Builds The White Trash - Chopped 80 tube bed AKA Proper Cupholders for Starbucks

[BlueCruiser84]

Got the bedsides and fenders welded in. I'm waiting for the exhaust to get done before putting the deck piece on.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Got an exhaust! I took great care capturing this picture. I wanted everyone to see the detail.

A quiet exhaust is amazing. It's just a generic high-flow cat and an off the shelf muffler tucked up above the frame. It's turned down before the rear axle. Compared to the straightpipe it had before I feel like I'm in a Prius.

Cat hangs a little lower than I like but, oh well. I'll just bash it up into the bottom of the body and it will be out of the way.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Got an inspection and went wheeling! Drove to trail at 75-80 mph. Wheeled the piss out of it and drove home the same!

I dented my two "new" doors.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

 

[BlueCruiser84]

I need some more aggressive tires, softer shocks, and to do something about those damn rear control arm mounts. Those things are always my biggest hindrance on obstacles. Other than that she wheeled amazingly well for a sub-$3000 rig.

 

[LazyEye]

I need some more aggressive tires, softer shocks, and to do something about those damn rear control arm mounts. Those things are always my biggest hindrance on obstacles. Other than that she wheeled amazingly well for a sub-$3000 rig.

all in all looks like a great time! good job on the chopping and fab work...too bad there's no good cupholder yet

 

[YMT]

That rig is looking awesome! I'm digging the way you trimmed the fenders/grille to just below the headlights. Got any close up pics of the front? Any bracing needed to stabilize the trimming?

 

[BlueCruiser84]

That rig is looking awesome! I'm digging the way you trimmed the fenders/grille to just below the headlights. Got any close up pics of the front? Any bracing needed to stabilize the trimming?

Is bracing needed? I dunno. I didn't add any and it's been OK, so far. I'll get some close-ups next time I get over to the shop. The basic steps for me were pretty simple:

- Remove lower valence and mark a line all the way across the sheet metal beneath the lights/signals and across the grille.

- Mark a second line on the sheet metal somewhere below that first line. This is where you cut. It will leave you some sheet metal to fold back over/under the inner fender.

- Take the grille out and cut it apart where you marked.

- At this point, if you want to slap a winch in that huge hole left behind from trimming, you remove the AC condenser, and rig up new mounts for the transmission cooler to move it up and back.

- Remove your marker lights and, using a drill and a razor knife, make holes in the bottoms of the housings to accept your recently evicted turn signals.

- Optional. Add winch on harbor freight winch plate to holes on top of the frame.

I'll update with pictures when I get some.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Started on my front bumper.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

One of the side braces on. You get the idea.

 

[2fpower]

can you shoot a pic of that brace from the side? I could not figure out how to put one there without the tire rubbing at hard turn with wheel at full compression.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

can you shoot a pic of that brace from the side? I could not figure out how to put one there without the tire rubbing at hard turn with wheel at full compression.

Sure I can if I get out to the shop today.

But, sounds like it's time for smaller tires! Kidding!! That's blasphemy! I honestly didn't even check if it would rub. Sounds like a good idea before I burn it in.

Luckily, my front end is so "light" that I get about 2" of travel when the suspension articulates.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

can you shoot a pic of that brace from the side? I could not figure out how to put one there without the tire rubbing at hard turn with wheel at full compression.

Because I cut the front valence up so high I think the brace is well out of the way. I may not be able to post any pics until the holidays are over, though.

You can see in this picture where the brace fits. Nowhere near the tire. It connects with the main tube right under the marker light and it hits the center bumper support about an inch below that white sticker on the winch.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

can you shoot a pic of that brace from the side? I could not figure out how to put one there without the tire rubbing at hard turn with wheel at full compression.

Here's a pic. If my tire is running on that I'm in need of some serious refiggerin'.

To put it in perspective those are the original uncut frame horns and the center supports are 4" C-channel. I probably have a foot (Or more) between the leading edge of the tire and that brace.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Added the second wing/brace/whatever you call that thing. Pay no mind to the awful picture. I'll get one in the sun one of these days.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

My wife should never have left me at home while she went Black Friday shopping...

10% off and Free Shipping. The M/T2 is super new which may be why it was so cheap (compared to other 37s). Hope it's decent!

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Got the new 37s. Firestone Destination M/T2.

Pretty friggin' meaty. Void space for dayzzz.

37x12.50r17 on 7.5" FJ Cruiser wheel compared to a 315/70r17 on a 17x9" wheel.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Before.

After.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

After. This is with no spacers. I love the narrow look but may go to a 1" spacer.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

After putting maybe 30 miles on them on backroads and 55mph two lane they are so quiet. Like, road tread quiet. They'll probably get louder with age/mileage so I'll update when I take a trip.

An unanticipated benefit, probably from going to a narrower wheel/contact patch, is they track much straighter on backroads. Much less darting around following road crown or rutted blacktop. All in all, I'm very happy with my purchase. I can't wait to go wheeling.