60 project truck - soon to start but need some ideas

[Fantom]

So the truck is an 82 FJ60 that is rust free and is going to be built as an expedition/scouting truck. Most of the travels are going to be in B.C. and with the terrain we have here I will need to go to 35"-36" tires for clearance. I've got 33" right now and many places I end up hitting things.
What my original idea was is to go with 80 series diffs, full floater rear, factory electric lockers (converted to manual - less crap to break), manual hubs. This would give me a wider stance which going to be nice with the 35+" tires. Originally I thought coil and link but have been now leaning towards airbags and link suspension. Double bags long travel and it gives me a lot of options for off-camber situations (we have a lot of washouts here). The power plant will be a 13BT with a 5 speed, Toy box or some version of a gear reduction box. Then all the regular goodies like on board air (York), fridge/freezer, water tanks, long range fuel tank, etc. So what are your experiences with Air bag suspension, any complaints, positive feed back? what about 80 diffs? what are the weakest links you've found?
Thanks.
P.S. - this build will likely take a year and a half so don't hold your breath.

 

[pismo62]

Here's a thread that has some info about adding airbags to the leafs on the 60.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/222786-comfortable-leafs-budget-course.html

I e-mailed Moby about it and this was his response:

I used AirRide's AIROverLeaf: http://www.ridetech.com/catalog/AIRoverLeaf-28-1.html (3000lbs underframe 2.5" leaf). You have to trim the leaf mounts just a bit because cruiser leaves are closer to 2.75" wide but I talked to AirRide and they said this wouldn't be a problem. These are cheap and effective (I don't have an in cab controller, this is where most of the cost is). DShock has the same setup and is happy with his as well.

Good Luck

 

[Fantom]

Sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear, I will not be using anything of the stock 60 suspension, no leafs. The truck will have link and airbags (instead of coils). Thanks though.

 

[MoGas]

Oops.

 

[MoGas]

Sounds insane......Right up my alley. I will be following this thread closely.

Dave

 

[Desertdude]

FF 80 series axles

I have found the 80 series diffs bullet proof.

 

[151fab]

Considering what those axles go for and the time and money it takes to build a correct linked suspension from scratch: I'd suggest getting a whole Fj80 or importing an Hj80 (I think thats right) that already has the lockers and linked axles. It would also have a toyota diesel (HJ) or fuel injection (Fj, if a fuely is an upgrade at all?). Then swap the 60's body onto it. You would make back some of your investment by parting out the remains of each. There are build threads on this setup on mud and pirate, I believe.

60 body + 80 frame: http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/57360-project-uranus.html
Discussion about linking with 80 axles under a 60: http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/191178-4-link-fj60.html
There's some discussion in that last thread about why the 80 axles are actually not an upgrade to the 60 axles.

 

[ginericLC]

I wouldn't worry about 80 axles until you go over the 35" tire mark. Converting the 80 axles to cables actually makes them more prone to not working than keeping them with the Electric motors. The cables bind, shift, and rust. Really the breakage is not as bad as some people make it sound. A lot of folks point fingers and discuss the weakness of them without having experienced the breakage themselves. There is no doubt ARBs are a better way to go, stronger, faster to engage, etc... One reason I see not to go to 80 series axles with the rear disc brakes is that it requires 16" rims. Tires in the larger sizes on 16s are not readily available and jumping to 17"s makes a deep hole in the wallet.

I'm working on a 60 body onto an 80 chassis project right now. The wiring is a real headache as I'm having to remove so much of the 80 harness to strip it down to just the EFI. Time consuming and boring!

Another issue I haven't solved yet is I have an 84 60 and the transmission hump is smaller than the late model 60s and 62s. So I may have a clearance problem. I have the 80 series tranny cover just in case.

You might look at www.proffittscruisers.com They sell a link setup. I rode in a 40 with their system last night and it performed well. On the highway we weren't going that fast though.

I've never owned a 13BT, but I have owned a 3BT. I would not use this powerplant for a truck you want to go 35" plus tires on. It is a great powerplant for a lighter rig. Load up a wagon with a lot of extra steel and throw on some huge meats and it isn't going to be the happiest rig in the world. You loose a lot of what makes the 3B and 13BT a great motor when you build the rig up too much. Just my opinion. Plus I'm cheap and that powerplant is one of the more expensive diesels. And being in the US they suck to get parts unless you have an in somewhere and you better make sure that in is willing to travel with you. Otherwise come January when you break in North Dakota you'll be screwed. I'd be looking at the Isuzu 4BDT or the Cummins 4BT.