Scallywag modifications- Round 1

[terryjmatthew]

Decided I will document some of the mods I will be doing to the 94 FZJ80. Maybe that will help keep me motivated to actually finish a project.

First step is to cut and plate the bottom of the quarter panels for a little more clearance. Nothing new here, Land Speeder did it to the Cattywampus years ago.

Next step is to trim the sides of the core support. Also nothing new, but figured it would be worth documenting.

Third is to cut out the demolished rocker panels and replace with "integrated" sliders. Also been done on a 60 series, but I can't find where it has been done on an 80. Maybe there is a reason for this??

Got to do something here at some point too.

and maybe some beefier lower links and mounts.

Who knows where it might go from there!
I am likely to stray off in any number of directions before finishing anything..

Feel free to ask questions and/or throw out ideas. This truck is going to be a trail only rig, so the mods will get more crazy as time passes.

 

[bhmmapping]

if you search in the 80 series tech for "white whale" there is a truck with the sliders in the rockers. I am seriously considering this too. looking forward to seeing your build for sure.

 

[terryjmatthew]

Picked up some goodies at lunch. Loaned out my old grinder a few months ago and it came back without the spanner wrench and nut. Would have cost damn near as much to replace them as the grinder cost new.

Also picked up a little steel.

 

[terryjmatthew]

It should also be mentioned that I am not a skilled fabricator by any means, but can make two pieces of metal stick together with the old 110 Miller. lol

 

[dragr1]

Subscribing, I'll bring some beer

 

[netwt12]

the plasma arrives friday. all slicing will be postponed. grinders are too much like work. brett bring your beer then

 

[dragr1]

the plasma arrives friday. all slicing will be postponed. grinders are too much like work. brett bring your beer then

Sounds like a plan

 

[terryjmatthew]

The first order of business was to remove and discard all safety equipment.

No "during" pictures as I didnt have anybody to take them at the time. here is the finished product on the passenger front. Gained some serious clearance.

And the drivers side.

Finished product. Easy breezy.

Got some help and we decided to tackle the drivers rocker panel.
Land Speeder put to work.

and Netwt12

Started to get late so we decided to stop. Will pick back up when the new plasma comes in.

Until then, this is what it looks like.

 

[Land Speeder]

How did i miss this thread? Oh yeah... i was too busy getting shavings in my hair.

No "during" pictures as I didnt have anybody to take them at the time. here is the finished product on the passenger front. Gained some serious clearance.

herro?! I was there, that's my d!kbeater in the hammer pic.

The below pic i took with my phone. I really think you should remove turn signal and throw it in the grill... gives you even more clearance, bout 5" more... thinking that will happen to 'Bob'.

 

[Land Speeder]

Cutting the rockers out on a "trail" 80 is a real no brainer when you go in and look at them... there's nothing there except the bottoms of the pillars and those can be re-inforced if need-be with a heavy piece of angle iron... But cutting them out gains over 5" of ground clearance between the axles and that's substantial. After seeing the cut last night, i may even opt for smaller than 2x4 honestly just to gain more clearance.
I dig the right angle control arms... really increases your approach angle. I'ma hafta try that I'm sure.

 

[bhmmapping]

so is the plan to weld the sliders to the rockers or to the frame like normal, just higher?

 

[Land Speeder]

so is the plan to weld the sliders to the rockers or to the frame like normal, just higher?

both. Like normal AND to the rockers... remember, it's a trail only rig.
I plan to weld only to the frame. My idea, and the one i still plan to do, was treated like it had genital warts.

 

[Land Speeder]

The trigger on this bad boy is cool, it works better than any angle grinder I've used.

 

[terryjmatthew]

True that. $39 well spent!

 

[terryjmatthew]

both. Like normal AND to the rockers... remember, it's a trail only rig.
I plan to weld only to the frame. My idea, and the one i still plan to do, was treated like it had genital warts.

And your idea had herpes...

 

[bhmmapping]

The trigger on this bad boy is cool, it works better than any angle grinder I've used.

I have that same grinder, I bought it for the same reason - lost my wrench on my old harbor freight one. I left the guard on mine and am glad I did. Last night I had a cutting wheel blow up on me - not as loud as everyone says but it did cut almost all the way through my welding gloves. I had a face shield on but it wouldn't have been pretty if it had gotten my neck.

 

[Land Speeder]

I had a face shield on but it wouldn't have been pretty if it had gotten my neck.

terryjmatthew doesn't need to worry about that... netwt12 is usually nibbling on his neck while he's grinding.

 

[bhmmapping]

terryjmatthew doesn't need to worry about that... netwt12 is usually nibbling on his neck while he's grinding.

I just went back and looked at that picture of him cutting the rockers with the grinder right in front of his face...wow, if it let go like mine did he would have half a nose right now. I didn't actually hear mine explode, I heard it hit the wall right when I felt it catch on the metal.

 

[bhmmapping]

sorry for the hijack - why weld to the frame and rockers? that's how I have my sliders bolted now, and it makes some weird noises when it's flexed. I was planning on welding to the rockers, but the more I think about it the more I am leaning toward welding to the frame and just capping it off under the rockers.

 

[Land Speeder]

sorry for the hijack - why weld to the frame and rockers? that's how I have my sliders bolted now, and it makes some weird noises when it's flexed. I was planning on welding to the rockers, but the more I think about it the more I am leaning toward welding to the frame and just capping it off under the rockers.

how does it sound? like monkeys? dolphins?
it'll definitely make noises attached to the frame and body...