Been doing a ton a body work on the piggie FWIW, if anyone is interested in sliders etc...

Before back left, thickest layer of bondo I've ever seen.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=213717&stc=1&d=1131389428


Delightful!
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=213716&stc=1&d=1131389428

And the back right
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=213715&stc=1&d=1131389424

Chop!

Took 2x4 1/4" thick steel, used the torch to cutoff the excess, then ground to lay a strip of 2" 1/4" thick strap to mimic the rear corners. I pretend that I came up with all of this on my own but I basically hands down copied the sliders that Luke Porter built for Morgan Fletcher, pics at www.birfield.com/~morgan

Took torch to heat metal strip red hot and beat with hammer to conform to 2x4, then ground smooth...

Used a highlift jack with a board underneath to keep the slider in place, welded directly to body. Then started using thicker sheet metal plating to coverup and replace rotted metal...

I cut out a nice little section of what was under there before, I'll post what was under there at the end when I switch CDs, a nice little surprise...

With the plating in place...

ground smooth

Mostly for cosmetic purposes put an underpiece with some thicker body metal (maybe 14 gauge?) that will not bend under pressure...

Slider more or less in finished stage, welded into body about every 3-4" on outside, another bead on the inside body panel and strong, it should not move. When I get to the bondo stage all welds will be covered up and body more or less made to look smooth (sliders will still stick out 1/2") but cleaner...

Also did rocker panel protection

Used masking tape and 4.5" grinder with cutoff wheel to cut clean, straight lines. Took my time with the tape measure to make sure my lines were straight...

How much shit can fall out of your rocker panels!

Used jackstands and highlift again to bring up to body. Cut off rear half of body about right in the middle of where slider would sit, then welded back end to slider. Also, this was the first one I did. Chose to use 2x4 for better ground clearance and even though I love my girlfriend and she's only 5'5" she don't need no steps :)

Same thing on drivers side

Finished product for now

Here was that nice little surprize I was talking about...

And replaced with new sheetmetal...

And here is the back right. I haven't ground this down yet and this is most recent photo. I did pass slider first, then drivers, then drivers rear, then passenger rear. Rears took longer than fronts... Middle sliders are nicely capped so they could be used for air tanks or other use if need be...


And unfortunately some bondo will go to use the clean this all up and make it all look good... I don't know shit about different body fillers so if anyone has any advice on this I'm all ears. I still also have a ton more body work to do. Pics will follow I imagine, there is some tricky FJ55 specific stuff that might be some use to someone...

Andre

nice pics looks good

very cool set of pictures.


arndog

awesome work...it's great to see another piggie being cleaned up.

That looks great. What are your plans for matching the places where back light and reflector mount? Cool thread, keep the pics coming.

Nothing pretty much for the back left. I will cover up the metal with filler and make it look smooth but it will be a bare panel prett much. In the back right I am going to retain it but not use a reflector. I will retain the small reverse light, then probably put a substantial reverse light in the bumper when I build that...

Nice work, will probably be a year before I get to really tear into my pig...

Nice , great help for me . now that the 2uz in mine is done its time to start the body work on my pig,
Evan

Andre, looks like you've been BUSY!! I like it!

I love the rocker idea and have sen that's how many of the 55 crew do it...anyone try it on a 60?

Marglass is good stuff for filler.It's ground up fiberglass in resin.It doesn't swell up like bondo.My father used it on his gas tank when he laid done his Harley last year.Easy to work with to. Just got to be kind of quick.Layer it up and sander er down.

Looks good.Someday I will find my piggie....

I figure I have maybe a couple hundred in budget if I really want to go all out with the putty. I have put enough work into it that I would like to really do it right so I am all ears. I have used regular old bondo, and am actually kind of impressed with how well the truck's bondo held up considering how poorly it was put on. But at the same time would like to "move up." I also have some maybe 1/4" gaps to fill so I'll probably have to use that tiger-something stuff for that, I imagine...(?)...

Looks great, Andre!

Morgan

Sweet! Nice work Andre. I feel your pain with the surprises and the rust. I might be finished with my pig sometime before my son goes to college, of course he's 5!

:fj: :beer: :beer:

Wow Andre, good on ya!

Your efforts really paid off and it looks wonderful!

And, thanks for posting your step by step process. I'll need to do the same thing in the near future on my bondo/rusted pig.

- Jake

nice job, you're building a way cool pig :D

Great work and pictures, thanks for sharing w/ the rest of the class. I'd be interested also in anyone's body filler ideas. Did you POR anything or just weld in new metal?

Eddy

you've inspired me!

http://bk.cruiserpages.com/ironpigcut.jpg


need to try and finish the bumper with swingout by GSMTR...oh, and hopefully a paintjob...

bk

Originally posted by eddybear
Great work and pictures, thanks for sharing w/ the rest of the class. I'd be interested also in anyone's body filler ideas. Did you POR anything or just weld in new metal?

Eddy

I'm tempted to try leading....I was watching an old guy do that one Monster Garage and I think all it takes is a whole bunch of wheel weights and a big ol stub of cigar (hand dipped of course):D

bk

Originally posted by dieselcruiserhead
I also have some maybe 1/4" gaps to fill so I'll probably have to use that tiger-something stuff for that, I imagine...(?)...

bondo wont fill 1/4" gaps if you plan on hitting the rocker protection. It will crack the first time you hit it...
It really doesnt adhere to metal that well, and flexing the body panels will certainly pop it out...

There are not 1/4" gaps on the rocker or anything close luckily. I think I am going to run down to the autobody supply and see what they say and until then I am reading up mostly on the internet. I am worried and thinking about the typpical FJ55 roof rot when I get to it, which is where I speculate the larger gaps will be. I really like the idea od getting something more substaintial than bondo now though.

Originally posted by bkfj40


I'm tempted to try leading....I was watching an old guy do that one Monster Garage and I think all it takes is a whole bunch of wheel weights and a big ol stub of cigar (hand dipped of course):D

bk

I saw that episode that was pretty cool! Ed I didn't use POR instead where there were some holes (luckily enough pretty minor) I cut through from the inside and wirewheeled both sides to actually remove the rust. Then weld the cut I made to get there back up, then use filler to cover the holes. I'll post more detailed photos later. I have done it in one place so far and still have three more to do...

Great work. Your 3 speed and dust cover arrived today. Thanks again! I'm looking forward to following your progress. They need to have you as a guest on Monster Garage.

Did you ever post some pics of the final body work all done? I would like to see what the end result is.

Did you ever post some pics of the final body work all done? I would like to see what the end result is.


Holy older thread.

Here is a nice pic.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-6/27140/WWYVK-DCP_1070.JPG

Ignore the shackles, they decided to vacate the premises.

Best pictures I have are on a trip we did that preran the photo Dan (slowertahnu_ posted...

http://www.collegeinternetsolutions.com/cisautoweb/fj55/norwayflats/

Dan can you shoot me a link to those photos I never saw them, cool!

http://www.collegeinternetsolutions.com/cisautoweb/fj55/norwayflats/IMAG0098.JPG

What's up with the tail gate crease?

Sharp eyes... "PO mod"