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

[BlueCruiser84]

Yeah, I've been thinking about a slideout too. My problem is I have a hard time spending "a lot" of money on this thing since it is such a pile. Also, it's almost spring around here and I am definitely going to want to wheel this thing ASAP so the less time I spend in construction the better.

I'll probably end up building the tray and getting her roadworthy first. Once the tray is on I can always go back and cut a hole to build a recessed toolbox.

My wife and new baby are out of town this weekend so hopefully I can get s*** done.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

A little progress. Mostly I'm in the standing and staring and measuring stage.

Got some 1" thin wall tube to bend around the body lines and make a nice round "corner" where the back panel is going to meet the body. Welded the original crash bars to the new tube to add some rigidity - it was pretty floppy.

Depending on how much you remove you have to add a fuel tank support back in. 1x2 11ga tube and some booger welds took care of that.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Couple more boring photos.

A little grinding, bonds, and sanding and it should look good enough for this old girl.

 

[2fpower]

I have been struggling with how I was going to do my corners on the upper section, cant decide if I do this, or bend some 14 gauge with a similar radius, then cut/shrink to get the profile I want. This looks much easier to accomplish and you can look at it and adapt it easy before you tack on the sheet good. The standing back and looking is important!

How are you going to box and seal in the front side of the door?

 

[BlueCruiser84]

I have been struggling with how I was going to do my corners on the upper section, cant decide if I do this, or bend some 14 gauge with a similar radius, then cut/shrink to get the profile I want. This looks much easier to accomplish and you can look at it and adapt it easy before you tack on the sheet good. The standing back and looking is important!

How are you going to box and seal in the front side of the door?

Doing the corners this way was super easy. I made a cardboard pattern and just kept slicing/bending until it fit then welded it all back together. It was waaaaay easier than trying to use sheet metal like I did on the 60. I can't really speak to what will give a better finished look, though.

For the front of the door I'll probably just use some sheet metal and lots of seam sealer**.



** I'll probably do nothing because I'm lazy.

 

[2fpower]

Lazy is not a word I would use describing you.

Also, I will be shamelessly coping you on the fuel tank mount. Since I am adding 12" to the frame, Plan to graft two tanks together for the extra fuel capacity.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Lazy is not a word I would use describing you.

Also, I will be shamelessly coping you on the fuel tank mount. Since I am adding 12" to the frame, Plan to graft two tanks together for the extra fuel capacity.

Whoa! That's cool. I think that might be my biggest complaint with the 80 series. I get maybe 230 miles per tank?

 

[2fpower]

You must have a good tailwind!

 

[2fpower]

Need more pictures of progress. Trying to figure out our upper half, need some ideas to plagiarize.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Need more pictures of progress. Trying to figure out our upper half, need some ideas to plagiarize.

It'll be awhile. I'm going to do the up half with the same method. For me it will be easy because I'm just using flat metal for the rear cab. Might be trickier for you with that contoured sequoia gate.

But I'm probably going to leave it open for wheeling season. I've got to cut the whole top off and replace with a donor so I can fit real doors on. It's too crooked as it sits.

 

[2fpower]

You got a donor yet? If not, I can set you up. Free to you, just gotta find a ride from KC.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

You got a donor yet? If not, I can set you up. Free to you, just gotta find a ride from KC.

I've got one sitting in the field. Thanks, though!

 

[2fpower]

updates?

 

[BlueCruiser84]

updates?

No. Well, yes, but I forgot to take pictures and it's nothing exciting.

I got the bent corner tube welded into the other side and the lower rear panel partly welded on.

I need to add a framework to stiffen up the rear panel and "finish" up that part of the cab. Then I need to start on the bed to get a little roll over protection.

 

[cavboy78]

nice vette, btw...

 

[BlueCruiser84]

nice vette, btw...

ThAnks. It's my dads. '63 survivor. I enjoy my vehicles in much MUCH worse condition . It's a pretty nice ride, though.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Got the lower bulkhead welded in. Drivers side is all buttoned up. Passenger side is still open on the bottom. Still need to add some framework to stiffen things up and cap the rockers.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

So this took forever. Probably 12 hours in this main hoop. I don't bend enough tube to remember how I did it. Every time I bend a piece I have to relearn how to lay everything out and set the bender.

Never mind that it looks like it doesn't match the layoUt.

Super pleased with the end result. I had to adjust some things and it came out a little unsymmetrical, but for my first complex bend I think it turned out fine.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

And pics to prove progress. Gotta say I'm very pleased with how it's turning out. Usually I have an idea in my head and the end result never looks the way I pictured, but in this case It's all going to plan.

I've got a wheeling event next weekend so I'm in a bit of a time crunch. I work much better under pressure.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

A little triangulation.