Builds Hybrid FJ79/62 Series Build

[tlcruiserman]

So which transmission did you have in the 80 you are using, A442F (older) or the A343F?

I only ask as a shameless plug for all of the goodies I offer for the Auto tranys to get better performance out of them:

Extreme Valve Bodies - better shifting, more power to the wheels, increased towing capacity.

Manual Torque Converter lockup - great for towing and wheeling, in combination with Valve Body you can get manual lockup in all forward gears and reverse (without just 2-4).

Just mentioning

Cheers,

Michael

 

[MSGGrunt]

The donor truck is a 1996, so the transmission is the newer A343F.

 

[MSGGrunt]

The cruise control has 7 wires going into it, which means nothing to me. Automotive electrical is not my strong suit.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Well, I took the plunge today and started stripping the donor 80. I got the entire front clip off, and the dash and wiring harness removed. Worked for about 8 hours on it. The main harness under the dash is a project and a half. I also spent some time ridding the harness of some of the electronics I won't need on the 79

 

[thepinktaco]

Nice project. In my area too.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Feel free to stop in if your in the area.

 

[tlcruiserman]

Well, I took the plunge today and started stripping the donor 80. I got the entire front clip off, and the dash and wiring harness removed. Worked for about 8 hours on it. The main harness under the dash is a project and a half. I also spent some time ridding the harness of some of the electronics I won't need on the 79

Ok, so the 1996 actually has a cruiser control ECU, it was near the steering column behind the dash. Basically as long as you take the whole harness and all of the relays, boxes and ECM's you should be fine with the cruiser control working. The Transmission EMC is part of the Engine ECM, but the cruise control has its own ecm that links into the Engine EMC it gets info from the EMC like speed sensor, RPM's, Transmission information as well. If you run into any trouble I have a wiring manual for a 1996 so I can look stuff up for you if you need.

Cheers,

Michael

 

[MSGGrunt]

Spent the day today removing the 80's body from the frame. Let it be known that ONE person working alone can remove an 80's body with nothing more than a 1 Ton engine hoist, some cribbing and lots of time, Though having access to a forklift would have made it much easier..

 

[MSGGrunt]

Picture of the frame without the body and one showing a template I made with the width of the 80's cab mount and the 79 series cab mount.

Now the fun part of the build begins.

 

[lowenbrau]

I'm glad you are going to try a short bed on the stock frame. That is exactly what I have in mind. I'm going to lose the 79 frame and axles and just dump the cab on an FZJ80 for now. (diesel swap later) I'm going to build a custom dump bed and I'm hoping it will be at least 5'6" without having too poor of a departure angle.

Thanks for pioneering this. There are a bunch of us watching.

 

[lshobie]

I have a bed with about 1 foot overhang, I have never caught it up on anything that I can think of and I have been in some tight spots. when the OME lift with 36 SS and with home made antireversing shackles the back deck is about 50 inches high - - not like a bumper on a wagon. That being said I am ditching the flat deck and fabbing up a tube cage/deck for the back and will bob the frame to the spring mounts.

My new "deck" will look more like a comp deck from oz where I can line up my off road tires and gear easily, light bar, and a bunch of other stuff. I don't use my deck for hauling now so it is useless on my truck. Too bad you weren't closer bruce as this deck would be perfect for you, bob it put sides on it and it is better than any aluminum plate deck as the aluminum planking is extruded - what they use on tractor trailer flat decks.

Louis

 

[MSGGrunt]

I'm looking forward to getting the front body mounted so I can mock up some body mounts. I may even go with a 1" body lift depending on how the 79 cab sits on the 80's frame.

The cab won't be mounted permanently as while I have the body off and lots of room around the engine I'm going to change the head gasket and all the seals, front and rear main included, gaskets, belts and hoses, including the PHH that haunts us 80's guys.

 

[Joseph Siri]

that is a lot more work than i would ever be able to do. i am very impressed

 

[Clint79]

This is the good part where you can see s*** is starting to happen for ya

Btw was there any thing wrong with your doner 80, looks fairly decked out

 

[swamprunner]

never thought of taking the body off with an engine hoist...you have way more patience than me. I though about trying to save the shell...but then i got impatient and grabbed my buddies back hoe just down the road and off to the scrapper it went

just a heads up...your gonna have to cut the inner fenders to clear the shock towers. Its not hard but it requires some time if you want it to look good.

you've got the easy part done...now the fun begins

 

[MSGGrunt]

Thanks for the inner fender advice. Sounds like I'll be buying an air saw. Any pictures of the modification?

Yeah, taking the body off alone with just and engine hoist was a lesson in patience. It is now sitting in my driveway waiting to go off to the scrap yard.

 

[rain76king]

Looks great Dave. Can't wait to see this in person.

 

[tlcruiserman]

never thought of taking the body off with an engine hoist...you have way more patience than me. I though about trying to save the shell...but then i got impatient and grabbed my buddies back hoe just down the road and off to the scrapper it went

just a heads up...your gonna have to cut the inner fenders to clear the shock towers. Its not hard but it requires some time if you want it to look good.

you've got the easy part done...now the fun begins

Really, I used to use that all the time..Then I got a lift..makes life easier that is for sure, but good memories to see the old host method

Old way...

New way



Looking good so far

 

[lowenbrau]

New way



Looking good so far

An outdoor hoist... bizarre.

Still snowing big flakes here today.

It seems a shame to be wasting all these 80 series bodies. We chopped up the last one into patch panels and kept it but no one seems to need them.

 

[swamprunner]

no pics of the shock towers on my computer...i'll try to get some next time I'm near the truck. You will have to cut a notch out for the steering box also. I used a jig saw with a metal blade and it work good for me. I would have used the plasma cutter if the truck was a beater.

the lift sure does make it easy...the backhoe is more fun though. if you guys aren't saving the bodies why not just hook a strap to it an pull it off with another truck?