ute chops, what hve people used for backs of shell?

Post by **Red_Zook** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:08 pm

as name surgests, what have people used in the back of the shell when choped in to a ute???
and the people who have left it mainly open, what have u guys used to keep the rain/people etc out, as in window<?>

Post by **christover1** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:22 pm

bit of a broken fibreglass hardtop filled in with marine ply, braced with heavy wall alloy bits,

Post by **Red_Zook** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:36 pm

ok i had never thought of fiberrglass.
was thinking about the 12inch or so high bottom and leveing the top open, but if i just put a bit of 1.6mm plate in there, it will flex, and the top of it will look dogey!

Post by **christover1** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:40 pm

Red_Zook wrote:ok i had never thought of fiberrglass.
was thinking about the 12inch or so high bottom and leveing the top open, but if i just put a bit of 1.6mm plate in there, it will flex, and the top of it will look dogey!

Ah thawt ya meant the top bit.
To fill in behind the seats I've used an alloy frame, made from angle bolted thru floor and sides, supported by bracing back at 45* and some more marine ply.
Steel angle would be good, but I had the alloy kickin round

Post by **Red_Zook** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:46 pm

ok worth thinking about. i was thinking about 2 layers of 1.6 plate, with some 25x25x1.6 rhs along the top and down the middle, with top fully welded and grinded (so it has a nice smooth look and looks like one pannel) and another one down in the center to keep the 2 pannels appart and stop it flexing? and it all welded in to look factory
did that make sence?

Post by **Red_Zook** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:47 pm

ok worth thinking about. i was thinking about 2 layers of 1.6 plate, with some 25x25x1.6 rhs along the top and down the middle, with top fully welded and grinded (so it has a nice smooth look and looks like one pannel) and another one down in the center to keep the 2 pannels appart and stop it flexing? and it all welded in to look factory
did that make sence?

Post by **christover1** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:56 pm

That sounds brilliant, almost a built in roll cage

I'd go with that.

Post by **Red_Zook** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:10 pm

christover1 wrote:That sounds brilliant, almost a built in roll cage
I'd go with that.

i dont think that 1.6mm rhs will count as a cage!
well not in comparison to the 2inch tube exo it is going to be getting!!
bloody hell at this rate i wil have ALL the bits b4 i get the zook to cut up!
although i think i have found one!

$500 and all!!!!

Post by **christover1** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:24 pm

Sounds a good plan.
But make sure you keep it as light as possible, or you may lose the Zooks best feature.

Post by **Klappers** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 9:25 am

that is exactly what i will be doing

Post by **Captain Carnage** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 8:14 am

Red_Zook wrote:ok i had never thought of fiberrglass.
was thinking about the 12inch or so high bottom and leveing the top open, but if i just put a bit of 1.6mm plate in there, it will flex, and the top of it will look dogey!

Thats how I just did my brothers (swamp donkey), Made a frame out of 25x50x2.1mm rhs & sheeted it with 1.6mm. turned out too well, will almost a ricer once it is finnished & gets a coat of paint, we have the checka in now, just gotta get him back to make the cage.

Post by **small talk** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:47 am

Ive have seen it done another way on Rhett's and done it myself, you get 3mm sheet cut to size and get an engineering place to fold it top and botom to suit and you weld that over the back where tha tub was chopped off. i just made it upto the level of where the tub side where on the softop.

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ute chops, what hve people used for backs of shell?

ute chops, what hve people used for backs of shell?

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