Here are the moutning plates. So far just 1/8" sheet cut down and 1/2" holes with the spacing listed above.


The mounting arms are made out of the same material. There will be 2 at each corner so they should support enough weight.


A shot of how wide the rack is compared to the roof.



A final of just how much this covers.


Because there is slope to the roof it comes very close to resting on the roof in the center. The gap between the rack and the center rib is probably somewhere between 1/16" and 1/8". It's coming out to be much shorter than I had expected but that's what I get for trying to make something level.

 

Started tacking it all together. Should be done tacking it up and welding tomorrow. A few coats of bedliner shoul finish it off. I never got the set of inserts replaced though. It's heavy enough to get by I'm sure.

 

looking good!

 

I sure hope so. I'm starting to think 3/4" round tubing would have looked nicer. If I can get the splatter cleaned off tomorrow I'll be doing good. Finished pics soon. I'm rebuilding the power steering pump and gearbox at the same time so things are going slow on both projects.

 

Well, it's all together and I started on the primer last night. I'll be finishing up the bottom side and it's ready for a couple coats of bedliner.
The inserts in the roof are actually M6 thread. But it's snug and the inserts actually turn a small amount so this could end up not so good in the future. Some day I'll just pull the headliner out and use a backing plate on the bottom side of the roof. But it will work fine for now. Finished/installed pics should be up next week.

 

My only worry at this point are some of the welds. I have a problem with not making a few practice beads so a few of them looked like they might have low penetration for the legs(welded out in the driveway on a windy day).

Well, I gave the Iron Armor Bedliner from Harbor Freight a try on this. Went on pretty well and the cans seem to have good coverage for the price. After I get it mounted I'll have to keep updating on how the stuff stands up to the environment. This was all done in the front yard so it's not a quality job at all. I cleaned with Acetone and let that dry before spraying the Self Etching Primer. Sprayed the primer and let that dry overnight.
Followed that with ~3 coats of the Bedliner all around. I was fairly impressed with it so far and am thinking of doing the frame and possibly rockers with it. Assuming it holds up well on the rack for a few months. It should see less exposure/abuse on the frame/rockers.
This may become my new go-to as far as painting steering/suspension parts.

 

All installed and before I could snap any pictures I found I cannot open the rear glass all the way and the stupid brake light hits the rack. Which is funny because I never actually opened the glass the whole time I was taking measurements because I didn't think it would interfere.
Well, needless to say there will be some modifications going on now. I'll get some pics and at least be able to use it for it's purpose for a while. At least I can test out the Harbor Freight bed liner a while and see what sort of abuse it can stand as far as dragging steel/wood across it and sitting out in direct sunlight.
I also have a reciever hitch that needs repainting and it would probably look good in black as well. The $1.99 spraypaint I used didn't even make it a year.

Pics to come soon.

 

I'll update and say I have yet to get the rack fixed so I can open the rear glass. It got bumped down the priority list a few notches.
The Harbor Freight bedliner does good with soft use like wood but does not hold up to rough abuse(dragging Re-bar across it). I'm no paint/body guy so I don't have the best luck with adhesion. I think a nice Epoxy-Primer would be a good thing first but that stuff would really increase the project price.
Still need to get some pics but at least I have my thoughts on the HF bedliner.