The lower part of the bib is usually very rusty. This part must be quite solid since it carries a lot of the weight of the hood. In the middle of the bib is a hinge that transfers the weight to the frame.
The lower part is also quite complicated to make since it consists of many curved parts.
So without advanced plate forming tools, new parts must be made into smaller parts and then welded together.
To get the bottom of the bib solid enough, I chose to make this from a 50 mm square tube with 2 mm wall thickness, and then cut out a profile of this. From the outside, this looks just fine.
When I cut out the rusty parts, I tried to leave as much as possible, especially in the rounded corners. These will be especially difficult to make.
After welding the bottom profile, I made the smaller parts. Two of them had only one bend that can be made in a switch, or in a vice since they are so short. See also Sheet metal work, and Welding sheet metal. The middle part was more complicated since it had two bends close together, something you cant do in a switch or vice.
Instead, you can make the part of two pieces that are welded together. But since I have a hydraulic press, I made a simple dice that shaped the part.
For painting and rust protection see: Painting and rust protection
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