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jvmin
12-03-2003, 10:53 PM
I am looking into doing a top chop (convertible hardtop) has anyone done this I like the look and the visibility it gives you and the open air.

but I want to do mine a little differently I want to do a cab to bed pass through first with a shell. then fab the cut peice back in as a sealed insert. once this is done then I want to cut the top off of it so it will be replacable. so in the winter I can run it with the shell on and the cab on. or the cab only and in the summer I can do a full bakini top and a runner rear roll bar.

has anyone done anything like this before. I already have the original bench seat cut down and rewelded and the upholstery work done to it to fit between the rear fender wells. I am also making a drop in box to cut the front of the bed out and fit in a rear floor that too will go back in place as a drop in panel to make it back into a truck. the roll bar is already made to fit under a shell by cutting it down and rewelding it but I made collars and slip tubes to mount it back at original height if I want.kind of like a rollbar lift block or spacer.

and I am going to a incab cage

any ideas would be appreciated and and any pros and cons are welcome.

I wheel
and carry my dirt bike in it
my truck loves the mud
load up the munchkins and go wheeling
I pull the boat to the river in it
I do a lot of hauling in it as well (people and equipment)
it isn't a show truck or anything it is a daily driver

It is an 84 standard cab sr5 in the bed spare carrier that is removable and hooks on the rear bumper as a swing away
has a elocker in the rear and a lockright up front 33's 3" suspension 2.5"body lift. buick 4.1 v6 conversion r150f transmission (soon to be a r151f with a crawler) it has a
drivetrain lift. a custom Me built in the bed tool box that's low profile for the dirtbike to go up on and to carry the spare parts like axles and hubs and such. and a bunch of other mods as well

custom primer white paint :)

I may go with half doors as well with the quick release

I just want a really versitle truck
and can do what I am talking about with some labor
I am a welder fabricator

I was just wondering if any one has done a chopped top and what kits they used and or if any one has done a pass through with a campershell and what kind of kit was it

I will do a write up on all this as I go if anyone is interested

Camotoy
12-04-2003, 05:30 PM
WAAAAAAAAAY to much information there buddy...
It has been done, there is a kit.

http://www.truckn-store.com/product.asp?returnURL=default.asp&ID=25520

oregon85wheeler
12-04-2003, 06:32 PM
buy a 4runner and a trailer for the dirt bikes. That would be much less work. Swap all your cool stuff into the runner and sell your truck.

mikey
12-05-2003, 09:41 PM
check out the pirate board i have seen a very detailed article there on the same thing you want to do it an old tech section article off the main page

Skychrome
12-07-2003, 10:08 AM
I have an 85 x-cab hartop removable..... AIM's kits SUCK. expencive and cheep at the same time. I just got some 14guage and made a templateof the rear section of the cut line horizontal. Sounds like you want to do a second gen trailrunner. First gen did what you describe stock. I'd just cut and weld as you go. Other than the bed and cab floor being different heights no reall problems. I just used some L channel and drilled a hole and threaded rod to pull it together after summer. Door channel is the sealent, along with some sylicone for added waterproffing.

Bones
12-08-2003, 06:33 AM
I agree with Skye. I traded for one and never installed it and traded it for some wheels I can't seem to sell :p

It's plastic and IMO just plain stupid.

Skychrome
12-08-2003, 04:40 PM
I'll have to send ya a few finish pics bones... I think I have it figured out. Now to master my line feed on 14guage... :D

Bones
12-08-2003, 04:44 PM
14 ga. is simple. How thick is Toyota metal? 18 or more. Damn that stuff is thin. I set my Hobart 175 at 1 and 10-20 and that seems to work well. I use 0.30 wire over 0.24 as well. The latter is just to small IMO.

Chop Top
12-09-2003, 03:19 PM
I've got the top choped on my Toy. I'm looking to put a hard top back on because I wanna tow snowmobiles with it. A top that is removeable would be great.

Skychrome, does your top come completly off? Post some pics or a link. Mine is really more of a targa style with half doors.

Skychrome
12-09-2003, 04:29 PM
yea Mine is an x-cab. I just followed the lines for the aim top. But the rear didn't match as I planned. I just got some sheet and did it. Way easy, and well worth it. But I also have a modified rockstomper cage too....

Skychrome
12-09-2003, 04:31 PM
used the door sealer shown dangling above to help with single sheet sealing... Here are a few pics...
Rear driver corner. the roof matches

Skychrome
12-09-2003, 04:32 PM
window pillar

Skychrome
12-09-2003, 04:33 PM
basic over veiw...

jvmin
12-11-2003, 06:38 PM
thanks for the info guys and the pics sky

If anybody else has done this thenpost some pics or send me some pics at toyparts@jvmin.org

Oh and by the way I know it has been done before that's why I want to do it. I saw it and really liked it.

who has the best deal on an in the cab cage?

and does anybody know of any other manufacturer of the topless kit I will probably make my own since I am going to modify it anyway for the pass through

just want to check out all avenues

thanks for all the help