thinking of cutting of the back...

[brian2sun]

Here's a thought... What about cutting it all the way to the A pillar behind the front doors like the 1st gen, then you could cage it easier and soft top it. I would do that over spending thousands to have a 3 ft bed. Then it would be convertible, have just as much storage, much easier to build a cage for, and it would probably cost the same to do.

 

[JohnsD90]

Here's a thought... What about cutting it all the way to the A pillar behind the front doors like the 1st gen, then you could cage it easier and soft top it. I would do that over spending thousands to have a 3 ft bed. Then it would be convertible, have just as much storage, much easier to build a cage for, and it would probably cost the same to do.

Interesting, but the rear doors would need to be dealt with.

 

[brian2sun]

Maybe leave the rear doors intact and cut the body around them. Then have the custom soft top made to fit around them. Still probably be no harder than fabbing the rear window and closing it off. But if you run it convertible, you'll just have full rear door - or take them off with the soft top and run tube doors?? I'm thinking out loud.

 

[jsmarine]

I would have to guess a body shop would probably want like $5K+ to do a job like this professionally (not counting the exocage). Any one else have a guess?

I hope its not $5k, but you may be right. I was hoping for like $2k, but I could be way off.

Does anyone on here work at a custom body shop, hot rod shop or have any industry knowlege about what something like this would cost?

 

[piperoo]

I think if it was only $2k you would be seeing a ton of 3rd Gens with this mod. Moving the sliding window and all of that is probably a pain in the a$$

 

[Mr. Leary]

Here's a thought... What about cutting it all the way to the A pillar behind the front doors like the 1st gen, then you could cage it easier and soft top it. I would do that over spending thousands to have a 3 ft bed. Then it would be convertible, have just as much storage, much easier to build a cage for, and it would probably cost the same to do.

I like this idea a whole lot better... makes it more useful. I wouldn't worry about the rear doors too much... any skilled metal worker can take care of that and make it flow with the body... then you just have to paint it.

Check out Slee Off Road's 80 series pickup... might give you some food for thought. You can see the built at Irbis Off Road, which BTW makes a storage system and bumper for you chumps who don't want to make your own...

 

[jsmarine]

Here is sum thing fast i put together.

Thanks, I like it. I have no idea how the hell you guys do this kind of stuff! I must not have the right programs to modify pictures.

 

[Pure 98]

Here's a thought... What about cutting it all the way to the A pillar behind the front doors like the 1st gen, then you could cage it easier and soft top it. I would do that over spending thousands to have a 3 ft bed. Then it would be convertible, have just as much storage, much easier to build a cage for, and it would probably cost the same to do.

I think this would look good too.

 

[Mr. Leary]

I like the one with the Can Back setup...

 

[quicksilvr]

I hope its not $5k, but you may be right. I was hoping for like $2k, but I could be way off.

Does anyone on here work at a custom body shop, hot rod shop or have any industry knowlege about what something like this would cost?

It really depends on the quality of work you want. To be done really nicely the way you should (since you're starting with a nice truck...not some beat-up pile), it'll easily be $4000. Probably closer to $5k.

 

[brian2sun]

I think this would look good too.

Sweet PS skills Pure, that's exactly how I was thinking I would try to do it.

 

[jsmarine]

Sweet PS skills Pure

x2 on the skills, how the hell do you do that?! I would have to go back to that spot and take a picture with out the truck there and try an crop in the background! Seriously, how do you do that??

 

[FLEXincRunner]

I would have to guess a body shop would probably want like $5K+ to do a job like this professionally (not counting the exocage). Any one else have a guess?

MORE!!!! i deliver parts to body shops and most of their basic paint jobs cost around 2k. to have that much time and labor in a project, i could see it costing well over 5k. just my thoughts, could be wrong.

 

[haddix]

Here's an 80 series that cut the whole top off and added a canvas top. Pretty sweet looking.
















Also threw in a couple bobbed 80 series and 100 series .

 

[Duhockey]

Yep, that white one is exactly what I am thinking. That thing looks awesome! I am going to save those pics so I can show the body shop what I want to do.

yeah, thats CUbuffrunner on cardomain... check his page out

that thing has some serious suspension to it.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2064888

 

[haddix]

yeah, thats CUbuffrunner on cardomain... check his page out

that thing has some serious suspension to it.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2064888

There we go. I couldn't remember his username. Yeah the suspension on that thing is ridiculous. Id love to have that rig.

The pics before the chop on his cardomain page looks like a big brother to brian2sun's truck lol.

 

[brian2sun]

There we go. I couldn't remember his username. Yeah the suspension on that thing is ridiculous. Id love to have that rig.

The pics before the chop on his cardomain page looks like a big brother to brian2sun's truck lol.

haha, it totally does. Hopefully some day my "little mule" will grow up to be that siiiiiiiiick!

 

[Pure 98]

Thanks guys, the secret is that I used the clone stamping tool in photoshop. It also helps that i have a B.A. in graphic design.:banana:

 

[CoMarc]

Thanks guys, the secret is that I used the clone stamping tool in photoshop. It also helps that i have a B.A. in graphic design.:banana:

Photoshop is a pretty handy tool for sure! I use it all the time, and I figured you were using the stamp tool (Assoc degree in graphic design here).

 

[jsmarine]

Work has been really busy lately, so I hope to get out and talk to a few body shops and get a couple of quotes within the next two weeks.

By the way, I told my girlfriend what I was thinking about doing, and she looked at my like I had lost my mind. Then I showed her this thread so she could see pics of what I was talking about and then she really thought I was crazy. Actually I think she said "that is a really stupid idea and you better not spend 5 grand on your stupid 4runner"!! haha, girls just don't understand!!

In all seriousness, if it is going to be 5 grand then I wont do it. But, if I can have it done, (and I mean everything start to finish) for 2 grand then it will probably happen! We will see!