Builds HDJ80 LHD #snlcbuilt Ute (pickup) (5 Viewers)

[SNLC]

I guess I never mentioned it. I picked up this Moonglow parts truck awhile back. It has no title but is a west coast truck and rust free. I will be using (most) of the frame from it. Pigpen’s is really rusty crusty in the back and where the Cruiser took a hit to the front RHS, the body mount is cracked on the frame. So rather than mess with all that I will use the good frame, not all of it though.

We have been building this FTE for a customers Cruiser. That is my valve cover though and my FT will look just like this.

I am often acquiring this part or that part for the build. Just the other day I got my hands on a new OEM turn signal/headlights switch assembly for the column.

I bought this off a customer first week in July. It needed a ton of work so we fixed it up over the next five weeks and I think on Monday it is sold.

I haven’t given it a lot of thought but I am planning to spend some of that money on Pigpen, maybe on the bottom end of the engine.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

We recently swapped out the input shaft on this H152 for a customer. H151 input installed so it can mate to the FT/FTE engines.

My H152 is actually torn down and ready to swap the input too. So just a little bit of work and my H152 is ready go.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

So next purchases for the build I am debating on.

-Tires & wheels. Going beadlocks and big rubber so expensive! Maybe I will just do wheels first. Then again, need tires more to build it. So um ya, maybe I buy cheap wheels and the rubber so I am ready for building.

-Bottom end on the engine. I have known all along the top end was pretty trashed but I already have that sorted with a new head. No idea on bottom end until I tear it down and check it all. It sure would be cool to get my engine built though, mated to the trans & tcase ready to go.

-Axles, I am going to a five lug on the hubs. I already got the hubs and related parts. I now got the Diamond front housing too. I don’t have shafts or my diffs worked out yet. Probably going factory elockers simply cause I have locked 3rds already. I haven’t decided on my gears yet either.

-Suspension I really have not decided on. Got plenty of lifted coils around to pick from. Besides that not much in hand. Out of this list, suspension is my lowest priority currently.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Not sticking a 9.5" up front?

I think out of the gates probably not. Simply because I now have the Diamond for the 8” and an elocked 8” 3rd. Down the road if I end up busting the front I will consider upgrading.




This is certainly not a no expense spared build. I don’t have unlimited funds for the build. I am also trying to use parts I have at least to get it going.

I am also not going for full on rock crawler or buggy with the build. A lot of trails I run, if I do the hard lines I risk smashing up my 80. Just to much sheet metal on the full bodied 80. My other 80 is to nice for that so the concept with Pigpen, drive it to the trails even long trips, do the hardlines and be able to tackle some things that for sure will trash my 80. I have always wanted a coil sprung pickup too so this checks all those boxes.

It has been super hot here and in the shop I have not been very motivated for after hours work. Looks like it may start cooling down next week. We have also gotten several projects done and major work on others done. Two Cruisers at the shop are massive priorities but we are going strong on them now. Anyways point is we may have more time and room for this build in the coming months.

Cheers

 

[FMC80]

So next purchases for the build I am debating on.

-Tires & wheels. Going beadlocks and big rubber so expensive! Maybe I will just do wheels first. Then again, need tires more to build it. So um ya, maybe I buy cheap wheels and the rubber so I am ready for building.

-Bottom end on the engine. I have known all along the top end was pretty trashed but I already have that sorted with a new head. No idea on bottom end until I tear it down and check it all. It sure would be cool to get my engine built though, mated to the trans & tcase ready to go.

-Axles, I am going to a five lug on the hubs. I already got the hubs and related parts. I now got the Diamond front housing too. I don’t have shafts or my diffs worked out yet. Probably going factory elockers simply cause I have locked 3rds already. I haven’t decided on my gears yet either.

-Suspension I really have not decided on. Got plenty of lifted coils around to pick from. Besides that not much in hand. Out of this list, suspension is my lowest priority currently.

Cheers

Sounds like a great build and a whole lot more work and fun in your future! It’s great seeing the stars align with your purchase and being able to restore and offload so quickly.

 

[Feldrian]

I think out of the gates probably not. Simply because I now have the Diamond for the 8” and an elocked 8” 3rd. Down the road if I end up busting the front I will consider upgrading.




