RMP&Os 1977 Patrol Ute build for overlanding

[RMP&O]

I got a good day of work in on the Ute today. Lot's of cutting stuff off the frame. Rear axle is out now and I got the frame all bare and naked. Makes working with it a lot easier. Once I get done cutting stuff off it (nearly there) I will clean it all up with the 4" grinder & a flap disc. After that I am going to start plating the frame where I want to buff it up with 3/16". Then I will move into making new engine and trans mounts for the SD33T & 5spd.

Cheers

Kiwi dirt, all this came out of the inside of the #2 cross member.

#2 cross member and trans mounts all gone.

Just about done cutting...

The pile of stock junk cut off is getting larger!

Cheers

 

[jim65wagon]

I love this project......it's going to be completely awesome.

 

[RMP&O]

I love this project......it's going to be completely awesome.

Thanks!

Not much of an update but I have made more progress. The frame is all free of excess brackets I don't want or need. I have ground a lot back now with a 40g flap disc. Got another 2-4hrs of grinding and then that is done. I have gone over the frame and laid down some welds anywhere I felt it was needed, then ground those back.

I threw a couple wrenches into the progress recently though. Decided I am buying new leaf springs to suit the build, that will run me $600-800. Decided I am going to sand blast the frame before I plate it. Not getting the kind of welds I want on it even after a lot of grinding, want it cleaner so sand blast is in order. Plan to do that here at my place with a pot blaster I have and some medium that has been laying around for years. Just need to rent a compressor for a half day, ie a big one. In the mean time slowly moving forward with cleaning the frame up and making my plates. Again, won't weld on any of the plates until it gets sand blasted. Plating the frame around the engine mounts, trans mounts and steering box with 3/16's.

Cheers

 

[RMP&O]

I got a good day in on the Ute yesterday. I ended up just spending all day cutting, grinding and sanding. I was going to sand blast yesterday but blew that off. I also kind of would rather get the majority of the prep'ing on the frame done before sand blasting. I started playing around with my plates for the frame but didn't get anything made up, just exploring ideas with cardboard.

Here are some pictures, same old same old but you can see I have worked the frame a lot more. A lot of grinding and sanding on the heavily pitted areas to smooth them out and remove the rust. This is the bottom of the frame which has taken the most work since the leaf/shackle hangers were welded on more than anything else.

A bit of surgery to get this off, a base/mount for a bump stop.

Cheers

 

[fowldarr]

There is an old patrol for sale on the e. Idaho Craigslist somebody should rescue....

 

[RMP&O]

The last 7-8 months not a thing done. Work (I am self employed and seasonal), a 6x6 Pinzgauer and some other crap got in the way.

However, yesterday I sand blasted the frame, a set of axles and a LHD dash/firewall. 800lbs of sand and 5hrs and it is nice and clean and ready to work with. I am done with work soon (means more time) so plan to buy leaf springs, few fab bits and build this thing! In 30-days I should be welding, fabbing and not long after painting. We'll see...

Pictures....

I let this stuff sit out last night, we had a light frost this morning, hence the tiniest bit of surface rust you may see.

I am only using the housings on these axles

The frame had some pretty bad surface rust....

The firewall I am using...

Yes this needs to be repaired, my plan is to simply buy patch pieces for it.

Cheers

 

[RMP&O]

Here is the bull bar I am planning to use on the truck. I ran out of sand before finishing the blasting, not to worry it will be blasted again once I modify it. This is an old ARB or TJM bar from the 1980's. It is suited for a MQ/160-series Patrol and I got it out of Australia years ago. I plan to modify not only the mounting to suit the G60 Patrol but also will be mounting a PTO winch in it.

I think I previously mentioned it but the firewall/dash is from a 65 USA Patrol. Along with the 1980's power steering gear I have this converts the truck to LHD. Other than the normal problem areas on a Patrol firewall it is in good condition. At least it doesn't have a bunch of holes cut and drilled in it!

The truck is shaping up to be my winter project. And a little re-cap of what I am doing goes like this...

-MQ/160 Patrol axles, heavily built and ARB locked, 4.6 gears. Disc brakes all around. The rear is a 9.5" and the front about an 8".
-SoA suspension using Rubicon Express leaves in front.
-SD33 diesel engine, old and used but runs. I have a factory turbo + manifolds for the engine.
-New MQ/160 series Patrol 5spd with a Safari Tuff performance clutch.
-New MQ/160 series t-case and PTO box + winch.
-MQ/160 series Patrol power steering. Double sheer high steer.
-GQ/Y60 Patrol master cylinder and booster, also new.
-New custom made 20+ gallon fuel cell, stainless steel. Mounted behind cab in bed.

