blackfoots makeover!

so, i decided to obliterate my truck in an attempt at making something better. so far so good, im happy to say.

this is blackfoot(what i named my truck (no its not corny).
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and this one too

so ive seen people chop the rear end off their rigs to make a pick-up style rear end. i really liked the idea, and decided to go forward with it on my own. i have no fabrication experience at all, im majoring in welding in an attempt to learn fabrication, but i guess i would learn best by doing it. so, after much contemplation, i decided to do this to my explorer.
i had somewhat of a different idea though, versus what others had done. il explain with pics...

i started obviously by removing the interior...i didnt know where i should relocate the electronics so i left them there...



i didnt take a pic of my masking tape markings, but heres what it looks like after i sawzalled it all to hell...keep in mind, the whole time im running this sawzall im having doubts in myself and second thoughts, im thinkin im destroying my car...anybody else get that notion when they fab?

only had a 6 inch blade...so i kinda messed this corner up.

heres my bedsides, just sheet metal i picked up...made a crude cut and grinded it down.

heres what i got so far.


so where i went different was when every other chop i saw, the window was taken out and then it was cut. i had this idea about using the part i chopped off as a camper shell...kinda like a bronco top. so i left the window intact and cut around it. il be working on it again as soon as i can, so il have more pics up. my plan is to weld plates to the cut edge of the top and drill holes n bolt it down,...but my whole idea was to be interchangable...so the bolts are gonna be welded to the bed sides im thinking...and im gonna fab utility boxes for the sides...to hold my equipment. im also going to cage it and have angled bars coming down...giving it the shape kind of like a hummer i guess. on the angle im going to put my spare tire. what ya guys think? did i just mess it up completely or what?

needs alot of work..but so far good

definitely, im not even half way done. its real rough right now, i stil have a lot of grinding and smoothing out to do. im gonna use bondo also to bring it down real nice. id like to get it painted with the same paint so its flush...

Looks like it's going to be awesome when done!

And way to go just diving in like that.

I'll be following this transformation, especially how you work out the top.

I have a project BII that is just itching to have the top cut off.

Mind if I steal some ideas?

ofcourse not! what sucks is when i tryed explaining this idea to my friends how i wanted to cut the top off and be able to fold the back seats down for a truck bed they say 'oh, like an avalanche?'...no, asshole. not like an avalanche...like a bronco. a bronco top. damn chevy ppl...

ever think of using some type of tarp like the can-bak tops? that would be sweet but u better be a good stitch bitch! lol!

love the top bro. got any more flex pics with my lift?

Bump

looks good

1992 ford explorer sporttrack! haha

isnt that going to be hella cold driving?

I wanted to do this with my 2-door. But put the rear hatch up against the rear seats and make a ranger tailgate from a 93^ fit the rear.

a small update

a sas came on me pretty quick, so here is a few pictures of what i have so far.

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its a d44 ford 9 set up im in the middle of...if anybody was considering this setup for their ex or ranger, id be more than happy to give a full write up on my journey through this project. like i may have said before, i have no experience fabricating or anything. so this was quite an educational experience. rather than writing a freaking autobiography on my steps taken, let me know what ya think!

it isnt done yet, when it is im gonna do a full photo op on it....count on that. every little part ive made to make this happen il show ya guys. all i gotta say is wow. this was quite a project...considering i have no idea what i was doing. throw some support guys!

Looks like your axle swap has the hard part done. I really want to see the topper for this get done. That will be cool. I would advise against having bolts stick out of the top of the bedsides though. That would be a serious wound waiting to happen. But your truck looks good and you use it!!

Just Wondering but....
Y don't you just morph a ranger cab onto the back?