What would you build with my pile of parts??

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Well, I have accumulated too many vehicles/parts/projects and I need to consolidate them so I can play more and agonize over "finishing projects" less.

The vehicles/parts I have:

- 1994 FZJ80(have title)

• 215k miles(motor is very tired and burns a LOT of oil)
• Moldy interior Rig has been parked in the weeds for 2 years and apparently the roof has been leaking and ruining the insides.
• 4.88's and e-lockers
• ARB Bullbar(currently installed)
• Snorkel(NIB, not installed)
• 4" FOR Gen II Lift(NIB, not installed)

-1986 Mini-truck(have title)

• 22RE/AW4/D300(twin-sticked & 4:1s, but no HD outputs)
• SAS'ed/Longs/hub gears/4.88s ARB front and welded rear
• 38 TSLs on steelies
• Warn 9500Ti winch

-1978 FJ45 tub(imported from AUS, no title)

• RHD tub only
• No hood/grill/fenders/windshield/top

-1978 FJ40 carcass(have title)

• Rolling frame(partial axles, springs, frame)
• tub(worthless except for firewall)

- Other misc parts that I have laying around

• L92/6L80(6.2L "LS motor" and 6-speed auto)
• FZJ80 axles(front and rear, not locked, stock gears)
• 35x12.50R16 TrXus MTs(5, but 2 are on my camper)
• 2 extra sets of FZJ80 wheels
• 1 set of 15x10 Steel wheels
• FJ40 bib
• FJ40 bezel

So here are my basic needs/requirements

• Must be road trippable and "street legal"(historic tags in MD = no inspections/emissions)
• Must be comfortable for me, GF, and 2 dogs
• Must be a capable wheeler, but doesn't need to be extremely hardcore capable
• Must be fastsmokin

I have my own ideas of what to do, and am basically stuck between two general concepts, but I want to hear what my fellow cruiserheads/addicts have to say

I am totally open to swapping bodies, fabrication, buying additional parts(obviously) etc. I have a tube bender, Torchmate, press brake, welder, mill/lathe, and other general tools at my disposal. I will likely scrap/sell whatever extra parts/pieces are left over.

You have a blank canvas, go!

 

[The Dude]

stretched FJ40 (troopy style) on 80 series running gear with 6.2L

easy

 

[SNLC]

stretched FJ40 (troopy style) on 80 series running gear with 6.2L

easy

x2

 

[Mace]

put the big motor in the 80 and sell everything else.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

I'm with Mace. Put the big motor in the 80 series and sell everything else. Use the proceeds to buy new interior for the 80.

 

[Tapage]

put the big motor in the 80 and sell everything else.

X3

Sell or trade the rest for better 80 interior keeping the basic for trips and camping ..

 

[sneaky]

1. Use the LHD 40 series firewall in the RHD 45 tub.

2. Put the big engine in the 80 series.

3. put the now LHD 45 tub on the 80 series

4. Put a flat tray on the back , or cut up the rest of the 40 series to make 45 swb style bed.

5. Sell everything else

 

[Waggoner5]

Sell me the 80.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Sell me the 80.

What do you have up your sleeve now?

Better yet, how about I just ship you all the parts and you turn it into one of your masterpieces and ship it back

 

[warpdriv]

Sell everything and buy diesel 80.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

1. Use the LHD 40 series firewall in the RHD 45 tub.

2. Put the big engine in the 80 series.

3. put the now LHD 45 tub on the 80 series

4. Put a flat tray on the back , or cut up the rest of the 40 series to make 45 swb style bed.

5. Sell everything else

Well, I've been pondering this for many days longer than this post has been in existance, and I think the above plan is what I have settled on.

It's all starting to gel in my head, but I'm thinking of a cross between Waggonner's Project X, D'Animal's 45, IPOR's FZJ40 and zornff's 40.5. I basically want(need) a stretched 45 cab(I'm 6'3") with a factory looking bed(yet to determine the style, swb vs lwb).

80-series chassis/suspension should prove plenty stout and stable for the power of the 6.2L and the lightweight of the 45 body. The axles may give me some grief, but they're relatively easy to upgrade in the long run. I like how low the FZJ40 is and how the front axle is in the "stock" location for a 40/45. That should allow me to utilize the stock 80 wheelbase and still have a decent looking bed. If I have to, I don't mind stretching out the rear of the 80 with longer rear links.

For those that have used the 80 chassis, what have you done for a fuel tank? I was thinking of adapting a JAZ "Jeepspeed" fuel cell. Should fit behind the rear axle and between the rear frame rails quite nicely and it's a pretty good sized cell at 32 gallons.

Anyway, I'm rambling and this won't be a fast build, nor one that gets started immediately, but I'm going to start actively collecting parts ASAP.

 

[Mace]

So room for the GF and dogs in a road tripable truck kinda went out the window then?

 

[mookie]

Sell it all in excepy the L92/trans and 40 hood/bezel and vin plate then build yourself a streetable buggy that meets your specs

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

So room for the GF and dogs in a road tripable truck kinda went out the window then?

Well, I figure the stretched 45 cab will be plenty comfy with a hardtop and suspension seats and I will build some sort of enclosure for the dogs in the bed. It should also ride fairly decently with the coil springs of the 80 chassis.

Also, when I say "road trippable" I'm not planning on driving it to Moab from the East Coast, but I would think 2-4 hours would be bearable.

 

[Dusty]

im also for the 6.2 in the 80

sell all else

 

[coveboy]

6.2 in the 80. Then chop the roof and yank off the doors. Make some new tube doors and a full roll cage. Rhino line the whole interior and buy some neopreme seats for it. Add locking rear storage for any valuable in the back? Almost like Podvin did with his wife's old 100...can't find a better picture sorry but here's what I mean: https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=99559&stc=1&d=1161821483

 

[cult45]

UZJ-45:

80 frame/axles
6.2l/auto/80 t'fer
45 tub extra'd
45 SWB tray [40 body]
flat olive/black interior
pics