Needed something to take my mind off things, so I started working on an exocage for my 4Runner.



First I bent the two B pillars, but I forgot about the camera until they were already done, so let's start with the two A-pillars (below).



(Below) Here I am fitting one of the A-pillars.



(Below) The cage is 1-3/4x0.120. At the back of each A-pillar, I inserted some 1-1/2x0.095 tubing and plug welded it in three places around the tube. Later I will build the back half of the cage starting from these splices.





(Below) Cleanin' up the plug welds with a pearl pad.



(Below) Lots of welding and fitting.









[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo12.jpg[/img]

(Below) While I don't encourage it, I used a wet towel while welding to keep spatter off the windshield and body.

[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo13.jpg[/img]

(Below) My welds aren't spectacular, but they should hold fine.

[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo14.jpg[/img]

[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo15.jpg[/img]

[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo16.jpg[/img]

That's as far as I got this weekend. I should mention that while I welded as much as I could on the two cross braces, the A & B pillars are only tack welded at the bottom. When I am done doing the cross bracing, I'll break those tacks and pull the whole thing off to finish welding all the backsides.

I'll take some daytime pictures later this week. Depending on when my treatment starts, I'll pick up on this project again in two weeks.

*EDIT* Daytime pictures added

[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo17.jpg[/img]

[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo18.jpg[/img]

[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo19.jpg[/img]

[img]http://thebandit.xtremefabricator.com/exo/exo20.jpg[/img]