Topless Trucks

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 09:43:37 -0500
From: "Lance Morin" 
Subject: RE:Topless Truck

>How do you like the truck topless? What did the previous owner do (hack
>roof off then fiberglass)? What do you wish he had done instead to 
>improve the look of the cuts?

I like the truck topless, but I'm in the Dallas, Texas area. It does get
cold and I'll probably put the top back on in the winter. (or the wife will
make me...)

The previous owner just hacke the roof off and threw a bikini top over it
like a Jeep. It's got an in the bed stainless roll bar, so the soft top ties
down over that for support.

I do wish he had improved the look of the cuts, but that's not a big deal.
The method he used to re-attached the top is very crude! It uses little
nylon tie wraps attached to some very small metal hold downs. The hold downs
are just screwed into the remaining sheet metal. I know why he did this and
it wasn't for safety. He NEVER used the truck with the top on it and it was
only stored with the top for protection since he keep it outdoors.

The passenger body area behind the door is weakened a bit from a few side
rolls on the rocks, but otherwise fairly safe. It's got single point racing
style seat belts that do a nice job. I will add 3-point belts once the cage
is place. I've taken off one door to see how I liked the doorless truck look
and I don't! It just looks too trashy or homemade to me. If I had custom
soft doors, that might be different. The wife and I will run the truck
without the top and with the doors installed until it gets too cold for her.
At that time, I'll bolt in some stronger hold downs and strap the top on
with ratchet style nylon straps front and rear. The cage I'm going to put in
will only be in the cab area and allow for the top to be put back in for the
colder winter wheeling we do in the Southeastern Oklahoma mountains (and
hopefully New Mexico next February).

Otherwise I LOVE having a topless truck, it's something different and gives
me another project to work on. This truck is built to play on the big rocks
and does have several minor items to address, but it's well worth the $1750
I gave for it. I'm about finished installing the LockRight up front and the
welded spider gears in the rear give very nice 50/50 traction all the time.
It does have the 18R-G Celica engine with Hemi-style head and dual carbs
that cranks out some good low end power when needed. At the same time, this
swap has left the wiring less than desired. Now I have a project that ready
to roll, but still leaves me plenty to do. What else can a true 4 wheelin'
or OHV enthusiast ask for?

Look for updates on my web site at http://www.cyberramp.net/~siralf  (much
info. not yet posted, but is in the works)

Lance Morin (FWD-FWD)
'98 Black Tacoma
'81 Beige Short Bed
'97 White 4Runner (wife's daily driver and only 2 wheel drive, but still
nice)


============================================================================
Toyota 4x4 page: http://www.off-road.com/4x4web/toyota

------------------------------