FJ80 truggy, removed rockers?

[Camino]

Has anyone removed their rockers on their fj80 modified rig to narrow up the width between rock sliders? I have mangled the TG sliders and need to fab new sliders and would like to pull them in tight. any pics of fj80 modified sliders would be appreciated. Thanx, Larry

 

[FZJ80 in KC]

Check out @jcardona1 's build thread. He just completed the driver's side, but hasn't tackled the passenger side yet. He made up his own sliders with square stock and tube bump outs.

Evolution of a Land Cruiser: My 80's build thread

Great rig BTW!!

 

[jcardona1]

I cut out my rockers but it was mostly for ground clearance, not to decrease width. I cut them out, sealed off the cavity and built new sliders. Still haven't done the passenger side yet though.

 

[Camino]

Thanx so much! That is exactly the pic I was looking for. I wish I would have built those rectangle stock sliders to begin with. The TG sliders bend too easy under the 80's weight. Did you find any apparent weakness in that side of the body after removing rockers? Thanx again, Larry

 

[jcardona1]

Thanx so much! That is exactly the pic I was looking for. I wish I would have built those rectangle stock sliders to begin with. The TG sliders bend too easy under the 80's weight. Did you find any apparent weakness in that side of the body after removing rockers? Thanx again, Larry

After cutting out the rockers, yes. The door sill felt really flimsy and I didn't think it would hold up to a person's weight very well. Also, the pillars and body cross members all converge into the rocker cavity. That's why I sealed it all up with 10ga plate. You'll notice how I tied in the body cross members with the plate as well.

 

[epike7915]

I cut out my rockers but it was mostly for ground clearance, not to decrease width. I cut them out, sealed off the cavity and built new sliders. Still haven't done the passenger side yet though.

Jose,
Do you have a pic of it with the new slider yet?
E.
@jcardona1

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Dude if you don't have doors chop all that nonsense out and boatside with some heavy plate or HDPE and forget sliders.

http://i52.tinypic.com/2lvboyd.jpg

 

[jcardona1]

Jose,
Do you have a pic of it with the new slider yet?
E.
@jcardona1

Here you go.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Love the look of that thing jcardona!

I did similar with my 105 series. It's daily driven and our cars have to pass an annual roadworthy inspection, so I couldn't go to hard core.

I was looking for better ground clearance, reduced width, and wanted it to look stock.
I run 2" lift and 35s off road, so ground clearance counts.

I cut away the outer part of the rocker and added a cut and shut 3"×3" rhs plus a 1"×3" rhs stitched together. I also reshaped and trimmed the inner rocker panel for another 1" clearance.
I tapered the bottom outer edge (my try-hard boat siding. lol ) to improve clearance and to help bump the car off rocks
The tubes for the step passes through everything and is welded to the inner panel of the rocker. I positioned the tubes to coincide with ribs in the floor pan.
Rocker was fully welded at the step treads inside the doors.
This is tuff as! I have dropped hard off rock ledges onto these sliders without any sign of damage. I gained maybe 4-5" clearance at the rockers compared to typical sliders, and it's narrower too.

If I could have gotten through roadworthy, I would have boats sided it.