Project true scale - Aluminum Toyota body!

[pantablo]

Simply awe inspiring.

[Heinakin]

The amount of time and skill you have put into this build is unreal. Way to go above and beyond.

[pigeonfarmboy]

I trust you're keeping all those molds in good shape for when you pull all my parts? haha The anticipation must be killer to get this thing completed.

[Metal Masher]

Originally Posted by jms222

dang!!! your doing a great job!! how do you get the aluminum to form around your molds?

Check it out here Aluminum panel forming how-to

Originally Posted by B-Dawg

Truely amazing!!! I have grown up in the autobody industry (33 years and 3rd gen. bodyshop owner) and your attention to detail is great I'm blown away by attention to detail of the radiator support. Are you going to make front firewall with aprons? Man I'm sure you keep your molds and I wish I could get my hands on one finished ones.

I'm planning on making every panel just like the real truck eventually. and yes i am keeping all the molds for future bodies

Originally Posted by 93 FORD BRONCO

how do u get it to stick do u weld or glue it ?

Shoo goo or goop. works really great.

Originally Posted by pigeonfarmboy

I trust you're keeping all those molds in good shape for when you pull all my parts? haha The anticipation must be killer to get this thing completed.

See above

I got a bit more done. started in the cab sides. I made another mold from bondo of just the corners.



Then I carved out the shapes of the door jams and the back details




then of course a test panel to see how it all worked out




It needs a little tweaking but not to bad so far.

More to come

[Metal Masher]

I got a little progress on something other than the body.

I've had this idea for a long time and finally got the parts made to finish it. I wanted to use the Bruiser/Mountaineer axles but i also wanted to narrow them and add strength. sifting through my parts bin i grabbed a set of AX10 knuckles and started thinking. I did some drawings, had some axle C's made up by Chevellian and after BigSki came over and helped put some threaded inserts in, this is the result:



Here is a close-up of the axle C. Rob did an amazing job on the machining!



It came out real nice and not only are they super narrow at just under 6 3/4" knuckle to knuckle but they have more steering then stock.



Here is is compared to a stock axle.



and compared to a narrowed axle BigSki had on his scaler




I may need to do some fine tuning with the stub shaft cups to help clear at full lock but otherwise i think they will work great.

Thanks guys for you're help!

[Jester666]

wow, killer job on the axles. Looking forward to watching everything come together

[CUSTOMHILUX]

*UPDATES* ?

[rccrawler77]

thats going to look so sweet

[leeizcool]

I don't think tallent is really the applicable word here !!!

This build is way way past that fella

[Nova's Ark]

That is a great mod to the Bruiser/Mountaineer axles. This build is going to be amazing once it's completed. Keep up the great work.

[akaphilly]

great thread. lovin the metal work

[mar618]

awesome work

[Metal Masher]

Thanks again guys for the kind words!

Got a little more done.

The rear axle is not done yet as i am waiting for a 3MM die but i did start on the bed mounting brackets.

In trying to keep this as authentic as possible i made some brackets as close to the real thing as i could by making a template and cutting them out of thin steel



then forming them into shape




then i placed them in position to fine tune the fit



The rear bracket was done in the same procedure



Because the metal was so thin i couldn't weld them so they were braised in place. I still need more practice braising.




then i did a quick mock-up of the panels i have done to get a feel for the cab.



when i did this i realized I miscalculated when bending the frame and the floor interferes with the frame at the base of the firewall.



I'm haven't decided what to do yet. I don't want to make another chassis and i don't want to modify the mold either. This body is really just a test so i might just fudge it to make it work and build another frame later.

oh and one last shot. This will be close to ride height i hope. a little taller will be ok but not too much.



Night!

[Jester666]

unfreaking believeable. The box mounts are killer, well so is the whole build. I can't wait to see whats next.

[The Real Dogman]

I just took a glance at this pic and it just jumped out at me. Doesn't this pic look more like a diarama of a cool garage with a couple 1/4 Scale Racers on the shelfs in the back and a several recycling/storage bins stacked up behind the badass Hilux restoration project.

have a look...
or is it just late and insomnia is kicking my A$$?

[metallocide]

The craftsmanship on the bed and the cab is downright amazing! I cant wait to see the finished product of your handiwork.

[microgoat]

How about a body lift, until you make another frame? I know it's not the look you're going for but it'll be easier.

[Scale for Life]

You really are Good dude....I just threw all my trucks in the trash....Carry on..

[VanDongen]

Frigging great job!!

[kingarrthuu]

I know everyone that has seen this build says it but WOW great job, cant wait for the next update.