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rangie ute
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:55 pm
by yella_rangie
i have 2 rangies one a four door and the other a 2 door. wat one is better for converting to a ute? i want to build a flat bed mind so i want to do away with the rear floor. also if anyone has built one of these i would love to see some build pics. plus i really need to know how ppl have gone with gettin these machines licensed after they have been chopped. oh and i want to bobtail it!
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:29 pm
by Loanrangie
If you are going to fit a short tray then it doesnt really matter which you use.
if you were keeping the body as the tray i would go with the 2dr.
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:44 pm
by BIg StEvE
Loanrangie wrote:If you are going to fit a short tray then it doesnt really matter which you use.
if you were keeping the body as the tray i would go with the 2dr.
Have u got recent pics of your's loan? Hows it goin?
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:29 pm
by Loanrangie
BIg StEvE wrote:Loanrangie wrote:If you are going to fit a short tray then it doesnt really matter which you use.
if you were keeping the body as the tray i would go with the 2dr.
Have u got recent pics of your's loan? Hows it goin?
Its on hold while i complete the lpg install on my 85' rangie which will be finished this weekend, then its on to finish the ute. Its 95 % finished, just some paint for the new metal is needed.
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:29 am
by yella_rangie
any tips on how to do the rear of the cab? i was thinkin about using the original rear window and making up the base out of sheet metal. do i need reinforcing behind the seats for this to stop flexing?
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:38 pm
by DaveS3
Yeh for sure.
Make a rear wall out of box section to help with strength then go on with your panneling.
Dave
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:57 pm
by yella_rangie
ok no worries..thanx for that. im gonna start cuttin this weekend. just gotta get the nuts to take a grinder to my car!
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:09 pm
by DaveS3
Just measure repeatedly and draw / mark out where you are going to cut.
Dont try to make a perfect cut first time, give it and inch or so then neaten and fix it up.
Once its all planned and measured, the cutting is really quick.
This is tha same method we used to cut a Nissan SWB into a ute, and worked well.
Good luck,
Dave
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:06 pm
by yella_rangie
ok. i want it to be done right so i can have a shot at gettin it licensed as a ute. i was lookin at the chassis in regards to making a tray. do i need to fab up some new body mounts? it looks like i do. im hoping i can grind the old rear ones off and re-attach them a bit further down...not to sure about this now. im going to go a xtra cab style leavin about 6 inches of body after the doors.(if you know what i mean) so my tray will be short anyways. this just means i can keep the fuel tank and tow bar...
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:35 pm
by The Fish
Hey Yella, I looked into this a while a go. Check out the link below for the responses I got back then, it may help with your decisions
Good luck with the conversion and keep us informed with photos
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... rangie+ute
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:47 pm
by Loanrangie
yella_rangie wrote:any tips on how to do the rear of the cab? i was thinkin about using the original rear window and making up the base out of sheet metal. do i need reinforcing behind the seats for this to stop flexing?
I've got heaps more photo's, if you want i can email them to you.
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:47 pm
by yella_rangie
yep send more pics. i need as much as i can get. doin the chop this sat and i want to be able to start puttin together in a few weekes!
by the way you have done a buet job on that rear window. i see you used the current frame from the rear wagon window. how did youi attach it to the car? weld or rivet or something snazzy?
tcpr@optusnet.com.au
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:40 pm
by PHAT SHAUN
GO DA 2 DOOR EASIER IF U ASK ME, AND ITS SHORTER ALREADY SO LESS MUCKIN ROUND WITH THE CHASSIS......
THATS MY OPINION NEWAYS
SHAUN
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:53 pm
by Loanrangie
yella_rangie wrote:yep send more pics. i need as much as i can get. doin the chop this sat and i want to be able to start puttin together in a few weekes!
by the way you have done a buet job on that rear window. i see you used the current frame from the rear wagon window. how did youi attach it to the car? weld or rivet or something snazzy?
tcpr@optusnet.com.au
I have just emailed some pics to you, the frame is welded in with a few rivets to hold in place why i was welding. The panel in the front of the tray is riveted and welded as well- the early rangie's were bolted and riveted together so this was good enough for me !
