Author Topic: No Virgin (Read 14162 times)

Rocksurfer · « **on:** Apr 18, 2006, 07:35:26 PM »

During my trip out to Johnson Valley I had a little run-in with a large ledge and lost. The sucker was above my bumper but there was this little notch that if I hit it just right I could once again skirt through without knocking in my fenders. Well not only did I miss the notch but ran head on into the ledge. It bent my bumper into the fender and valance, so I had to bend it back to even drive it without rubbing.

So today, my 1st day off since the incident I decided to finally eliminate that issue, yup you guessed it I broke out the saw and whacked that sucker off at the bottom. My poor virgin truck has now gone under the knife and is no longer of stock body, next to go will be the rear section on the bed but for now here's some before and after pics.

All I did was take a sheet of paper to get a straight line, marked it off where I wanted to cut and ten minutes later viola.

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #1 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 07:38:43 PM »

so where's the pics?

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #2 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 07:57:44 PM »

Before pictures with the damage, just to be able to cut I had to pry the bumper bracket back to somewhat the original position. Then I could get the saw inside to cut the lip.

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #3 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 07:59:13 PM »

Here's the teaser picture of the whacked parts.

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #4 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 08:00:43 PM »

....and here's the finished product

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #5 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 08:04:20 PM »

Quote from: BLACKDOG on Apr 18, 2006, 07:38:43 PM

so where's the pics?

Sorry about the delay, my son was having trouble feeding his snakes. The mice were not cooperating.

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #6 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 08:06:30 PM »

Quote from: Rocksurfer on Apr 18, 2006, 08:04:20 PM

Sorry about the delay, my son was having trouble feeding his snakes. The mice were not cooperating.

those pesky little rascals!!

Trucks lookin good RS, whats next, the bed getting bobbed? or is that going to wait until you've ground off a nice chunk of the underside??

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #7 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 08:14:13 PM »

I'm thinking of cutting the lower part of the bed off in the rear since that is the other part that seems to get in the way. Right now my shell would no longer fit and my auxillary tank would have to go if I cut the rear any. I want to find a 6 ft shell before I would bob the bed since I sleep in it on the trail. I love that extra 12 gallons of gas that the auxillary tank provides. So until I solve those issues I won't bob the bed, but that part that hangs down and is slowly being bent up is in my sights as the next to get whacked.

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 08:16:41 PM »

nice

I'm looking for a shell as well, for the same reason you are. It's nice with the xcab, at least I can lean the seat back, but when I get a shell?? EVEN BETTER!

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 08:24:13 PM »

My shell got cracked on the trip before Johnson Valley so I took it off and that is my next little fix. I didn't hit anything just has some stress cracks in the front so I'm going to make a piece of plexy-glass in the same shape and bolt it over the cracks. That should hold it until I decide to bob the bed or not.

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 08:26:33 PM »

Also you guys have always heard me piss and moan about cutting the fenders but I'll let you in on a little secret...

I've got these hanging in my garage.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 09:05:00 PM »

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #12 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:13:38 PM »

Quote from: 79Coyotefrg on Apr 18, 2006, 09:05:00 PM

Don't worry, I've got those spares sitting on the wall, I saved the front valance, put the little brackets in my bin and save all the little bolts. If I ever decide to fix it up again it won't take long. I figured that I'd bent the fender enough to have to do something before it got a kink further up in the wheel well. If you look close you can see I did get a little kink in it and don't want to make it worse.

kneedownnate · « **Reply #13 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:19:06 PM »

Oh man, that sucks, but welcome to the club

. I just wacked mine off recently, but I'm gonna go a little different than most. It's kinda funny, you'll find yourself walking toward the back of your truck thinking "why is the rear of my truck squatting?", then realize it's just an illusion cause of the new cuts!

BigMike · « **Reply #14 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:27:32 PM »

He looked

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #15 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:39:15 PM »

Quote from: BigMike on Apr 18, 2006, 10:27:32 PM

He looked

Can't say I didn't warn him.

