Builds The "Red Rocket" Troopy (9 Viewers)

[theglobb]

More pics of just a step-by-step of how I'm repairing all the rust spots I find for anyone interested.

Find the rust, cut the rust out, cut a new piece of metal out, grind it to bare metal, prime it with weld thru primer, tack it in, weld it fully in. Then I'll grind it down, spray that whole layer with weld thru primer after grinding it down, and then weld a new outer roof skin to it.

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Nice!! you are inspiring me to tackle the rockers on the salt wagon! Looks fantastic so far and I cant wait to see it when its done.

Thanks a lot! Hoping to make it up ur way to test out the new pop top whenever I get it installed!

Hey, @theglobb I'm gonna guess that after all this work you're going to repaint the whole car? (Still red, I hope.) If you want to get some new stickers to replace these, just let me know and I can arrange it for you:
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Yes! will be repainting the whole thing. and yes, still the iconic red. The pop top is gonna be white too. I was really wondering how to source new stickers!!! That would be a major help. I was figuring if nothing else works out, that I would just spend a whole day meticulously taping off every single edge on the sticker

Good bodywork is an art. There are guys who can do it and without doing things over and over. That's why it's so expensive. You might consider roughing it all in and paying someone to do the final 10% getting it smooth and primed..............Weld grind and beat with hammer below level fill and initial sand and pay someone to make it perfect to paint.
What "weld through primer" are you using? I will be doing what you are doing within 1 year.

Yes yes it is... and I'm not an artist haha. I was considering that but don't know if I want to wait however long it may be for someone to do a REALLY good job touching up the rest of my roof... when its just gonna be covered up by a poptop anyways. As for the rest of the rust in my body, that might actually be worthwhile.

Weld thru primer I'm using is https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088LVJTE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 seems to be the cheapest name brand weld thru primer out there. Most all others I saw during a short search were double the price

Are you using .026 wire ?

.025 I believe, splitting hairs though at that size difference lol

 

[theglobb]

3 years ago today a bunch of 17 and 18 year old kids left for that amazing cross-country trip... its been quite a ride since then with the Red Rocket. So grateful to have been able to meet up with as many people as possible from mud. Hope to do something like this again sooner than later... Time flies, I absolutely HATE it.

 

[theglobb]

Wrapping up the rear of the troopy. Now onward to the windshield, its gonna be a major challenge if I can even do it

did a sneak peak tonight and man... I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do these repairs. I don't know how I'll even begin to replicate all the fancy advanced curves that are apart of the windshield frame, and its rotten thru on the inner layer aswell that you cant even see! Kinda lost as to what will come next. I guess take the windshield out, grind everything, and assess from there.

 

[BigHighBlue]

Wrapping up the rear of the troopy. Now onward to the windshield, its gonna be a major challenge if I can even do it

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did a sneak peak tonight and man... I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do these repairs. I don't know how I'll even begin to replicate all the fancy advanced curves that are apart of the windshield frame, and its rotten thru on the inner layer aswell that you cant even see! Kinda lost as to what will come next. I guess take the windshield out, grind everything, and assess from there.
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@CenTXFJ60 this young man needs your help

 

[Broski]

You can do it !!!

 

[Rigster]

Wrapping up the rear of the troopy. Now onward to the windshield, its gonna be a major challenge if I can even do it

View attachment 3653121View attachment 3653120View attachment 3653119


did a sneak peak tonight and man... I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do these repairs. I don't know how I'll even begin to replicate all the fancy advanced curves that are apart of the windshield frame, and its rotten thru on the inner layer aswell that you cant even see! Kinda lost as to what will come next. I guess take the windshield out, grind everything, and assess from there.
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I recall years ago there were some places offering fiberglass windshields as a replacement. If they are no longer a thing, maybe try some used parts places. Maybe try odd iron off road as I know they brought in a container or two of takeoffs, etc. If they don't have anything they might know someone who does.

Just a thought, I realize you have more time right now than funds, but it may be the best option long term, and help you get this major project done in a more timely manner.

So far though you are doing some amazing work!

 

[robmobile73]

Wrapping up the rear of the troopy. Now onward to the windshield, its gonna be a major challenge if I can even do it

View attachment 3653121View attachment 3653120View attachment 3653119


did a sneak peak tonight and man... I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do these repairs. I don't know how I'll even begin to replicate all the fancy advanced curves that are apart of the windshield frame, and its rotten thru on the inner layer aswell that you cant even see! Kinda lost as to what will come next. I guess take the windshield out, grind everything, and assess from there.
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70 series body repair panels are available on Alibaba, but it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get them and you'll need to do a group order. I'm considering that route for when I tackle rust in the future.

 

[joekatana]

I recall years ago there were some places offering fiberglass windshields as a replacement. If they are no longer a thing, maybe try some used parts places. Maybe try odd iron off road as I know they brought in a container or two of takeoffs, etc. If they don't have anything they might know someone who does.

Just a thought, I realize you have more time right now than funds, but it may be the best option long term, and help you get this major project done in a more timely manner.

So far though you are doing some amazing work!

Fiberglass windshield frames are still available but only for the fold down models , the fixed windshield frames can be replaced in different sections at a cost or patched up.

 

[joekatana]

70 series body repair panels are available on Alibaba, but it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get them and you'll need to do a group order. I'm considering that route for when I tackle rust in the future.

