another vote for fold down, 90% of the time it is more usefull, and much easier to drive with it open for long loads, unlike the swinging door, and it also can't swing closed and hit you.
Printable View
another vote for fold down, 90% of the time it is more usefull, and much easier to drive with it open for long loads, unlike the swinging door, and it also can't swing closed and hit you.
Today i fitted the Galvenised Lock plates for the top and then i fitted the tailgate and welded the hinge brackets on.
bummer i painted the top gal strip last week... now i have shiny pop rivets......
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/249.jpg
Special weld...... ohh my Mig is my friend....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/250.jpg
Well its finished....... Kind of.... need to get it on the road and then start to make it tough....
Last night i painted the tailgate and painted the rear cross member.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/234.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/235.jpg
Then i fitted the Tail gate
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/236.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/04/356.jpg
I was worried there would be too much Galvenised parts on the back, but by painting the Gall top strip on the tail gate it made it look right, blends in and the catch's and hinges look right. Not to much gal in my opinion. if i painted them it would look funny i think....
Then i cleaned her up and drove up the road to the local park and took some full pix.....
I'm very happy with the result....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/04/303.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/231.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/232.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/233.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...007/03/210.jpg
So thats it for this thread.... next one will be the Mods on Grommet.....
Thanks for watching and your idea's...
Clarkie
As requested by my fellow Viewers, Where i got all my parts and costing and time frame.....
OK
You need the following.........
Defender, County or Stage 1 or series....... if its not a hardtop 3 door then you will have to find a hard top rear tub....
Then you need to find a roof that suits that model... i have a Defender so i sourced a 2nd hand Defender 110 Single cab roof from "British Off Road" in QLD. Ph 07 54451094
Rear Truck cab is from a Series LR, i sourced it from "Fred Smith Automotive" in Bayswater, Vic
Then you will need all the rubbers, and trim and brackets.... get the brackets from the guys you get the roof and rear cab from.
New rubbers, window runners, and misc new parts i got from "Fred Smith Automotive"
Tailgate and fittings from "Fred Smith"
Now the cost for the parts......
Roof $350
Rear cab $150, Bead Blasting $50
Tailgate $70
Rubbers, Runners and misc parts $400-600
Paint............. i can do my own so it cost about $300 if you paid someone else about $1000-$1500
Labour...... roughly 250 hours....... @$50 per hour $12,500
So if you pay someone else to do the conversion for you it could cost as much as $15k...........
if anyone wants me to convert there County or Defender into a ute and to make it nice i will do it for $5k.
If i was to sell grommet today i would ask over $12k, if i got it that would be another case......
The people i bought parts from were very helpfull and i only had one PITA, that person i wont mention. But i highly recommend British Off Road for parts in QLD and Fred Smith in Vic.
There you go, you can convert your Fender into a Ute in 6 weeks.
Clarkie
Hi clarkie it has turned out a great job. Grommet must be pleased. Do you mind if I ask where you bought the roof and rear panel you have the prices but not where from. I was thinking of doing the same to my 110 . Thanks and once again it is great job
Cheers
Jamey
Yep, its all in the above post....
I sourced a 2nd hand Defender 110 Single cab roof from "British Off Road" in QLD. Ph 07 54451094
Rear Truck cab is from a Series LR, i sourced it from "Fred Smith Automotive" in Bayswater, Vic
The Series cab is stronger than the Defender one, but you loose some backwards movement in the cab. Next time i would go a Defender rear cab.
Regards
Steve
Hey Steve,
Noticed in later photos you are now running simexs?
What size? any modes required? Any rubbing?
I think the Hardtops came with firmer springs as standard.
Definately like the ute conversion.. but not this year :-)
Damn tempting though.
Thanks
Dave
Hey Clarkie,
What are the specs on the D130 springs?
Also whats your bump stop distance with the D130 spings / bar / winch?
THX
LRH