Anyone else here gut the engine bay of most sheet metal?

Came across this video here of a PreRunner cage build: https://youtu.be/F2-pbRgFVpo?t=1502

Any tips? I'm not going to be putting in tubes, but I guess as long as anything that currently sits on fender sheet metal, as long as it's secured to another stable point, should be okay.

How would I go about getting rid of the very front end sheet metal? The radiator is attached to it. At what point will it start loosing strength?

 

Sheet metal is one of the most efficient ways to build a metal structure, start cutting it up and you lose integrity fast and probably in ways you didn’t expect.

 

If you need to ask you shouldn't do it.

 

40s n tons

You're finally headed in the right direction

 

Why and for what reason?

 

I have hole(s) everywhere. Tire well to engine bay, the cab, and my bed.... maybe I can patch em up.

 

Then you shouldn't hack out sheet metal.

The tubes are used for increasing strength and that allows sheet metal removal.

If you just remove sheet metal, what's left will eventually flop like a limp dishrag.

 

weight reduction

 

10 seconds truck?

 

Sorry but...

Weight reduction for what? Building a drag truck or for auto cross?

I hope you don't say for mpg.

 

The whole bed weighs 200 lbs. I doubt you'd save more than 50 cutting up the front end, and probably create headaches in the process.

 

fuel is getting expensive.

 

Front is sort of a hybrid unibody construction..
The inner fenders - out fenders - and front end all bolt together to form a sort of box construction...
You can get rid of all that.....if you build steel tube frame around all that in its place....
should be able to do it for $2k or $3k ........wont save no gas.....but if threaten by a deer....your ready....


You'll find a lot of these with front end crashes rebuilt.....
the trucks with moderate rear end hits.....usally get totaled....

 

Lol. Move. That's cheaper

 

Gutting & cutting off a bunch of stuff ain't gonna make your fuel expense much cheaper. Fuel is just gonna keep getting more expensive. Gotta pay to play.

Don't wanna pay for fuel, buy a hybrid, Tesla, or some other electric car.

 

If you want MPG's get a Prius or other hybrid vehicle, there's very little MPG to be gained by shedding a few pounds of sheet metal at the expense of the loss structural integrity not to mention hacking up a perfectly good truck.

 

My bro's prius is getting 67 mpg between work/home.....

 

time to look up a prius engine to tacoma body swap