Change of heart? Gas/Diesel, Rocks/Road

[TwelveGravity]

I have been thinking alot lately of either my next 40 project or my current rigs future path forward.
Currently I just got my 1980 Fj40 trail ready for the most part. It has a 350 SBC TBI and a TH350.
It was built mostly by the PO, then redone some by myself (within 4 years) with mostly trials in mind and is not very streetable at all. There's also the hurdle (in California) of a 1980 year model with a different motor that is less than smog reg friendly.
I also have a stripped 1971 FJ40 chassis and vin tags.
Recently I have really been liking the idea of an OM617 and a standard (poss NV4500) transmission sitting on 1 tons.
With that i wonder.... Do I wheel the current for years while I attempt the 71/diesel/NV4500 or would that cost a crazy amount considering all I really have for the whole build is a chassis? All else would need to be purchased.
Do I change direction with my current 1980/V8/TH350 and attempt to build this into what I have in mind?
Or should I build the 71 to a point with the drivetrain and then install the tub and components from the 1980 (if they are compatable)? Too many thoughts to go too many directions.
This is the problem with not doing your homework and building your ideal rig from the start. Lesson learned.

Thoughts?

 

[Bripars40]

Advice: sell me your 1980 tub for cheap and then build the 1971. My tub is rusty...

 

[CreeperSleeper]

If it were me, I would build the '71 while wheeling the '80, then sell the '80 when the '71 is done to recoup money.

 

[boots4]

I second building the '71 and keeping the '80 running.

 

[TwelveGravity]

Thanks, That is a better alternative after spending so much time & money on the '80 and then you can still wheel while building the other. Just may be a bit pricier but hopefully worth it.

 

[White Stripe]

The tbi motor is a solid motor. Nothing fancy but works. Putting smog stuff on it would be fairly cheap. Besides that what makes it not streetable? The om617 from what I have observed is a really tall motor with odd dimensions. Seems like you need a ton of lift to clear the oil pan-as in like 8 inches of lift. Personally I don't see the draw of a diesel in a 40 anymore now that gas prices are pretty reasonable, but if I were going diesel I would use a npr motor.

 

[Vossie]

i on the other hand am all for diesel swaps, but i tend to lean towards using Toyota diesels that seem to be hard for you guys states sides to get your hands on, so my opinion isnt really as valid.

what i would do though is keep your 80 and run it while you build the other. pros of this:

1. you get to drive a 40.
2. you get to build a 40.
3. you dont have to rush to build a 40 to hurry up and drive it.
4. you dont have to take your 40 off the road every time your spanner hand twitches

 

[TwelveGravity]

Thanks @White Stripe, The '80 mostly is "un-streetable" due to the setup of the suspension being super soft. I also get horrible death wobble at any speed above 35mph but that could be mitigated. I also read that the OM617 is very tall and have seen people have to modify the oil pan but I have only read threads on guys that are still spring under. I intend to build the '71 linked front and read and fairly tall but hopefully not too tall. I don't have a problem with the V8 in my current '80 but the thought of a little turbo diesel torque motor with big axles is very amusing. I haven't really put any thought into putting the smog equipment back onto the TBI motor and then having a referee sign it off. I guess I could look into that as another option. For now I think I would continue with the '80 and have the '71 as a side project.

 

[White Stripe]

If the suspension on your 80 really is that soft, adding a front sway bar with disconnects would bring back highway stability. May be able to use a front Jeep sway bar setup with a bit of fab. As far as death wobble, that could be a few things. First I would start out with balancing tires. If you have front shackles that aren't "H" shackles that could aggrevate death wobble as well as the trunions not being tight enough.
I've pushed pretty hard to keep my 40 streetable, it's so fun to drive I hate driving anything else and just letting it sit. Plus I work out a lot of bugs on the street that makes for a more reliable rig offroad.