Wisdom Turns Folly (WTF). 1973/75/76/78/85 Mashup

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Rob Bass and DJ E-Z Rock could not have put it any more eloquently than their “Joy and Pain” released in 1989. “Me and my boys, we make noise.”

Engine in. 60 cross member attached. Metal glue gun attached a few things.

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60 series crossmember for the transmission and a little hot glue gun action. I am in business.

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All buttoned up for now. I was able to remove the bracing holding the transmission up and have everything bolted to the frame. It will be beefed up in the future but for now, I am on to the rear axle. Perches purchased, plasma and grinder taken to the 60 series rear axle (thanks to my neighbor and his need to destroy things), money depleted.

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All cleaned up and ready to swap. It is time for more cow bell.

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I wish all my welding looked like these perches! Lifting up the back end for insertion. Many hands, thanks to my Star City Land Cruiser friends, brought the body home to rest on the frame. Again, Wisdom turns folly!

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Rust, rust, and more rust. Test fitting all the panels on the body and everything lines up. Milk crate seat was there when WTF left for deep storage and is back now that I am making a little progress. Now if only I didn’t get sidetracked so easily…

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Weight loss program 1.0. Removed the side step in hopes of having a righteous slider in its place some day. The entire floor in the front was some form of Swiss cheese so it had to go! 1x1 square tubing in its place and eventually a solid floor to mount seats to. One small step at a time. Remember that I am moving at a glacial pace…

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All buttoned up for now. I was able to remove the bracing holding the transmission up and have everything bolted to the frame. It will be beefed up in the future but for now, I am on to the rear axle. Perches purchased, plasma and grinder taken to the 60 series rear axle (thanks to my neighbor and his need to destroy things), money depleted.

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Did you buy or make the frame boxing plates at the upper rear shock mount tube?
 
Did you buy or make the frame boxing plates at the upper rear shock mount tube?
Credit where it’s due. Ruff Stuff Offroad offers the kit. If there are supposed to be instructions, I missed that class.

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One stick of 1x1 square tube at a time. Why? Because it was in the garage attic and it’s already here. One ten foot section left so I will get ahold of my 4runner bucket seats to become frugal with crossbar placement. Debating a big ole’ box that runs the width under the seats and encroaches into the wheel wells. Already flipped the springs on the rear axle so will definitely be copying what @rockcod did with Oregano for the rear wheel arches (only not as nice as that). I have not received any signals from the Land Cruiser hack deities regarding what to do with the rear sill so I am ruminating on building out a 3/16” rear bumper and incorporating something creative back there. @GLTHFJ60 recommended replacing it with a sweet rear sill premade.

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CAD and away I go. The deal on the 3/16 plate steel was too good to pass up and there should be extra for the rear bumper mock up. Two sheets for the floor. Yes, overkill.

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Not really sure if this should stay in the 40 section or go over to hardcore due to the fact that there won’t be much original to this Frankenstein. It will be mostly Toyota and almost all Asain. Bread (Pronounced big red) will be offering up the front seats because, unlike the 4 Runner seats, the frame is square and level. Bread is the 1991 Isuzu Trooper I picked up for the 5 speed conversion for my sons ‘88 automatic Trooper. Hell, I even think the heater box out of the Trooper may migrate over to WTF at a later date. Here is the 80% finishing touches on the floor. Both sides fit like a glove. The center will see an ammo can center console so I will future out how to mount the seats before filling in or cutting out any more metal. I am trying to figure out how to incorporate some solid rivets in the final design.

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Trooper seats mocked in. Bling for the front (will be white before the final). Steering wheel to determine if I need to move the seat back anymore.

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In true Sanford and Son fashion, I used scrap metal found on the side of the road to finalize the drivers side floor to the body.

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Finished up both floor attachment points and lined up so the half doors close properly. A little more reinforcement is needed at both the front a pillar and the b pillar to ensure rigid body for a solid door closing.

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