Project PHOENIX-Gene's new LV (2 Viewers)

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The FJ25/35 front bumper will be made from a 40 bumper and I'll use 1/8" steel to recreate the ends.

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Gene those jailbars look awesome, hope you don't mind if I copy you on those quite a bit for the FJ28's. Far as I know you're now the pioneer in land cruiser jailbar restoration ;) The thicker bars do look much better and getting those end pieces from the VW kit was a good call, it gives its such a nice finished look. Ok apologies for all the questions hope you don't mind:
  • Is that just flat stock you've got it mounted to on the rear hatch?
  • So basically you only used small lengths of the thinner bars the kit came with to use to join the thicker steel pieces to the end pieces?
  • How did/will you secure the thicker steel bar so they don't spin, or are they just tight enough it's not a concern?
  • On the bars for the sides, do you know how you'll attach them yet - will you need to make some threaded holes or is there a simpler way?
  • What kind of steel are your 1/2" pieces?
Very interested how this turns out so I can learn from your expertise :) I can already tell it's going to come out great!
 
scoobiedubes said:
Gene those jailbars look awesome, hope you don't mind if I copy you on those quite a bit for the FJ28's. Far as I know you're now the pioneer in land cruiser jailbar restoration ;) The thicker bars do look much better and getting those end pieces from the VW kit was a good call, it gives its such a nice finished look. Ok apologies for all the questions hope you don't mind:
  • Is that just flat stock you've got it mounted to on the rear hatch?
  • So basically you only used small lengths of the thinner bars the kit came with to use to join the thicker steel pieces to the end pieces?
  • How did/will you secure the thicker steel bar so they don't spin, or are they just tight enough it's not a concern?
  • On the bars for the sides, do you know how you'll attach them yet - will you need to make some threaded holes or is there a simpler way?
  • What kind of steel are your 1/2" pieces?
Very interested how this turns out so I can learn from your expertise :) I can already tell it's going to come out great!
Click to expand...

Nathan,
Yes I used 1/8" flat stock on the hatch. I wanted to keep it as small as I could and still have the strength to not bend over time.

Yes I only used about 1.5" of the VW bars at each end. They wouldn't fit into the 1/2" bar so I put a saw cut down the center about 3/4" deep, pinched the bar together and tapped it with a hammer until it seated. It fits very tightly but I didn't go crazy on the taps since I will have to remove them for plating. (see pic below)

The bars I used are 1/2" O.D. .065 wall and as you can see I still need to polish them and the flat stock and have them chrome plated.

The bars don't spin, but just to make sure I drilled the screw holes in the hatch about 1/32" closer to the opposite side so that as they are snugged down the mount will pinch the bar firm.

Right now I'm planning on using the same chrome plated oval head Phillips sheet metal screws I mounted the flat stock with. If you need some I have some extras. I get them from an on-line guitar parts place. The key with the sheet metal screws is to drill the mounting hole tight, use wax, and drive them in by hand. I had to wax each screw and tighten a little at a time about 3 times each.

I believe with your ambulance doors you should be able to screw the end mounts straight into the body like I will do on the sides with no flat stock needed.

Oh and copy away. That's why I'm putting all of this info out there.


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The trick for me on the jail bars is to get the math and spacing right so that the hatch bars line up close to the side bars. The hatch glass is much shorter in height than the side glass so some adjustments have to be made. If you notice in the original FJ35 pic below the hatch and side bars don't line up perfectly. I may make mine line up evenly. I'm going to put the hatch bars in first and tape the sides on with Gorilla tape and do a visual and see how I like it.

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Really great work mate.
 
Thank you.
 
I stopped by the body shop last week and they are currently replacing the floors in the LV. At home I removed the rear brake lines, cut the brackets off that were between the U bolts and made some new ones to go behind the axle. New U bolts and the original bump stops are installed. Now I just need to get new hard lines made as the list on my end gets smaller and smaller.

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Thank you for the compliment. I agree it's all in the details (I even did reverse twists on the brackets). I didn't realize what an opportunity I was given having my chassis at home while the body work was being done. I'm sure the body is still months out so I should have plenty of time to finish up.
 
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How did you mount the bracket?
Thanks,
Mike
 
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Oh, snap with all that gloss couldn't tell. Bolted into the axle perch. Great.
Thanks,
Mike
 
I haven't been in for a few weeks but the body shop sent some recent pics. Floors are in, doors are done and 95 % of the body work is complete. So far I love all of the work I've seen. These guys do amazing work.

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👍 👍

It will be good. :)

It won’t have the same character as the old one with the hatchet wound!

You should tell them the story; I’m sure the statute of limitations has run. :eek:
 
No, this one won't have the same character as my first one, but now I have the 60 for character. The blue paint turns more white as the clear coat fades a little more with each month that goes by.

So the story... Back when I was buying my first green LV from Marv he said to me, "After the purchase is complete remind me to tell you something." So once the deal was done I asked. He said, "Someone was murdered in your LV." It turns out that one of his employees was buying the same LV in payments as he'd get his checks each week. Marv being the nice guy that he was also allowed the guy to drive it home during this time. Shortly afterwards this employee asked Marv if he knew of a really remote place to go wheeling. Marv told him he should go to Frazier Park that there were many remote roads to explore. A short while later the guy stopped showing up for work and making payments. Marv told him he needed to bring the LV back but he wouldn't. Sometime later Marv was watching the news about a guy that was murdered in Frazier Park and there it was, his LV on the screen. If I remember correctly they were trying to dump the body there. He said he went down to the Police station and explained the situation and got the LV back. It was covered in fingerprint dust. When I got it there was a gash in the body just in front of the driver door about a foot long. It looked like it could have been done by an axe but who knows. However, while working on it we did find a bullet hole in the tranny hump cover that had been filled in with bondo.
 
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