Commando interior re-do and cage install

uglyjeepoffroad

uglyjeepoffroad

Registered Loser
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Hickory, NC
I picked up my new cage a last week from Mr. Trailforge himself, Caver.
I also picked up a "new" set of seats from an '02 Celica GT.
Started by mocking up the new cage with ratchet straps.
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Then pulled everything apart, pulled the seats, carpet, and seat belts.
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My helper.:driver:
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Here is the finished, stripped interior.
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I have 2 Herculiner sets to do the interior with. I am going to re-mock the cage and pull it out have it welded (better than I can do). I am going to have the front half done and I will weld in the rear legs. I can't get the whole cage out when it is together.
The seats and harnesses will be mounted to the cage when done. Should be pretty stout. I will update as I go.
Special thanks to Josh (guffey24) for the assistance with the [trick my truck voice]"tear down"[/trick my truck voice].
 

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Looks good. I can't wait to see what it is gonna look like when done.
 
Looking good there Ugly, glad to see you finally getting a cage. Too bad the one that you WON didn't come through!
RQ
 
R Q said:
Looking good there Ugly, glad to see you finally getting a cage. Too bad the one that you WON didn't come through!
RQ
Click to expand...
Really, this one is better anyway.

I am going to do some fine tuning to some of the joints and get it tacked together.

RQ, I need to get your old bar back to you sometime. Thanks again.
 
That cage looks familiar. Is that the cage that was in Mossy? If so, what are you doing now Caver?

Also, you should have put the little short tubes directly behind the main ones (in the center), it would be stronger that way, but unless you take a head-on hit with the cage it probably won't matter.

Seat mounts look good, as well as the rest of the setup.
 
It is a TrailForge cage made by Caver. The one you helped build is still safe in Caver's garage. It won't get hurt there.:flipoff2:
 
uglyjeepoffroad said:
It is a TrailForge cage made by Caver. The one you helped build is still safe in Caver's garage. It won't get hurt there.:flipoff2:
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Good one. I am sure Caver will appreciate that one :)

Since when did he start making cages? Or is Trailforge a company and he just welded it together? Either way it looks good.
 
Yeah, Caver's going broke trying to sell to the cheapass Jeepster and Commando crowd!
Actually they/we aren't really cheap, we have never had an aftermarket so we're used to making most everything custom.
His efforts are really applauded though :Rockon:
 
Made a little more progress, between the 3 year old and building a float for the Christmas parade for the wife...:rolleyes:
I have welded up a crack I found in the floor where the seats used to mount. Also welded up the assorted holes that have made their way into the floor in the last 34 years.:D
I remocked the front half of the cage up. It is essentially ready to tack together. I am going to pull it and have it fully welded at the local race shop.

Next step is to clean up a few joints, and tack it together. Then, while it is being welded, I will finish cleaning, bracing, and herculining the interior.
 

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Here are the gussets I picked up. I wanted plain, but these were the right price and weren't too awfully :gay: . They will be spread liberally through the cage.
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And a few more cheesy shots.
You can see the "new" seats in the pics. They will be mounted on angle running from door bar to door bar.
 

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Had a "day off/ Son's sick day" a few days ago. Made some good progress.
I started by mocking up the main hoop and floor spreader.
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Then I ran the front legs off of the main.
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Got the dash bar in.
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Set up the overhead bars and front spreader.
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Front seat mount in. Hole in center is for the factory bench seat mounting hole. I ran out of wire when I went to weld in the rear mount. I will put it in when the cage comes back from the welder.
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Door bars and seat mount
1549974-Cage028.jpg
 
Removed the cage from the jeep, getting ready to take to the welding shop. (Heavy by yourself...:confused: )
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Front shot
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And a little patch work to shore up the mounting points in the 34 year old tub.:flipoff2:
1549978-Cage031.jpg

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When I get some more free time, I am going to finish up welding the patches in, herculine the entire interior, finish the seat mounts,a nd pick the cage up from the welder.
Still have to mock and tack the rear section and take it out to the welder to have him finish it.
It will be done someday though...
 
uglyjeepoffroad said:
Removed the cage from the jeep, getting ready to take to the welding shop. (Heavy by yourself...:confused: )
1549975-Cage029.jpg

Front shot
1549977-Cage030.jpg

And a little patch work to shore up the mounting points in the 34 year old tub.:flipoff2:
1549978-Cage031.jpg

1549979-Cage032.jpg

When I get some more free time, I am going to finish up welding the patches in, herculine the entire interior, finish the seat mounts,a nd pick the cage up from the welder.
Still have to mock and tack the rear section and take it out to the welder to have him finish it.
It will be done someday though...
Click to expand...

Hey were'd get the sheet metal? What thickness?? Price where i could get some etc??
 
16 guage
Picked it up from Tractor Supply.
I usually pick some up from the local metal salvage, but he didn't have any this time when I went in.
I think I paid around $20 for 2 18"x 36" peices and one 12"x24".
 
Finally wrestled the camera away from the wife for a few minutes to take some pics for an update.
When last we left our hero...
The cage was finish welded by a friend's shop. I had finished welding in the patches and herculined the interior.
I don't have any in process pics this time. Like I said, the wife took off out of town with the camera.
Here is the finished interior. (cage is not finished to rear of Jeep yet)
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Here is how the front seat mounts turned out.
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Here is the front center mount I mentioned in the earlier posts.
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The front leg and door bar mounts...
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The dash bar, with tach mount.
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Here is how the seats, seat belts and cage went together.
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And a shot of the "frenched" seat belt retractors. They extend into the cavity almost halfway. Made more room for the seat to slide without hitting them.
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Plans are to tack in the back half and run it back out for welding and install the harnesses. I am very happy with how it turned out so far.
 
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