Buggy out an FJ80? (1 Viewer)

[RAYJON]

This is an interesting thread .. i took a tape measure to a taco cab, it could go on a fj80 chassis without too much trouble, truggy !!!! and cabs were reasonable at the wreckers... not opposed to tube buggys but doors and whinshields are nice in the winter..


Anything is possible, fj80's are a great platform, and if you part one the chassis is almost free..

 

[Delancy]

@RAYJON

How was it width wise?

I was looking at one last week and, without a tape measure, it appeared to be wide enough for the rear bulkhead to be used on an 80 body.

 

[RAYJON]

Don't know about the bulkhead, i was going to use the cab and front clip..

 

[Camino]

We found that the body parts are very heavy, you loose a lot of weight just removing doors, hatches, tailgate etc. We originally designed ours to be a 5 seater with a small pickup bed, but the frame hung too low in the rear for the Rubicon trail rock ledges. So we cut off the rear and added aluminum truck box for tool storage.

 

[Camino]

We found that the body parts are very heavy, you loose a lot of weight just removing doors, hatches, tailgate etc. We originally designed ours to be a 5 seater with a small pickup bed, but the frame hung too low in the rear for the Rubicon trail rock ledges. So we cut off the rear and added aluminum truck box for tool storage.

As far as weight on rear axle, while wheeling up hill, there is plenty of weight on the rear end, add tools and such, traction is not a problem. All that said, I would start with a mini for any project where you don't intend on keeping the 80 body or don't need a back seat. The 80' s downfalls are clearance (radial arms, low hanging cats and rear end).

 

[Delancy]

Let's assume an 80 rolling chassis and drivetrain are definite.

What's a minimum wheel base to remain an effective crawler?

Starting with a 90" WB'd body, thinking the most that can feasibly be stretched to is 96".

 

[RAYJON]

Fj80's are 112" to start you can take about 6" out at the rear control arm mounts.. leaving you at 106.. fj55 is 107 i think and fj45 are 106..

from what i have read 106 is about perfect with 37" tires..

Depends on how big you go tire wise.. bigger tire longer wheelbase..

 

[Mace]

You can trim the frame down like Waggoner did on his 60/80 combo. But I wouldn't. Leave the stock wb what it is.

There is no minimum wb for a crawler. RZRs crawl really well with a seriously short wb. It'll make some obstacles easier and some harder. Which is the same for a long wb rig.

 

[Delancy]

One local haunt, the 80 WB excelled, at least on the non-buggy rock runs, but only one or two that short WB rigs fought hell with that an 80 walked right up.

At Clayton, it sucked, so much so I wouldn't go back in an 80, and not the overhang, but getting hung on the belly.

 

[itbrokeagain]

This is the way my 80 currently sits. Doors will no longer go on. I keep going back and forth on my plans. I may just cage it and be done or I will Chop it from the windshield back and tube it. I want to keep the front Toyota and get the tailgate in there some how. I also have 4 kids so my plan was 2 seats in the second row and 1 in the middle for the third. At the same time I know it's heavy but I may just leave it. People like seeing an 80 on the trail especially some of the places I put mine.

 

[cruiserruf]

with the possibility of a doubler it seems all that would be needed is to 3 or 4 link the suspension and balance the weight. just use what you got. seems more work to go out and find a mini truck or taco to swap 80 axles to and build it from there. i like the wheelbase at 112, seems more stable and functions great. shedding a tremendous amount of weight, modifying the suspension, and throwing in a doubler would make the 80 a formidable rockcawler.

 

[wv_lx450]

i will take the longer wheelbase any day over the shorter ones (mine is 117"). basically everyone i wheel with has a jeep and there are just too many situations where theirs have issues climbing hills and ledges or going down those hills and ledges. there are very few situations where i wish my wb was shorter like in this pic...

i have yet to weigh mine but am curious what it is at this point. the tons and wheels/tires have added some weight along with the skid, sliders and front bumper/winch. i know all the tubing in the cage with the alum roof and lexan windshield is lighter than the original roof, glass windshield, hatch, and tailgate. i also removed all the door windows and motors and it is very noticeable how light the doors are now.

 

[Delancy]

Stripped, in preparation.

For what?

Not 100% certain of anything beyond it being an enclosed, caged single cab, with OE wind shield and functioning side glass.

Has to be legal and offer enough comfort to drive, at least, one hour at 75mph to wheel.

Every pillar is bent, but thinking pillars and roof can be sectioned in from a donor. Since caged, about all it needs to be strut rally sound enough to do is keep glass in.

 

[Delancy]

Thinking either

Or a 70 body chopped to a 75 cab.

All the existing suspension has been spoken for or sold, in anticipation of 3 link front and rear.

@wv_lx450

Did you push the front, rear, or both out for the 5" additional WB?

 

[Mace]

Why three link rear?

 

[sleeoffroad]

Every pillar is bent, but thinking pillars and roof can be sectioned in from a donor. Since caged, about all it needs to be strut rally sound enough to do is keep glass in.

Don't waste your time and money doing this. Take everything out, take the body off. Scrap it and get a new body to start the cab with. Believe me you will save money in the end.

 

[wv_lx450]

@wv_lx450

Did you push the front, rear, or both out for the 5" additional WB?

both, i think the front is moved between 3-4" and rear ~2"

 

[wv_lx450]

Why three link rear?

hes probably trying to keep the gas tank in the stock location

 

[RAYJON]

Don't waste your time and money doing this. Take everything out, take the body off. Scrap it and get a new body to start the cab with. Believe me you will save money in the end.

Taco cab.. wanted to do one on a fj80

 

[Delancy]

Don't waste your time and money doing this. Take everything out, take the body off. Scrap it and get a new body to start the cab with. Believe me you will save money in the end.

Damn, Christo. Why you gotta curse this one, too??

I really don't wanna give you ANOTHER opportunity to say "I told you so" considering the epic nature of the last, so you pretty much sealed the fate of the project as planned.

Thanks a lot.....

(Joking)

Lemme ask a couple of dumb questions:

Don't want to deal with dual VIN registration and accessible donor body is a '93 with no dash, anyway.

Is it outside the realm of feasibility to use the '93 donor body and graft to the existing firewall/dash/floor, left on the frame?

Gonna go to the trouble of a body swap, might as well go back to ute 'ing the 70, since it'll be the same scale of operation.