bobtailing the surf

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:43 pm

well since it shat itself labour weekend, figured what better time to unbolt the canopy and chop a chunk of my truck out.

will post a before and after shot when i finish.....

here is the proposed section to take out, from the green tape to the ruler. This was justified by the corrogations in the well floor ending(if i go any further back will be a bitch to join again) and the front from where the body starts to curve into the wheel arches. And of course the spring hangers.... losing about 270mm all up.

the first cut.. no going back now :twisted:

. just used the saber saw and grinder.

heres the second cut done.. would be sick to have been able to end body here .... but not until the cart springs dissapear

here is the final length mocked up..

still plenty of tidying up to do.... so far i have welded the back in place, cut and moved the rear body mounts forward and docked the chassis to suit..... will finish it off this weekend and post up the final shot..

conan.

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:12 pm

I'm assuming all this needs certifying? etc...just curious...loosing the heavy hardtop on the Rugger and chopping the back into a ute type thingy and closing in the back would be an interesting project....

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:52 pm

Good stuff man, Funnly enough Im looking at using my time off at xmas to cut mine up to, where are you cutting the canopy?? taking out a paine of glass at teh front or remove the back side window?

matwelli · Post by **matwelli** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:56 pm

Would you need to cert it, cosmetic more than anything isnt it ?

Its not structural, not an anchor point for a seatbelt, or used by the mfg as rollover protection, so do you think you would get away without a cert ?

One of the guys at the egmont 4x4 club here has done the same, can find out if you like.

P.S. looks good anyway, is the canopy going to be shortened and put back on as well ?

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:03 pm

no idea on cert issues... would be intrested to find out a definite answer

canopy is a hot topic at moment,
was gonna shorten the side windows at the front.. just about enough to lose one of those sliders alltogether but not quite..

but after having no canopy on for a while its really starting to grow on me ... tempted to leave it off full time.

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:05 pm

It's mint with the back off a, How much work is involved? Im wanting to do this before I get a cert but Im not shore on time frame, is it a weekend job or what?

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:13 pm

indeed its the path im gonna take i reacon.

canopy off ---- 15minutes . bout that in bolts too i think..
spent a bit of time marking the lines etc but the cutting wasnt long :twisted:

- maybe half a day for that
then another half day or so moving body mounts, cutting chassis and welding the seam <-- took along time as i had to spot each weld then move somewhere else and do the same until they all joined up, would just melt a hole in the panel otherwise.. could be a localised thing due to the welders lowest setting etc who knows..

but youd cruise through it in a weekend no worries.

conan

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:53 am

very nice job mate, hmmm wonder if i could do that???
looks good!!

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:28 am

Looks good without the canopy, and sheds a shit load of weight too.

Marmite down at marmites tyres took the canopy off one and got the back filled in to make it a ute, it made a big difference to the performance without all that weight at the back.

swampa · Post by **swampa** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:40 pm

did mine a couple of years ago, had to get a cert

ruf_zuki · Post by **ruf_zuki** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:48 pm

looking good dude,
im doing the same this weekend, taking out 340mm so i can remove the front sliding window,
do you still have use of the tailgate, im worried about trying to relocate the thingy underneath

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:19 pm

had to do some angles on the chassis underneath to get door to work..

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:51 am

hey conan got any more pics or even better vids of your truck in action???

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:58 am

Can you tell me more about what chassie work you had to do?

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:58 pm

no prob petermcc , will hunt some down.

chassis work was just docking it back, then just had to grind the box back to a halfmoon under the door to allow the natural swing of the tailgate. will post you a couple of pics...

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:12 pm

matt heres the curve needed to get door going , .
will change when i remount the rear bar thou

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:36 am

Will that pass a cert?

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:47 am

dont know not finished yet ,its gonna finish up being longer with a rear bar and braced to nam.

monaro427 · Post by **monaro427** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:35 pm

hey conan have you got anymore picks of the bobtail bed, how much did you cut out of the bed, and what have you done about the canopy, cheers pics if you have any would be great

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:32 am

any update?

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:15 pm

All that work I did on the rear bar and you just took it home and chopped the ass off it