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:56 pm
by Philip A
You do know that in NSW and I think Queensland you pay much more rego for a ute than a two door. Its the commercial third party insurance.
In NSW they call my Vitara soft top a Ute. I talked the bird at Mt Gravatt Dept Transport into calling it a soft top when I switched it to Qld rego..
Just a heads up.
regards Philip A
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:14 pm
by driftor
Loanrangie Can you send pics to
drifting180@yahoo.com.au Im thinking of doing this to my 4 door.
cheers
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:29 pm
by Loanrangie
No worries, although mine is a 2dr so they wont be much use to you.
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:33 pm
by driftor
Im just trying to get some ideas on what to do for the back window.
cheers
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:18 pm
by SWAMPRR
can anybody share information on how they did a tray back conversion on their 2door or 4door?
whats involved....i was thinking if i took it to a boat builder or caravan builder that has tig equipment they could chop it and weld in a reinforced panel with a big window on it.
anyone got a link or info on this conversion.??
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:30 pm
by Loanrangie
SWAMPRR wrote:can anybody share information on how they did a tray back conversion on their 2door or 4door?
whats involved....i was thinking if i took it to a boat builder or caravan builder that has tig equipment they could chop it and weld in a reinforced panel with a big window on it.
anyone got a link or info on this conversion.??
The shell is steel so a mig will do or a bucket of rivets !
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:48 pm
by yella_rangie
so the panels dont have to be welded in? hrm...if i used rivets and made up an inner frame to brace everyt hing up this should work? i just dont have access to a welder without eiter buying or hiring one.....
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:12 pm
by Loanrangie
I used both, rivets to hold and locate , then welded. 2drs and 4drs up to 85 are just bolted and riveted together.
Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:42 pm
by yella_rangie
thanks loan rangie. well i have cut most of the section for the cab out. i decided to cut it a little short as i am allowing for big tyres eventually. the whole cab seems strong enoug at this point though i havent finished cuttin yet. smashed a grinder disc to bits. i need a bigger grinder. my little one just cant cut the cake...or the rangie
Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:18 pm
by Loanrangie
I never fired up my grinder , i found a sharp hacksaw much easier to use and neater with the cuts, except when it jumped of the steel i was cutting and tried to take half my thumb off !
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:44 pm
by yella_rangie
ahaha i wouldnt have used the grinder either but there are a few spots i cant get the hacksaw into. as in behind the b pillars right on the floor. not sure how im goin to cut that. only 2 spots holding the rear on now and thats the two on the floor. removed the rear window and frame just overmeasured it so i hope fully cant wreck it! rear of roof is off just the rear floor section now. then time to tidy up and measure some steel up. hoping to have it done in a few weeks but i know these things have a habit of going wrong.im very surprised at how rigid the "cab" section is. i thought it would start floppin all over the joint!
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:01 pm
by Loanrangie
Ah, so you are cutting the rear body section off behind the b pillars ?
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:02 pm
by yella_rangie
yep. already done. i am goin to fab up a rear cab thingy peice much like you have done using the rear window frame. then i am going to build a flat bed tray from some steel tubing and chequer plate.
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:46 am
by Loanrangie
In that case you will want the rear window to be vertical or follow the line of the b pillars.
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:56 am
by yella_rangie
yep thats what i was thinking. i just wanted to see pics of yours to get some ideas on the rear window. ive seen pics with some with a smaller rear window. like a patrol or hilux window and some with the original rangie rear window. i want to use the rangie window with some smaller gas struts so i can have it open in the summer!
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:53 pm
by yella_rangie
put some pics at
http://community.webshots.com/user/tcpr_024 if your interested in seein my progress so far