I don't want to copy the shortbus in any way, but would like to make a bobbed 80 series for those tight Seattle trail rides. Has anyone done this before?
Bobbing an 80 series (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter torfab
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Land Speeder
InstaH8R
Coming to a NW trail near you hopefully... I want to get back up there... lived on 65th in Roosevelt area
Land Speeder
InstaH8R
Here was us working on it:
prepainted
painted:
prepainted
painted:
Land Speeder
InstaH8R
I was planning on putting the rear where you have it, but after cutting we realized that there is a roof brace right where we cut and we needed it for structure back there right above the C pillar, so the liftgate ended up where it is... One day I plan on eliminating the liftgate alltogether after I exo the beast. Working on tube/half doors right now... so until then I take the doors off and put them back on.
I also plan on cutting out about a foot of "bed" at some point, but as it sits now, it's no issue, notice I've cut the bottom of the rear quarters, that's been done for a year or so, and it elimintated about 4" inches of sheet metal from the dangle zone, I also cut almost 4 inches off the frame rails back there and welded the rear cross member back on... my departure angle is a non-issue now.
I also plan on cutting out about a foot of "bed" at some point, but as it sits now, it's no issue, notice I've cut the bottom of the rear quarters, that's been done for a year or so, and it elimintated about 4" inches of sheet metal from the dangle zone, I also cut almost 4 inches off the frame rails back there and welded the rear cross member back on... my departure angle is a non-issue now.
- Thread starter
- #5
That rig looks awesome! What size tires do you have on there? Gears?
I have a white '94 with body damage, and I want to do this work and turn it into a wheeler.
The green one is my old daily driver
I have a white '94 with body damage, and I want to do this work and turn it into a wheeler.
The green one is my old daily driver
Josie'sLandCruiser
Stop calling it a "FJ."
Hi All:
Tor, good to see that you are not wasting any time on this project!
This promises to be a good build!
Regards,
Alan
Tor, good to see that you are not wasting any time on this project!
This promises to be a good build!
Regards,
Alan
Hanna Quality
Supporting Vendor
To bob the U80 8 inches were cut out and removed then welded back up. 8 inches is the most that can be cut without having to move the gas filler. The 2 rear body mounts are easily cut off and welded back onto the frame 8 inches forward.
Hanna Quality
Supporting Vendor
filler side
Hanna Quality
Supporting Vendor
Great job on the cut 80 Land Speeder it looks clean.
let the cutting begin!
let the cutting begin!
- Thread starter
- #10
That's about perfect, I was planning on keeping the fuel filler in it's stock location, and moving the tail forward to it. My roof is still in tact, and I'm planning on enclosing the cabin with 4 doors. I hope to use the rear hatch for the back, and possibly make it openable, but not necessarily.
I will use a truck box for tool storage in the rear and do some tube bending for the exo cage.
Has anyone ever used tube on the interior, then braced it through the body to the exo cage? It would make it much stronger, and I'd prefer that rather than bendy exo's.
I will use a truck box for tool storage in the rear and do some tube bending for the exo cage.
Has anyone ever used tube on the interior, then braced it through the body to the exo cage? It would make it much stronger, and I'd prefer that rather than bendy exo's.
Land Speeder
InstaH8R
36" bias Iroks that measure 37" and no regear. Since I'm driving it places still I get batter gas mileage with the stock gearing going down the hiway. Aussie rear ARB front lockers
Thank you! that means alot coming from you and everything you've done for our series cruisers! There've been a few threads where haters were hatin' on me, but it doesn't bother me as much as I lead on, I just like to hassle folks!
hatch operation
Had the pleasure of working with LandSpeeder on his chop. Drove in on Saturday as a Wagon, went home Sunday night as a Truck. The hatch was working in its new location, but we didn't have anything to latch it to, as the chop and re-weld was done in a weekend. We wound up with a fabricated steel bulkhead that is welded to the hatch, C-pillars, and floor pan.
Before you get started on this, find yourself another tailgate from a vehicle that is parting out. Cut the ends down and weld it in place for your bulkhead. This way, you can retain the working hatch and all of the seals that keep it dry.
Good luck on your chop.
