[RHClarke]

Sunday morning was hot and humid. The perfect time to complete some welding on the HUP roof. But before the welding started, the roof had to be raised somewhat. After placing a level across the back of the roof, I noted a 1/2 inch gap between the bottom of the level and the center of the roof. A jack was placed under the center inside portion of the roof and the gap in the center closed up. However, a significant gap remained on the passenger side under the level. By this time, Bob had joined me at the barn. After getting the low down on his great vacation, he provided some well appreciated advice on how to fix the gap.

The solution to the pax side gap was to relieve the support bracket on the inside of the truck. Three slots were cut into the metal using a grinder with a thin blade. The pax side roof was jacked up and the gap closed up nicely. I took the metal slightly higher with the jack so that when it settled, the gap should dissappear. The slots were then welded over and the jack released. Not surprisingly, a very small gap remained, which was deemed acceptable and good enough for gummit work, etc...

Next, the lip flanges were tack welded to the hatch opening. Then the hatch was thrown onto the roof to test for fit. And fit it did. By this time Grant had joined us at the barn. He had dug up some interesting service bulletins with regard to the gusset plate reinforcements for the rear frame rails of the late model HUP.

Lunch time caught up with us, and I headed back to the city. Normally I would have joined Bob and Grant for some growlies and to eyeball the waitresses at the newest Rotter restaurant, but I had a friend laid up in the hospital in Ottawa to visit.

The next step for the HUP is to refurbish the sliding hatch cover. It needs new rollers, a new gasket, two new support arms and some metal work for the hatch proper.

Once that is nailed down, the HUP will get a light sanding and will magically turn green by summer's end. At least that is the plan this week.

Photos:
1. Mind the gap.
2. Another view of the gap.
3. Inside support relieved.
4. Bob's version of tubular bells.
5. Hatch with cover installed.