BJ70 Frame?

[Canuck]

Getting my muffler replaced today at my buddy's shop, I was poking around the underside of the truck while it was on the hoist and discovered what's pictured below (camera phone pics so quality is not the best) on the drivers side rear.





There is too much rust on the frame to patch it, so what are my alternatives? Find another frame I guess, but how much do they cost? I would also imagine good condition BJ70 frames are hard to come by.

[crushers]

personal opinion,
that frame is gone. anything can be fixed with time and money but that one is not worth it. i would recomend trying to find another but good luck.
sorry for the bad news.
how long have you owned the truck?

[Canuck]

My brother bought it in 2001 I think it was. What do frames usually go for?

[Stone]

I think Sheldon has a mint 70 frame he's selling...(is this still true, Shel?). That's probably your best option.

[70sguy]

Originally Posted by Stone

I think Sheldon has a mint 70 frame he's selling...(is this still true, Shel?). That's probably your best option.

Yikes.. that is probably the worst 70 frame I have ever seen! Wow

Yes... I do have a REALLY nice BJ70 frame, Before the JDM Cruisers upped the ante it was mint by our Canadian standards. I it bought 7 years ago with the intention of doing the dip and galvanize thing. But I never got around to it and no longer have a BJ70. It has been inside a dry heated shop up until this summer. There is NO holes and only minor thinning on the rear most channel. I would like to get $600 for it to cover what I have into it. It is located in the Abbotsford B.C area.

If you are interested in a RHD BJ71 frame I can help you there too. It would just require some work because all the PS box reinforcing gussets are on the wrong frame rail.

Cheers

Sheldon

[Canuck]

Originally Posted by 70sguy

Yikes.. that is probably the worst 70 frame I have ever seen! Wow

Do I win an award?

I would imagine thats it's a huge job to swap a frame out, something not easily done in the backyard. What does a LC shop charge to do it? The crusier is my winter vehicle so once April rolls around, it generally sits for the summer. What about getting a new frame rustproofed? What does that cost and who offers it in the lower mainland?

[Stone]

There's a guy in Richmond that works a lot with Land Cruisers and does great work. His name is Rob Millson, and I'm sure Sheldon or Greg has his email address kicking around somewhere. Rob Lassman (oops...sorry about that, Rob) is another one (Radd Cruisers), but he's on the Island (is that still true, Rob?).

A new frame??? As far as getting a good used frame like Sheldon's rust-proofed, that's done easily enough. Greg showed me how to do mine. Would be worth rus proofing it every year, I would think.

[crushers]

Originally Posted by Canuck

Do I win an award?

?

what i want to know is how did THAT ever pass inspection? the inspecter either got paid off of was completely blind. that kind of rust does not happen in 3 years...
cheers

[Stone]

Originally Posted by crushers

what i want to know is how did THAT ever pass inspection? the inspecter either got paid off of was completely blind. that kind of rust does not happen in 3 years...
cheers

Was this 85 BJ70 from another province Canuck? I've heard that some inspection facilities just verbally ask questions and don't even come out to see the truck, lol.

[Canuck]

It came from Alberta but was originally from BC.

[jzilla]

That is pretty brutal, although seems about the same as my Bj60.
How are the upper and lower rails? I boxed most of my frame in (the rails were very good).
New frame would be better of course, because unless you can weld yourself it would not be worth it.

[aamiggia]

Even ONTARIO BJ70's aren't that bad

Maybe the PO did a lot of Ocean boat launches. I've seen the whole back ends of trucks rusted out the last time I was in Aruba. The local hustlers... I mean scuba / snorkling tour guys often submerse the truck (usually Suzuki's) upto the drivers door.

[smcruisin]

As to the queastion of who does this kind of work.... Radd cruisers may (you'll have to ask him), but his name is Rob Lassman.
Kodiak ( http://www.kodiakcustomvehicles.com/ ) may be someone to try. I've seen a few of the resto's they've done and from what I saw they looked good.

My cousin Rob Mullen got his BJ 40/42 frame galvanized a few years back while he was working at TLC offroad. The galvanizing shop will charge you by weight (I can't remember if it's the weight of the object you're dipping, or the weight of the zinc deposited). I think CAD$350 rings a bell for what he paid.

If you're going to pay a shop to swap your body over, and you plan on keeping it for some length of time, it is a great time to Galvanize the new frame before you do the swap. The three steps of caustic soda dip, pickling, and galvanizing will save you lots of time (read: grinding, sanding, and or sandblasting), and will get into the crevices and hollows that would otherwise be unreachable.

I think the only reason more meople don't galvanize, is because it basically dictates that you're doing a frame-off restoration since your truck will have to be partly dissassembled anyways (While you're in there, you'd might as well replace those rusty wheel-wells and floors, and repaint, and , and, and.....)

Cheers,
Steve Mullen

[crushers]

and rebuild the engine, tranny, diffs, brake lines, fuel lines and and and....

[Greg_B]

You need to decide how far into this truck you want to get. I speak from experience. There will always be "the unexpected" that crops up, from things breaking while be taken apart (corrosion), body mounts/transmission/engine mounts needing replacement, uncovered body rust, etc. Might as well do all the lines/clutch/etc while you are in there...as others have mentioned.

