Build Troopysaurus - One Less Sprinter!!

[SNLC]

Figured....didn't know if there was a 'kit' you could buy for the modern variants

Seems kinda silly to go through all that cost, effort and time when there are otherm more complete, bones to build from...you know if the engine and trans are gonna be swapped anyways. Quicker time to build means more time to explore the countryside!

but its cool to see a modern 70 stateside!

It is not just a frame, it’s a rolling chassis and more to the point a clean title. These kinds of builds, the Cruiser is registered as an 80-series. Think of it as a “kit car” built on an 80-series rolling chassis. You don’t want a salvage title for that or any rust on the chassis. That’s the value in a California Cruiser as a donor to start with.

East Coast, I am sure you guys are like “that friggin 80-series is to nice to kill!”. Us West Coast guys, it’s just another old used up but not rusty Toyota. I did post earlier about it having past body damage as well as 250,000+ miles and needing over $10k in baseline work! Just look how bad the leaks were after we pulled the body.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I guess I should-could also say on hardware; Toyota uses 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm and a few 22mm or 24mm here and there. At least on Cruisers they do! No 13mm, I know of one or two stock 13mm bolts on a USA spec 80-series for example.

Granted there are different grades and lengths and so forth across all Cruisers, however those are the sizes use on 98% or more of the vehicles.

So it’s not like we couldn’t take all the 80-seres hardware and use it in this build. At the end of the day a lot of it is 80-series frame down. That being the old hardware, easily send it out to be freshened up with new zinc coatings. When you have busted down and or parted a few Cruisers you can end up with a ton of old but good hardware. We have multiple “bolt buckets” of this in the shop. On top of stock we keep around in somewhat common hardware used for a variety of things on a Cruiser.

Last hardware mention; I once knew a Nissan guy who bragged about selling Land Cruiser guys “JDM” hardware from Nissan X-Tera and Pathfinders. He would go to the junkyard and pull a whole vehicle worth of hardware from these and sell it to Cruiserheads for $700-1000. Nissan and Toyota use the same suppliers in Japan for this so he was selling as much of it as he cared to deal with!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Making body mounts! I would say these are the hardest to make out of the twelve body mounts.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[Broski]

Nice work !!

 

[SNLC]

Trans mounts mocked up and tacked on. New OEM Toyota parts.

Cheers

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

I know I've mentioned this before, my only complaint on the pop-top conversions is the loss of interior headspace when closed.

Are there any manufactures that make a high-roof variant pop top? When I say high, I'm just talking 4-inches or so higher that would maintain the stock interior height as the new bed takes up about that much space when closed.

I gave the owner four options for poptop, in my opinion the four best brands.

-Alu-Cab, easiest to get

The other three I don’t have personal experience with but they are;
-Mulgo
-Mission 4x4
-Headspace

The owner like the Headspace the most. Both Mission 4x4 and Headspace will ship to the USA. Lines of communication have been opened with both companies.

Headspace Campers

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headspacecampers.com

Mission 4×4 New Roof Conversion – Mission 4×4

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I know I've mentioned this before, my only complaint on the pop-top conversions is the loss of interior headspace when closed.

Are there any manufactures that make a high-roof variant pop top? When I say high, I'm just talking 4-inches or so higher that would maintain the stock interior height as the new bed takes up about that much space when closed.

Can’t say I am familiar with the ones available for Troopy’s to say what is best or not. It’s just not something we have around to check out, sit in, compare ect. Have around as in, in this country!

Seems like most are meant to deploy the top when you want to hang out inside. Does yours not have ample head room with the top deployed? The Ali-Cab certainly does.

Georg at Valley Hybrids has a Euro Troopy with a big huge fiberglass top extension that serves as the camper. Pictures are around of this style.

Cheers

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Can’t say I am familiar with the ones available for Troopy’s to say what is best or not. It’s just not something we have around to check out, sit in, compare ect. Have around as in, in this country!

Seems like most are meant to deploy the top when you want to hang out inside. Does yours not have ample head room with the top deployed? The Ali-Cab certainly does.

Georg at Valley Hybrids has a Euro Troopy with a big huge fiberglass top extension that serves as the camper. Pictures are around of this style.

Cheers

With the top up and bed up, yes, plenty of room; with the bed closed, not enough room to sit comfortably. I have to slouch down a few inches. We don't always pop the top when we hang out in the back, like pulling over for lunch in inclement weather, or if my wife is in bed and I'm up. She can sit up straight with the top/be closed as she's 5'8", but at 6' I can't. I made my benches about the same height as the stock seats. I could lower them a few inches, but then I'd lose storage volume and they'd be too low.

This is kinda fugly, and is looks like the bed is just as low when closed as mine is, hard to tell from the photos.

And a fugly-er high-roof version.

 

[mjw4]

With the top up and bed up, yes, plenty of room; with the bed closed, not enough room to sit comfortably. I have to slouch down a few inches. We don't always pop the top when we hang out in the back, like pulling over for lunch in inclement weather, or if my wife is in bed and I'm up. She can sit up straight with the top/be closed as she's 5'8", but at 6' I can't. I made my benches about the same height as the stock seats. I could lower them a few inches, but then I'd lose storage volume and they'd be too low.

This is kinda fugly, and is looks like the bed is just as low when closed as mine is, hard to tell from the photos.View attachment 4061236

And a fugly-er high-roof version.

View attachment 4061235

I didn't think you could make a brick any less aerodynamic but that second picture takes the cake lol

 

[SNLC]

With the top up and bed up, yes, plenty of room; with the bed closed, not enough room to sit comfortably. I have to slouch down a few inches. We don't always pop the top when we hang out in the back, like pulling over for lunch in inclement weather, or if my wife is in bed and I'm up. She can sit up straight with the top/be closed as she's 5'8", but at 6' I can't. I made my benches about the same height as the stock seats. I could lower them a few inches, but then I'd lose storage volume and they'd be too low.

This is kinda fugly, and is looks like the bed is just as low when closed as mine is, hard to tell from the photos.View attachment 4061236

And a fugly-er high-roof version.

View attachment 4061235

Wowzers that is ugly!!



Cheers

 

[SNLC]

We are on the last pair of body mounts which turns out to be the first. More on that and all of the body mounts plus chassis fab soon.

“Mock up” meaning designed and test fit (tack welded in place) but not finished out welding-ect.

More pics to come!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

#6

A little paint on it for now.

Cheers

 

[Broski]

Looking good, very factory like !

 

[Climbingnut]

Man @SNLC, those custom body mounts are ! The welding is top notch, but the dimpled holes for wrench access… Beautiful. Just curious, but does the dimpling add strength as opposed to a standard hole?

 

[SNLC]

Man @SNLC, those custom body mounts are ! The welding is top notch, but the dimpled holes for wrench access… Beautiful. Just curious, but does the dimpling add strength as opposed to a standard hole?

Yes they do add strength.

Cheers

 

[Bisonthecruiser]

I watch every update here thinking one thing: I sure hope the new owner decides that they really want a Sprinter.

 

[SNLC]

Got the project to a much more manageable state now!!

Cheers