Cruiser Loser

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C

Chop Shop

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Threads
11
Messages
785
I have been looking for a cruiser to build for a while. I have a problem tho. I am a poor bastard. Ok, well maybe kinda cheap too!


Anyways after months of searching craigslist I found one I could afford. It is a 1974 Fj40 that has been crashed pretty good. The tub however was in remarkable shape compared to the frame.

I bought the beauty with a totaled title, a bent frame and a few bonus parts.

The previous owner was hit in the front by a duramax doing about 50mph. The frame was bannana and diamond shaped.

:grinpimp:
 
attachment.php


Saw this over on a local site, welcome ChopShop and looking forward to seeing your build man.
 
So you wanna give us a sneak peek on what the plans are or is this gonna be a tease thread?
 
tlcruiser66 said:
So you wanna give us a sneak peek on what the plans are or is this gonna be a tease thread?
Click to expand...

quick list or plan.

1..small block chevy with a nasty cam, good heads, big toilet, etc.
2..full size chevy axles. D44 front and a 12B welded rear. 4.10s
3..th350 with a stage three and a Hughs 3500 8 inch converter
4..2x4 box tube frame. Chevy leaf springs. Low stance.
5..NP205 for 4x4 duties.
6.. going to be beat in the sand and snow mostly.
 
heres the inside. I was only lookin for a donor for a cowl and door openings and panel the rest, but this thing is pretty solid and Im going to leave it full bodied. It will get sum tube fenders and at least a 12 point cage.
Dune Cruiser 010.webp
Dune Cruiser 012.webp
Dune Cruiser 011.webp
 
the frame is junk to me. Its stock and bent. Two bads.

I found the VIN and confirmed that it matched the title and proceeded to cut it off. I am going to square it off and weld it on the new frame like a tag.

Heres the frame in user friendly size pieces. It was hit so hard, it broke the tranny off. Notice partial bell chunk?
Dune Cruiser 019.webp
Dune Cruiser 024.webp
Dune Cruiser 005.webp
 
Depending on your tire size you may want to think about bigger than a 44 and 12 bolt, those aren't any stronger than what came stock on these and you'll be replacing a bunch of axles.
 
tlcruiser66 said:
Depending on your tire size you may want to think about bigger than a 44 and 12 bolt, those aren't any stronger than what came stock on these and you'll be replacing a bunch of axles.
Click to expand...

A twelve bolt rear is fine and Ill just put chromos in the front. Plus I have a bunch of axles.

Its not going to be a wheeler. I am going to beat it in the sand and some of the PNW jeep races too.

Other options include D60 front. too expensive and too heavy.
And 14 FF rear. Too HEAVY. Plus I dont want 8 lugs.

You telling a guy with two rigs on rockwells and a toyota with longs to "rethink" his axle choices?:lol: I am going to not overbuild the drivetrain, just trying to keep it simple and light.

Plus anything else will break the budget. If it starts eatin rears in the sand it will get a 9 inch rear.
 
9 inch for the rears sound much better to me .. but maybe I miss the tire size for your project ..?
 
Tapage said:
9 inch for the rears sound much better to me .. but maybe I miss the tire size for your project ..?
Click to expand...

Its not a wheeler or mudder, just a play toy for sunday breakfast trips and the snow and sand.

Its gonna wear 33 inch BFGs or 34 inch TSLs most of its life (snow, roads) and 21.5 dick cepek multipaddles when in the sand.:D
 
Chop Shop said:
Its not a wheeler or mudder, just a play toy for sunday breakfast trips and the snow and sand.

Its gonna wear 33 inch BFGs or 34 inch TSLs most of its life (snow, roads) and 21.5 dick cepek multipaddles when in the sand.:D
Click to expand...

got your idea .. definately a light truck ..
 
I've got a K5 12 bolt sitting around that we're putting in my dad's '74 since it'll be a lighter duty rig and given how I got the axle for 50 and a locker and gears for 300 it's cheaper than the toy setup I have for mine. They're not the most absolutely bullet proof axles on earth, granted, but we've been running them behind nasty big block street/strip cars that get driven hard and they hold up fine (obviously they have the car version). For the weight and smaller tires I figure it's a smart choice, especially since they are dirt cheap. Also damn, 3500 stall :D? We're running a 3000 in a '71 roots blown el camino on M&H drag radials, takes a certain type to run that high of stall around on the street (assuming it'll see a little street duty driving around). I like the plan, fun and still affordable.
 
:popcorn:

That's gonna be a heavy duty cage for a rig only sporting 33 or 34" meats, no?
 
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