The Mongrel: FJ62 body + FZJ80 chassis + turbo diesel + ???
- Thread starter RMP&O
- Start date
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Absolutely!
I cut the coil buckets and shock towers off the FJ80 frame. It sucked but it is done now. So I am scrapping c/o's and the Ruff Stuff towers for keeping it Slee coils and normal shocks. By this evening I might have the front axle under it, I just got a bunch of work to do first!
Cheers
jim65wagon
Well-known member
I really wish they're was a like button. This is awesome!
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Stoffregen Motorsports
Explorer
Very inspiring. I can't wait to find a nice donor for my own project.
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
I am nearly done now. Got a few more hours of work on the back of the chassis and then I am ready to pull the body one last time, do my final welding and it is a done deal. It is a big mean Land Cruiser but since it now sits on coil springs there is tons of options when it comes to lift. I honestly think it will be able to run 35's on stock springs no problem and can easily run 37s on a small lift or with the Slee 4" coils. I am very happy with how it turned out, it has been a lot of work and a big project. I held off for a long time in getting it done because I just didn't have much of a plan on how to lift the body without a lift. Once I went for it though it was fairly easy and due to good planning I only need to pull the body out once at the end to go over everything and finish up the welds. I probably spent more time on set up than I actually did making the body mounts.
It is such a nice truck now that it is very very tempting to go for it and try to finish this truck up in the next 4 months. I am taking a trip down to Tierra del Fuego and would love to take this truck. I just don't think I will have time to get it ready in 4 months and I don't want to push the trip back.
Cheers
It is such a nice truck now that it is very very tempting to go for it and try to finish this truck up in the next 4 months. I am taking a trip down to Tierra del Fuego and would love to take this truck. I just don't think I will have time to get it ready in 4 months and I don't want to push the trip back.
Cheers
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Wow! You always get a new project to get yourself busy and us excited
Nice work and we'll keep watching, but can I get more details about the rims, they look like 9 or 10 wide with around -25mm offset?
They are Mickey Thompson Classic 2's. A 15" wheel, I believe it is 8.5" wide. I do not recall the offset. The truck needs new wheels and tires, more backspacing will suck the tires in more as well as a narrower tire. The Coopers are a 35x12.5". I bought the wheels and tires when I had my 80 and I bought them on the cheap. The set up was pretty much the cheapest I could get for a 35" tire.
Cheers
Stoffregen Motorsports
Explorer
It really is an awesome truck and I can't wait to see it finished. Using a mix of factory components is one of the best ways to utilize what you have and stay within a budget.
BTW- The owner of this FJ60 I'm working on right now wants to take it to Tierra del Fuego when it's done. What's with you FJ60 guys...?
BTW- The owner of this FJ60 I'm working on right now wants to take it to Tierra del Fuego when it's done. What's with you FJ60 guys...?
Shanfari
DhofarX.com
Well they look great, I've checked that and it seems that there are only 15x8 and 15x10 for that model with nothing in between, the 15x8 has -22mm offset (3.625" backspacing) which is great. I'm looking for 16x10 and 35x12.5 STT's as I've tested them and loved them, but the wheels and the offset with 2" might be a gamble, although this guy is using 2" king lift kit with 35" cooper H/T's (as I remember) and 16x9 wheels:
Still calculating possibilities, first I should save a budget of at least 7000$ for a camera and a good pc! Some say a drop box is enough and some prefer a gearbox drop, kinda confused. I would get back to you when I have my solid decision to take your precious advice
Keep us updated with this blue monster!
Last edited:
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Thank you. It is not cheap though if playing with non-USA trucks. I have big bucks in my 77 Patrol Ute because both it's powertrain and it's drivetrain come from non-USA trucks which means I had to import the stuff. I guess you are not saying cheap though, just on budget! And I don't know what a shop like yours would charge for the work I have done but I am going to guess and say $10,000 or more. It is a lot of work.
On the note of keeping it all factory components, do you think it is worth more that way? I don't know who would ever put a 3F back in this, nobody sane in my opinion but perhaps a 5.7L Toyota v8. Or a 12HT or whatever Toyota diesel. The reason I bring this up is I have a LQ4 6L v8 & 4L80e plus Marks adapter and a H2FA t-case located close to me for a good price. The LQ4 and 4L80e is brand new and checks out. I am thinking about grabbing it and dropping it in the truck quick like. I am going to need to sell this truck before I leave, so I am curious if it is more desirable to people with the new 6L v8 or no engine at all so they can put a Toyota motor in it?
I am taking my UZJ100 south but would rather take this truck. It is much more capable and older so less high profile and will go farther into the bush.
Cheers
Stoffregen Motorsports
Explorer
Which engine will make it worth more? The better one. The resto-mod movement is based on a mindset that allows artistic license on the things you see and touch (body and interior) but demands the reliability of modern drivetrain components.
Would it be worth more with a Toyota engine? Only if it were modernized to be reliable.
Would I try to sell it without an engine? No.
Would it be worth more with a Toyota engine? Only if it were modernized to be reliable.
Would I try to sell it without an engine? No.
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Well I am trying to sell it and it is going better than I expected. See what happens.....
I plan to be done with the chassis today and it back under the Cruiser. I yanked he frame out from under it two days ago to do all the final welding, clean it all up, paint it, ect ect. By this evening I would like to (and plan to) push it out onto my lawn and give it a bath!
Cheers
I plan to be done with the chassis today and it back under the Cruiser. I yanked he frame out from under it two days ago to do all the final welding, clean it all up, paint it, ect ect. By this evening I would like to (and plan to) push it out onto my lawn and give it a bath!
Cheers