Builds My New Project (2 Viewers)

[NikP]

Mounted up my 4+Plus front bumper today.

Also, got all the shocks installed. As luck would have it, the last shock's threads were bad on the welded on mount for the rear. I sure wished I'd noticed that when the body was off. I ended up grinding the diameter down to thread the next size smaller.

 

[61twpw]

Looks like the bumper gussets worked out .

 

[NikP]

Yes they did! Thank you again.

Looks like the bumper gussets worked out .

 

[J Mack]

Lots of work getting done lately, you have a 2019 event you are trying to make?

Sure is turning our nice, I’m enjoying all the updates.

 

[NikP]

Lots of work getting done lately, you have a 2019 event you are trying to make?

Nothing specific other than I'd like to be able to drive it to my Colorado place next year. I trailered my FJ40 out there last year and 650 miles wasn't fun pulling with a 6-cylinder Toyota 4Runner. I'm retiring to the mountains next year if all goes as planned.

I'm not sure I can get it together for something this year but who knows. I'm really ready for paint but need warmer weather.

 

[wngrog]

Nice!

 

[RUSH55]

Any updates Nik? Great build so far - really looking forward to the progress! Maybe some more pics of the whole machine? What are you thinking of for the rear bumper?

 

[NikP]

I make a little progress then life gets in the way. I bought a Speed Hut GPS gauge cluster to install and I have a draft CAD layout to maybe have something 3-D printed. I just don't want a flat sheetmetal dash. I want some character since I don't have any original dash padding left.

As for the rear bumper, I'm not sure. I'll probably find someone to break some metal to mimick the front somehow. I do things the hard way because I just don't want a piece of channel or rectangular tubing hanging on the back. I need some good inspiration. Thinking something with a spare tire swing out like my FJ40 since I'll have 35's eventually.

I'm gearing up to begin painting. I've procrastinated long enough so I need to get started. I'm thinking I can start with the interior by taping it all up and shooting in the driveway if the Oklahoma wind calms down for a weekend. After that, I need to find a place better than my garage. My wife isn't happy with paint fumes.

 

[RUSH55]

I’m with you on the tubing/channel bumpers. They’re sturdy and effective, but aren’t much for visual stimulation.

 

[NikP]

It seems every time I come back from vacation in Colorado I get motivation to work on the pig. Got her out for some final inspections to dee if I'm ready for paint.

Ummm. No not ready. I found cracking on the roof. I pretty sure it's just that my high build primer was applied too thick without proper time to flash between coats. I spent the day sanding it down but did find one section of bodywork that needs redone because filler turn out to be thicker than expected.

I'm not sure why I'm so anal with the roof, you have to be 7 feet tall to see it.


Anyway, it all ended with a sweet drive through the neighborhood! It was the most it's been driven since I've owned it. It was a proud moment and put a smile on my face.

 

[scrapdaddy]

She looks good, just slap some green paint on her and move on to the next project.

 

[J Mack]

I'm not sure why I'm so anal with the roof, you have to be 7 feet tall to see it.

Because you have pride in your work something mostly lost on our current generation of young adults. The term “I did my best” used to mean I kept at it until the job was done correctly, today it means don’t judge my failed attempt.

The pig looks great thank you for the update I’m excited to see this one finished.

 

[RUSH55]

Awesome!! So glad to see an update here!
Your rig is definitely worth being anal about!
Looking forward to seeing more of what you do with it.

 

[NikP]

Today was going to be paint day! I finally decided to bite the bullet and paint my pig in my garage. I hung plastic sheeting around the walls to not get overspray on everything. I was ready to go.

I spent a couple hours getting things taped up and then started to wipe it down with cleaner/degreaser. That's when I noticed cracking on my roof. The moisture of the degreaser highlighted what I couldn't normally see. @#$$&&*&$##. I have a few choice words for the previous owner's neighbor who stepped onto roof and created this extra work in the first place.

No painting today! I debated just going ahead but I know I'd regret it.

I decided it was time to start over with the roof. The flex in the roof is problematic with filler especially after the roof was caved on creating oil canning issues. I think this next time I'm going to use a reinforced filler with fiber strands. There's so much unsupported surface area on the roof and any flex when blocking creates cracking problems.

Two steps forward, one back.

 

[Ol Yeller]

That’s a huge slab to get right, good luck! (I’m no body man)

 

[scrapdaddy]

Man, you already put a lot of time in on the roof.

 

[RUSH55]

Awwe man!

Time to build one of these

 

[NikP]

I'm not as talented as Ron. I need a headliner to hide all the evidence of my hammer and dolly work.

 

[RUSH55]

How are your factory supports? @riderjgs found that using 3 instead of two helped quite a bit.

 

[J Mack]

especially after the roof was caved on creating oil canning issues.

Do you have a shrinking disc?

Dagger Tools 4

The Shrinking Discs operate on the principle of using the friction created by spinning discs to shrink raised sheet metal.Shrinking Discs are a much safer option to traditional torch shrinking methods. Note that you can use the shrinking discs on stretched metal (raised area) only. The areas...

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