Taiwan full body build.

[Old Dude Walking]

I'm thinking of ordering the full Taiwan body FJ40 and sitting it on a newer frame doner 4x4 chassis .
What would be a good running frame doner vehicle to look for .
My main concern is the front axle fitting in the correct jf40 location and having the engine placement in the correct location to the firewall. The rear I can cut the frame as necessary to get the fit.
My reason is I don't have a fj40 to start with. And I never have ever seen any here in Cambodia.
Some Toyotas are imported from the UAE or USA or where ever is all kinds of Landcruisers here 2 and 4 door gas or diesel a few old UN vehicles and many models not imported to the USA.
I was even thinking a Pajero diesel 4 door as a doner frame.
Use will be mild off roading basically as the original would been capable of doing.
I have all the required skills and experience, equipment to tackle this build if I can get some information on what's been used before.
Sorry for the long post.
Thanks for any help tips and advice.
Clark.

 

[wimberosa]

Thats kind of a wild idea and I've never seen a post of someone doing that. Most people who do "mix and match" will start with a fj40 frame + tub and then put a different drive train in it from a donor. I'd believe there are some serious fitment issues I'd be contemplating. If you look at the frame of a forty and the tub...there is an 8+ inch difference from the front mounts to the rear sill. The angle and placement of how the steering enters the cab would also be interesting. If you can source a fj40 tub....can you also source the frame?

 

[Mike Shull]

There are lots of these sorts of builds with folks using different chassis in the hardcore section, and they vary from 1-ton trucks to the 80 series. I’d go 80 series personally if I were doing this, especially if you can find one with electric lockers. There are also some similar builds in this section.

The body all depends on how particular you are about your project. I opted to go with Aqualu’s tub for my project after looking at a few tubs from other countries. The metal is often thin and the stamping process can sometimes be a bit odd.

 

[youngmanchego]

I'm thinking of ordering the full Taiwan body FJ40 and sitting it on a newer frame doner 4x4 chassis .
What would be a good running frame doner vehicle to look for .
My main concern is the front axle fitting in the correct jf40 location and having the engine placement in the correct location to the firewall. The rear I can cut the frame as necessary to get the fit.
My reason is I don't have a fj40 to start with. And I never have ever seen any here in Cambodia.
Some Toyotas are imported from the UAE or USA or where ever is all kinds of Landcruisers here 2 and 4 door gas or diesel a few old UN vehicles and many models not imported to the USA.
I was even thinking a Pajero diesel 4 door as a doner frame.
Use will be mild off roading basically as the original would been capable of doing.
I have all the required skills and experience, equipment to tackle this build if I can get some information on what's been used before.
Sorry for the long post.
Thanks for any help tips and advice.
Clark.

If you are going the 80 series route, just know your axles are going to be pretty wide. Id also consider using an FJ43 body if the Taiwanese suppliers make them. It’ll probably fit the frame better with the extra length.

Another option if you get UN or non-us spec trucks would be a 70 series frame- it’ll be mechanically/electrically pretty straight forward. The axles are much closer to an FJ40 width and you’d get much of the simplicity of the 40. I imagine an 80 series will have a lot of electrical headaches.

This may be a hallucination but I recall hearing the FJ.co in their newer G43 builds use 70 series frames but I could be completely making that up. They definitely retrofit a lot of 70 series parts into their cruisers.

Sounds like a fun project! I look forward to seeing it underway.

 

[Old Dude Walking]

Thanks for the info there is lots of 70 series here.
When looking at body width spec the FJ40 is wider then the 80 series 1950.72 vs 1930mm for 40. But track width on the 80 is aprox 200mm wider.
But how much is rim off set ? I was not able to find axle width from wheel mating surface to mating surface. To compare 80 vs 40
axles.
I like the 80 because there is 1000's and 1000's here gas or diesel and axles of all types available. Most better organised then in the attachment photos .
To get a way from completed wiring I'm going diesel. Shorting the WB 22" should not be to hard.
Right now I'm in the research and planning stage. Looking for the best fit.
Thankz

 

[Mike Shull]

This probably won’t help much because this Cruiser is fairly modified, but it has a 63” WMS stance, which is similar to the later 80 series. My front fenders are narrowed and the tires are 14” wide. The tires just barely extend outside of the fenders with the 285/75R16 tire on 4.5” backspace.

 

[Old Dude Walking]

All good advice thanks .I was wrong on fj40 body width the 80 about a foot wider.
I do like what I see at Aqualvs they make a cowl and cab and box that fits a 80 frame.
I've emailed them to check shipping and costs. It's going to be stupid expensive . But the trade off forthe cost of living here makes up for being able to do this project.
And the used parts dealers is unbelievable here they got it all like $1500. diesel Landcruiser engines . You name it ,its here.
I will document this build here and youtube it also.
Pic BJ212 diesel future maybe project.

 

[Old Dude Walking]

Nice ride , I'm going for a more modified stock look but I can see the 80 will do fine . I can adjust the rim back space some if needed.
And 90 % sure I'm going this way now see pic. Bolts to the 80 frame somehow.

