Engine swap vs. body swap

earl · 12-22-06, 07:50 PM

Just wondering what would be better... I'm looking at a potential 82 FJ60 with a pretty solid body. I've read that the 82's are an odd-ball year... Would this body slap right on my 84 frame/body mounts without any problems, or would it be easier to just put my engine and 5 speed into the 82 and live with any oddball quirks (?) that come with the 82 year?

calfj60 · 12-22-06, 08:16 PM

I would lean towards the drivetrain swap...I am gonna do a body swap someday and it looks liek a HUGE project...

lowtideride · 12-22-06, 09:31 PM

Ive done one and am going to do another in a month or so...Nothin too hard about it....just a lot of work. To tell ya the truth im not really looking forward to it.

cruiser_guy · 12-22-06, 11:36 PM

Pick the best frame and use that. Let that be the deciding factor. No point putting a good body on a rusty frame. I don't know of any '82 quirks. I swapped the frame on my truck a year ago and it was all a bolt up. I do not know the year of frame that I used.

Mark W · 12-23-06, 12:00 AM

Nothing oddball about an '82 FJ60.

Mark...

moto60 · 12-23-06, 05:29 AM

I'm about to do a body swap. I was curios once the body is free of the frame how did you go about lifting the body off?

cruiser_guy · 12-23-06, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moto60

I'm about to do a body swap. I was curios once the body is free of the frame how did you go about lifting the body off?

If you're a risk taker, like this!! http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/76509-rusty-frame-fix-your-60-series.html

This is the thread on my frame swap.

earl · 12-23-06, 08:23 AM

Thanks everyone! I'll keep you posted. I'm going to take it for a test drive today and get a closer look. It's actually a US truck originally. It's got something like 380000 km or 237000 miles on it though. OME lift, rear locker.

moto60 · 12-23-06, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

If you're a risk taker, like this!! http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=76509

This is the thread on my frame swap.

WOW! Good ole man power and ingenuity. Unfortunatly I don't seem to have the luck to pull that off . Murphy's law says my body would take a tumble.

kevinmrowland · 12-23-06, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moto60

I'm about to do a body swap. I was curios once the body is free of the frame how did you go about lifting the body off?

Just use your imagination, all depends on what you have available.
Forklift, hoist, crane, block and tackle, saw horses and house jacks, the big tree in your yard...............
They all work one way or another. The 6X bodies are very strong, you can lift from just about any combination of places, the whole thing can be rolled on its side and even on its roof if you are careful.
It is really quite fun, if you consider pulling an engine approachable then there is no reason why pulling a body should be any more daunting. There really is not that much attached to the body.
I can pull one (cleanly, not junk yard style) in a good days worth of work.
And you can get at everything so easy with the body out of the way.
It is the only way to run a new exhaust, you can work and weld standing up!!!!!

lowtideride · 12-23-06, 04:17 PM

If it makes ya feel better I did it with nothing more than a high lift, some 8x8 treated timber, and a floor jack....took myself about a week to do it with no outside help.