Builds Mark’s FJ62 RE-Build – Morphing an 80 series running gear, a fj62 body, and a LS powerplant

[MarkN]

Almost 6 years ago I purchased a FJ62 and almost immediately started to build it up. Below is a link to that build.

Mark's FJ62 build

Since that time, I have done several LS powered projects, two of those were LX450’s that I documented here on IH8MUD. I loved the way the FJ62 looked and really enjoyed the power the L33 5.3 give me, I found myself driving the LX450 a lot more than the FJ 62 due to how smooth the LX rode and how much better steering control I have with the LX450.

After my last LX450 build I ended up with a spare locked 80 series frame and running gear. Sooo, I decided to merge the two together to create my new daily driver.

Source of the frame..



I removed the frame at my lake house and did not have a lift.. so I old school it...








Starting the cut down process

 

[MarkN]

Continuing the process





































More to come

 

[MarkN]

Time to pull the body off of the 62 frame..

 

[MarkN]

 

[MarkN]

First test fit....

 

[MarkN]

The rear for the frame needs to be raised a few inches. I stole this idea from NCFJ..

 

[MarkN]

Continued

 

[MarkN]

Started on the body brackets

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Are you parting out the lx?

 

[NCFJ]

What, no royalty check?

 

[MarkN]

What, no royalty check?

The check is in the mail brother..

 

[MarkN]

Are you parting out the lx?

the one I parted was a 94 80 series.. Mike at cruiser corp has it now. I do have some lx450 parts from my other two builds.. what were you looking for?

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

AWESOME!

I loved your 62 build, it was a great reference and inspiration for my own LS conversion.

Progress looks great so far. You’ve got some major mechanical skills and make it look easy. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Cheers!
-Ed

 

[MarkN]

AWESOME!

I loved your 62 build, it was a great reference and inspiration for my own LS conversion.

Progress looks great so far. You’ve got some major mechanical skills and make it look easy. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Cheers!
-Ed

Thanks Ed... The pictures are a few weeks delayed.. I hope to get posted up to date early next week..

 

[MarkN]

I rebuilt one for the L33 5.3 that I had many months ago... The block was bored .020, the crank was good, and the heads where done.

Not sure how many are familiar with the L33. It was marketed as the High Output 5.3 when it was first introduced 2005. It is a GEN 3 aluminum block with flat top (10.0:1 compression) pistons and 799 heads. It had a specific camshaft not shared with any other engine. It was ~ 85 lbs lighter than the iron block LM7. GM was attempting to replace the 6.0 with the high output 5.3. I guess it didn't work out, they only made the engine for 3 years.

The HP was ~315 to 300 with ~335ft/lbs of torque.


This is the power plant for this project.

 

[MarkN]

Next step was the transmission.. this was done a month or so ago....












Decided to build some tools... I have always poor boyed these... so decided to do what I enjoy and create something...

 

[MarkN]

Time to bolt them up....
















Here is the old one from the FJ62... It is a L33 as well.. Soon the be rebuilt and enhanced to mount in my 72 Camaro project..

 

[MarkN]

Decided to go all wheel drive instead of the 4wd. I ordered the adapter from Mark's 4wd in Australia. Took 3 days to get it...





Had to shorten the Tail Shaft..




All done...



You can see in the picture that I am using fbody engine mounts.

 

[MarkN]

Some pictures of the body mounts... Build 3 sets and reused 3 sets from the FJ80 frame..

 

[MarkN]

Prepped and Painted the frame with POR15.