Build Prado on a diet, bob / double cab

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A little video of the rear winch and rope run.
If you see anything else which looks interesting and want more info ask now as the body will be going back on in the new year !
 
pretty ingenious. congrats.
curious, your idea of the PVC tube taken a step further, insert a piece into each "eye" and a curved piece for the 2 kinked eyelets to reduce the burn of metal on rope under load.
????
 
I like your thinking but the pvc will cut out really fast, some of the guys have used the UHMWPE plastic. The eyes have been polished and nickel plated so are super smooth. The idea of using eyes for winch rope runs is nothing new in the 4x4 winch challenge scene here in NZ. And works well.... The winch truck I navi for uses a similar concept and we have given it death in events and the rope has never broken at an eye point. I dont think it runs fast enough to cause any issues... ahhahahaahah
 
Well more photo's to add to the thread, made up some gallows to lift off the body from the old bent chassis... And I cut up the old chassis. Next is a bit of welding on the cab and tidy up the body mounts. Hopefully soon get it back in one bit.....
Body off 2.webp old chassis.webp Body off 5.webp
 
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hey about your eng swap...im here in nz aswell got lj78 pardo landcruiser...i wanna 3.8 commy motor in my one aswell...cant any one that does a kit for the swap....how are you planning to do urs any help would be great thanks...
 
I am keeping my 1KZTE..... However I know of two people who have put commy motors in playdoh's.... Sent you a PM with my email.
 
Waaahooooo The body is back on the chassis.... And all the bits I added miss the body.... Phew.
Next step is to wire and hook everything back up, bleed the brakes and sort out the handbrake cables for the new calipers.
Then start making the rear cage.
Body off 1.webp Body off 6.webp
 
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Merry Xmas all and almost Happy new year. Haven't been on for awhile. Truck has progressed some what. Had a big pause due to my Father in Laws passing late in the year. But back on track now. Will add more shortly after I have updated all the photos from the previous pages. The links have been broken... So will replace them with file uploads....
 
Ok last we saw the body put back on new chassis.... since then I have made the rear cage, made a new fuel tank, located rear radiator and as of just today have finished off the rear.
Roll Cage build.
Rear cage 1.webp Rear cage 3.webp Rear cage 4.webp Rear cage 6.webp rear cage 10.webp
 
Fuel tank made from 3.2mm Electrogalvanized steel. I recycled some of the features of the old tank. like fuel pickup, drain bung, filler neck and flap, level sender and bowl. All was seam welded and coated with 2 pot epoxy primer (fuel resistant).
Fuel tank inside.webp fuel tank install.webp Fuel tank painted.webp Fuel tank pickup.webp
 
I decided to go with the rear mount radiator. I used marine exhaust hose which has a spiral of wire in it. It runs down the lefthand side of the truck sitting on top of the chassis rail. Had a small body lift (30mm) to allow it to fit and also allow the 3 inch exhaust to get over the chassis rails. Radiator of choice is a Nissan TD42 unit and my mate gave me some factory mounts from a front cut.
I have since up rated it to an aftermarket alloy unit with more capacity... Worried about not getting enough cooling when on open road speeds. Off road will be fine.. Will see what happens on this one.
For fans the popular choice in NZ is Ford Falcon Au twin fans. They pull lots of air... I then extended the fan shroud to fit better over the TD42 radiator core. Used fiberglass and resin.... Then bonded it to the plastic with structural epoxy adhesive.
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For joining the silicone elbows and marine hose I scored some 38mm stainless tube. Cut to various lengths and lucky for me we have a roll swager at work so put in a nice lip to secure the hoses on.
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On the rear cage I have made some mounts for the hi-lift jack and spade. Also positioned some eyes which are used to strop in the spare wheel.
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Led indicator and reverse lights have been added and also the obligatory rear licence plate.
20151102_102018.webp 20150824_115317.webp
 
Next was to do some body work, I wanted the truck mobile but with the rear cage off I loose the radiator and fuel tank... So decided to paint the rear panel first. Colour of choice is Toll Green. I am sure you would have seen this colour on the transport trucks in Canada and Stateside.
I put my hand to some panel work and bogging. Tidied up the C pillars and guards.
Had a few issues with contamination but after a few attempts got an acceptable result.
Now with the rear panel painted I can do the final install of the rear cage, run wiring and start on panel and painting the rest of the truck.
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Over the Xmas break and New year I was given a few garage passes from her indoors... Made up some side panels (will be painted black) to keep the mud out and did an oil change.
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If anyone wants more details on any aspect of the build this far, ask away. I have a heap of photo's which only a select few have been posted.
 
Merry Xmas all and almost Happy new year. Haven't been on for awhile. Truck has progressed some what. Had a big pause due to my Father in Laws passing late in the year. But back on track now. Will add more shortly after I have updated all the photos from the previous pages. The links have been broken... So will replace them with file uploads....

Wow, how did I miss this! Very nice work! Can't believe how well it's come along. Amazing rig. :beer:

Sorry to hear of the passing of your family member.
 
The winch installation is very interesting. 2 Questions:
1) Can it be used "backwards"...i.e. to winch you back out of something you shouldn't have gone in to?
2) Isn't there a danger of slack in the rope causing the rope to droop and potentially get caught on some other component under the truck? Or is it somehow always kept taut between the front fairlead and the spool?
 
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