This is certainly not a no expense spared build. I don’t have unlimited funds for the build. I am also trying to use parts I have at least to get it going.

I am also not going for full on rock crawler or buggy with the build. A lot of trails I run, if I do the hard lines I risk smashing up my 80. Just to much sheet metal on the full bodied 80. My other 80 is to nice for that so the concept with Pigpen, drive it to the trails even long trips, do the hardlines and be able to tackle some things that for sure will trash my 80. I have always wanted a coil sprung pickup too so this checks all those boxes.

It has been super hot here and in the shop I have not been very motivated for after hours work. Looks like it may start cooling down next week. We have also gotten several projects done and major work on others done. Two Cruisers at the shop are massive priorities but we are going strong on them now. Anyways point is we may have more time and room for this build in the coming months.

Cheers

I struggle with the same challenge mentally and it's ultimately why I ended up buying the 80 trail truck. Body panels are harder and harder to come by and I tend towards hard lines. After a painful reminder in the "nice" truck of why it shouldn't be on a trail I'm glad I have the second abuse-mobile.

...And you're "nice" trucks are a lot nicer than mine =)

 

[SNLC]

This is what I am going for but with a bit more wheelbase.

Cheers

 

[ikarus]

This is what I am going for but with a bit more wheelbase.

View attachment 3421094View attachment 3421095

Cheers

Love it. Too cool

 

[SNLC]

I think I picked a direction to throw some money at this build. That’s going to be engine and getting as much of it built as I can at this time. I need some head parts and some bottom end parts. Beyond that there is tons of money to spend on injectors, injection pump, ALL the bolt ons and I think I am going to do a hood like pictured above. I found the hood finally! Thats a 2016+ 79-series 1VD DPF hood grafted to the 80 hood. I like it A LOT!

Last 1HDFTE we built we did a top mount intercooler utilizing a functional hood scoop and a large CrossCountry intercooler. Totally kept EGTs under control and you had to try real hard to crack 1200*f. With the DPF 79 hood I should be able to mount a really big top mount. This FTE by the way has 315rwhp and 550ftlbs to the rear wheels as well! I don’t expect that out of my FT but 250rwhp shouldn’t be a problem. My tcase is part tome so that helps.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Looks like it will be getting oversized pistons.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

The question currently in my mind is do I get these!?

Cheers

 

[lp2k]

yes - treat yo' self

 

[scottryana]

The question currently in my mind is do I get these!?

View attachment 3422039View attachment 3422040

Cheers

Probably about the same price as oem….

 

[SNLC]

Probably about the same price as oem….

Actually you are spot on with that.

FTE and FT conrods don’t seem to be a problem until you push them over 30psi, +70% fuel and 400hp. I am going +30% fuel, under 30psi and a Torfab Zeal Power Rod. ARP head studs, OEM 5-dot MLS head gasket.

Pistons are not bad cost wise, I can even get a new crank for $1000. I will find out tomorrow what the crank looks like, they almost always just need a polish. This engine though is fairly hammered. Just went through all my head parts “stash” today, I got almost everything. I am going to build a brand new head for this FT.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Man I forgot I have a Radius Fabrication 4” snorkel and a Moonlight air box with 4” in and out. I am probably going to build the air box though, I like the ones we have been doing that use a 200-series 5.7L v8 filter rated for 380hp. IE, they flow nice and are cheap plus a Toyota part.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Don’t mind me, I am going to blah’ on in my thread!

I was looking at tires and wheels the other night. May have decided on the Nitto M/T in 38x13.5r17 variety. Wheels being Raceline Monster in a 17”x8.5”. The Nitto is also available in a 37x12.5 but it measures 36.7 or whatever and we all know how that goes! The 38’s measure 37.75” so should be closer to a true 37 once on the Cruiser. As my good buddy said skip the wheels & tires for now, that’s a lot of $100 bills to let them sit around while you build the Cruiser. True enough but at some point I will need them to clearance front fenders and build the bed. Until then there is thousands to spend and hundreds of hours in work!

