Builds Patches - My '76 40. B3.3 Swap and some general fixin' up
- Thread starter Kleatus
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #62
Got my mid beam piece and under bed channels back from the sheetmetal shop. They did these in 14 ga. They didn't put the sloped top on the hat channel (said it would be difficult to do) but it will be simple enough to bend up some tabs for those mounts to sit on. I also got some 60" long angle of 16 ga, 1x1" and 3x3" for patching up the lip on the bed and other corner areas like around rear of floor pans.
- Thread starter
- #63
Got the DS floor pan and mid pan in, along with the PS rocker patches.
Also made some body mount pieces that will get welded into the main beam once I cut holes for them. The inside of the beam will remain sealed this way.
Also made some body mount pieces that will get welded into the main beam once I cut holes for them. The inside of the beam will remain sealed this way.
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- #64
My floor didn't quite work out right. Somehow I didn't get the width measurement correct and had to cut about 1/4" out of it to get the doors to line up right and the (mostly) original mid beam cover to mate up with the quarter panels. With that squared up I notched the new main beam angle for the body mounts in the previous post and welded them in.
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- #65
Time for an update. Home by myself and off of work for an entire weekend! Progress is creeping in.
Recently picked up another 3.70 third member and some barn doors from CL that are in much better shape (actually repairable) than mine.
Got some lightly used OME rear springs (thanks @Josie'sLandCruiser) and got some new ones for the front. Got those installed this weekend.
All those people that say rebuilding knuckles is the LC "rite of passage" apparently haven't had to remove 42 year old rust belt spring pins without a torch..
Hung the quarters. The left side went on square with minimal fuss. The right took some persuasion.
Partway through - and not lining up at all. Since my tub was a disaster of spray foam, caulking, stick welded patches of various sizes and rust I didn't have much to go on or brace in place prior to disassembly so I am aligning everything with the top and doors on.
Add some ratchet straps, a bottle jack, level, square, tape, clecos and tack welds...
And here it is about as square as its going to get. There is still some minor adjustment left in the hinges yet.
Starting to look like a cruiser again!
Recently picked up another 3.70 third member and some barn doors from CL that are in much better shape (actually repairable) than mine.
Got some lightly used OME rear springs (thanks @Josie'sLandCruiser) and got some new ones for the front. Got those installed this weekend.
All those people that say rebuilding knuckles is the LC "rite of passage" apparently haven't had to remove 42 year old rust belt spring pins without a torch..
Hung the quarters. The left side went on square with minimal fuss. The right took some persuasion.
Partway through - and not lining up at all. Since my tub was a disaster of spray foam, caulking, stick welded patches of various sizes and rust I didn't have much to go on or brace in place prior to disassembly so I am aligning everything with the top and doors on.
Add some ratchet straps, a bottle jack, level, square, tape, clecos and tack welds...
And here it is about as square as its going to get. There is still some minor adjustment left in the hinges yet.
Starting to look like a cruiser again!
- Thread starter
- #67
Made a mess in the garage again this afternoon.
Got the rear sill cover fitted up today after priming and painting the back side of it. Plug welded to the sill and rear bed floor. This detail of construction isn't exactly ideal for rust prevention, but I am priming and painting all of these parts, then removing the paint where the plug welds are and applying 3M weld through primer to the area surrounding the weld prior to welding.
Welds ground down.
Removed all the broken hinge bolts from the hard top by welding nuts onto them. It helps to take the grinder and make a nice clean flat surface on what's left of the bolt if possible. Every single one was broke/cut off.
And finished welding the quarter panels in. I may touch up a few spots yet. She will need a touch of filler here and there but I am pretty happy with how they turned out.
Welds ground down.
Removed all the broken hinge bolts from the hard top by welding nuts onto them. It helps to take the grinder and make a nice clean flat surface on what's left of the bolt if possible. Every single one was broke/cut off.
And finished welding the quarter panels in. I may touch up a few spots yet. She will need a touch of filler here and there but I am pretty happy with how they turned out.
- Thread starter
- #69
Patch in the other fender tonight. The yellow paint pen showing where to cut was drawn several years ago..
Also took apart the floor reinforcements for the front seat brackets from the old floor pan so I can transfer them to the new floor.
The jump seat reinforcements were far to gone to save, so I made new ones from a slice of square tube.
Also took apart the floor reinforcements for the front seat brackets from the old floor pan so I can transfer them to the new floor.
The jump seat reinforcements were far to gone to save, so I made new ones from a slice of square tube.
- Thread starter
- #71
Paint!
Well, some epoxy primer at least!
Shot with a HF gun after playing with with water in it to get the hang of things.
I have runs and some sand in it from not cleaning good enough. But I am happy enough with it that I am never picking up a brush or rattle can again! (Well..I'd like to say that.) This is more just to protect the new metal I have installed, I don't consider it a part of the finished paint-which may be a ways our yet.
Well, some epoxy primer at least!
Shot with a HF gun after playing with with water in it to get the hang of things.
I have runs and some sand in it from not cleaning good enough. But I am happy enough with it that I am never picking up a brush or rattle can again! (Well..I'd like to say that.) This is more just to protect the new metal I have installed, I don't consider it a part of the finished paint-which may be a ways our yet.
Holly Crap! You're kicking butt!
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
Damn that's some impressive work. I can only imagine the amount of hours you have in it.
Hey, after chiming in on my thread, I had to come check out yours. You're doing some really great work! I love the idea of a diesel in these trucks. Keep the updates coming.
- Thread starter
- #76
Got a little more done finally. Got distracted with a few other projects, and today marks 1 month since we added another cruiserhead to the family!
Got the dash stripped out and started removing more paint. The more I take apart the more I realize I have to do! So many little things to fix, replace, clean, paint, etc.
Got the dash stripped out and started removing more paint. The more I take apart the more I realize I have to do! So many little things to fix, replace, clean, paint, etc.
Hey, Kleatus, congrats! I was wondering if the addition to the family was going to inspire, or slow down the project.
Admirable work. Nice mini-mudder you got there too.
- Thread starter
- #80
Thank you sir! Inspiration, yes! We've got family photos to recreate! My wife is the blonde on top of the cruiser, this was taken in the early 80's.
I'm sure the overall effect will be a slowing of progress, but I certainly am gaining appreciation for available garage time these days.