I have done a frame off on my BJ42, and I have a project BJ60 that I was sinking money into, then I saw the Japanese trucks. I sighed and shook my head the first time I crawled underneath one. For the same price, and a lot less effort/time I could have had a slightly rough HJ61, likely fully locked and loaded. The BJ60 is still not done (A BJ74 got in the way)...it needs some axles (that I have ready to go) and either a turbo or engine transplant as it is way too slow with the extra gearing (marks under/unders and 4:56's) and increased weight, for regular use.

I am not saying don't. If you really like the truck and the rest of it is good, then sure. Take another frame, have it dipped and galvanized so your foundation is good for 30+ years, then have at it! If you change the frame, you will need to let ICBC know, and they will assign a new VIN to the vehicle, after it pass's a Provinclal inspection.

hth's

gb

[crushers]

Greg,
this is the main reason i started importing the Japanese trucks in the first place. this gave my "Crushers Rule" customers a choice, also you can still hold onto the rusty one for winter driving which will make the "new" truck last that much longer...
to me it was a win / win situation for my customers...

[Canuck]

Greg_B brings up a good point. Honestly the Cruiser is my winter vehicle and only gets driven from November to late March every year and the rest of the time it sits. I know that sounds bad but during the summer I do track days with my other car and therefore use it for my daily driver.

My concern is that if I'm to replace the frame, then I have to do a lot of other things while I'm at it, like the engine being rebuilt(340,000km on it), the tranny rebuilt and all the seals replaced, the body has cancer on it....... and the list goes on. I'll end up spending more money than I really wanted to on a winter car. Hell I just had the front knuckles rebuilt as well as the front and rear brakes done too.

Just as a "what if" scenario, what could I expect to get for the truck with the frame in this kind of condition? Or sell it to Cruiser parts wrecker? I honestly don't know what to expect.

[crushers]

$500 to $1500 max, in my opinion...
cheers

[Island Moose]

Part it out on eBay and/or here on the forum, you'll do better bit by bit than selling it at one big lump to a wrecker or someone with more space than time ....

For example, I'm looking for a number of parts for my BJ70, things like rear bench seatbelts etc.

The only way I would ever replace that frame is if somehow the rest of the truck was mint, and if it was some rare model, formerly owned by royalty or movie stars... which doesn't sound to be the case. Honestly, I wouldn't even drive that right now, there's like 50% remaining metal under your rear springs.

Makes me want to undercoat on a weekly basis.

[crushers]

parting it out is a great idea, as long as he has the space and the time and the tools. the engine is about $1000, the tranny another $500-$1000, disc front should net him another $500, misc should net him another $500 and there is still the elec parts which he could sell...
good suggestion Moose...
cheers

[Jan-78FJ40]

good point, and completely unselfishly I support moose's suggestion-I need some parts too

[Canuck]

The vultures are circling! lol

If I was to go the new frame route, is that something that can be done without airtools? I'd have 6 months to do it during the summer so I wouldn't be rushed. Though I've never done something like this so it would be a learning experience, that's for sure.

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to explore every option I have. I really do like the truck and enjoy driving it.

[crushers]

you will need a good hoist or a STRONG cherry picker to support the body while it is off. you will need to lift and support the frame while you are transfering / instaling the drivetrain.
you will need to access to a few good tools but yes it can be done with out air tools although this will make the job much easier, a torch will be nice also...
cheers

[Greg_B]

Originally Posted by moose_sv1000s

Makes me want to undercoat on a weekly basis.

Do NOT ever use undercoating! It WILL crack with age, allowing water in behind, then the rust starts and you do not know it. Instead, keep clean, and spray a wax based rust proofing oil everywhere a couple times a year. Boeshield, 3M rust proofing, Fluid Film etc...

My 2.5 cents.

gb

[Greg_B]

Originally Posted by Canuck

If I was to go the new frame route, is that something that can be done without airtools? I'd have 6 months to do it during the summer so I wouldn't be rushed. Though I've never done something like this so it would be a learning experience, that's for sure.

I frame off'd my BJ42 with no air tools. I did have a torch, which was invaluable. Yes, you will learn lots. I also had a gantry and covered space.

gb

[Wherlwind]

Originally Posted by Canuck

If I was to go the new frame route, is that something that can be done without airtools? I'd have 6 months to do it during the summer so I wouldn't be rushed. Though I've never done something like this so it would be a learning experience, that's for sure.

.

Go for it and make sure you post lots of pictures here. I am going to put another frame under my 45. Hopefully this summer. pete

[Radd Cruisers]

Originally Posted by Greg_B

Do NOT ever use undercoating! It WILL crack with age, allowing water in behind, then the rust starts and you do not know it. Instead, keep clean, and spray a wax based rust proofing oil everywhere a couple times a year. Boeshield, 3M rust proofing, Fluid Film etc...

My 2.5 cents.

gb

I have been saying the same for years, never undercoat its the coating that fails and holds moisture behind the frame out of sight.

I spoke with Rob Millson today and he is your man to call.

If you do decide to do the work yourself and you like myself do not have a hoist available, you would be wise to call a high up truck. For the 75.00 dollars and minutes it takes to place the body or remove it, money well spent.