 

[Mike Shull]

I think that you will be very happy with the Aqualu parts. They were amazing to work with and the fit was spot on. I also like the thickness the body panels as it adds amazing strength to the body. Granted that my original body had significant rust and it was only attached to the frame by 1/2 of the body mounts, and I don’t remember how sturdy this thing was in the 80’s, the Aqualu tub feels well made and complete driving down the road. The body no longer flexes, flops, vibrates, or dances as I drive down the road.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

X2^^^

I think that you will be very happy with the Aqualu parts. They were amazing to work with and the fit was spot on. I also like the thickness the body panels as it adds amazing strength to the body. Granted that my original body had significant rust and it was only attached to the frame by 1/2 of the body mounts, and I don’t remember how sturdy this thing was in the 80’s, the Aqualu tub feels well made and complete driving down the road. The body no longer flexes, flops, vibrates, or dances as I drive down the road.

 

[TysonAqualu]

Doing the fj80 frame will be the way to go I think using our bodies, I sent you a email today in regards to your questions.
Talk soon

 

[clrussell]

Doing the fj80 frame will be the way to go I think using our bodies, I sent you a email today in regards to your questions.
Talk soon

Good to see you guys on here!

 

[Mike Shull]

Doing the fj80 frame will be the way to go I think using our bodies, I sent you a email today in regards to your questions.
Talk soon

I was trying to tag Aqualu but the account that I’ve seen appeared to have been deleted. I’m glad that you replied to this thread as I’ll make a note for future reference.

 

[TysonAqualu]

Hey guys, I'm trying to check on here every day or two to stay in the loop on any questions and concerns!
If you have any questions feel free to message me!

 

[sogncab]

If I were to start over, I'd do either a Roadster Shop or Art Morrison chassis with an Aqualu body.

 

[FJ404345]

@Old Dude Walking

As Cambodias grey market import seems to be enormous, isn't it easier to buy a fj40 junker/barn find somewhere around the world where they are not so expensive (maybe Indonesia) and match it with the new Taiwan full body

Also would a local junkyard be an easy option to figure out fitting measurement of other 4x4 model brands as for example Mahindra ?

 

[Old Dude Walking]

@Old Dude Walking

As Cambodias grey market import seems to be enormous, isn't it easier to buy a fj40 junker/barn find somewhere around the world where they are not so expensive (maybe Indonesia) and match it with the new Taiwan full body

Also would a local junkyard be an easy option to figure out fitting measurement of other 4x4 model brands as for example Mahindra ?

Inport tax is huge here on compleate car / trucks even old used ones. Best to find local.
Parts ,body parts is not so bad on importing. There is every imaginable type of 4x4 here . Lada neva from Russia , BJ212 china , 72 vw beetles with Toyota front wheel drive swaped in the front , lots old military willes ,jeeps but most converted to 2 wheel drive with diesel or gas Toyota engine/trans.
Most older no longer driving 4x4 are parked at someone's house or shop out back. They may have 3 or 4 , but a junk yard with dozens or hundreds of wrecked cars in not common.
Streets lined with 30 or 40 shops selling every used part you could ever use there's lots of them.
Some USA gasoline 450 or fzj80 been shaped out with 1KZ 4cyl Diesel. It quite a bit shorter then the 6 gas or diesel. And they seem to do ok in 80 series.
With the body swap 40 to 80 they say you have to move the engine back 10" but maybe with the turbo 4cyl 1kz it may not need to be moved saving lots of work and new drive shafts.

My main concern is having the tires outside the body and front fenders .I'm trying for a close to stock 40/ 45 wheel track. Or not more then 1.5 inch wider each side.
I'd like to stay all Toyota but the Mitsubishi Pajeros has a narrow track and the Canadian aluminium bodys with 6" longer and a short box fit the WB.
Too much possibility my head's going to implode.
Thankz for your input.

 

[Old Dude Walking]

Hey guys, I'm trying to check on here every day or two to stay in the loop on any questions and concerns!
If you have any questions feel free to message me!

For some reason I missed your post yesterday or today here or is that tomorrow the time difference does my head in.
I don't know why I'm making it complicated on my self. 80s here gas or diesel can be had for under 4000usd. A similar Mitsubishi Pajeros 2000 and up. Most sre non US turbo automatics with a very stout independent front suspension that's survived the Cambodian roads.
Ok I'm 90% 80 series.
Hope to get going soon.

 

[Old Dude Walking]

Some pic's of my 80 some years back. In Cambodia. The water crossing was over the hood 2 hours earlier going the other way. The water receded some in this pic. Been stuck up to the door handles in a mud bog. Had to climb out the window lost my shoes luckily a 10ton truck was there to pull me out. Also the adventure of blowing your self up on a land mine. Gives a whole new meaning to tread lightly.

 

[Old Dude Walking]

Just blowed him self on some type of thing that goes boom 20 or 30 years after it was dropped or placed in the farmer field.

My one question is was this ever a production FJ of some type.

I can't tell what's real or reproduction.