Cutting fj40 in half? (1 Viewer)

[dabruin15]

I am midway through my project and I am going to cut my 71 cruiser in half right behind the door. I am going to stretch it about 2 feet.

Has anyone done this or had experience doing this? Is there anything I should know? It looks like the body way in a couple of pieces and it looks like the best spot.

 

[Coolerman]

There is a link somewhere on this site to someone who has done this. Just try the search, it should come up.

 

[Box Rocket]

That is a good place to cut it, but are you also stretching the wheelbase 24"? That seems like a lot. You could split it up a little by adding about 18" to the wheelbase which would give you 108" which is great for wheeling. And if you still needed the extra length in the body you could add it behind the wheels. Would also give it proportions closer to an HJ47 "troopie". That would look much better IMO.

Just my two cents.

Check out this thread. It using a minitruck frame and drivetrain but it might give you some ideas stretching the body.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=526443

 

[Box Rocket]

Here's one of my favorite stretched jobs. Owned and built by previous owner of Cruiser Outfitters. He also built most of my 40. Very few do the same quality of work. This truck began as a FJ45SWB but was stretched and the tub mated along with a custom hardtop. Very nicely done and good proportions.

 

[Box Rocket]

You'll notice in the above pic that the wheelbase isn't that much longer than a 40. This truck maintained the stock 45SWB wheelbase. Departure angle may have suffered a bit but I think it looks so much better than a really long truck with the wheels stuck WAY back at the corners.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

I've never stretched one, but given a choice I would never separate one at the seam again, there is just to much coming together in that one place. I would go for the area just behind the box section where the wheelwell starts and everything is single wall.

 

[speedn3]

Here it is awesome build

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=127322

 

[gladly]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=114216
which contains a link to
http://fm4w.tyro.ca/viewtopic.php?t...start=15&sid=a3ea5032731141a6ac1a3dd47a3d6b76

which are more pickup from 40 in subject, but the stretch idea may be helpful
also the nissan/stretch thread posted above is very methodically written up and will probably be a help
good luck, write and photograph it as you go, there are lots of folks looking for ideas out here.

btw, here's where the fm4w guy added the stretch to his frame