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- #21
Locked FZJ80 under a 1964LV Body Project
- Thread starter Mikesta
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Reedo311
SILVER Star
Shorten the Frame?
We are currently working on a very similar project with a FJ55 and a wrecked FJ80. We toyed with many ideas of how to cut the the body to make it fit the longer wheelbase frame. After some long discussion we decided that it would be a lot easier to shorten the frame seven inches. It took a cutting torch, some gussets, about four hours of work and some very carefull measurments and that's it a frame that matches the wheelbase of the body. No extremely long and difficult body work to work around. Just some new body mounts and the body is on the frame. Just a thought. About the width our FJ55 must be a little wider the the 45 because we only have about and inch and a half of extra width on each side of the body, nothings some fenders won't cover up.
We are currently working on a very similar project with a FJ55 and a wrecked FJ80. We toyed with many ideas of how to cut the the body to make it fit the longer wheelbase frame. After some long discussion we decided that it would be a lot easier to shorten the frame seven inches. It took a cutting torch, some gussets, about four hours of work and some very carefull measurments and that's it a frame that matches the wheelbase of the body. No extremely long and difficult body work to work around. Just some new body mounts and the body is on the frame. Just a thought. About the width our FJ55 must be a little wider the the 45 because we only have about and inch and a half of extra width on each side of the body, nothings some fenders won't cover up.
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- #23
Reedo311 said:
Good stuff... been toying with that Idea as well... but will still need to cut out the rear fenderwells..... even if I do put a 2.5" lift on it. Thanks for posting.
I'd leave the gas motor in there if it were me.
Sounds like a cool project!!.. It seems like alot of work to reuse the 80 Floorpan! id just find /replace the rusted 45lv stuff.. Also i think it would be easier and look better to push the axle back and open up the wheelwell a bit..
My Crappy Paint chop below!
My Crappy Paint chop below!
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cruiserdan said:
No s***. It's one of the best things about the 80. Why mess with a great drivetrain?
I'd love to see pics of the 80/55. That's my next DD. I'm looking for the parts now.
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- #27
Great comments. I'll leave the gasser in there till It dies, then it will get the 80 series diesel engine swap. That will be a ways down the road.
Phase 1 is figuring out what to do.
I am definitely going to widened it by about 8". The roof, hatch, gate, hood, bezel etc will need to be streched. To do this I will need a sheer/roller/press. $1000. Also looking at a welder (portable) that costs around $1200 (same one that Bull has). And a few other Misc tools to a tune of $3,000 total. No cutting will begin till the tools are in my shanty.
There is a 1969 FJ55 sitting in the back that will be used as a donor for metal... keeping it all Landcruiser... for nostalgic reasons. The roof will be cut and spliced in an 8"-10" piece and will get welded into the center cut of the LV. I will need to make a jig for the LV when its cut in 2 and will have tac welded bars supporting the rig temporarily as well. The wagon will look stout once it is widened.
I've put some thought into stretching the LV out some and that doesnt make sense. The wheel wells will probably be modified... the reason I wanted to stretch was to keep the rear ribs of the LV stock... I think its just too much work to do that.
The floors/cowl of the 80 are going to remain *(in one shape or form). The LV dash will get cut out and fitted to the 80 dash. I know I could just weld a new floor in there, but why? Everything in the 80 lines up... seats, tranny hump etc. Interior has to be nice.... Honestly I like 80's leather interior and suttle lines. The tricky part will be fitting the LV on the floors of the 80. That will be tricky... but I'm patient and sure I can make it work.
After the Body is welded on, then I will build out the front hood, fenders etc. Because this truck runs and drives fine, I will most likely use it as a DD at this point.
I know nothing of the state of washington's rules on modifying this rig though and if I could get it licensed and titled after the work. There is no way I can get away from it being titled as a FZJ80... and I've never had the body inspected on any of my cars so I dont think it will be a big issue... but still need to find out.
It will be a fun experience.. I'm a perfectionist so it will be done right. I will be asking many questions here... so far there hasn't been a question posed the someone on mud couldn't answer... so I'm confident that this build will be a success.
Phase 1 is figuring out what to do.
I am definitely going to widened it by about 8". The roof, hatch, gate, hood, bezel etc will need to be streched. To do this I will need a sheer/roller/press. $1000. Also looking at a welder (portable) that costs around $1200 (same one that Bull has). And a few other Misc tools to a tune of $3,000 total. No cutting will begin till the tools are in my shanty.
There is a 1969 FJ55 sitting in the back that will be used as a donor for metal... keeping it all Landcruiser... for nostalgic reasons. The roof will be cut and spliced in an 8"-10" piece and will get welded into the center cut of the LV. I will need to make a jig for the LV when its cut in 2 and will have tac welded bars supporting the rig temporarily as well. The wagon will look stout once it is widened.
I've put some thought into stretching the LV out some and that doesnt make sense. The wheel wells will probably be modified... the reason I wanted to stretch was to keep the rear ribs of the LV stock... I think its just too much work to do that.
The floors/cowl of the 80 are going to remain *(in one shape or form). The LV dash will get cut out and fitted to the 80 dash. I know I could just weld a new floor in there, but why? Everything in the 80 lines up... seats, tranny hump etc. Interior has to be nice.... Honestly I like 80's leather interior and suttle lines. The tricky part will be fitting the LV on the floors of the 80. That will be tricky... but I'm patient and sure I can make it work.
