Mike's Expedition Topper... [tack'd steel, no pics yet.]

[TheBeast_88K5]

More irrelevance.

Happy wife, Happy life.... Relevant.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Good times were had, and this trip actually will make my yard a bit cleaner in a day or 2.
Pics to follow in my other thread.
Can't figure out what I am talking about?
Wait for updates.

I know exactly what you mean...

thats a pretty good haul out.and some half doors to boot.i wish someone round here would let me help them remove thier "extra" usable parts.haha.you guys should be set for awhile.

I know right?

All I had to do, was provide the truck/gas.
That's ~$50 in gas, for a topper that goes for $150 around here...



Thanks again Dremu & imiceman!

 

[pblaze725]

Sorry, I fell asleep. Did I miss anything?












...PAD.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

...PAD.

Ugh.... Okay.....


This thread needs relevant information.
Here goes...


These pics are for referance, for window reassembly.

The old glass is coming out, and new Plexi is going in.

Odds are, with my previous experience in acrylic/plexi fishtank work,
That I can make these for everyone.

Wouldn't it be nice to have shatter-proof windows?
Or, perhaps, you found a set of sliders, but the glass is busted....?

Guess who's gonna make 'em...


Old glass....

I'm gonna mold custom 'window runners', and grease them.

This corner looks particularly tricky, to reinstall...

I'll start my cut on that factory line, and trim from there.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Stage 2..... Underway....


I decided to leave the windows together, for now.

So, careful cuts were in order....

I employed the SawzAll , up intil that white spot. (below)
Thats where the 16gau. steel reinforcement plate is.

After that point, a Dremel w/ a 'thin cut' metal blade was used.
Both on the remainder of the piller, and the reinforcement plate.

For anyone wondering,
I stuck a screwdriver between the weatherstrip, and the shell.
I pried the weatherstrip up, gently, and Dremel'd the teeny piece the Sawzall couldn't get.

Then, you crack it open, like a mold.

Smooth.

Almost, too easy....

Fwiw.....

This is the steel plate, in the pillar out back.

This is the front pillar... No plate.

A window, in 1/3 of a shell.....

These may become somthing...

Windowless....

Both windows removed without breakage, or disassembly !

Aww yea....
Now to trim this biznitch!

The wife said I'm crazy....
I think she might be right...

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Gawd it's HOT outside!!!


Work on the topper will commence on Friday, when metal can be purchased.
...And, I get my damn jack, and stands back.

Anyone know what these toppers are made of?
It looks like some kind of plastic?

I need to know what it is, so I can know what epoxy I need to seal the corners.
(after final triming.)

 

[imiceman44]

Gawd it's HOT outside!!!


Work on the topper will commence on Friday, when metal can be purchased.
...And, I get my damn jack, and stands back.

Anyone know what these toppers are made of?
It looks like some kind of plastic?

I need to know what it is, so I can know what epoxy I need to seal the corners.
(after final triming.)

Fiberglass.
And you said you need jack stands?

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Fiberglass.

Sweet... Cuz that's not a pita to deal with...

And you said you need jack stands?

Nah I have a few.

I just lent the two I happen to need, to a buddy.
I also lent him my jack.

I just need 'em to lift, and hold, my topper-lid in place.
While I fab my mount/hinge.

I'll get 'em back Thursday, when I borrow his welder ext cord.

Fwiw, this guy is usually prepared....
But, he just sold a Tacoma and bought a 2004, 1Ton, Dodge/Cummins...

He needed a big truck jack/stands....

 

[dremu]

Sweet... Cuz that's not a pita to deal with...

Aka FRP aka "fiber-reinforced plastic." You were right to begin with ... just has glass fibers too

But yeah, sanding/patching 'glas in a respirator and protective gear in what is likely triple-digit heat... ugh.

-- A

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Aka FRP aka "fiber-reinforced plastic." You were right to begin with ... just has glass fibers too

Aah, I see...

But yeah, sanding/patching 'glas in a respirator and protective gear in what is likely triple-digit heat... ugh.

-- A

'zactamundo...

Not. Fun.

 

[groovy75]

Are u keeping the sliding windows? If not ill take em!!

 

[smier]

I'm really curious as to how you are going to pull this off. Care to share, or do I really have to wait until Friday??? On the setups you posted earlier the top of the shell is higher than the cab of the trucks, allowing it to hinge over and clear the truck cab. The blazer shells are flush with the roof of the cab, which won't provide any clearance of the cab if you are going to build it how it looks from your pictures. This is a really cool idea, and I love expedition portal, but I really have to stay away from that place...

 

[Jester1]

12 page thread 2.5 to 3 pages actual fab work. And now we have to wait till friday?

Ok I am definatly in. I will be happy to send all my BS and Pads your way.

Momma always said I like poking badgers.(yes with spoons)

 

[dremu]

Momma always said I like poking badgers.

Badgers? Badgers? We don't need no stinkin' badgers...

-- A

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

I'm really curious as to how you are going to pull this off. Care to share, or do I really have to wait until Friday??? On the setups you posted earlier the top of the shell is higher than the cab of the trucks, allowing it to hinge over and clear the truck cab. The blazer shells are flush with the roof of the cab, which won't provide any clearance of the cab if you are going to build it how it looks from your pictures. This is a really cool idea, and I love expedition portal, but I really have to stay away from that place...

Ah.... I was waiting for someone to notice that...

I have 2 ways to clear the cab, in my head.
I'm going to a supply house to see what kinda custom hinges they make.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

12 page thread 2.5 to 3 pages actual fab work. And now we have to wait till friday?

Ok I am definatly in. I will be happy to send all my BS and Pads your way.

Momma always said I like poking badgers.(yes with spoons)

12 pages for the Internet uninclined....

Its only page 2 for us postwhores.

 

[groovy75]

Pad

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Are u keeping the sliding windows? If not ill take em!!

I think I'm keeping the windows.

But Im going to make plexiglas versions.
If you can find frames, you can buy some.

 

[groovy75]

Otay! just checkin, ppl throw stuff out all the time! What's the ETA of this whole deal? Been following the thread .....

 

[K5-CJ5]

Otay! just checkin, ppl throw stuff out all the time! What's the ETA of this whole deal? Been following the thread .....

LOL! Possibly Friday, Saturday or Sunday, Maybe as soon as Thursday but probably not until 2013!LOL Thats is how my projects usually go!