Had the pleasure of working with LandSpeeder on his chop. Drove in on Saturday as a Wagon, went home Sunday night as a Truck. The hatch was working in its new location, but we didn't have anything to latch it to, as the chop and re-weld was done in a weekend. We wound up with a fabricated steel bulkhead that is welded to the hatch, C-pillars, and floor pan.
Before you get started on this, find yourself another tailgate from a vehicle that is parting out. Cut the ends down and weld it in place for your bulkhead. This way, you can retain the working hatch and all of the seals that keep it dry.
Good luck on your chop.
Land Speeder
InstaH8R
Ain't I got the best friends! "hey, I'm gonna chop my junk!" Who wouldn't jump at the chance to participate! Chris (AllFour) played a major role, as did PainlessFab-Brad, Caleb, Matt and Joey, hell the whole WEC crew! We a tight bunch down her. The project was by no means done in a weekend. We got the chop and reweld done but it took quite a few more days to grind welds down, bondo smooth, weld in bottom, weld shut the lift gate, and honestly it ain't done since the sides of the bulkhead doesn't go into the side panels, thus letting water in if you go river riding (or mud). I'm content as it sits though so no worries.
Workable liftgate: Even though it started as workable liftgate idea, it won't work for a few reasons, one, when you open the liftgate, the corners catch on the inside of the quarter panels, at least where mine got welded it was, another thing is if you have ANYTHING in the bed, the the bottom of the liftgate will not clear it. You don't notice it, but the liftgate it quite large and covers alot of the area. Putting a tailgate under the bottom is a very trick idea but there isn't any stability for it when moved up so alot of tubing fab work will be needed for it to even stand up and also would have needed a few inches cut off the bottom since as the the tailgate sits now, it's lower than the floor.... too much work for me so I used a piece of steel.
My plan is to exo-ino the junk and honestly use the U80 as a template in the rear with the tire carrier idea and sides but the front will be exo. I'm going to take the tailgate off and tube a tailgate that swings to the side and have the tire on that, but slanted. The swing out will be integrated to the in-exo to have stability, this is down the road though, gotta save for tube money!
Workable liftgate: Even though it started as workable liftgate idea, it won't work for a few reasons, one, when you open the liftgate, the corners catch on the inside of the quarter panels, at least where mine got welded it was, another thing is if you have ANYTHING in the bed, the the bottom of the liftgate will not clear it. You don't notice it, but the liftgate it quite large and covers alot of the area. Putting a tailgate under the bottom is a very trick idea but there isn't any stability for it when moved up so alot of tubing fab work will be needed for it to even stand up and also would have needed a few inches cut off the bottom since as the the tailgate sits now, it's lower than the floor.... too much work for me so I used a piece of steel.
My plan is to exo-ino the junk and honestly use the U80 as a template in the rear with the tire carrier idea and sides but the front will be exo. I'm going to take the tailgate off and tube a tailgate that swings to the side and have the tire on that, but slanted. The swing out will be integrated to the in-exo to have stability, this is down the road though, gotta save for tube money!
Hanna Quality
Supporting Vendor
A roll down rear window in the back would be my choice. The rear tail gate inards (electric motor and widow guides) from a FJ55 or early 4runner might work.
Nice looking 80's here. Tor looking forward to seeing your project in progress. Let me know if you need to swap the body.
- Thread starter
- #16
LOL - no more body swaps - I had enough with the 60 series. Maybe again on the 60 though
- Thread starter
- #17
My 4runner rear window would have been ideal, but for now I don't see the necessity of rolling down the rear window. I figured the rear hatch would be a pain with my gear in the bed, but I'm glad to hear that it's the case. I'll look for another hatch, that's a good idea.
lx450landcruiser
Moderator
been thinking about this on my rig for some time as well. Let me know if you need any help Im up in bellingham and would love to come help or at least watch
Also have a welder up here and know a local guy whos parting an 80 up here if you need anything ill let him know.
Mike
Why not just cut the whole back off?
This is my 105 series cruiser
I went for a ute tub(style side tray) you could just make up a tube tray an incorperate the exo with the tray.
This is my 105 series cruiser
I went for a ute tub(style side tray) you could just make up a tube tray an incorperate the exo with the tray.
Land Speeder
InstaH8R
yummy, a 105! show more pics of the completed bed please... I like how it's been seperated. If I do that then I'm dove tailing the rear a little... which isn't out of the question!
