Builds “It’s only a motor swap and an axle swap” FJ55, 2UZ, 5 speed, 80 axle build (1 Viewer)

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Location
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www.tachedoutoffroad.com
I know there are only a few of us weirdos in the 55 section, so I’ll post this here too.

Well, it’s finally happening....

The Dream Pig showed up today!

After months of searching and a few false starts, the rust free, California edition, super clean, bad transmission, great deal, ‘73 Hog has landed here in Tuscaloosa today.

As it sits today:
1973 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ55 “Iron Pig”
Chebby 350, 700R4 (broken)
Twin stick Toyota t-case
Saginaw PS swap
Four wheel disc brakes
Vintage Air AC (possibly in-op?)
Pretty good window rubber all around
Bucket seats (power!!)
New carpet with sound deadening
Radio works
Dome light works
Gages seem to all work
Back window works
.....damn, what a beauty...

so, this is my
1) Dream Build of 20 years of driving Toyotas
2) retire from Army and drive from Alaska to Alabama summer of 2021 build
3) Shop Build to advertise my new business
4) “it’s only an axle swap and motor swap” build


Build specs:
UPDATED
2001 4.7L 2UZ out of a LX470
NorthWestToys bellhousing
Off Road Solutions wiring harness
Marlin Crawler built R150F 5 speed manual
LC Engineering dual comp clutch
MC adapter for gear driven case
MC 23 spline dual cases
Redesigns triple stick/ rear case relocation
Front Range Off Road skid plate
FROR Tcase rear mount
1997 E-locked FJ80 axles
Fully serviced axles
FJ105 locking hubs
Slee beefy tie rod and drag link
Old Man Emu coil springs
OME BP-51 giant shocks (bypass)
Working A/C
55 gallon fuel tank
17” steel wheels to skinny her up a little
35” KM3s
homemade bumpers and sliders
Underbody and inside painted with rust prevention and heat/sound proofing


.....last but not least, in a steak dinner bet made with @cruiserjunktion , this will be ready by the FJ55 ride in Fall of 2020!! Yes, this fall..

special thanks to @cruiserjunktion @J Mack@FJ60Cam @nvrlose54 for their motivational spirits to help promote me to spend money I don’t have!!! Yall are the best fellas!!

Bacon pics!!!

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considering stealing these 35” KM3s of my 80 for sale and putting them on FJC steel wheels ...

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Nice.
 
Looks like a great start. I didn’t know it was possible to put a manual behind a 2uz.

NWToys has all the parts to put the Tacoma style trans behind it which bolts to mini-truck style, gear driven cases. They are in the US and have been awesome to deal with.

Dello is based out of Australia and they have a bellhousing/kit/everything for a H55 but it’s $600-800 more and they never really responded to my emails... so? I sure it’s a good product, just seems overly difficult to obtain.

I dont believe the centered output will be an issue, the gear spread is good for daily driving, and the new Marlin Crawler transmission is $1500 instead of $3500? For an H55, and I really like dual cases as well. It’s a win win.
 
Cool build, I look forward to watching you put it together.
 
Cool build, I look forward to watching you put it together.

I’m really trying to get this knocked out sooner than later. I’m working for myself now, and am going to hit it hard once I get these 3 customer trucks finished and out of the way.

everyday I walk by the 3 non-driving trucks and am ready for them to be 1 badass rig!
 
That is a great recipe, that truck will be so cool and capable when you’re done. Hehe, “done”.
 
-Tuesday
Took son to try out for a Music scholarship. Went well, no pics.

-Wednesday
shuffled 3 non running rigs around outside to get 80 inside.

Smashed 100 door. Oops. It is out of the way now though.

Tralier winched saves the day again!

Got 80 body off

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-Thursday
Measure, cut, measure, cut, measure, measure, grind, ratchet strap, cut, strap, weld

cut 5.5” out of 80 frame to get wheel base to match 55+ 1/2”. Moves front axle forward a little.

Location was selected because 1)There was a factory seam on the inside of the frame already 2) frame was straight here 3) radius arm mount acts as a scab plate. The 80 frame is like 2 pieces of C channel welded together, one a little larger than the other, not a piece of tubing.

-and put on 35”s and FJC 17”s

-when grinding for hours: old nomex flight suit, face mask, safety glasses, backwards hat, grinding mask, ear plugs, gloves. And patience.



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