Safari Pacific MX2 Build

[schanusa]

Onto building the new floor. I started with 16 gage flat steel in a four foot square. Measured then cut to size. Since a flat floor wouldn't be to structural, and not to mention would stand out, I use a bead roller to create some creases.

Outer step down, liner grooves and a 90 degree bend to wrap it up. Closeup of the groves.

To reinforce the floor I fab up some C channels from the flat 16 gage steel.

Finished welding up all parts. The upper left junction will be where a new body mount will be.

New floor set in place. Still much more to do....

 

[Ranger44]

Great! Keep it going!

 

[ZMan]

nice work.

 

[schanusa]

Thanks all!



Not a whole lot has been accomplished for this next section. Most of the time was measuring over and over again. I wanted to make sure the cab's back would be perfectly square.


Lower cross support

My brother in-law, Jeremy, gave me a hand fabing up the upper cross supports. His brother Zach took the photos for the day.

Upper cross support ready to be welded in.

Me welding the inner and outer upper cross supports. The rope was used to align the back portion with the rest of the body lines.

 

[Dishtowel]

Wow. Beautiful idea, beautiful work, beautiful shop. Top marks man.

 

[schanusa]

I'm getting behind on my updates. Here's some stuff I did last week.

To stop water and dust getting into the channels on the new floor pan I used some seam sealer.

The raw steel parts started rusting in the shop. I'm thinking the swamp coolers are the culprit. To stop the surface rust I sprayed on some pain.

Using a hole punch to create the rounded corners of the fuel tank access panel.

The access panel isn't very big since the cross supports are close by.

 

[schanusa]

For body material I picked up two doors from the junk yard. It was half price day, so I scored two doors for $75 bucks! I measured the gap, added 2 inches for a buffer then cut chunks out of the doors

Dry fitting the new body material. Once lined up, I marked where the cuts needed to be exactly.

I trimmed of the extra material on one side and ground the edges of the other.

Perfect fit!

 

[Ranger44]

Once again, awesome!

BTW, that is a very nice, big, clean shop. Wish I had something like that.

 

[schanusa]

I used the excess trimmed off for backing on the edges of each seam. Same routine as the bed shortening.

New side panel clamped into place.

To avoid any warping I slowly weld small spots a few inches apart. After cooling a bit I run a few more spot welds. I repeat this quite a few times before the panel is fully welded. Then I repeat everything on the driver side.

 

[Shoeboy]

The trucks look likes its coming along well. What are you going to do with the roof, fill it in with sheet metal and just make it a solid roof, or are you going to do a glass top.

 

[schanusa]

Thanks. Slowly I getting it finished. It will be a month tomorrow when I started chopping. I'm starting to get impatient, but I have to take my time so I don't screw up! The roof will be solid. I thought about a sunroof, but I think it will be too much work for something I don't need. I'm even considering running solid sides on the extension instead of windows. The back will be filled with gear, so windows are useless and show off all the get to thiefs. Hmmm...decisions....decisions

 

[Ranger44]

I'd say just make it solid. Easy.

 

[dogboy]

I think you should just panel the sides. Thieves can't see in, you don't need windows, and it is alot easier! And, not to mention, I think you would have the first mini-panel wagon type Ranger!

I think it would look good both ways. Windows gives it more of a stock look.

 

[joeydeluxe]

This is a very cool build im excited to see it complete. you are doing a very good job and completing in quickly. keep up the good work

 

[maitee1]

Awesome work. Keep it up. I am looking forward to seeing this thing come to fruition.