Considering a Hybrid 40/80 (2 Viewers)

[AppleTech]

So I've got my 96 80. Running gear is in good shape and cared for and it is awesome on the trails. Body is beat to death... but it is just a toy at this point, so I don't really care. Drove a buddy's Jeep the other day and I'm thinking about the future of my trail rig being less body. I love the axles and the strength of the 80's frame, as well as the coil sprung suspension, got me thinking of building a hybrid. Let me know what yall think:

1. Removing 80 body, shortening 80 frame to fit a 40 body (I realize this has been done before and I know the 80 axles are much wider, which I'm OK with for a trail rig)
2. Pull the 1FZ, A343, and H2FA and sell em (they are in great shape, but I want to go simple and manual for a trail-only rig).
3. Thinking of maybe a 3FE (or making a 2FE depending on what block I find). I love I6's for offroad and working on them, but I hate messing with carbs. I think once you get rid of all the smog stuff on a 3FE, you'd end up with a pretty simple EFI motor.
4. Go with a FJ40's 4-speed and standard tcase maybe with lower gears swapped in since it will be a trail-only rig.

Seems like the above would net me a nice-flexing FJ40 with strong running gear and dependable yet simple EFI motor. I'm not really interested in going the V8 route as I don't want to start replacing other things I break - an I6 has enough power for me if the gearing is right...

Welcoming your thoughts!

 

[GW Nugget]

2 or 4 door?

 

[AppleTech]

Standard body - 2 door. Your popcorn will be stale before I start this though haha!

 

[GW Nugget]

Something like a bobbed troopy then?
Hard or soft top?

 

[AppleTech]

Well I think the simplest approach would be an fj45 cab with a custom flatbed. That means no body work or frame work to make it all fit...

 

[GW Nugget]

Oh an Aussie tray back UTE...
VERY NICE.

 

[redstang410]

Lose the body, move the engine trans back about 6 inches, so the pulleys are right above the front axle, and fit the 40 body to the regular length frame. You will have to cut the wheel wells back so the tires stick past the rear of the body. The front tires will be far forward in the wheel well. cut the excess frame off the front and rear.
I'd keep the 1fZ engine and swap in a manual. They are way shorter. 80 frames are tapered in the middle making shortening them kind of a hassle

 

[Mieser]

I'm just starting on a project like this. I am going to make a little FJ45-esk tub with a small custom stepside bed on a clean 1996 lx450 chassis I found.

 

[AppleTech]

Sweet! Link me to your build thread when you get it going

 

[Delancy]

If pulling the 1FZ, what's the point in going to the trouble of a body swap?

Seems it'd be easier to put 80 axles under a reinforced 40, which is all I can see you're gaining, then swap links/coils or relink, altogether.

Unsolicited opinion is keep the 1FZ, swap to H150F/HF2A (converted to PT, it deemed necessary, pulled VC, Mark's gears) and put an Aqualu extended body on the 80 chassis.

Check of Kula's build on PBB. Granted, he's using Gary's 2UZ'd 80 chassis, but the rest is relevant and high quality project.

 

[White Stripe]

I would put a aqualu fj43 tub on an extended 40 frame and use the 1fz with the tranny and tcase, and axles and suspension and all that you have. I don't like the fj45 because when Im tired of driving I like to be able to pull over and recline the seat way back. You will just have to find a soft top for it. I would even keep the air conditioning if possible. I thing 80 axle are just the right width for a 40 series personally.

 

[GW Nugget]

Putting on a J4 body will require moving the engine back 6" to 7" back as stated previously & a good example is the Redline FJ-UTE. This will also require a gas tank mod.
This sounds like a lot of fun because this might be one avenue for me in the future.
Be it a truck with a flat bed, bobbed troopy, or even a 4 door FJ44 that was never made. It's all the same from the "A" pillar back. The strait body lines of the 40 series can be made into just about anything a man can imagine. It's all in the eye of the owner & craftsman.
Here is some pic of what the OP has described.

 

[Mieser]

Sweet! Link me to your build thread when you get it going

I've been babbling about it a bit here.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep-willys/2126506-jumping-ship.html

I got attached to the Willys section of the board when I was building this...



This new project is using a lot of the same building 'style' as my old flat fender......low, wide, big dumb tire, little bit of rat rod influence, etc.

 

[YotaJosh]

Cut the body off the 80, build another "half ass".

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/project-half-ass-fzj80.476120/

I've wheeled standards and automatics. I vote to stay automatic transmission.