My only concern currently is that it is a little flimsy, not real bad but just enough that I'm concerned and might want to put a small brace on there.

synwars · « **Reply #16 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:40:28 PM »

Ahhhhhhh, shucks, what's all the fuss about??? It looks better anyway.

synwars · « **Reply #17 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:41:41 PM »

Quote from: Rocksurfer on Apr 18, 2006, 10:39:15 PM

My only concern currently is that it is a little flimsy, not real bad but just enough that I'm concerned and might want to put a small brace on there.

I don't blame ya, I got the same problem. The fenders like to pop out a bit from time to time...

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #18 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:48:20 PM »

Quote from: synwars on Apr 18, 2006, 10:41:41 PM

I don't blame ya, I got the same problem. The fenders like to pop out a bit from time to time...

It is still attached at the bottom edge so I doubt the it will pop out but it will bend in easily if it is contacted, and if you look at the flares I do hit them here and there.

IronClad · « **Reply #19 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:52:55 PM »

eh methinks it looks better with the lower parts cutoff.. that part of the fender just looks goofy

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #20 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 10:56:46 PM »

Quote from: IronClad on Apr 18, 2006, 10:52:55 PM

eh methinks it looks better with the lower parts cutoff.. that part of the fender just looks goofy

But it was so retro, I always get those oooooh aaaaah it's an oldie in stock trim looks as I'd come across people on the trail. Now they'll see nuttin' but tire staring at them. I do like the new look though.

synwars · « **Reply #21 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 11:14:06 PM »

Quote from: Rocksurfer on Apr 18, 2006, 10:56:46 PM

I always get those oooooh aaaaah it's an oldie in stock trim looks as I'd come across people on the trail.

I take it the "oooooh's and aaaaaah's" translated as "how did you not already bash those in?" I would have to admit, it would take a lot of finese and patient navigating to avoid such a mishap for so long... Either that, or a lot of spare fenders!

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #22 on:** Apr 18, 2006, 11:22:20 PM »

Quote from: synwars on Apr 18, 2006, 11:14:06 PM

I take it the "oooooh's and aaaaaah's" translated as "how did you not already bash those in?" I would have to admit, it would take a lot of finese and patient navigating to avoid such a mishap for so long... Either that, or a lot of spare fenders!

I made it almost 3 years like that, not much finese allowed with stock gearing for the most part.

RustyToy · « **Reply #23 on:** Apr 19, 2006, 07:31:05 AM »

My poor rusted 1st gen came all bashed in the front... i never got to see it in its full glory...

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #24 on:** Apr 19, 2006, 09:19:06 PM »

Quote from: RustyToy on Apr 19, 2006, 07:31:05 AM

My poor rusted 1st gen came all bashed in the front... i never got to see it in its full glory...

It wasn't really that bad but if I didn't do something sooner or later I' have really bent them beyond repair. That last time convinced me that I should cut them before they became unsalvagable and I had to use my spares.

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #25 on:** Apr 19, 2006, 09:24:00 PM »

I worked on repairing the cracks in the bulkhead of the camper shell today, turned into an all day affair. I not only fix the cracks but also resealed the windows and seams. I wasn't expecting it to be such a big deal but the cracks had spread pretty wide and getting them to close so I could bolt the steel straps over them was a challenge.

wa4x4 · « **Reply #26 on:** Apr 19, 2006, 09:27:45 PM »

Looking good mang, can't wait to see it with the shell and the cut fenders.

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #27 on:** Apr 19, 2006, 09:30:59 PM »

I dunno RS, I like how it looks without the shell

but then again, thats just me

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #28 on:** Apr 19, 2006, 09:37:09 PM »

Quote from: BLACKDOG on Apr 19, 2006, 09:30:59 PM

I dunno RS, I like how it looks without the shell but then again, thats just me

I like it too but once I had it off the truck I realized that I had nowhere to store my 2 spare tires, Hilift jack, my emergancy backpack and all the other spare parts I carry. So I had to put it back on or I would have been picked apart by the vultures. I had to take everything out if I didn't want to chance losing something by some punk with sticky fingers.

wa4x4 · « **Reply #29 on:** Apr 19, 2006, 09:39:25 PM »

Plus with the shell on, people can't throw crap in the back of your truck.

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