I've done it. SOA BJ45 Troopie

[troopie]

After a long time debating with myself about the pros and cons. I went ahead and performed a SOA conversion on my 45. And in the process swapped in a Australian import rust free chassis.

I took my time and started to collect parts, mostly found in the Mud classifieds. The partslist i found here include: A partly used Ruffstuff SOA kit, Ford shocktowers, NOS 14" Bilsteins, Highsteer arms and some small stuff.

Last november work started to slow down and i tore down the Cruiser. In that process i found that the chassis was in even worse shape than expected. For instance, the left front springhanger was almost torn off the chassis and it was full of cracks.
Here are two pictures of the spring hanger:

I was a happy camper to get that one weighed in and to get the Ozzie chassis in my small and messy shopish area.

I kept it SUA to be able to move it easily.

Than i moved to the rear axle. That's the easy one. In the mean time i placed the engine and transmission on the chassis to be able to get the pinion angle right.
At the same time i found out that 14" shocks are to long to be fitted, even when mounted on a angle. But i fitted them anyway, but that's all i have right now. I have a line on 12" billies localy, so they will be swapped.

(don't mind the mess, i'm a sloppy wrencher)

 

[troopie]

On to the front axle.

After reading a thread about using FJ60 rear springs on the front of a 40 series. I thougth what the heck. And i was lacking usable 40 front springs and rear 60 springs where easy to get.

I moved the fixed spring hanger 45mm towards the rear and the front hanger 10mm towards the front. And used a longer shackle to take up the excess spring lenght. This resulted in a pretty steep shackle angle, which should be good for droop.

Then there is the C&T. Eventhough it's not that hard, you still have to take the angle grinder to a perfect front axle. But in the end it's really easy, just nervewrecking.
I set the caster at 3 degrees. Thanks to Georg (Orangefj45). I was planning on 6 degrees, but he advised me against that much.

Everybody has seen a cut and turned axle, so i'm not going to bore you with pictures.

I also had to place the 60 series PS on the new chassis. Together with the Ford shocktowers it was a tight fit. Especially since i guess i replaced the steering box with one from an LJ70 Landcruiser. Which has a weird protrusion on it. That resulted in the shocktower needing surgery. But in the end it all fits.

That concluded the basic SOA stuff.

 

[troopie]

Next up was the PS pump. The stock one was tired and because i was planning on running 37" tires i needed an upgrade. I ordered a Trailgear pump and fabbed up a bracket to fit it on a 12HT engine.
I also moved it to the A/C pulley. This way i have a little more room for the lower radiator hose.

I also fitted a Mocal oilcooler for the PS. And with the intercooler it gets pretty crowded up front.

After mocking up everything i found out that because of the taller shocktowers there was no room for the intercooler piping the way it was before.
That called for a ricer blinged out intercooler piping kit and piecing together something that fits.

It doesn't even look that bad with the polished piping and i removed two restricions in the previous piping, which should help performance a bit.

In the mean time i ordered a set of 17" steel procomp wheels from 4wheelparts. I couldn't find 17" wheels which i liked in Europe and in the end i got the wheels i liked for less $ than wheels i didn't like if i bought something overhere.

These are the ones i got:

Then after all was done, this is the result:

 

[troopie]

And for fun a comparion with my other car:

The Troopie ended up a big bitch.

I still have to do some tidying up, but it drives so much better now than it ever did SUA. The only downsides, it doesn't like corners but it's not a sportscar anyway.
I took it up to ~90MPH and it tracks straight with no vibrations what so ever!

I don't remember the mudmembers from whom i bought the parts, but a big thank you for helping me out!!!

 

[Kief]

Nice job.

 

[jc71fj40]

i love the proportions!! looks awesome

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

That looks awesome. What tires are you running? You mentioned 17" rims but your signiture line has 16's, is that your old tire?

I agree w/ the ride quality of SOA, much better than any SUA lifted vehicle. They're just a bit big...but look great.

Is the rear wheel opening trimmed at all?

What's next?

 

[Deny]

Kick Ass! nice truck.

 

[troopie]

That looks awesome. What tires are you running? You mentioned 17" rims but your signiture line has 16's, is that your old tire?

I agree w/ the ride quality of SOA, much better than any SUA lifted vehicle. They're just a bit big...but look great.

Is the rear wheel opening trimmed at all?

What's next?

I'm running 37x12.50-17 BFGoodridge Mud Terrains. The sig needs to be updated

I didn't cut the wheel opening, but it's not an original tub anymore. The shape is slightly different from stock, but i don't think it's bigger.

The ride quality really surprised me. I never expected the truck to ride this much better compared to when it was SUA. I really should have done this five years sooner!

I'm not sure what's next. I'm gonna enjoy it first, that's for sure. I might install hydro assist. Not that i need it, but because i can.

Thanks for the comments all.

 

[Chamba]

Simply fantastic. Wow.

Josh

 

[boozewz]

That is faarking awesome!

Whats the benefit of using the 60 rear leafs on the front of the troopy?

Great job there....love the look

 

[troopie]

That is faarking awesome!

Whats the benefit of using the 60 rear leafs on the front of the troopy?

Great job there....love the look

Thanks! I have to say i'm pretty stoked with the way it came out.

I used the 60 leafs for mainly two reasons. More flex can be had and maybe a little more comfort. And i didn't have usable front 40 leafs around, but had the 60's collecting dust.

And using stock springs would be to easy wouldn't it!

 

[D'Animal]

Great looking Rig after the SOA.

 

[BigFisher]

Perfection! May be my favorite troopie on mud

 

[boozewz]

Thanks! I have to say i'm pretty stoked with the way it came out.

I used the 60 leafs for mainly two reasons. More flex can be had and maybe a little more comfort. And i didn't have usable front 40 leafs around, but had the 60's collecting dust.

And using stock springs would be to easy wouldn't it!

Would the 60 leaf bolt right on to the stock 40/45 shackles? It fits in length and height is the same as the stock 40/45 leafs?

Thanks

 

[troopie]

Nope, i had to move the front shackle hanger and the rear fixed point. The rear 60 springs are longer.
Front 60 springs have the same length as 40 front springs, but the centre bolt is about two inches forward compared to the 40 front springs.

 

[guistou]

Sweet troopie!!!!