I've got my hash pipe.....

[troopie]

That looks awesome sofar! It's almost a shame to put a body on that frame!
You inspired me to get cracking on my own "new" frame. Hope it turns out half as good as yours. Although i have to wait for a few months before i have the space to do so...

Can't wait to see it finished!

Mark

 

[buckroseau]

Just got an email from Aqualu with a few pics of the current action on the troopy body.

To say that I'm excited would be an understatement! ;p

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

2 more!

 

[subzali]

So they don't form the metal to have the OEM-shaped ribbing or anything? That's not what you're looking for for this build?

 

[apeterson]

So they don't form the metal to have the OEM-shaped ribbing or anything? That's not what you're looking for for this build?

none of the alum. bodys they make do

 

[buckroseau]

So they don't form the metal to have the OEM-shaped ribbing or anything? That's not what you're looking for for this build?

I've never seen an aqualu tub with ribbing. If it was offered sure I would want it. I've never used an aqualu tub, but from my understanding that aluminum is .156" thick, that seems like fairly stout stuff.

I'm not an aluminum guy, but I imagine it would be a trade off with aluminum and ribbing. If you wanted ribbing it would have to be much thinner aluminum so it wouldn't crack when bent. The ribbing is there to stiffen up the steel, I don't think that thick of aluminum needs to be stiffened up?

Matt

 

[mderrick]

So a basic rule of thumb on the Al vs. steel is 1:3 for elasticity. So your Aluminum needs to be at least 3 time the thickness of the steel to achieve the same rigidity.

 

[buckroseau]

So a basic rule of thumb on the Al vs. steel is 1:3 for elasticity. So your Aluminum needs to be at least 3 time the thickness of the steel to achieve the same rigidity.

OEM cruiser steel is 18 ga from my understanding, at least that's what I've mic'd and measured it at. 18 ga / .049" x 3 = .147"

Seem right?

 

[Chamba]

That tub is beautiful!!! Todd does really nice work. I love the rear glove box - Aqualu has really nice attention to detail.

I helped a friend put an FJ40 tub on his '78 FJ40, and it did not have ribs. It did not need it at all, the Aqualu tub is way stronger than the factory one. My friend sprayed his tub inside and underneath with grey Rhino Line, and it was a thing to behold when it was done.

As you say, the only reason Toyota used ribs was to avoid having to use 1/8" steel. Not having ribs is much nicer for camping, etc.

If Todd had made the troopy tub back when I restored my troopy, I would have gone aluminium.

Josh

 

[mderrick]

OEM cruiser steel is 18 ga from my understanding, at least that's what I've mic'd and measured it at. 18 ga / .049" x 3 = .147"

Seem right?

Yeah, and then go to the next standard sheet thickness up..

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

That looks great Matt. Did they give you any kind of target date for the finished body? I'm sorry if I missed it, but what color did you decide on?

 

[buckroseau]

That looks great Matt. Did they give you any kind of target date for the finished body? I'm sorry if I missed it, but what color did you decide on?

No real target date. I know in my initial conversations with Todd last November early December he had mentioned that if he was to make one he wanted it this winter since that was his slowest time of year. That's why it got blown apart rather quickly in December and shipped off, I think he got it Jan. 8th. I've talked to him several times since then and he has said it's been really busy lately, much busier than usual. I know he posted up on his facebook page that they were building a troopy body and hoped to have them ready for production this summer. If I was to guess, I'll probably see it in a month or 3? If I didn't have anything to do I suppose I may be hard up to get it, but as of right now I have months of work to do before I get a body so I'm really not that worried about it.

You didn't miss anything on the color, I haven't said anything about it...but I will now. I've been thinking about it and looking at several options. For some reason I keep coming back to the stock color that was on it, that beige 464. I know it's fairly boring, but I like it?? So as of right now, it's going to be sprayed the same color it was or is right now, 464 beige.

 

[mderrick]

The Beige is one of my favorite colors...

my .02

 

[Chamba]

I still vote green - code 6L4

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

That's a great color. As is the green above. My HJ45 was dune and I loved it.

 

[Combat Chuck]

I've never seen an aqualu tub with ribbing. If it was offered sure I would want it. I've never used an aqualu tub, but from my understanding that aluminum is .156" thick, that seems like fairly stout stuff.

I'm not an aluminum guy, but I imagine it would be a trade off with aluminum and ribbing. If you wanted ribbing it would have to be much thinner aluminum so it wouldn't crack when bent. The ribbing is there to stiffen up the steel, I don't think that thick of aluminum needs to be stiffened up?

Matt

Lack of ribbing will make things easier for sound deadening materials too.

 

[buckroseau]

Got a little care package yesterday from Canada, specificlly Awl_Teq in Calgary. My orginal battery tray was pretty chewed up from battery acid over the years. The hold down rods had also been cut and scab welded together a little shorter. Instead of trying to clean that up, I decide to go with one of his Stainless Steel battery tray's.

All I can say is WOW!! Very, nice stuff!!! Looks great and bolted right up, and I don't have to worry about battery acid chewing it up!!

Thank Kevin!

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Well I'm glad it bolted up. I made the hold down bolts long with lots of thread cuz I didn't know how tall of a battery you would end up with. If they're too long you can always shorten the threaded end. They are M6 thread FYI. I didn't have any nuts handy but figured a bit of hardware would be no trouble for you.

 

[buckroseau]

Managed to get a few hours in today on the troopy. Nothing special, blasted a bunch of little parts, got them hung up primed and cleared today. Took a few hours, but need to be done. Hoping during the week I can start bolting a few of them on.

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

Haven't had much time this week to do any work on the troopy. I did manage to sneak out there for about an hour tonight, only thing I got done was get the steering pedastal and bell crank bolted up. I used a 7/16" grade 8, fine thread, yellow plated bolt...this seemed to fit absolutely perfect. I didn''t have washers that I liked so I ended up ordering some 7/16" AN washers that had a smaller O.D. I decided to go with a toplock nut. I guess for this application I felt the most comfortable with this type of nut.

Still hoping to get the engine into work this weekend and pressure washed up and ready for the PPG overhaul.

Matt