Builds Project Clifford 40" Tires 0" lift (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Jan 8, 2011
Threads
6
Messages
55
Location
Bend Oregon
Website
www.swagoffroad.com
Project Clifford, my 1997 triple locked 80 series.

I knew from the get-go what I wanted. I have always had a soft spot for the rugged 80 series Land Cruiser’s. Take the dependable awesomeness of the 80 and combine that with the looks of the Jeep Skunkworks division lower 40 JK that first debuted back in 2010.

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Before you go asking why, which is a valid question, I want to make sure we are all on the same page. This is not a rock crawler. I have built those, TJ on 40’s, OBA, Beadlocks , Atlas, cromoly 60’s and ARB, streteched frame, coilovers, blah, blah, blah. This is an 80 series built the way I want it. Stock ride quality and a bitchen daily driver, camping, hunting, family transport, exploring rig.

If I wanted to build a rock crawler I would have not chosen the 80 series heavy pig, under powered vehicle as a starting platform. I live in Central Oregon, we have 3 things, lava rock, ugly trees and tight trails, all three of which are not sheet metal friendly. This rig will not play where the local buggies play.

Step recruit the work of free child labor and strip down the fat. Speaking of 80 series fluffy-ness. I have all the take stock off parts available for sale contact me if you see anything you need.
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Roll the 40" tires up on stock rig, take a few measurements and start making sparks.

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Step 4 drop it off at LCC community college in Clackamas Oregon, where Mark and Dave the auto body and paint teachers are willing to take on the project and let the college students participate in the body/paint work. I have a feeling It was a lot more work than they bargained for and the teachers personally did a lot more work than they initially anticipated on.

I will post more pictures when it gets back from paint in `2 weeks.


The day I dropped it off at LCC.
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Cleaning up my cut of wheel cut lines with a wooden template.

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As you can tell they rebuilt new interior rear wheel tubs then rhino lined the interior and exterior wheel wells, moved the door jamb’s a few inches, reattached the C pillar, relocated the gas tank filler location, shaved the factory roof rack holes, factory radio antenna, de-badged it and did a beautiful job on all of it thus far. They were able to use the factory weather stripping in the rear

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The rear seat will require a bit of modification to allow clearance for the wheel well tubs and door panels need to be manipulated as well.

Bumpers, sliders, roof rack, drawer slides and what not will be fabricated or purchased after Clifford is back at my shop.

I will post up additional picture when Clifford is back in my hands.
 
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One of the best looking cruisers out there. I am not one for a lot of lift, i like the stadium truck look. Low and tucking.
 
Awesome. I'm literally looking at a swag portaband table and flipping between it and IH8MUD when I see this post. You being an 80 owner just sold me on it ;)
 

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