Build “It’s only an axle swap and a motor swap” aka AK2AL aka Dream Build

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What guides did you use to position the body on the chassis? As far as I can see its about making the rear wheel centered in the wheelwell.. interested to hear your take on it.

Also does your 80 chassis have any lift in it (haven't read back) and are they 35s on it now? I'm just looking at the static height thats all..(and wondering if mine will sit that high)
 
brisveganbj42 said:
What guides did you use to position the body on the chassis? As far as I can see its about making the rear wheel centered in the wheelwell.. interested to hear your take on it.

Also does your 80 chassis have any lift in it (haven't read back) and are they 35s on it now? I'm just looking at the static height thats all..(and wondering if mine will sit that high)
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-got the wheelbase I wanted, stock +0.5”, when cut frame
-put on FJ80 OME 2” medium lift springs, have to look up part number. Netted about a 3” lift over what a stock FJ80 suspension would be.
-raised the body 1” over stock to make drivetrain and rear coil buckets fit
-35” tires on
-Then, centered the rear tire in the rear fender wheel
-now to make body mounts

-adding Slee front control arms for caster correction


-my understanding is the rear suspension will more rearward a little under compression
-I don’t think it will sit any lower with the 35”s. If the compresses too much, I’ll add new springs and/or spring spacers, and/or lower bump stops

-disclaimer: I’m not very smart and also have no idea what I’m doing
 
J Mack said:
Cue the ………wait, I’m not sure even Barry White could help him with that.
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Oh Yeah!!!
I saw @scrapdaddy ask about using the other hole and smirked a bit. My first thought was to make the same selective quote you did, but then I thought maybe not everyone has the same sense of humor I do, so I practiced restraint.
Glad to see my humor would appeal to at least one other!
 
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TachedOutOffRoad said:
That’s what my lovely assistant is for....
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Oh yeah!!!
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scrapdaddy said:
That just ain't right. :)
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That was so right!

Right as rain.

I have missed hanging out in here with you guys.

One of the DD went down, so I have been tearing apart the e46 BMW. The guys on e46 fanatics don't seem to have the same sense of humor...
 
Lot of work this week. Not many cool pics though.

fought this ridiculous tank for hours and hours. The bracket that came with it had to be cut to fit ANY 55. There are only so many was your can flip 2 brackets around to try to make them fit, but I damn sure tried each way a minimum of 4 times each. After cutting them, had to drill new holes to push it backwards some for my 80 chassis. I nearly broke my hand only 7 times fighting this thing.

but it’s in....

it is huge. It will get a skid plate. Will look better with a bumper coving a lot of it

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Made 8 body mounts. About 30-45 each for my slow ass. They aren’t beautiful, but the body won’t fall off. Used 4Runner/mini truck bushings and cobbered-fabbeled each mount.

I scratched my head on this one dumb one for too long. Once I saw it went all the way through the body under the back seat, it was an easy fix. I finally drilled a new hole over 3” and BAM, she in.

the ones under the driver seat were easist to access, but had to measure, cut, measure, fit, grind, fit, to get it.

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It’s has some old something sprayed/painted under the body. The only way it could be this well done is with the body off some time in the past. Maybe with the old 350 swap? Zero rust found.

I ripped out what was flaking, acetoned the whole underside, painted a rustoleum primer layer with this sound deading stuff, then a another black rustoleum layer with the sound deading stuff. It’s supposed to be super bad ass, drop temps, and reduce sound. Well see! It’s almost a powered/tiny sand mix. The whole bottom side of the truck, inside fenders, firewall, inside and outside, every nook and cranny got two coats. Will do the inside later.


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I really wanted the body to be bolted down for the last time at the end of this week, but just didn’t make it. Got a lot done and really trying to finish anything that makes sense to do with body in the air.

it’s hot as hell in Alabama and going out on the boat with the kids is a top priority. We go 4+ days a week. Good decompression from sweating in shop.

to have the “body swap/frame swap” complete:
-Front cross member
-touch up under-paint
-very front, double body mount
-then bolt body down for the last time in a long time I hope
-bolt in tank

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Kind of related, we bought a small camper/ large teardrop. It’s getting some 33”/315”s on 6 lug wheels, front rack, roof rack, etc.

I was going to build smaller, but this popped up, everyone likes it, covers home camperimg, and will be really nice for month long trips too. It’s a nice ACd shelter and pimp kitchen, but not some god awful 35’ double slide out thing.

This is our 2 week out west/ 5 week AK2AL living quarters



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wngrog said:
Yes. I am glad you drew that line. Totally do-able.

I glued a plastic skid plate to mine and it’s not hit anything yet.

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I was going to weld some supports coming down off the mounting bracket, then bolt on that thick plastic cutting board stuff that buggies use as skid plates.

what did you glue in on with? Some heavy duty glue and some tabs on the side might keep it secure enough.
 
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