cruiser_guy
Out of Africa / North Africa
Someone who will remain nameless has purchased a "Star" for me so I will oblige by posting up the frame swap I did on my '82 BJ60 here in Honduras. First a little background. My truck is registered in Canada and I have owned it since 1989 and drove it in Canada/USA exclusively until about 3-4 years ago when we started venturing into Mexico and Central America.
Now we spend most of our time in Central America away from the vehicle destroying salt found on the roads in the north!
The 20+ years of travelling in the north however has taken it's toll on the frame of my truck. It has been repaired as far as the body goes but there is only so much that can be done to the frame and still be safe. The last time the body guy in Canada saw it he said that a frame swap was going to be necessary sooner than later so I've been watching for a frame.
I found a good one here in Central America where vehicle killing salt does not exist!
I decided to take the "bull by the horns" and ELIMINATE rust from the frame of my '82 BJ60. I was somewhat encouraged to do this by my buddy who also has a BJ60 of similar vintage and who broke the spring mount right off the frame due to rust!
I located a rust free BJ60 frame here in Central America last spring and brought some RustBullit to paint it with when we returned in the summer.
I was finally able to arrange to get the swap happening the week prior to Christmas vacation. Drove down to Tegucigalpa, Honduras on the 11th of December in preparation to start the swap first thing Monday the 12th.
I'll post up pics of the whole operation but remember, this is Central America and the shops are NOT equipped like they are at home.
Here's the truck before the swap and some of the rust damage I was trying to eliminate.
Now we spend most of our time in Central America away from the vehicle destroying salt found on the roads in the north!
The 20+ years of travelling in the north however has taken it's toll on the frame of my truck. It has been repaired as far as the body goes but there is only so much that can be done to the frame and still be safe. The last time the body guy in Canada saw it he said that a frame swap was going to be necessary sooner than later so I've been watching for a frame.
I found a good one here in Central America where vehicle killing salt does not exist!
I decided to take the "bull by the horns" and ELIMINATE rust from the frame of my '82 BJ60. I was somewhat encouraged to do this by my buddy who also has a BJ60 of similar vintage and who broke the spring mount right off the frame due to rust!
I located a rust free BJ60 frame here in Central America last spring and brought some RustBullit to paint it with when we returned in the summer.
I was finally able to arrange to get the swap happening the week prior to Christmas vacation. Drove down to Tegucigalpa, Honduras on the 11th of December in preparation to start the swap first thing Monday the 12th.
I'll post up pics of the whole operation but remember, this is Central America and the shops are NOT equipped like they are at home.
Here's the truck before the swap and some of the rust damage I was trying to eliminate.
