63 single cab ute resto

bluebus · Post by **bluebus** » Mon May 09, 2011 8:07 pm

Thanks for all the positive comments guys and any suggestions are more than welcome.
Its funny i have picked up so much info of this site with soo many great pics and helpfull posts to help me with my resto.
So thanks again
Rick

joeM · Post by **joeM** » Tue May 10, 2011 12:08 am

G'day Rick
Thats a great job your doing.
I noticed that the front top hat looks a little different to the one I got for my project. I was wondering if yours was modified to solve the problem of feeding the gear shift tube, clutch tube etc through the top hat?

dawerks · Post by **dawerks** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:00 am

The easy way to do the tubes is to turn the holes into slits. If your tubes are in good shape, that is the easier way to do it.

You could weld in the bottom part of the slit if you really felt like it afterwards, but really, no one will quibble over that bit!

bluebus · Post by **bluebus** » Tue May 10, 2011 8:15 pm

Hi there Joe
My front top hat was like yours untill i cut straight down through to the bottom just like dawerks put as it made it real easy.
I thought with the new centre chassis under the top hat it would be plenty strong enough to leave slotted.
With the rear two top hats i did slide them on the end of the tubes with alot of fun!!!!
Cheers Rick

joeM · Post by **joeM** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:23 pm

Thats brilliant! Totally agree, thanks for the advice. Will make life much easier this way.
I cant remember if the rear one also has support in the same way.

bluebus · Post by **bluebus** » Sat May 14, 2011 8:09 pm

Did a bit more today
Cut the drivers side dog leg off and went to fit the new one and its wrong as it has not got enough bend where it kicks in down the front and the gap where the rubber goes varies from 18mm to 25mm down the front edge so ordered another from another supplier and the old one is going back.

So i went to the passenger side and put the new floor section in and the lower dog leg section and a few other patches on the way.

bluebus · Post by **bluebus** » Sun May 15, 2011 6:37 pm

Few more pics of passenger floor and lower dogleg preped and etched.

started on front inner valance today to make sure it will all fit how it should

joeM · Post by **joeM** » Sun May 15, 2011 7:33 pm

This is fantastic, your about a month in front of me, so I can see exactly what it should look like before I get into mine.

Nice work brother, you've set the bar pretty high

daveo · Post by **daveo** » Sun May 15, 2011 7:39 pm

Awesome jobby !!!
Those repairs look sooooooooo tidy.
SWEEEEEET !!

MAMMO · Post by **MAMMO** » Sun May 15, 2011 8:26 pm

good work mate keep it up.........

Leroy · Post by **Leroy** » Mon May 16, 2011 12:26 am

Some really nice work going on there! Super clean

bluebus · Post by **bluebus** » Sat May 21, 2011 8:48 pm

Put the new drivers side dog leg on today which was a lot better fit than the last one.

joeM · Post by **joeM** » Sun May 22, 2011 1:02 am

This is looking so good

Did I read somewhere that your new to welding??
Cause I am really impressed. Very neat work, keep the pics coming they are awesome.

bluebus · Post by **bluebus** » Sun May 22, 2011 7:49 pm

Put the front inner valance in today with lots of measuring and fitting but it all worked out in the end

Still a few pieces to fit on the ends where the valance fits to the A pillar as i cut the end joiners in to three pieces from one as i did not like the fitment because they stuck out too far.
Its not going any where with the amount of weld on the back of it.
And yes Joe the more welding i do the better i get (i think)
Cheers Rick

GFresh · Post by **GFresh** » Sun May 22, 2011 10:00 pm

Very very well done