Look what followed me home today...

[NCFJ]

I actually got some work done on the truggy this week, amazing. I got the rest of the truss work done on both sides of the frame. This will both strengthen the boat sides as well as creat a truss on both sides of the frame. THe humidity was over 90% for two days straight, thus the forming surface rust. I'll be cleaning that up this week and either caoting with WD40 or a light coat of paint to prevent future rust while in the ohhhhhhh so long build process.

 

[NCFJ]

Got the cab back on the frame and the fenders and hood mocked up to start narrowing the front end. I am taking 12" total out of the width of the front end.

The outside edge of the blue tape is 6" and taper back to 0 where the the top of the fender meets the cowl. THe taper will be removed from the cowl and the hood.

A stock grill on the top, narrowed grill on the bottom

Once the center two sections which are exactly 6" were removed I glassed the two outside sections together with epoxy resin.

 

[NCFJ]

Did a little more today. Past the point of no return, well sorta. I cut the cowl and the hood on the passenger side. No photos of the hood but here's the cowl.

Before

During

After

 

[NCFJ]

The front end is narrowed! All that is left is to fit the grill section and that has to wait until the front tube work is complete so there is something to tie it all in to. Once the fenders were pulled in 2.25" had to be removed from the front of the hood.

Once the section of the hood was cut the edge was cut off and then welded back to the edge of the hood.

The hood cut, ready to slit the top of the fender and pull it in.

All narrowed and hung in place temporarily

 

[GLTHFJ60]

That looks good man, damn.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Looking darn fine Sir. Keep up the good work.

 

[Mtbcoach]

Well done...

 

[NCFJ]

Thanks much guys. It has been a long time since I have sectioned or chopped anything and it is always a leap of faith in the begining. The only real down side is that somewhere along the line someone had put a ton of bondo on the hood that of course I found when I cut it apart. I straightened most of it out and when complete it will have a thin skim of filler in a couple areas but no where near the 1/4" + that was on there.

 

[NCFJ]

A little truggy porn Like X-mas in Sept. I love that little brown truck.

These are weld in louvers. I'll trim the louver panels then cut out the hood to match and weld them in. 24 four inch louvers in each panel. That should help the engine compartment breath.

I am thinking a set on the FJC and maybe the 60 as well.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Very nice.

 

[mtweller]

Looking good Stan. Still, I'm a bit surprised you didn't start with an old Cruiser instead. Mini build seems too easy for your skilz

R

 

[NCFJ]

Thanks Ramon, you are too kind. Building a frame up was not enough?
I wanted a buggy that still looked like a truck. I am planning on making fiberglass rear fenders for it too.

I have the 68' 40 RHD but that will be a while and going almost stock with that one.

I do have a plan for an 80 in mind, will be Heather's truck. She told me I can do whatever I want so long as I leave the interior untouched.

All it takes is time and money and we are running out of both

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Stan, where did you find those louvers? Just the other day I was thinking about putting some louvers into my hood to help with ventilation. Got the idea from Eric after looking at his 80 with a vented hood.

 

[NCFJ]

Shoot me a PM Johnny

 

[NCFJ]

I got the louver panels cut in and welded in today. Lots of work. Still a little hammer and dolly work left to do. I just had to throw it up on the fenders and take a look.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Looking good here man.

Going to stop by one day to chat a bit with you one day here soon.

 

[NCFJ]

Looking good Stan. Still, I'm a bit surprised you didn't start with an old Cruiser instead. Mini build seems too easy for your skilz

R

Thanks Ramon.

One of the big factors in building the truggy was to keep it lite and build it around Toyota parts. There are a ton of old Yotas out there with 22R motor series, 5 speeds and gear driven gear cases.

Big motor rigs are all the rage these days, I wanted to built a mini truggy with a 4 cyl and deep gearing that would be well suited to the trails on the East Coast. I don't think that the 22R will be all that tame

 

[NCFJ]

I was busy over the weekend………

Got the louvers in and the hood pounded back in to shape and primed. Best I can guess is that this hood was walked on at some point, there was 3/8” bondo in places and the hood panel was popped off the sub panel.

I cut all that was needed to support the headlight and tie in to the fenders in two places from the radiator support and clamped the narrowed grill section between them to mock up the hood. This is as far as I can go with the front clip without the tube behind it to hang it from.

 

[fourtrax]

it just keeps getting better.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

it just keeps getting better.

Agreed. That hood came out great!