I may not get a Diamond rear housing right now to keep cost down. I want to go chromoly front shafts in the Diamond which is $$$. Plus I am going five lug conversion so I have to buy 105 rear axle shafts and build a 105 rear 3rd member, regear front 3rd too. All new 105 brakes all around planned which will cost some $$$, probably 100-series DBA rotors/pads with new 105 calipers. The 105 front calipers are bigger than 80 btw. So probably sticking with the Diamond front and stock rear housings for now. Got lots of $$$$ to spend on suspension as well even keeping it stock. Half tempted to do a 4WU 3-link front since I got to fab on the housing anyways but that is even more $$$. Maybe I will just do a cheesy radius arm flip for now. Did I mention a new 105-series steering box needed too? Ya it adds up real fast and I do have a cap on what I am spending right now. Should get my FT built and my hood, beyond that probably not much.

Got a new H152 and tcase ready to go though. Also got a whole bunch of frame fabrication that can be done and doesn't cost much besides time.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I struggle with the same challenge mentally and it's ultimately why I ended up buying the 80 trail truck. Body panels are harder and harder to come by and I tend towards hard lines. After a painful reminder in the "nice" truck of why it shouldn't be on a trail I'm glad I have the second abuse-mobile.

...And you're "nice" trucks are a lot nicer than mine =)

I think I am going to keep “Pigpen” it’s stock silver color.

My 95’ 80 is 6m1 and I love the color but it and any dark color sucks for off-roading. Pinstripes way worse as I am sure you know. I got no cut and polishing left on the 6m1, I fixed a slightly smashed rear quarter last winter and now I absolutely cringe dragging it through the brush which is common on trials here. It is so bad I have taken it upon myself to cut trails I like to run back!

Pigpen though, is a 4m7 and light colors go good with pinstripes. In fact white has really grown on me over the years for this reason. Sandy Taupe is rad too, Desert Dune as well but I had a 60 I loved that was silver. So I think 4m7 it will stay on Pigpen, we’ll see. Whatever I do, it is getting enough clear coat to cut & polish it 10x over the next 20+yrs. Bedliner (Raptor/LineX/whatever) is great for pinstripes but looks like crap imho over time and well, I like shiny paint.

Cheers

 

[FMC80]

I like where this is going. Which is everywhere and nowhere right now, but it’s exciting. I love the ideas and the excitement behind it all!

 

[SNLC]

Alright, so I have a plan for interior too. There is this guy Sam in Australia, his pages are “built not bought”. He is kind of a clown like a lot of these full time Youtubers / builders in Australia. Just my opinion by the way.

Anyways he built this fugly 80-series with a 200-series grafted front end. Turbo’ed 1FZ with all the goodies that is iirc 700-800hp. I think the Cruiser is a “drug dealer” build however I do like some things in the build.

In particular this...

Ya it’s kind of lame Euro rally car or teenage fart can Fast & Furious wannabe! However, I like the black and in particular I like what he did with the dash pad. He has a video on YT all about the interior. So I am thinking wrap the dash pad in black leather with custom logo stitched into it. I will be running the early 90’s black vinyl steering wheel (I think) since I have a new one and like it. No crazy stitching like this on door cards or seats but overall a dark grey and black interior for the cab is what I am thinking. X-tra cab space behind seats for sub/amp, storage, dog nest and whatever else fits! Perhaps a Dometic console “cooler”, definitely doing overhead console since it is a no sunroof 80!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I like where this is going. Which is everywhere and nowhere right now, but it’s exciting. I love the ideas and the excitement behind it all!

Ya well, I am just a Land Cruiser mechanic/builder so don’t have $50k currently to drop on the build. I am picking away at it as I can, I have thought of selling my 95’ 80 to fund the full on Pigpen “splurge” but I really really like it and want to keep it for now. Long term (5-10yrs) it is probably Pigpen and some sort of 70-series for my two Cruiser limit! I am fairly sure once Pigpen is built I won’t be using my 95’ FZJ80 for much so will consider selling it much harder at that point.

BTW, it is super tempting to “FTE” this FT since I do have an FTE pump (and my head is “FTE) but again trying to keep this somewhat manageable $$$ wise and as soon as I go FTE it gets substantially more expensive. In the end, Pigpen will be ALL go mode if we get hit with an EMP! Mechanical has it’s advantages!

Cheers