hj47 on 80 series frame

[wild 45]

anyone done this ? i have a hj47 i have an ls1 mounted in it,but everyone keeps telling me i should change it from leaf to coil springs,i figured probly one of the easiest and cheapest ways would be to get just the frame of an 80 series and mount my cab to it,use my ls1 an gear box?? wat do yous think??

 

[dingbatt]

First of all, PLEASE don't do that to an HJ47!

Personally I love mine for its "old world charm" so to speak, I drive the HJ47 for its beautiful simplicity of engineering and aesthetic.

But, if you insist, this particular German fellow has made a very impressive truck indeed, using an 80 series frame and a 45 series tub I believe.
Check it out, its very impressive:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/expedition-builds/245430-travelling-cruisers.html

But please don't do it.

 

[wild 45]

decent

yea that isnt a badd rig,,except the purpose for my cruiser is going to be pretty much for fun ,its just going to get taken of road eventually goin to have alot of lift and big wheels for some serious off roading,the 80 frame in my mind wouldbe alot eaisier to lift and would always be more able for flex exc in my mind?? what are you thorts?

 

[flaminbandit]

if i could find a 80 series rolling chassi cheapish id do it without a worry

 

[2manycruisers]

80s work amazingly well. If you could put your troopy body on one, it would be awesome. I'd trade the leaf springs under my troopy for a nice coil setup any day.

 

[Chamba]

I'm with you David: best of both worlds. I'd do it to Patches in a minute.

 

[flaminbandit]

any ideas on how to go about the 100mm wheelbase difference 45- 2950mm 80 2850mm i was thinkin stretch the 80 chassi by 200 or 300mm and move the axle further back but seems a extreme way to go

yes im following up a lead i got on a rolling chassi last night

 

[wild 45]

ute

my cruiser is a ute but,,so as long as the front wheels line up nicely i can make the tray to suit as i have not got one yet,it will be a machine i think

 

[65-fj45]

Here is a build for you, Placing a fj45 body on an 80 chasis.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-corner/34899-project-x.html

 

[flaminbandit]

yeah a ute would be easier as your only mounting the small tub i want to mount a troopy body onto it so id need to stretch the 80's wheelbase

ive seen that thread and read the whole thing ages ago some awesome work went into that

 

[Chamba]

Depending on who does the conversion for you, bear in mind that it may be expensive to get Big Brother to issue an Australian engineer's compliance plate. I know a fellow here in Adelaide who put a 1HD-T, 5 speed and axles from an HJ78 troopy under his 1984 HJ47 ute. He kept the HJ47 chassis. He told me that it took him nearly six months and several thousand dollars to get Big Brother to approve the conversion. Meanwhile, he had to trailer the rig back and forth to the inspection because they revoked his rego after his first attempt to get it approved.

Remember that many of these conversion threads were done in America, where the government does not spend nearly so much time making sure that everyone is 'safe'.

 

[flaminbandit]

yeah engineering is just insane here cost wise but adelaide is the worst along with qld

its around 1500 to engineer a body swap thats only there fee for checking the work is all good and writing out a sheet of paper for you