After the Body is welded on, then I will build out the front hood, fenders etc. Because this truck runs and drives fine, I will most likely use it as a DD at this point.
I know nothing of the state of washington's rules on modifying this rig though and if I could get it licensed and titled after the work. There is no way I can get away from it being titled as a FZJ80... and I've never had the body inspected on any of my cars so I dont think it will be a big issue... but still need to find out.
It will be a fun experience.. I'm a perfectionist so it will be done right. I will be asking many questions here... so far there hasn't been a question posed the someone on mud couldn't answer... so I'm confident that this build will be a success.
- Thread starter
- #28
Today parting out the 80 and stripping it down to just the shell was a success.
- all pictures here
The 80 body (firewall to tail light) was 10" shorter than the LV. This is when Lining up the trucks from the rear axles. You see the overlap the LV has. But when linging up from the front axles... the LV will fit almost perfectly with just a few mods.
So the wheel wells will have to be cut... at least 10 inches backwards into the ribs.
The next issue is the engine... you can see by the engine pictures that the f is a dwarf compared to the 1fz.
The axles are now lined up, now figuring out how to hide the 1fz under the 45lv hood.
- all pictures here
The 80 body (firewall to tail light) was 10" shorter than the LV. This is when Lining up the trucks from the rear axles. You see the overlap the LV has. But when linging up from the front axles... the LV will fit almost perfectly with just a few mods.
So the wheel wells will have to be cut... at least 10 inches backwards into the ribs.
The next issue is the engine... you can see by the engine pictures that the f is a dwarf compared to the 1fz.
The axles are now lined up, now figuring out how to hide the 1fz under the 45lv hood.
Check with Wagoneer5 ont he fitting of the 1fz inder the hood. He had to do all kinds of stuff and ran a rear radiator too! But I am sure he knows what will have to be done to make it work.
I would think that he would be the guy I would have on speed dial if this was my project!
If there is any way at all to minimise the cutting of the rear ribs I would try my best not to do too much to them. That is one of my favorite parts of the LV.
Keep up the good work. Man this is going to be a sweet build!
I would think that he would be the guy I would have on speed dial if this was my project!
If there is any way at all to minimise the cutting of the rear ribs I would try my best not to do too much to them. That is one of my favorite parts of the LV.
Keep up the good work. Man this is going to be a sweet build!
89s rule said:
Hummer rims would work to make the track narrower....... You could loose at least 3 or 4 inches of track with custom wheels. I didn't say you had to get it exact, just get it closer so some flares would take care of the rest.
OK so I did some research and stock BS on an 80 series is 4.5" and stock H1 is 7"
So actually track would be reduced by 5"!
But is it even possible to run something with that much BS withough hitting suspension components? I still like the idea of widening it, but if it is at all possible to make everything fit then why not?
So actually track would be reduced by 5"!
But is it even possible to run something with that much BS withough hitting suspension components? I still like the idea of widening it, but if it is at all possible to make everything fit then why not?
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- #32
Has to be widened to fit my 80 series interior/dash. It will look better imho
89s rule said:
Well then you have to start looking at the wheel diameter and width. H1 rims are on the extreme side of backspacing. I don't think he wants a totally hard core truck, even though he has posted in the hardcore section...
H1 rims on a stockish looking truck would look a little wierd, but I'm sure you could get some custom made wheels to fit that would reduce track width by at least 4"I personally like the idea of the custom wheels rather than cut the body in half. He seems to have his heart set on it though so I will not try to sway him any more.
Quit teasing us, get going and post some pics!
srplus
Walked with the Dinosaurs
got me to thinking - UH OH
why not do the stretch in front of the winshield so the stock engine, radiator and under hood stuff would fit in without frame chop, body stretch at rear etc? could add frame member length there if necessary... bumper might actually tuck in a little closer than shown.
why not do the stretch in front of the winshield so the stock engine, radiator and under hood stuff would fit in without frame chop, body stretch at rear etc? could add frame member length there if necessary... bumper might actually tuck in a little closer than shown.
Get rid of the HUGE overhang in the back. Even for easy wheeling its too much.
Waggoner5
SILVER Star
Stretching the cowl will be super difficult if its anything like a 45LWB pickup. The cowl actually is really short with a large part being under the dash. Whe you look inside you will see what I am talking about.
I like the widening part. I did start out going in that direction, but had a change of plan and went with wider tube fenders. Keep the pics coming, it gives me inspiration.
I like the widening part. I did start out going in that direction, but had a change of plan and went with wider tube fenders. Keep the pics coming, it gives me inspiration.
srplus said:
Please dont do anything like that! wow that looks bad. Kinda liek those cars from the 30's with the huge front ends.
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- #38
srplus said:
Definitly thinking outside the box, but I think my plan is set on cutting the rear ribs out. Sad, but True.
- Thread starter
- #39
Got a few pictures... not much, but stipping it down around a few other projects.
Engine pulled.
Brake junk pulled.
other misc firewall stuff pulled.
SSS but selling a house and cleaning up another house right now.
The last picture... is a picture of it stretched.
Engine pulled.
Brake junk pulled.
other misc firewall stuff pulled.
SSS but selling a house and cleaning up another house right now.
The last picture... is a picture of it stretched.
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Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
Nice nice proyect .. congrats dude .. !
