Builds DINGO- 60FZJ-UTE LS3 EROD (PROVEN CA SMOG)

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Not my best time to tear a cruiser down to a roller, but 3.40 hours is pretty darn good.

J

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Now to decide on stretching the frame 20" or shortening for a standard 60 wheelbase. I'm thinking with the 1" body lift and 4" Trail Tailor TourFlex lift kit and 37s... I may stretch this puppy out....

J

 

[Dirty Koala]

stretch the bejeezus out of it!!!

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

stretch the bejeezus out of it!!!

I have the height to not worry about a potential high centering. Plus I doubt I'll ever run this rig into that situation. Just more sheetmetal work to fill in the 60 front wheel well.

J

 

[Dirty Koala]

This type of build is a dedicated tourer, not a crawler, and the extra wheelbase will give you better handling at speed and give you more room for all the glamping necessities....plus the dimensions are just more appealing to the eye when stretched a little.

 

[megolfer]

Fj80 frame with fj60 body

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Fj80 frame with fj60 body

View attachment 1862313

Yep, looks good.

I'll be adding a full flatbed with removable twin canopy boxes.

 

[megolfer]

Where are u cutting the body

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Where are u cutting the body

Approx. 1.5" behind rear door.

 

[megolfer]

That will be cool

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Got the CDL (center diff lock) switch and wiring harness pulled from the 80 carcass. So if all works right Dingo will be 3X locked.

Stripped all the brake and fuel lines off the frame.

Decided to stretch the frame 24". This will roll the rig out even smoother on the highway and also give me extra room to extend the canopy boxes and rear pullout drawer.

J

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Gotta get the rest of the frame stripped tomorrow. Blaster is coming Friday to pick it up and sand blast it. Sure is going to be nice to work with a clean frame.

J

 

[NCFJ]

Sure is going to be nice to work with a clean frame.

J

One you go clean you'll never go back Everything that rolls in here gets a good pressure washing before a bolt comes off. I can not stand working on nasty greasy dirty trucks. Cleaning them well makes the whole experience sooooooo much better. Blasting makes them a pleasure.

I got in this habit just out of high school when I worked at a place that built and serviced trash trucks. The shop manager refused to allow a dirty truck in the shop. I watched him send many a truck away to be steam cleaned, saw him send poorly cleaned trucks away again until they were truly clean. I was fortunate, I spent 90% of my time building new trucks.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

One you go clean you'll never go back Everything that rolls in here gets a good pressure washing before a bolt comes off. I can not stand working on nasty greasy dirty trucks. Cleaning them well makes the whole experience sooooooo much better. Blasting makes them a pleasure.

I got in this habit just out of high school when I worked at a place that built and serviced trash trucks. The shop manager refused to allow a dirty truck in the shop. I watched him send many a truck away to be steam cleaned, saw him send poorly cleaned trucks away again until they were truly clean. I was fortunate, I spent 90% of my time building new trucks.

I've gotten into the habit of only buying P&O steel and bare/stripped tube, etc anymore as well. Mill scale and protective greases are not a friend of mine. Other than the engine area, the frame is fairly clean. Of course being a California cruiser, no rust to speak of.

J

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

All stripped down and ready for the blaster.

J

 

[NCFJ]

You go boy!! Looking forward to this.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

You go boy!! Looking forward to this.

Got my line dialed in for the cut and have all the plate ready to bend for the inner frame sleeve and then the outer will be reinforced as well. I plan to make the frame extension as invisible as possible.

If time allows I'll go in Saturday morning and start tearing down the front and rear axles and get those to the coater on Monday/Tuesday.

I need to clean all the crap out (and throw it away) around the body and get it separated from the frame and all the glass pulled. Then off to the soda blaster. $450.00 to strip the body inside and out to bare metal and neutralized rinsed and detergent washed. I can't justify NOT doing this procedure.

J

 

[NCFJ]

Then off to the soda blaster. $450.00 to strip the body inside and out to bare metal and neutralized rinsed and detergent washed. I can't justify NOT doing this procedure.

J

I am talking with my blaster about the same thing and epoxy primer. I am thinking to deliver it to him on a rotisserie. If I am breaking them down this far may as well go all in. I just need the square footage. I need to take the time and get down to planning at the county and see what I can and can not do.

I really like the added wheelbase approach. One off Land Cruiser Resto Mods, gotta love it

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

I am talking with my blaster about the same thing and epoxy primer. I am thinking to deliver it to him on a rotisserie. If I am breaking them down this far may as well go all in. I just need the square footage. I need to take the time and get down to planning at the county and see what I can and can not do.

I really like the added wheelbase approach. One off Land Cruiser Resto Mods, gotta love it

I can't do that for the $$ and the especially the time.

See if he has an interior puller wand and hit the ID of the frame too. Well, add an additional 3000 sq ft to whatever you need, build it and I'll come... HA! I figure by this time next year we'll be elsewhere.

It's crazy... I've had 18 emails in the past week asking if I'm taking jobs for 80/60 swaps...

J

 

[Hojack]

It's crazy... I've had 18 emails in the past week asking if I'm taking jobs for 80/60 swaps...

J

Best on the job training you can get.