FJ55 to FJ60 frame swap or swap all components??? (1 Viewer)

[poseidon]

Hello Folks,

I have done lots of searching but haven't been able to find the info I need. My situation is I have a 1971 FJ55 that is bone stock. I just bought a FJ60 and want to get lots of the fj60 parts into the 55. The parts I plan to get in the 55 include: Engine, Trans, TC, PS box, axles, springs, and the MC.

The wheelbase front to rear on a 60 is only 1.2 inches loger than the 55.

My questions is since I am planning to swap so much would it be easier to lift the bodies off the frames and swap the bodies or to swap all the bits and pieces?

I was unable to find much info on problems I may have trying to get a 55 body to fit a 60 frame. Am I going to have trouble with all the distances like the radiator mounting and engine hitting firewall type stuff if I place the 55 wheel wells over the tires on the 60 frame?

Also are the frames flat or are there curves that wont line up? If so could I easy get away with using a small body lift and cutting the lift blocks to diffrent heights to fit?

Additionaly I have never paid any attention to body mounts and don't really know if the body side has any reinforcment or strategic placement. Would I have to do any fabing or just drill holes in the 55 floor where the 60 body mounts are???

Some of this may become more apparent to me once I have the 60 in my garage next to the 55 but I will still have lots of uncertanty.

Thanks for the advice. Sorry for the cross post on 40 55 tech but I wasn't getting any replies.

E

 

[brokenparts]

well, I know the doors wont fit, so you're still going to have to sell those to me. sent you a pm on cascade cruisers. sorry to hi-jack your thread.

 

[poseidon]

well, I know the doors wont fit, so you're still going to have to sell those to me. sent you a pm on cascade cruisers. sorry to hi-jack your thread.

The doors are yours. I think you have posted everywhere but Pirate that you want them now. Do you know that the drivers side ones have dents?

E

 

[andrew.fletcher]

Poseidon-
Did you ever find any info on the FJ55 to FJ60 frame swap. I've been wondering the same thing. I'm finally picking up my FJ55 project over Christmas and can start working on it. It seems that a lot of folks out there are using the whole undercarraige from a 60 and putting it on the 55. For me the 55 is going to be the family vehicle, not really off roading it so comfort is more of an issue.

 

[ridgerunner]

Poseidon-
Did you ever find any info on the FJ55 to FJ60 frame swap. I've been wondering the same thing. I'm finally picking up my FJ55 project over Christmas and can start working on it. It seems that a lot of folks out there are using the whole undercarraige from a 60 and putting it on the 55. For me the 55 is going to be the family vehicle, not really off roading it so comfort is more of an issue.

Where else have you seen people swapping a 60 frame under a 55?

You'll be doing a lot more fabwork welding new body mounts onto the frame of the 60 than you would just swapping in a split case, rear spring perches, front spring mounts, and power steering box on the 55 frame. Here's a thread in the 55 section with the owner swapping in 60 springs with 60 axles.

Don't let that stop you from doing what no one has ever done before. There's just not a lot of reason to do it though.

 

[poseidon]

I have the engine tran and tcs out of both rigs but have decided to revive this tread.

I don't know if this is a stupid question and I should go look but it is really wet outside, are the holes in the body of the 55 that strategically placed?
OR
Could I simply drill into the 55 where the 60 body mounts are and use big washers?
E

 

[Gumby]

I think, because I no longer have a 60 to measure, but I have a strong suspicion that he engine position would have to be changed to swap a 55 body on a 60 frame. The axle to engine relationship is different. you will have a tough time fitting the engine behind the radiator.

It's an easy thing to overlook, but when Gary ran into big problems with radiator placement on his 45/80 I started looking at engine to axle alignment on chassis swaps.

The 55 has VERY distinct body mounts. you can't just drill holes in the floor. You will have to fabricate mounting brackets to line up with the existing 55 mounts

 

[poseidon]

thanks for the info Gumby. Now I know I am on the right track with the component swap.

E

 

[Max.Powerzz]

Did you ever make any progress on this? I just found my old pig and have access to a rusty 60, this would be a great swap to put a 55 body on a 60 chassis.

 

[Sno bored]

Did you ever make any progress on this? I just found my old pig and have access to a rusty 60, this would be a great swap to put a 55 body on a 60 chassis.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-fj56/691596-71-fj55-oregon.html

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

Did you ever make any progress on this? I just found my old pig and have access to a rusty 60, this would be a great swap to put a 55 body on a 60 chassis.

swap components...My 55 is part 60 and soon to be part FZJ80...the engine to rad- actually FAN to rad is a big deal between the two bodies styles. with my 86 FJ60 engine in the 55 frame and the 55 series early 2F water pump for use without clutch but with oil cooler and solid plastic fan clear the rad by about 5/8" at the tightest point. and don't bother trying to cool that thing with an electric- IT Won't work very well. the 86 components all fit where they're supposed to. this is all bolt in factory stuff...my trans is still 55/40 style, but will change to late H42 and splitcase for a future H55 swap and the splitcase is better for many reasons in my opinion. the newer trans and transfer will require a crossmember be built/fit to support the longer assembly and this will mean the Ebrake will need to be in the axle-the rear FJ60/62 axle or in my case, a shortened to 59 1/2" wide full floating Elocking FZJ80 disk brake rear with built in Ebrake. I think there may be some minor cutting when using the later FJ60 trans/transfer at the trans hump on the floor of the 55. the 55 front axle is something to consider keeping and/or modifying-that is IF you have the front disks already. I did, so my plan is to keep the stocker and just use 1 1/2" spacers for now-this keeps the hubs further back into the recess of the wheel for some added protection AND allows me to leave the front suspension as is or even if I sprung it over, it would be a simple spring perch cut n turn- no grinding/notching the diff housing and/or outboarding springs as would have to be done with the 60 series front axle., Heck, I'd swap the outer from the 60 front onto an earlier drum pig axle just to save the hassle of the wider spring track of the 60...the scrub radius is a bit annoying, so I will say there is the option of using the 60 series front with the 4+ axle housing sleeve and some Longfield 30 splines with custum cut inner short side in order to keep the 55 spring track and not have to contend with the diff.....the 60/62 rear axle is a simple spring perch relocation and bolt it onto the 55 rear springs at factory points. of course, you'll need to do the PS mount and conversion and you'll benefit by having the FJ60 computer as I do now.... the seats, seatbelts and combination guage are all simple swaps-well, sort of...but the A/C... I'm still mulling that one over. goin on 8 years now and I have not found a way that I like without winning the lotto, but I'm gettin there. I think that the amount of work V amount of trouble being saved in the future is worth it. I love my pig, but the 60 series was a bit more refined all the way around, the steel in them is by definition 5-10 years younger, the parts seem to be easier to find, and it's not a great departure from the original beast. I always default to the 60 series when I need a pig part that I can't find/don't want to spend alot of money on...I guess the short story is NO, it's not a direct body swap or even a few hairs off, but nothing good is free, just do it