runner to pick-up tailgate swap???

[wood]

I want to bob my 88 runner but I want to graft in a pick-up tailgate. Has anyone everdone this? I have searched on several boards but I have come up with nothing. Anybody have some experence doing this or know of some links that would be helpful.

Thanks

[Skinny_Pedal]

some over at sky has done it it. the truck is for sale im sure they would be willing to share. www.sky-manufacturing.com

[BLUCRUZ]

After you cut off the back of the runner just weld on the back of the p/u w the tailgate. You just have to weld in some sheet metal where the little storage areas were and over the top where the runner is thicker than the p/u. Not hard just a lot of welding.

[FatAzzRunner]

O.K. Wood, 

You asked me to get you some build up pics and I hate to wait for days when I ask someone for info so I am gonna post em now if I can.

I dont have any close up trimming type pics of the bob job just kinda from this step to the next step to the next step type stuff.

Hope it helps.













Then I decided to curve it, I thought it gave it a better look, which it did but I couldnt make it work right when doing the sheet metal on back so you will see the curve cut out later, meaning I had to make the bed shorter, which I liked better anyway.





I decided while I was at it, I would trim out the damage to my front fenders as much as possible and get more tire clearance.

[WHITE_TRASH]

Wow thats kinda strange seeing the back of the runner without  l  o  n  g    s  h  a  c  k  l  e  s.  

[FatAzzRunner]

OK, they are working.  Here are some other pics of the changes and the final pics.


Oh, and no shackle length statements.  I shortened em up quite a bit and plan to link it soon.      

[FatAzzRunner]

Wow thats kinda strange seeing the back of the runner without  l  o  n  g    s  h  a  c  k  l  e  s.  

DAMN you suckah!!!      

you just had to gig me on those didnt yah???

[WHITE_TRASH]

Yup I sure did.  I thought you had caught that beings you said no shackle jokes.  Guess ya didnt see that one coming did ya?

[Skinny_Pedal]

seriously though...what were the long shackles for?

[WHITE_TRASH]

To keep the springs off the frame.  Silly boy you shoulda known that.

[FatAzzRunner]

well, when I cut the back off the other shackles stood straight up and down.  Instead of chopping off the hangers and moving them forward, I just made longer shackles.

I did the longer shackles to get better flex and droop on the rear axle.

Now I am running those same shackles, just braced and about 4 - 4.5"s shorter.

Still does alright.

I am gonna link the rear soon hopefully.

[FatAzzRunner]

Here is the shackle length now, not good but better

[WHITE_TRASH]

Yes much better.

[wood]

FatAzzRunner,

Thanks for posting the pics. I do have a few questions for you:

1. What gauge is the sheetmetal you used?

2. It looks like in the pics that the edges of the sheet metal have a rolled edge, Is it?

[FatAzzRunner]

Sorry, on the gauge of steel, I dont know.  I got it free from a junk yard.  It is fairly heavy but not too bad.  It is still flemsy when loose but once it it welded up, it is pretty damn solid.

The rolled edge is actually body molding stuff from a body shop.  YOu know that gold stuff that the homies be stickin on theys cadillac dowes??  Well, its that stuff just in black.  I cut my hand on it when I 1st stuck the sheet metal on there and I did it to keep people safe and un-cut open.

I will see if I can find another pic of it.

[FatAzzRunner]

Here are a couple others.

[wood]

OOOOOOOhhh ooookkk now I see. I counn't tell in the previeous pics how it was done. The last two pics accually answered several more questions I almost had for ya. Thanks for posting em up

[83yota]

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keep it up