FSJ Jeep Body to a Blazer frame transplant...(Desert Hippo)

[Metal Twister]

Wow, that's a killer build there. I wish I could find one of those rust free here in the midwest, but they're all long gone due to the road salt.

AMC and Jeep did such a crappy job with weather proofing / corrosion resistance back then they all have rust issues. My truck is a So Cal vehicle and the driver side floor is in bad shape.

Been playing around with some new muffler designs. Think I like the size, flow, and sound of the smaller triangle ones. They can be stuffed up high under the body and I can then run the exhaust port out the side of the body.

 

[haven]

Amazing project! This deserves a write-up in a 4x4 magazine.
I hope you took lots of photos during the build.

 

[Metal Twister]

Not really too many pics. It went really fast.

I went ahead and installed the front half of the exhaust tonight. I went with the little triangle mufflers. They tucked in there really nice.

 

[02TahoeMD]

One of the coolest projects I have seen here, love it! Great work....:ylsmoke:

 

[Metal Twister]

One of the coolest projects I have seen here, love it! Great work....:ylsmoke:

Wow... Thanks!

 

[mires]

That is pretty awesome if I must say so myself!

 

[Metal Twister]

When I went to pull the body mounts I got a big surprise...:Wow1:

So today I started to fix another problem. :ylsmoke:

 

[Metal Twister]

So I got the new pieces cut out and will be able to install them tomorrow when the rust stop dries.

 

[Metal Twister]

Did a shake down run this last weekend with the FSJ. Mechanically sound kinda. :smiley_drive: We took it for a a diverse 185 mile loop from San Diego's back roads throught the desert and back. Issues were a fan shroud that shook loose which finished off a new electric fan and a good used radiator.:Wow1: But we did the MacGyver thing and got her home. Other than and a few loosened bolts I was really impressed on how well it did on and off the road.

 

[chilliwak]

What an excellent looking machine! Nice work you did on getting that truck up and running. Please keep posting pics so we can follow your build.:victory:

 

[ADKdakota]

Kick *** rig man. Looks awesome.

 

[poriggity]

I dig it! Nice stuff.

 

[Metal Twister]

Thanks guys.
The full build thread is here if your interested... http://www.socalultimate4x4.com/index.php/topic,1414.0.html


Now that I know its going to work Im getting anxious to start the expo conversion. I have some big plans with a lot of slicing and dicing in the near future. I just installed these side lights for extreme night runs.

Next im going to be cutting some access doors in the side of the rig for those things that you need often but dont want to climb through the rig looking for. Things like tools, tow straps, winch controllers, and safety equipment.

 

[elmo_4_vt]

Ah man... Look at that frame flex. I know it's usually not a bad thing, but I feel so bad for that nice body to be stressed like that. May be a good time for a rol cage?

 

[Metal Twister]

Ah man... Look at that frame flex. I know it's usually not a bad thing, but I feel so bad for that nice body to be stressed like that. May be a good time for a rol cage?

LOL... I know my eyes were popping our out of my head when I saw that pic, but out of excitment. Look close, the frame is flexing but the body isnt. Im playing with different body mounts on the front clip. Im trying to give the frame some flexing room without getting into the body. Still working on it but I think Im getting close. Im using some old school technology, small coil springs. :wings: Semi Exo cage / roof rack / ladder combo in the works. hope to get to it soon to tie in the frame better for less flex.