I have almost every part available in the US for rust repair on a 73/74

Just loaded up an entire 100 series and small trailer with new and used 70 series body parts in France , these will be in TX in a month or two.

Got some heater cores for the people buying middle east cruisers without those

 

[CenTXFJ60]

@CenTXFJ60 this young man needs your help

Not sure I can be of much help here. @Hokie LX has a great thread where he and Johnny did this on his 60. My recommendation for this 70 series would be to remove the roof skin, repair it and reinstall. This would allow you to repair the cage underneath as well. Two great things here…doing this is low cost labor wise if doing it yourself and both guys live in the great state of NC .

 

[Hokie LX]

@theglobb

The roof rust repair thread that @CenTXFJ60 referenced is in my signature. More details in my build thread.

 

[FJBen]

I have almost every part available in the US for rust repair on a 73/74

Just loaded up an entire 100 series and small trailer with new and used 70 series body parts in France , these will be in TX in a month or two.

Got some heater cores for the people buying middle east cruisers without those

Not gonna lie, I like that rim style in the back of the 100. I’m a sucker for 80s style.


Good to know about all the rust repair parts.

 

[joekatana]

Not gonna lie, I like that rim style in the back of the 100. I’m a sucker for 80s style.


Good to know about all the rust repair parts.

That is a spare Enkei for a set I have on a 73 in TX , took me 10 years to find one .

 

[Felde]

That is a spare Enkei for a set I have on a 73 in TX , took me 10 years to find one .

I have four of those on my rig.
Probably I should take them off and put them in a treasure chest?

There was set for sale here in Germany about a year ago. About 1.5k€ was ask, if I recall correctly. Huhh. Never saw it elsewhere again.
Cheers Ralf

 

[theglobb]

Well, I'll start this thread with some good news! My best friend who has been my right hand man on the 2 cross-country trips we have done, has finally finished his 1JZ swap into a 1987 4Runner. It is nuts... currently the motor is tuned extremely conservatively and is making 300hp to the wheels on the dyno. His 22RE shot a hole through the side of the block 3 years ago and he was dead set on 1JZ swapping it. Watch the video below to see how insane it is, he hasn't gone full throttle yet in any of those clips.

 

[theglobb]

now for the not-so-good news... I am at a complete standstill with the troopy as I'm clueless on how to move forward currently. Even if I wanted to try and weld it back together, I cant!!! turns out the troopy is like 5% brass or whatever this metal is that they have brazed into place. I have no way of recreating with my current tools or knowledge. Plus the entire inner structure is also super rusty so if I welded this outer layer perfectly somehow the inner layer that I cant see, let alone get to, would just be compromised and rot away in the future.

I have really only 2 options I can do to move forward with this. Either I order frames for a 70/73 series and then weld onto them and try to recreate the original bodylines of raise roof from wherever the 70's parts would stop at compared to the troopy. (still sounds like an absolute nightmare). Or if its possible at all, pay a pretty penny and somehow figure out how to get someone over in the middle east to find a troopy in the junkyard, and cut an entire new windshield inner and outer assembly out, including a lot of the upper roof? I really don't see another option I have. Any advice, suggestions, or connections to someone who can cut a junkyard troopy up would be greatly appreciated.

You can do it !!!

Thank you everyone for the positive encouragement. I'm sure I'll get it done somehow, I always do. This is just a pretty intense roadblock as I was NOT expecting most all the valuable metal here to either now be brass, or reduced to a crumble of rust.

70 series body repair panels are available on Alibaba, but it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get them and you'll need to do a group order. I'm considering that route for when I tackle rust in the future.

Thanks for the heads up, maybe depending on what route I go down we could do a group buy to save on shipping

Fiberglass windshield frames are still available but only for the fold down models , the fixed windshield frames can be replaced in different sections at a cost or patched up.

by fix frames do you mean 75s with a troopy roof?

Not sure I can be of much help here. @Hokie LX has a great thread where he and Johnny did this on his 60. My recommendation for this 70 series would be to remove the roof skin, repair it and reinstall. This would allow you to repair the cage underneath as well. Two great things here…doing this is low cost labor wise if doing it yourself and both guys live in the great state of NC .

Thank both of yall for the advice and help offered. The roof isn't as much as a problem for me as this is. I've already dived into and fixed most all of the rust up in the roof. The windshield is what is baffling me.

 

[jblueridge]

I think your logic is correct.
Post an ad in the Classifieds on MUD for used, cut-out frame.
Probably someone here knows the dimensional and construction differences between fold-down and fixed frames.

 

[cruiserdan]

Folding and fixed components are not close to interchangeable.

 

[theglobb]

Folding and fixed components are not close to interchangeable.

Alright well that settles that. Thanks for the information. Guess I gotta somehow find a troopy in the states to cut up (impossible) or find a guy overseas who’s willing to do so. Really don’t think I have any other option

 

[bj70bc]

Contact @Bardiya, could be a possibility, ive seen scrapyards where he is that are full of front clips/cabs stacked up like cordwood
also @joekatana
or 4wheel parts in edmonton
or complete part outs in classifieds on this site
theres a guy in japan thats a parts wizard too.... japan4x4 maybe... someone here will know
it'll take a few fun tokens tho