Nurture My Pig!

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

yeah, you'd want to keep the C pillar where it is and add a D pillar a few maybe 6-8" aft of the c. when I look at my wagon, it seems that the rear passengers noses are about flush with the front edge of the C pillar....maybe if you added a strip of material between the back of the C and the front of the D- using the factory D relocating forward- you could maybe even keep the tailgate with the D pillars, rolling window included. the rear frame can be cut down by about 10" without having to do any more than add a new flat crossmember(bumper) when you cut the frame horns and factory rear brace off. the gas tank on my 77 is about 11-12" in from the rear face of the rear brace. there is a body mounting point back there, but if you're bobbing, you wont need em.
 
another option would be to bring the D into the back of the C and adjust the back seat forward to give more headache clearance and less legroom.
 
LAMBCRUSHER said:
yeah, you'd want to keep the C pillar where it is and add a D pillar a few maybe 6-8" aft of the c. when I look at my wagon, it seems that the rear passengers noses are about flush with the front edge of the C pillar....maybe if you added a strip of material between the back of the C and the front of the D- using the factory D relocating forward- you could maybe even keep the tailgate with the D pillars, rolling window included. the rear frame can be cut down by about 10" without having to do any more than add a new flat crossmember(bumper) when you cut the frame horns and factory rear brace off. the gas tank on my 77 is about 11-12" in from the rear face of the rear brace. there is a body mounting point back there, but if you're bobbing, you wont need em.
Click to expand...

LAMBCRUSHER said:
another option would be to bring the D into the back of the C and adjust the back seat forward to give more headache clearance and less legroom.
Click to expand...

Hmmm.... I'm 6'3 my wife is just under 6 foot and both my kids are in the 95+ percentile for height, so losing legroom probably isn't an option. :)

I'll have some time this weekend to put the back seat in and try to get an idea of whether or not this is something I want to try to pull off.

If I keep with the bobbed rear end thought and added the C & D pillars (with possible more material), I'd lose even more "bed" space, forcing the spare to the outside.

Maybe something like this:
FJ55 Option 1 modified.webp
 
Another question.

I know that in the hot rod / custom community, it is common practice to shave the drip rails (welding the roof into the body along the that line).

Anyone tried it on a 55?

With my roof line as bad as it is, and the problems caused by water around that area, I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea.

Any thoughts?
 
Last edited:
hmmmm. the drip rails add some structure to the roof lines perimeter-and sorta help keep the rain off the window felts and therefore help keep the doors from rusting...BUT, you could prolly get away with it if you like that look. I have confidence in the seam sealer to keep the seams sealed-as long as it isn't 35 YO seam sealer and it's covering the joints, you'd prolly be ok there too. I kinda like the drip rail, but have often thought about welding a 3/8" pipe around the rail to beef it up, and give a place to grab for ingress/egress. it also gives you somewhere to bolt a rack to w/o having to drill/weld you roof.....I think it's an asthetics thing more than anything else...







on second glance at mine, I'd hafto think the drip rails do more than keep the water off the felts, it looks like they also keep the water from getting in the top of the doors.....Hope this is helpful.
 
Like what's on a 21 window VW bus. Won't lie I've thought about it. Give you that open top feel. And keep it looking like a pig.
 
Cool 80 for inspiration!

I've been thinking more and more about chopping/bobbing the 55 (even went as far as buying some new sawzall blades :)).

Saw this pic of an 80 today and it really got me going. I'm thinking maybe a truck style sliding rear window. ???
chopped bobbed 80.webp
 
yeah!!!!!!!!!man....
 
fab up a removable rear bulkhead that flushes out to the top of the doorline, make it a housing for the rear window regulator/rear window. fab in some track for the window along the bulkhead plane above the doorline to receive the rear window when rolled up...just a thought...might need to bump out the Cpillars for some back seat head room...
 
Fitzgerald said:
I was tired of talking about it and decided to get to work. :)
Click to expand...

BTDT;) it feels better after you've done the deed, huh? I know there was alot of trepidation before/during the first cuts. once you've gotten all the way thru, there ain't no goin back, and the finality of it begins to set in. from there, there are only two emotions a guy can (admit to) feeling. overwhelming dread, or elation.:cheers:
 
Yeah... it is sooooooo rusty, I really didn't have much hope in keeping it even relatively stockish.

After riding around in it for almost 40 years, there was alot of trepidation.

Now, just elation. :):):):):)
 
Holy Moly! I spent the day in the shop and come in to this. Man, you don't mess around. The way I see it, this wagon is a big part of your family and no matter what idea you come up with, you're going to make it work. :clap:

So, good luck and take alot of pictures!

Looks like you got a great helper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom