This project was something I only dreamed of doing in a far distant future, but a minor fender bender exposed how far gone the original BJ60 body was.
Unable to afford the cost of purchasing and shipping a "new" body from anybody anywhere, John @ RADD Cruisers (Duncan, BC, Canada), donated an HJ61 RHD High Roof to the cause (shameless plug because generosity should always be celebrated).
The task ahead of me was, in my naivity, just a few short weeks of grinding out evenings and weekends to do a simple body and firewall swap. Well, 6 months and 1000hrs later, it's "completed."
So, here is a teaser of the process. If you want to read up on the entire project you can go here:
BJ60 to HJ61 Body swap...the five year plan turned right now plan!
Things that were done throughout the process include:
- RHD to LHD firewall swap.
- Frame repairs and upgrades, including 6 body mount brackets, reinforcing weak spots, and drilling drain "mouse holes" for washing out dirt.
- Body repairs included rear fenderwells, window rails, interior rear fenderwell areas.
- Rebuilt both upper and lower hatch/gate.
- Dynomat the floor after removing OEM brittle material.
- Remove every body bolt, re-tap where necessary, and reinstall with anti-seize.
- Repaint many interior parts, engine bay parts, brackets, just about everything really.
- Chop rear quarter lowers
Things that were not touched:
- Engine: 3B with 437,000kms
- Tranny: H55F 5spd manual
- Axles: 456 geared.
- Tires/wheels: 315/75/16 General Grabber AT2's
- Suspension: SOA.
- Steering: Highsteer
So, without further ado, a few before and after pics and then some shots of the process. I think I have around 900 pics of the entire job...
This was right around when I bought the truck just over a year ago.
Some of the rust and patches on the old Camo body.
Rippin it apart...
Frame rot, inner rear.
Frame repairs completed. Primed, 2 coats of gloss black, then asphalt coated.
Frame "Mouse Holes" for better drainage.
Body mounts: Old and new
Firewall work
Stuff repainted:
Unable to afford the cost of purchasing and shipping a "new" body from anybody anywhere, John @ RADD Cruisers (Duncan, BC, Canada), donated an HJ61 RHD High Roof to the cause (shameless plug because generosity should always be celebrated).
The task ahead of me was, in my naivity, just a few short weeks of grinding out evenings and weekends to do a simple body and firewall swap. Well, 6 months and 1000hrs later, it's "completed."
So, here is a teaser of the process. If you want to read up on the entire project you can go here:
BJ60 to HJ61 Body swap...the five year plan turned right now plan!
Things that were done throughout the process include:
- RHD to LHD firewall swap.
- Frame repairs and upgrades, including 6 body mount brackets, reinforcing weak spots, and drilling drain "mouse holes" for washing out dirt.
- Body repairs included rear fenderwells, window rails, interior rear fenderwell areas.
- Rebuilt both upper and lower hatch/gate.
- Dynomat the floor after removing OEM brittle material.
- Remove every body bolt, re-tap where necessary, and reinstall with anti-seize.
- Repaint many interior parts, engine bay parts, brackets, just about everything really.
- Chop rear quarter lowers
Things that were not touched:
- Engine: 3B with 437,000kms
- Tranny: H55F 5spd manual
- Axles: 456 geared.
- Tires/wheels: 315/75/16 General Grabber AT2's
- Suspension: SOA.
- Steering: Highsteer
So, without further ado, a few before and after pics and then some shots of the process. I think I have around 900 pics of the entire job...
This was right around when I bought the truck just over a year ago.
Some of the rust and patches on the old Camo body.
Rippin it apart...
Frame rot, inner rear.
Frame repairs completed. Primed, 2 coats of gloss black, then asphalt coated.
Frame "Mouse Holes" for better drainage.
Body mounts: Old and new
Firewall work
Stuff repainted:
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