cramp the cab that much nor do I want to hard core buggy rock crawl this Cruiser. Rock crawling yes, buggy trails that destroy the cab, no. Roll over protection will come from a burly headache rack I plan to build into the bed. That plus custom front bumper and slider/back cab corner protection. To much work has gone into it now for me to have any interest in destroying the cab. Doors/fenders no worries though!

As soon as we are done with the cab back work I am going to pull the windshield and doors and get the cab sand blasted.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

One more for today, an extra long 80-series chassis!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I am dumping the “Pigpen” name, it’s not such a nasty anymore!

Not sure if I will rename it anything other than “The Ute”, I am not big on naming trucks. Used to, don’t do it for a long time now besides this one. Which if you have been following along was dubbed the Pigpen because it had a dead cat stuck in 12” of mud under it among other disgusting things.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Out for blasting!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Oh ya, windshield frame. Kind of crappy pics, there was a little rust but no rot.

Let’s see what it looks like after blasting. And on that note, if there is small bits of welding or grinding/clean up after blasting we will be doing that. Otherwise I am going straight to 2k epoxy primer on the bare metal.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Started body working the hood.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Hood ready for 2k epoxy primer.

Big Bertha

Sand blaster kept it “light” which is what I asked for. 2/3rds of the roof needed stripped back which Big Bertha makes quick work of. Glad we did, found a half dozen or so micro rust spots under the paint. Ground those out.

Oh ya rotisserie

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

One more, happy with this.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Decided to replace RHS since I have a rust free one.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Sprayed all the hollow spaces with a wand (360* nozzle) and 2k epoxy primer at the end of the day. It floods the cavities a lot and makes a mess. We wipe the excess as we go.

I will spray over the top of the overspray when I coat it all with 2k.

Cheers

 

[cruisermatt]

Ian I have been really admiring how all your work is “OEM-style”. That cab chop looks factory.

 

[SNLC]

Ian I have been really admiring how all your work is “OEM-style”. That cab chop looks factory.

Thanks! We try and I absolutely hate that word btw, “try”. I just don’t like how all the UTE chops are a “cut it flat & square” plus they leave the wheelbase alone. Looks funky to me once finished. Going for something a bit more pleasing to the eye here among other goals.

It would be nice if the welds didn’t have any porosity. We really need to upgrade our mig machine. I am using an older Miller 211 which has been a great machine but it has many hours on it. Rebuilt it a few times now. That and it won’t run under .35 wire anymore. It’s just not all that great for sheet metal.

I been looking to upgrade for awhile but dislike how everything is digital these days and the electronics are made in China. I may have found the machine I (we) want it’s just a fairly decent chunk on change.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Few more post primer, did the topside of the hood too.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Oh ya, used 11 cans of 2k to wand all the cavities and about a gallon on the cab/hood.

Cheers

 

[cahill]

Absolutely amazing work as always! I love seeing all of your work, but there is something particularly satisfying watching this stage when things start to come together and the vision you have had from the beginning of the project starts to become a reality that I can see.

 

[SoCal80series]

It looks amazing Ian. Starting to see how "factory" the final product is going to look now. All the work is paying off.