FZJ80 running gear under an FJ55?

[Ironwagon]

Hi All, It's been a while since I’ve posted. But I’ve got another ‘brilliant’ idea and need the voices of reason before it costs me any more money.

The question I’ve got for everyone is regarding the use of an 80’s suspension under a 55. What I'm thinkin’ of doing is pulling the links, panards, springs, and axle housings from a ’96 FZJ80 and putting them under my FJ55. I realize it’s not going to be a plug-n-play deal; however, fab work should be limited to frame brackets, spring buckets, and maybe some clearance issues.

Has anyone ever done or seen this done? I’ve seen a few linked 55’s and a ton of 40’s but haven’t seen anyone mention using OEM 80 suspension in a project of this nature. I’m probably over simplifying thism, as I do most things, so I’d really appreciate some feedback from those in the know.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[jfz80]

its come up a couple times before but here are a couple recent ones.....
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=92355&highlight=coils+pig

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=119024&highlight=coils+pig

search through the tech links and the iron pig pres. society.

 

[Ironwagon]

Thanks for the links fzj80.

I've followed most of Ryan's build, but he's using aftermarket coilovers for the front and I think the rear is still leaf sprung. (Ryan chime in if I'm wrong).

The question I have has more to do with stock 80 links and housings (keeping everything on the 80 axles in stock locations; including sterring arms, link brackets, spring buckets) and fitting them under a 55. From what Ryan has mentioned I guess the biggest obstacle in doing this is the location of spring pans on the 80 axle being too wide for the 55 frame?

 

[LC_Hamma]

Surely you can modify the top 80's coil spring buckets to fit the 55's frame (?) The real problem will be getting the steering to work out (?) since it's behind the axle but maybe you could swap in a behind the knuckle steering arm. If you're going to all this trouble, I'd fab up some longer links & not use the stock 80 stuff. You got room for a track bar front & rear on that 55, cuz that's how an 80 is set up? May as well triangulate the rears to delete that.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Andre (dieselcruiserhead) is doing something along these lines. He's dropping a 55 body onto an 80 frame with 80 suspension and axles. I think he's using a 4bt for the motor.

 

[Gumby]

I put the 80 axle rear under the 55, but as mentioned, why stick with the stock parts? I triangulated the uppers rather than use a track bar and I had to move the spring perches to work with the 55 frame. I used 80 bushings top and bottom including 80 bottom links for the upper links on mine.

The stock 80 geometry really doesn't have a ton of flex. It's pretty easy to lift a tire.

I've been spending some time looking at the front stuff. I had all the 80 parts on a 40 frame and now they're all on a shelf in the shop. Depending how the rear works, I might do the front. I'd wrist one of the front arms as well.

There is a bit of an issue with width. On the 40 the tire flexing up would get into the spring with the 80 spring buckets welded to the outside of the 40 frame. An 80 front axle might not with the extra width. If I come across a good 80 e-locked front and I can sell my elocked 55 front I might try it.

My new 55 project is going to be a 55 body on something else's frame. I'd like to do a FJC or 100 series. The FJC is exactly the right wheelbase. The 100 would require a 5 inch body stretch that I would do in the front doors, or a 5 inch frame section like Andre did. The 100 at least would also require a cooling system move like Waggoner's 45 or moving the drive train back on the frame like I think Andre is. The 80/100 has more engine hanging over the axle than a 55 does by about 5 inches.

 

[scottryana]

FJ80 under a 55

Iron Wagon,

This is a solid idea, but I don't think that it would be as easy as it sounds. A lot of this will depend on what engine you are going to run, how the panhard will fit, you will have to move the spring buckets on the axle and fabricate buckets on your frame. The arms on the 80's are pretty short and will give you poor steering characteristics if you don't correct the caster. For all the work you can link the front just as easy. If you don't want to pay for coilovers you can still link with the stock 80 springs. The hardest problem I had with the 80 axles was the steering. If you have any questions, let me know I learned a lot from when I did mine.

Ryan.

Thanks for the links fzj80.

I've followed most of Ryan's build, but he's using aftermarket coilovers for the front and I think the rear is still leaf sprung. (Ryan chime in if I'm wrong).

The question I have has more to do with stock 80 links and housings (keeping everything on the 80 axles in stock locations; including sterring arms, link brackets, spring buckets) and fitting them under a 55. From what Ryan has mentioned I guess the biggest obstacle in doing this is the location of spring pans on the 80 axle being too wide for the 55 frame?

 

[IronBenderII]

Hey JD, we can do this for sure. I think it would be cool to use stock 80 stuff. It will be some work and we'd want to do some modifications (like free up one of the links to allow the suspension to flex in the front) but it's doable.

On the otherside, if your only real reason for doing this is to save cash, we can do what we did for Jake and substitute the heims with spring bushings and save a lot of cash (and maybe some work). Getting the stock spring buckets would help but the rest we could just do from scratch.

Lots of options, no matter what, linking that bad-boy will be sweet.

Jack

 

[kilercl0ne]

I'm revamping the process fj80 frame and suspension axels and all with an fj55 body on top probably going gm v8 automatic gm t case . I've got plenty of 55 donors no 80 as yet wheel base is 6" different between the 2 .I'm thinking after just looking at a v8 1972 fj55 I'd gain so much in strength, almost centered rear pumpkin, lift ,possible e locker . Vs cut ,gut , spring over , steering correction .disc brake conversation. Someone pop my bubble am I right ?