Builds Project: Colonel 1979 FJ40
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- #23
stanley said:did i kill this thread, sorry bull
No No...just busy working. I will post some pics tomorrow evening.
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- #24
Metal Tech Roll Cage Install
Picked up the family cage at the local freight depot. Everything was banded together nicely with red end caps on all the larger pieces. I was very impressed with everything and it was still in pieces.
I had to unbolt the existing rear seats, rear seat belts, OEM rollbar and remove the tire tools that are attached there.
Seats out
Removed roll bar.
Here is the first bracket. Quality cut and pre-drilled holes using existing rollbar attachment points. Note the curve goes towards the rear and points inboard.
Picked up the family cage at the local freight depot. Everything was banded together nicely with red end caps on all the larger pieces. I was very impressed with everything and it was still in pieces.
I had to unbolt the existing rear seats, rear seat belts, OEM rollbar and remove the tire tools that are attached there.
Seats out
Removed roll bar.
Here is the first bracket. Quality cut and pre-drilled holes using existing rollbar attachment points. Note the curve goes towards the rear and points inboard.
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- #25
Closer shot of the pre-drilled slots
Using original hardware to hold it in place. All new hardware will be bought to attach it. Note the lines on the curved part. I drew a grid so I could square up the C pillar.
Using original hardware to hold it in place. All new hardware will be bought to attach it. Note the lines on the curved part. I drew a grid so I could square up the C pillar.
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- #26
Note the C pillar isn't as wide as the B pillar. The C pillar is also angled towards the front of the vehicle so that the hard top can fit
Have an extra set of hands and a magnetic level help you square up the C pillar. The grid I wrote on the base plates made it very easy.
Here is the C pillar tacked to the base plate
Here is the other side tacked into place. Take your time lining it up.
Have an extra set of hands and a magnetic level help you square up the C pillar. The grid I wrote on the base plates made it very easy.
Here is the C pillar tacked to the base plate
Here is the other side tacked into place. Take your time lining it up.
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- #27
B pillar glued in now. Used the same grid method. Note the magnetic level on the drivers sided B pillar
A pillar base plate. Some have notched this plate so that it can sits around the corner. Since I'm using the front frame tie in plates I'm going with it like this. The plate is angled along the lines of the lower door sill. Note the lovely sound deading material. Holds in moisture you cannot see
Cutting the sound deading material with a die grinder, chisel, and hammer. It came up pretty easy. I wanted to make sure I had metal on metal.
A pillar base plate. Some have notched this plate so that it can sits around the corner. Since I'm using the front frame tie in plates I'm going with it like this. The plate is angled along the lines of the lower door sill. Note the lovely sound deading material. Holds in moisture you cannot see
Cutting the sound deading material with a die grinder, chisel, and hammer. It came up pretty easy. I wanted to make sure I had metal on metal.
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- #28
Sound deading crap removed. Virgin floor board. The metal ion the 79 is very thin. A frame tie in is a must. The upper hole is the body mount and the lower hole is a drain hole that is starting to corrode.
Bolted the base plate down and set the A pillar in place. No neat tricks here. I think the 79 tubs are different so I had to move the A pillar around a bit to get it all to line up. I had to account for the windshield knob, thickness of the hard doors and dash pads. Take your time here. Measure and do it again. Note the A pillar bar isn't in the correct position in this photo.
Here is where I have the A pillar attaching to the B pillar. I think it is lower than what I have seen on MTs website, but I didn't like the way it sat when it was higher up on the B pillar. Plus I have extra spreaders I can use up front. I used a grinder with a cutting wheel and a seperate grinder to notch the fish mouths. Takes literally 4 minutes once you have the bar marked.
Profile photo of the A pillar it clears everything and I'm very impressed with the way the tube wraps around the dash.
Bolted the base plate down and set the A pillar in place. No neat tricks here. I think the 79 tubs are different so I had to move the A pillar around a bit to get it all to line up. I had to account for the windshield knob, thickness of the hard doors and dash pads. Take your time here. Measure and do it again. Note the A pillar bar isn't in the correct position in this photo.
Here is where I have the A pillar attaching to the B pillar. I think it is lower than what I have seen on MTs website, but I didn't like the way it sat when it was higher up on the B pillar. Plus I have extra spreaders I can use up front. I used a grinder with a cutting wheel and a seperate grinder to notch the fish mouths. Takes literally 4 minutes once you have the bar marked.
Profile photo of the A pillar it clears everything and I'm very impressed with the way the tube wraps around the dash.
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Could you throw in a side view of that last shot bull? Showing how the bar goes past the dash - driver's side would be nice
I wasn't going to have one over the front but people keep posting pics of rolled cruisers so I'm starting to have 2nd thoughts!
I wasn't going to have one over the front but people keep posting pics of rolled cruisers so I'm starting to have 2nd thoughts!
Tell me something when you'll be working on the rear 4link, I'm very intersted to! 
Francesco
Francesco
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- #31
Lupdog said:Could you throw in a side view of that last shot bull? Showing how the bar goes past the dash - driver's side would be nice
I'm at work now, but will post up more photos for you later tonight.
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- #32
lone gunman said:
I might head up again. I will PM you if I do. Also we are doing a run to Table Mt in eastern Washington the weekend of July 15th. You should come.
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- #33
Here is the profile pic. Ignore the loose tubes on the seat. I like MTs signature up and around the dash. Que bueno!
Driver side A pillar installed.
Another photo. I measured from the base of the B pillar up to the A to B joint to match the passenger side. I also used the level.
Driver side A pillar installed.
Another photo. I measured from the base of the B pillar up to the A to B joint to match the passenger side. I also used the level.
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- #34
This has been my little buddy through all this. Chop saw has saved some time.
Connected the B and C pillars together. It took some time to get the fishmouths (notches) correct. They angle inboard from the B pillar towards the C pillar
The A B and C pillars connected. Along with the spreader bar between the A pillars. It has taken some time to get all the joints correctly. A ton of grinding etc.
Connected the B and C pillars together. It took some time to get the fishmouths (notches) correct. They angle inboard from the B pillar towards the C pillar
The A B and C pillars connected. Along with the spreader bar between the A pillars. It has taken some time to get all the joints correctly. A ton of grinding etc.
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- #35
Francesco_from_Italy said:Tell me something when you'll be working on the rear 4link, I'm very intersted to!
Francesco
I hope to have it soon..and will post a bunch of pictures for you.
Nice safety sandals bull.............Metaltech is good stuff!
What size tires are you going with?
Bull,
Great thread, I still need to get around to posting all of the pics of my resto last summer. Hey, I live in Silverdale, I would like to meet up with you some time, so I could sit in your cruiser to see how well my size 15 shoes fit around the meta tech cage.
keep it going.
later
Ryan
Great thread, I still need to get around to posting all of the pics of my resto last summer. Hey, I live in Silverdale, I would like to meet up with you some time, so I could sit in your cruiser to see how well my size 15 shoes fit around the meta tech cage.
keep it going.
later
Ryan
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- #39
Owyhee Jackass said:
35" or 315/75/16 Open Country MTs
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- #40
Morse_FJ40 said:
Definately meet up soon. My size 14s fit just fine around the cage FYI
