HJ55 Project Idea

[Radd Cruisers]

Been trying to purchase a fairly clean 55 from the states for a build I have in mind.


1 Drive train donour will be a HJ61 from japan, cable lockers, 12HT, auto?five speed?, PTO.


2 Been hashing some ideas on how to approach this build, prolly pull the body off the frame and put it on a rotisory.

3 Gas pot would be pull along with axles springs, sandblash frame and weld through primered.

4 Design and build a four link rear suspension, three link front using a simular design too the twisties that metal tech uses instead of costly heim joints. Will choose link material size and thickness after talking with the guy who will cad it for me. Use coils from TJ four door, purchase buckets and brackets for linkin from a guy on this board

5 Drop in motor ,tranny, transfercase, PTO, hook up drive shafts, runn new fuel lines, brake lines, most of these parts are hopefully going to salvage off the donour vehicle.

6 Interior, hope to use all the seats out of the HJ61 as the front come heated in some models and suspension front are also available(got a set on the shelf), rear seats out of the HJ61 fold down right or left seperate. Not sure what I will do for interior since this will be a bit of a budget build.

7 Power steering box off the right hand drive may be used on the inside of the frame? Again without the 55 I am only speculating.

Any ideas or improvments would be appreciated.

Rob

 

[FineWynsFJ40]

Why butcher a good HJ61? If you don't want it, I'll take it off your hands

Brian

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Tons of Hj61s, I will look for a salvage truck.

Why butcher a good HJ61? If you don't want it, I'll take it off your hands

Brian

 

[LC_Hamma]

4 Design and build a four link rear suspension, three link front using a simular design too the twisties that metal tech uses instead of costly heim joints. Will choose link material size and thickness after talking with the guy who will cad it for me. Use coils from TJ four door, purchase buckets and brackets for linkin from a guy on this board

Finally, a non-stock buildup! Yeaaaah
One piece of avice I can give is to take some pics of a TJ frame, in particular, how much wider it is at the front around the engine bay (driver side). I think it's wider due to the frame link mount that connects to the top of the front axle housing. Will you have frame space either side for your 3rd link (?). Also, note how high the rear frame bows up over the axle housing to allow for longer coils. Your LC frame is straight across there, so maybe go with smaller radius coils & move them up & inside the frame. Keep in mind your location of the front panhard bar / steering linkage interference. I had to mount the panhard on my 40 directly over the housing as I had no other available space. Can't wait to see the progress

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Once reason I did choose the TJ is I thought they were fairly narrow front springs, hoping there is enought on the outside of the frame for them, 60 series axles are a bit wider only downside is its the long side that is longer.

Heard locating the panhard can be a issue with the steering linkage.

Was thinking of inboarding the rear springs like the 80 series.


My goal is for it to look fairly stock and ride nice sand smooth like a 80 series, daily drive so not to big a lift or to big a tire.

Guessing for road manners it will need some type of sway bar.

Finally, a non-stock buildup! Yeaaaah
One piece of avice I can give is to take some pics of a TJ frame, in particular, how much wider it is at the front around the engine bay (driver side). I think it's wider due to the frame link mount that connects to the top of the front axle housing. Will you have frame space either side for your 3rd link (?). Also, note how high the rear frame bows up over the axle housing to allow for longer coils. Your LC frame is straight across there, so maybe go with smaller radius coils & move them up & inside the frame. Keep in mind your location of the front panhard bar / steering linkage interference. I had to mount the panhard on my 40 directly over the housing as I had no other available space. Can't wait to see the progress [/QUOTE]

 

[LC_Hamma]

Was thinking of inboarding the rear springs like the 80 series.


My goal is for it to look fairly stock and ride nice sand smooth like a 80 series, daily drive so not to big a lift or to big a tire.

Guessing for road manners it will need some type of sway bar.


You might try some Grand Cherokee rears as they have a smaller dia. than the TJ rears & also have a larger spring rate, being a wagon. That's what I was going to do, but I already had the TJ coil buckets placed on the frame & rear axle housing

On the sway bar issue, I didn't need them on my 40, I guess cuz my ride ht. is very low or my springs are stiff I'll hafta wait & see if my 55 needs 'em yet. Also, note where the front sway bar is located on the TJ frame, just behind the upper front crossmember, which seems to be the *ideal location. I tried to mount the one on my 40 under the frame, above the axle housing & it was very tight.

 

[FJBen]

What joints are the metal tech twisties???

 

[RHINO]

maybe this? seller says its got some rust but in AZ it might not be too bad.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=189320

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Better than that rig, Pighead looked at it for me and gave it the thumbs up for a build vehicle. Also to mention Surfpig put me in touch with Pighead, big thanks to both for thier help.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

They have a thread on mud I think in the vendor section on these joints, they named them something else though?

What joints are the metal tech twisties???

 

[Radd Cruisers]

How about the four runner rear coils, pretty narrow and a heavey rig???

You might try some Grand Cherokee rears as they have a smaller dia. than the TJ rears & also have a larger spring rate, being a wagon. That's what I was going to do, but I already had the TJ coil buckets placed on the frame & rear axle housing

On the sway bar issue, I didn't need them on my 40, I guess cuz my ride ht. is very low or my springs are stiff I'll hafta wait & see if my 55 needs 'em yet. Also, note where the front sway bar is located on the TJ frame, just behind the upper front crossmember, which seems to be the *ideal location. I tried to mount the one on my 40 under the frame, above the axle housing & it was very tight.[/QUOTE]

 

[RHINO]

not sure about spring rate yet, but, runner rear coils are the same diameter as 80 front coils, the 80 coils are a fair bit longer though.