BJ-70 body repair (1 Viewer)

[montocr]

I may purchase a bj70 w/ typical rust on wheel wells. Does anyone know of a decent bodyshop in WA state that would be able to handle this? Those that have had this done, what can I expect to pay? I am afraid that bodyshops stateside may not want to touch it since it is not a US avehicle.
carl

 

[lumpy70]

Well, if you are willing to pay a little extra for some parts, then just about any body shop will take your money. You may think about supplying your own body parts from a place like G&S Cruiser Parts
http://www.gscruiserparts.com/Inventory Panels.html

Aside from that, you definitely need someone who is skilled with a zip disc and a welder. That'll lead you to a restoration shop or a custom fab shop.

It is always worth it to resurrect a 70 series, but it might cost more if you don't do it yourself.

I learned to weld fixing up my 70. If you have a garage, buy a mig welder and do the work yourself.

That's my advice anyway.

Craig.

 

[montocr]

weld

Yeah, I can do the welding/grinding etc. I just don't particularly enjoy sanding/filler, and I know I cant paint. I prefer the mechanical aspects. Also the vehicle has 440,000km's on it. I would like to eventually do a turbo setup, but I'm thinking the motor should be freshened up a bit. Don't know yet, haven't even got it.

 

[wesintl]

Body work is body work it shouldn't matter if it's a non usa vehicle. Unless you plan to order new fenders etc. Body work is general unless it's so bad the laborer doesn't know what it's supposed to look like

 

[seapotato]

I'm in the middle of some cutting and welding on mine. bought it a couple weeks ago, and decided to do the body work before driving it.

the side panels are pretty easy to make out of some sheet, if you don't have a flanging tool, you may want to pick one up, makes the seams waaay easier to do, as you don't have to butweld the two pieces of sheet together.

if the repair gets into the wheelwells, and the rockers, then the old suckometer pretty much skyrockets. a lot of bits and pieces stamped together in there that rust can get between. fortunately mines fairly ok in that regard...

yeah, the fairing and filling sucks. I finished one side a couple days ago, and when I get sick of looking at the pretty light on the one side, I do a skim of filler and sand the other side.

hopefully , one of these days I'll actually get to do something wild and crazy like drive the freakin thing...( it'll be worth it, the topless 40 is getting a tad brisk in the morning these days)

cheers,
ryan

 

[bj70alex]

Ryan,

Could you please post some pictures of your work, would be nice to see.

Thanks,
Alex

 

[Eric Winkworth]

yes it would, I'm about to cut into my rear crossmember and those little things right on the back of the truck, found a s*** load of bondo in them. Still waiting for my welder or I would be doing it rigth now.

cheers

 

[mk1pickle]

yeah i have some rust on the wheel wells of my 70 as well, i am going to fix that as soon as i can find a warm place to do it

 

[brownbear]

the vehicle has 440,000km's on it. I would like to eventually do a turbo setup, but I'm thinking the motor should be freshened up a bit. Don't know yet, haven't even got it.

I wouldn't be afraid to turbo it with that many k's. Just as long as you have good compression and are above 285 psi or better, go for it.

If you are going to turbo after the rebuild you might as well get use out of it now.

Search all the threads containing these words,

pyro

pyro gauges

turbo

turbo manifold

lots of info there.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

yes it would, I'm about to cut into my rear crossmember and those little things right on the back of the truck, found a s*** load of bondo in them. Still waiting for my welder or I would be doing it rigth now.

cheers

What "little things"? Those angled support pieces? Someone put Bondo in there? Bad idea!

 

[crushers]

I wouldn't be afraid to turbo it with that many k's. Just as long as you have good compression and are above 285 psi or better, go for it.
.

285 psi or better? you sure you would turbo a truck with that low a compression?
cheers

 

[seapotato]

heh, well I'm kindof past where the pics would do much good now, have it mostly faired and sanded and good to go. actually got to drive it around a bit today which was a rather refreshing break from zipdiscs and welding.



I still need to fix up the rocker panel on the drivers side, passengers side one was good...driver side...not so much...

any opinions about the rocker panels they sell at 4wheel auto? http://store.4wheelauto.com/view_product.php?product=FACSR0LY11

if they fit ok, I'm sorta tempted to pick one up for the drivers side. ( I know it says genuine, but there's a few grey areas in that term these days)



cheers,
ryan

 

[brownbear]

285 psi or better? you sure you would turbo a truck with that low a compression?
cheers

285 is time for rebuild right? so if your better than that why not.....

with the generalization that you are going to rebuild anyhow, why not get some advantage running with a turbo,

not a good idea??? I was just thinking that he was going to rebuild then turbo, I don't see an overly negative result by turboing now and running for awhile before rebuild.

but hey I could be wrong....... what would turboing a low compression engine do? remembering I mean better than 285 psi.

 

[crushers]

285 is time for rebuild right? so if your better than that why not.....

with the generalization that you are going to rebuild anyhow, why not get some advantage running with a turbo,

not a good idea??? I was just thinking that he was going to rebuild then turbo, I don't see an overly negative result by turboing now and running for awhile before rebuild.

but hey I could be wrong....... what would turboing a low compression engine do? remembering I mean better than 285 psi.

hummm, if your rings are that worn then maybe presurize the crank case? if the engine is that tired then the oil pressure is probably low as well and adding the extra stress could spin a bearing. personally if the compression is that far down i would reject then engine since it probably needs a head from cracking and precups. i would look for nothing less than 380 across the board... just my opinion of course...

 

[montocr]

too rusty

It was too rusty. Would have needed whole cab replaced to restore it. It was a great runner though $4500 Can. Does anyone know of any less rusty can. bj70s for sale? I know "rusty" and "canada" kinda stick together, but I would like something repairable.

 

[brownbear]

hummm, if your rings are that worn then maybe presurize the crank case? if the engine is that tired then the oil pressure is probably low as well and adding the extra stress could spin a bearing. personally if the compression is that far down i would reject then engine since it probably needs a head from cracking and precups. i would look for nothing less than 380 across the board... just my opinion of course...

good to know. I could see maybe pressurizing the crank.

Also I was thinking to the terms of it wound need a overhaul anyhow. So if you only got a little while.........

But I have not seen a 3B that low in my experience and I am sure you have...

So I will go with that number too.

So is a 3b pretty hurtin when It gets that low??? I was just going by the yota reccommendation from the manual.

 

[crushers]

i drove only one that was very low(somewhere around 300) and other than EXTREMELY gustless and s l o w you would never guess the compression was so low. no exseive oil burning (remember compression rings and oil rings are 2 different rings).
i have a 1984 RHD BJ70 coming in but i think it would be out of your price range unless you take into consideration the money you save with no bodywork being needed..
http://www.luxuryimports.ca/forsale/1984BJ70-1/index.php
cheers

 

[montocr]

Bj70

I want a can. spec bj70 as I am in the states. I am willing to spend more for a non rusty truck, or at least rust that can be cut out. The one I looked at was not worth repair w/o replacement of body.

 

[crushers]

understood,
there is a guy in Florida that is contemplating selling his BJ70 with 170,000km and NO rust or major dents.
cheers

 

[seapotato]

So, does anyone have an opinion on the rocker panels from 4wheel auto? (thread kinda got hijacked into turbo porn there for a bit....)

they have the rockers for 125 a side which sounds reasonable if they actually fit properly?

cheers,
ryan