Just read your whole roll cage thread, I need to invest in some welding equipment... Then Learn how to use it :-/

 

Thanks. Its starting to come together.


Thank you.


I started with just a harbor freight 90amp. It was nothing special but it was fun for little projects and was better then nothing. Decent to learn with and see if you will actually use it enough to justify getting a real welder. I have have eastwood 135 now and it was only $300. It gets the job done and I really like it. My roommate welds for a living and he has used it and few times and said that its not a bad welder for the price. Might be worth looking into.

 

Capped off the ends of the body last night. I didn't want to go straight across and just cap everything so I cut the end caps at a 35* angle and then capped them.

Started with this



Then cut it down like so



Did the same on the other side



Template



Other side again



18 gauge sheet



Other side



Now it looks like this



And a little paint to match



I need to start working on the hatch part again and start boxing the C pillars so I can get it ready to start fabing the window section. I'm getting new doors and box for rocker replacement so I'll probably focus on that for the next week or so before I get back to working on the chop again. And the GF told me she would help me paint so I need to start on that soon while I still have willing help.

 

I cant wait til i have my garage so i can do this to mine. i want to do it with a removable bed topper and an exo-cage. anyways, it's looking great. cant wait to see how it all comes together.

 

i really like the idea of the angle on the back of the bed. makes it look different.

 

thats awesome! really gets me thinkin about the chop im planning for this summer

 

I was gonna get an angle grinder first haha don't have much more than a ratchet set screwdrivers, wrenches, ect. (I'm only 20 and just started putting together my tool set)

 

Thank you. I wanted to do something a little different then everyone normally does and thats why I went that route. I think it came together really well.


I say do it. Just make sure that you have something in to stiffen up the body before you chop it. I really wouldn't recommend doing it without a cage in.


Thats a good call with that. One of the most used tools I have in the garage. It handy for almost every project. Don't skimp and buy a harbor freight one though. They are crap. If you need to save some cash and still get a good one, go to a pawn shop and pick up a name brand one there. Make sure they have a return policy if the item doesn't work right and go try it out and make sure everything is working right on it.

 

Excellent chop going on man. Can't wait to vote for ya in the chop-top COTM shortly.

Are you thinking about mounting the spare in the bed now baja-truck style? Also, what about shortening your roof-rack to only fit over the cab?

 

Thank you! I'm looking forward to going and getting some new wheeling pictures ready for the chop top COTM.

And for now I'm just going to leave the tire carrier on it like it is. It works well and gives me somewhere to put my high lift as well. I might make a cage mount for the spare at some point down the road though. I can't really put it flat in the bed since I have my tool boxes and my air tank back there as well. And behind the driver seats is full of more tools and parts that need to stay in for wheeling trips. And I dont really like the look of the super short roof racks. I'm going to add some cage mounts in the rear to it still and then call it good. I have been considering setting it up with a sort of A frame tent style so the lady and I could just camp up there and not have to worry about setting up a tent when we go camping.

 

For the tire carrier I was thinking something like this, though it'd have to be more upright. A swing out member that attached across the back of your cage would be pretty trick, pull a pin and swing it out of the way. Just throwing some ideas out. Awesome fabwork man, keep it up!

 

I was thinking about a Makita (7.5amps) or a DeWalt (7 amps) both are 4 1/2" disks, with 11,000rpms

 

I love my angle grinder I use it all the time it highly recomend having one if you have a jeep lol

 

I recommend the dewalt just cause I like the trigger on it but either one is fine just make sure you like it and see how it feels at the store

 

Its a mandatory tool in my garage. I can't recommend one tool more then a die grinder.


Both of those are solid units. You'll be happy with either. Just make sure you get a 4.5" instead of a 4". And buy quality discs for it. Everytime I end up running out and getting a lower quality disc I burn through it in under 10 minutes. A good diablo or dewalt disc last much much longer.


That might be a pretty decent idea. I'm might have to look into that. And thank you, should be plenty more fab projects coming in the next few months.




This is what I get for not waiting for winter to end before I chopped my top. 3rd storm since I cut the back off. I decided to go play with my big kids camera last night around midnight and came out with this. Nothing special but it was fun.