LV on 80 frame

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Think so. There is a MUD member with an FZJ45 LWB with a iForce v8 (45 on a 80 frame). The LWB and LV had the same length frames in terms of axle location and length.

IIRC, the body will sit back a bit in order to fit the rear wheel well. Not much, like an 1 or 2 inches. Body lift to clear the drivetrain is probably in order, too.
 
It's been done before and many years ago.
Check out Millen's FJ45LV.
Landcruiser.webp
 
and if you move the cab back to center the rear wheel, then you have no room for your radiator, so you either put it int he back of hte truck (like someone did when they did their 45 on an 80, or a better solution is to move the entire drivetrain back severalinches so you have room (a buddy of mine is doing that as he puts a lengthened 40 tub on the remains of my old 80 that he bought from me).

Just about anything can be put on just about anything if you arent afraid to cut and weld.

You will also have to figure out what to do with the rear coil springs coming through the floor. But that is just one of the hundreds of issues (all of which I am sure can be solved) you would be dealing with.
 
It's not just the rear axle centering that causes radiator problems. The front axle is in a different position compared to the engine location. The 80 axle sits further under the engine. You either have to move the drivetrain on the frame or move the cooling system.

Millens Retro Cruiser had a ton of body work done. That body is a couple of LVs with a whole lot of cuts in them. There were very few proportions that were stock.

A quick check with a measuring tape had the LV wheel base and most of the body mounts VERY close to sitting just right on a FJC frame.
 
Really...an FJC frame? What about the width? Was the FJC based an any particular Toyota line up? (sorry do not know the FJC too well)
 
I have looked at many wheelbases for comparison and have not found one yet the fits the LV perfectly. They all seem to be a good be longer. If I remember thou, I think the std. wb Tacoma fits closely, but that would be a V6. After looking around I surmised that it would be a total pain in the ass.
 
I have looked at many wheelbases for comparison and have not found one yet the fits the LV perfectly. They all seem to be a good be longer. If I remember thou, I think the std. wb Tacoma fits closely, but that would be a V6. After looking around I surmised that it would be a total pain in the ass.

So...what you are saying is that for me to build (not restore) something I can drive, I am better off buy buying a decent LV that does not have restoration potential (one with a chevy 350) , dropping the drive train, and installing all newer components on the existing frame?
 
That would be a lot easier, but I am not sure what your skills or money limits are? I think it is very costly to make an old truck drive like a new truck. Here is one similar but different.

61 suburban/06 duramax on ebay - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Wow...that Chevy is awesome. I would not have gone with a 6" lift, nor that blinged out tire/rim combo, but still very awesome!!!

My wife likes the Troopy/pop-up-top German expedition style rig (but it would have to be a LHD), and I'd rather see if we can do something similar to an LV that would otherwise not be "restorable". Doing what that guy did with that Chevy would put me out of my price range, so I was thinking if not on an 80, or FJC frame, then dropping the running gear from a '77+ FJ40, or newer BJ?

Again, and this important, just thinking out loud at this point to see what we would need to find/gather/get to eventually get this done, but this would be a week-end getaway rig, probably pulling a small trailer/camper. You know, so we can pack the family and dogs, drive out and explore, light wheel, sleep and come home...with out a huge RV, or sleeping on the roof in a tent.

Thanks for the feed back :beer:
 
.. stay stock, save money and buy a excellent HJ45 Troopie,
great Diesel 6 zylinder engine (95PS).
Consumes little and have 4 gear box.
Best Landcruiser value invest.
Cheers
Peter
 
... forgotten I´m a value investor like Warren Buffett
and we know how to invest ;),
again the HJ45 stock configuration would be the best LandCruiser value invest for you and your family
Cheers
Peter
 
If I wanted do do what you are talking about, I'd do one of two things:

1)Buy an HJ-47 troopy (like the HJ-45, but with a 2H motor), or an HJ-45 and put in a 2H (note: this is what my HJ-45 will likely get). Bonus if you add a turbo.

2)Buy a 45LV. Keep the frame, add OME suspension, and put in a Toyota diesel. Either 3B/turbo, 13BT, 2H, 2H with turbo, or 1HZ. If you really went nuts, you might be able to put a 1HD-T into a 45LV.

Option 1 you can do very easily (aside from searching for the LHD troopy). Option 2 takes a bit more work. A clean, rust free 45LV body is VERY hard to find. The engine swap is the easy part of it.

Note: For either option, I'd assume to add 60 series power steering and disc brakes, etc....

But keep the frame, and just use the better riding OME suspension. The only advantages of a more modern frame under your vehicle basically just make it ride smoother (at the expense of strength and off road ability, IMHO), and for the hassle of dealing with a body on another frame, I'd just as soon keep the basic frame of the vehicle as it was supposed to be, and address things like PS and suspension on that frame.

Just my $0.02

Dan
 
I like Dan's idea with the lv or option 2. having done an 87 2f enine in a 64'lv I learned a few things. if you are gifted enought to do alot of shett metal madifications and hve the skilz to kepe the body straight then a lv body (of some sort) would be pretty cool on an 80 frame. that said it would be a huge project. if 4 doors and an 80 chasis is what you are looking for I would look intot he quala alluminum f4 door tub.

another option for the penny conscious is to swap a 2000 or there about's tundra v8 drive line into the lv. there is some of that being thought about in the North east would be a cool combo.

as far as ridability I think my lv on a 4" lift rides smoothier than my old fj62. I went with 4 wdb and saginaw ps which make a huge diference in drivability.

good luck how ever you build it make sure you take lots of pics and post them up.

jason
 
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