colbystephens' '73 blazer build!

[colbystephens]

so i have a new weight saving idea...

i was thinking it would be really cool to take the doors and re-skin them with expanded metal and then make a soft-top material cover for winter. dunno how i'd do the window tho. anyway, it would be SO much lighter than the stock door, while retaining all-weather usage and increase wheeling visibility because i could look right thru it....

what say you??? any ideas on how to do the window??????

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Clear plastic like on Jeeps and HMMWV's?

 

[colbystephens]

thing i don't like about that is that the door would then have to have a whole frame around the door and since i have the full convertible, i don't want a whole door frame.

 

[simpleman83]

Wouldn't that tear a lot easier on the trail???

 

[buefchris]

just make half doors, tuffer than any soft top material, plus doors are cheep to come by.59148

 

[colbystephens]

just make half doors, tuffer than any soft top material, plus doors are cheep to come by.59148

i love your half doors, but they aren't an "all weather, daily driver" door.

 

[buefchris]

Yea, but I just swap-em w/ full-doors....season permiting, its not too much hassle.

 

[54inches]

Nice work Colby.

I like your boat!

 

[colbystephens]

Yea, but I just swap-em w/ full-doors....season permiting, its not too much hassle.

see, the whole point tho is to have a year-round weight saving solution.

tonite i got teh passenger side all cut out. i've got tomorrow off from work, so my hope is to have the passenger side all welded up and finished so i can possibly start herc.'ing the front floor.

i was thinking it would be cool to paint the roll cage the same color as the body - that lime green color.

 

[jonathon]

Wow dude that looks great.

 

[BUDDY]

see, the whole point tho is to have a year-round weight saving solution.

tonite i got teh passenger side all cut out. i've got tomorrow off from work, so my hope is to have the passenger side all welded up and finished so i can possibly start herc.'ing the front floor.

i was thinking it would be cool to paint the roll cage the same color as the body - that lime green color.

I'd recommend finding a buddy that has a Jeep wrangler w/ half doors & asking him if you could take a good look at his doors. The upper frames are just 1/4"-3/8" wire that's bent to shape with a TIGHT canvas cover with the zippered windows sewn in. The bottom halves are pretty much a lightweight shell with inserts in the top for the frame posts to mount into.

Hell, I'll just take pictures of mine when I get home tonight & post them up for you.

Later,
Buddy

Also, PSC has a door skin for Jeeps that replaces the fabric "soft doors" you can buy for them. Follow the link & go to components/doors & look in there for a how to on Jeep doors. It may give you some ideas.

 

[colbystephens]

I'd recommend finding a buddy that has a Jeep wrangler w/ half doors & asking him if you could take a good look at his doors. The upper frames are just 1/4"-3/8" wire that's bent to shape with a TIGHT canvas cover with the zippered windows sewn in. The bottom halves are pretty much a lightweight shell with inserts in the top for the frame posts to mount into.

Hell, I'll just take pictures of mine when I get home tonight & post them up for you.

Later,
Buddy

Also, PSC has a door skin for Jeeps that replaces the fabric "soft doors" you can buy for them. Follow the link & go to components/doors & look in there for a how to on Jeep doors. It may give you some ideas.

very cool! thanks!!

 

[colbystephens]

progress! since getting the puppy, the truck got put on hold (see the lounge for my "puppy build thread") anyway, got the floor herc'd up front - at this point, i still need to add a second coat, but it'll basically look the same when i'm done. i hit all the seams with some seam sealer to make them more weather resistant - didn't want any water or whatever to get into little pockets in the welding and start rusting from the inside out.

i'm hoping to pick up a tube bender next month and the tube the following month. to keep me busy till then, i plan to figure out what to do about doors.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Looking good mang.

 

[MADSTER]

Keep it goin', Colby!!! Yer doin' a great job, bro.

Love that simple floor.

How are your ideas coming along for the doors???

 

[chiefheaphy]

you know what's tragic... i don't know who spicoli is...

thanks for the compliments, gents. i'm hoping to do the whole passenger side tomorrow afternoon. now that i've got the "trial side" done, i think i can really plow ahead with the passenger side.

Rent "Fast Times At Ridgemont High".

Sicken rockers guy. That Miller must love you.

 

[jonathon]

Looks great!

How much sanding does the POR take to get it ready for herc after it setting?

 

[colbystephens]

Looks great!

How much sanding does the POR take to get it ready for herc after it setting?

just gotta scuff it with a brillo pad.

door ideas are spinning in my head... now that the floor is done and i can't do anything as far as a cage goes for a couple months, i'll give something a try with my free time. as it happens, i have about 3 sets of doors laying around to work with.

 

[jonathon]

Hey Colby.. check this out.. yeah, it's a Bronco.. but he's got some sort of soft doors on it. Interesting idea...

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/car/545470886.html

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Those are the old school soft doors. Sort of a fiberglass shape that fits in place of your door and then a miniature tube and canvas/vinyl door like a Jeep would have that goes in the opening in the shape.