[integrin]

I've been reading the forum for a while and decided it's time to join in the fun.

I dig my truck. I picked it up from the original Canadian owner. The engine runs like a top - a really loud, vibrating top. It hasn't had a stereo in years and I kinda like it that way. Everything is original right now, including the tired suspension. That will change soon but I don't have any major lift plans or anything extreme in mind right now. The paint is original and I love the color. We've just passed 200K on the odometer and have a long trail ahead of us.

The top of my to-do list right now on BIO Silver is to replace the frame. Those Canadian winters took their toll over time. I've got an A440 tranny right now so a 62 frame would be easiest since they all have the mounts for the auto tranny, but I'm strongly considering the almighty H55F swap while the body's off so the issue's still up in the air until the body's up in the air...

So my very first question for the group: I want to fit the truck with front and side curtain airbags. Can anyone help with this mod? just kidding.

Now my real first question: would you go through the effort of swapping a dying frame on a truck with just a little body rust (damn rear fenders), or would you just source a solid 60 body and chassis to get rid of the evil red demon altogether? The rust is minimal but we all know that story and since I plan on having this dude on and off the road for a long time, I just want to consider all the options. I wish I had the equipment to do the frame swap myself. Then it would be a no-brainer. But by the time I pay for a frame and labor on the swap, I may wish I'd thought harder and asked more people what they'd do, or at least looked around for a fellow Cruiserhead who'd like to kill a few weekends and beers with me.

My roof is great, by the way.... no issues around the gutters at all, and the fenders could be a whole lot worse. Is it worth thinking about tack welding the frame to sorta bypass the issue altogether?

Anyway, I'll be around. I definitely won't be going anywhere in a hurry with the 2H but chances are I'll always get there. Slow and steady...

[klinetime574]

Very clean rig. I'll let the others help you with the rust problem. I have none here in Texas.

[integrin]

Thanks! Well the truck wasn't born in Texas but it got here as fast as it could (after about 15 years of trudging through salt), just like me. Maybe the rust will just go to sleep, but I don't see that frame mending itself anytime soon.

[theside00]

I would reccomend the H55F tranny over the A440F. I have the auto in mine and wish I had the money to swap over. You will have better gearing and it will be more fun to drive.

[integrin]

I've heard a few people say the H55F doesn't do the 2H engine justice because of the lower power band, but it's still near the top of my wish list.

[GDA62/100]

Now that you've rescued your cruiser from the scourge of salt, the advance of the red demon will slow to a crawl.
I took my '88 out of Utah in 1995 with just a tiny bit of rust on the front fenders and in all these years, including 4 near Olympia, WA, the rust has hardly advanced at all. Your move will definitely buy you some time. Fortunately for me, my frame is solid.
Thank God I didn't stay in Minnesota where my family resides.
I do need to work on my fenders some day, but too much else to do.
It would be fun to help you with a frame swap, but you'll need to move to north central CA first. It might be easier to find a clean donor vehicle and just swap driveline, running gear, trim, interior, etc and have parts left over. Good luck.

[integrin]

The frame rust is keeping the truck parked a lot right now.... I think it's past the point of tack welding but I could be wrong. It's a diesel so I'd have pretty much free reign as far as that goes.

[integrin]

If I swap my drivetrain into a new truck, would it be an HJ60 drivetrain with an FJ body and chassis or an FJ body and chassis with an HJ drivetrain? I guess I'd lose some of that HJ60 originality but gain those side vents and maybe even some headlight washers. It's not all bad...

I'm looking at a CA truck just like mine but with some roof rust around the gutters. Other than that it's rust free, and that repair is apparently not nearly as scary as other rust spots.

I do think the truck's worth the investment of time and some money. It's got lots of life left in it. I just want to pick the best long-term solution.

[boerboel313]

very Nice, I wish I had a Diesel. Some DAY

[Nev62]

Very clean looking, whish mine was like that but then again I do like to play

My 440 is almost dead and when it does go, I'll be swapping it out but not sure for what. My problem is that my motor eats the convertors in the tranny.