I am building my own engine/trans mounts or buying pre-fab stuff I simply modify and weld on. The same goes for the suspension brackets on both the frame and axles as well as cross members. There is a lot up in the air still like body restoration, interior, a rear PTO winch and a bed but what I listed above is decided on and now set in stone.

Cheers!

 

[fishy_frontier]

This is looking great, subscribed!

 

[RMP&O]

Did some online window shopping recently for this truck.

Rubicon Express Heep front SoA leaf pack: $330 for the pair
Deaver Chevy 1/2ton rear leaf pack: $370, not sure if that is for a pair, if it is not I may reconsider.
Ruffstuff misc fab hardware + engine/trans mounts: $300ish
Fox 2.0 7/8ths shocks: $1,200 for a set of four. Probably not go with these as they are overkill but the shocks I wanted are no longer available so was looking at what to replace with.
Fox steering stabilizer: $135
Ruffstuff traction bar kits: $200 per axle
Sway bars, have not decided, Currie seem overkill at they are $400+ each!

So looks like I am needing about $1500 in gear to start building. My guess is that won't be in my budget until June/July.

Cheers

 

[RMP&O]

Already posted a few pics of it but here is the LHD firewall I am using to convert the Ute to LHD. This is from a 1965 Patrol but as you can see it is in overall good condition. It has never been cut on or holes drilled in it which can be common on a 50yr old truck.

This is real common on Patrols since the tires toss crud up in here. Pretty easy to cut and fit new pieces here since it is all flat sheet metal. Besides this, the firewall is super clean.

H233 rear axle from an 84 MK Patrol. Set up on the axle stand ready to strip it. This housing is the housing I am using since it is clean and ready to strip off brackets. I will be using the guts from a different H233 though.

Cheers

 

[RMP&O]

I guess the older pictures are gone, so here is a pic recap up to date.


The Ute with some 35's slapped on it before tear down.

Tearing it down.

Once torn down the cab and rest of the body was put aside while I went to work on the frame. I cut everything off the frame besides the body mounts. I even cut out the stock #2 cross member.

I then sand blasted the Ute's frame, axles from an 84 Patrol and the LHD firewall from a 1965.

Cheers

 

[skibum315]

Just curious, are you doing this for a particular buyer? Or to sell when done?

... I do love the idea of a Patrol with tube/tray bed; sitting low on 35s or 37s ... better not tell my wife about this thread.

 

[RMP&O]

Just curious, are you doing this for a particular buyer? Or to sell when done?

... I do love the idea of a Patrol with tube/tray bed; sitting low on 35s or 37s ... better not tell my wife about this thread.

Well, ultimately it is for sale. If somebody wanted to buy it now I would give a pretty screaming deal. I did have it for sale for awhile with all the bits included but no takers. It is also not a candidate for resto as the original bits are gone. At this point it is being built to sell. I have to many trucks and projects and am not so sure I want the Ute long term. Also at this point as far as I have planned to take it is to a finished chassis with the diesel, 5spd, suspension, axles and a few other bits done and painted. Not 100% sure on rebuilding motor and turbo, but it will be fitted and running in the Ute. Not sure on bumpers, body rebuild and bed. Although I have talked to my body guy at length about fixing the Ute as well as more recently a fab friend helping me go at the body. So those things up in the air at this time and I have given thought to trying to sell it again once the chassis is done and all that is left is body, bed, interior and motor.

As far as the tray. Given it all kinds of quick ideas and thoughts. Ideally if I did it, I would want a multi-stage platform. One that can be used as a full size bed, then bolt in (or unbolt say the sides and then bolt in) a series of different platforms such as an RTT mount and storage set up. Different configurations for different kinds of uses. I also see being able to set up and or use the truck as an ideal recovery vehicle if I followed through with front and rear PTO winches. The possibilities are endless and only limited by imagination when you start to think about a fully custom bed and platform.

Cheers

 

[RMP&O]

Leaf springs in route for this project. Rubicon Express Jeep SoA leaves for the fronts and Deaver 61.5" for the rear. The Deavers are made for Toyota's (or any custom build) and are 1" lifted springs.

Bout' time!

Cheers

 

[RMP&O]

Got the 77's frame and axles into the shop yesterday. Tack welded the rear axle to the stand for prep on tear down. Worked the frame for 2-3hrs last night with the grinder and 36grit on the sander. Next week my leaf springs show up so time to get this thing ready for axles!

Cheers