Rot Box
Explorer
Really starting to come together. Can't wait to see more.
Ha! Stand in line bud I've got first dibs LOL :bike_rider:
Ha! Stand in line bud I've got first dibs LOL :bike_rider:
The Mongrel: FJ62 body + FZJ80 chassis + turbo diesel + ???
- Thread starter RMP&O
- Start date
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Hehe...
I am kind of doubting this winter will be the time that the Mongrel is brought to life. While I just knocked out some of the last big expensive purchases I am left with a few more. Suspension bits are not going to be cheap and I am leaning heavily towards new axle housing too before I start building. Plus I need to buy a P/S box, ie Saginaw. On top of this there is a ton of elbow grease to be done...so summer of 2014 seems more realistic as far as full on building goes.
Thing is for me, I don't care how long this takes. As long as I get it mostly right the first time and build it my way and set it up how I want it to be time is not a factor. This truck is kind of to be, my last build. The do-all truck that will last me 20yrs of good hard use. As such if it takes me 5yrs to build it, I am just fine with that. I do expect many things to be finished up after the main build is done. IE, custom interior stuff, overland stuff, bar work and winch, ect ect.
I also have this other side project going....
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/70064-RMP-amp-Os-1977-Patrol-Ute-build-for-overlanding
I don't really plan to take that one all the way to a finished project but I do plan to get it mostly done. The point of that build is simply to put a bunch of stuff I have laying around together, get the hard part done and build something nobody else has. In the end the result will be get rid of junk I don't plan to use myself and put a few bucks in my pocket. The build I just linked takes priority over the Mongrel.
On top of this I just got the v8 80! I want to use it and enjoy it while I build the Mongrel. I want to do a few things to it which equals money and I also kind of want to take it on a trip or two south of the border before it leaves me. I also don't plan to sell it until the Mongrel is a running, driving truck!
But you can be assured, I do plan to sell the v8 80. And while I own it I will improve it. That is just my style, how I do things and what I enjoy doing with my trucks. It is a super sweet truck so far so I am sure whomever ends up with it when I am ready to pass it on will be stoked.
Bottom line, I have an addicting hobby that cost lot's of money and takes lot's of patience and time. I know this and am OK with it! To me this whole thing is 50/50, the journey and the build. I enjoy building them as much as taking them on the trips. And the trips are always that much more enjoyable when I do it in my truck I built and know top to bottom. Others have a different outlook or style which is cool and good but mine is 50/50, build it and go not just buy it and go. My dream truck can't be bought, I can't afford to pay some high end fab shop to build it so I am only left with the choice to go for it myself no matter how long that takes.
Cheers
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RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Did some online window shopping recently for this truck. So a more realistic breakdown of cost and parts needed goes like this.
King 2.5 12" coil overs for front: $1750 w/o springs, + $100-250 each for springs.
King rear reservoir shocks 12": $1000 for a set
New Spidertrax axle housing: $700 and may just try to salvage the rear housing so I only need to replace the front.
Spidertrax axle flanges, may or may not need: $500 each
Warn f/w hubs: $275
PSC Heep Saginaw HD top of the line steering box: $800 new
Sway bars, have not decided, Currie is what I would like to use but they are $400+ each!
Misc fab parts: $200-300
Misc items like tie rod, drag link, pitman arm, steering stabilizer: $500
IH Scout SD33T bellhousing and engine plate: $$?? hoping to find used for cheap
Scout flywheel or Chevy flywheel?? I think it will work out that I use the Nissan SD33T flywheel which I have.
Chevy clutch: $500 for performance top of the line.
That is about it but it looks like I am needing a chunk of change to get everything I need to start building. Ideally having all this in hand is needed to start the build. My guess is that won't be in my budget until at least June/July. There is a few other things like ring & pinions for the 9" 3rds but other items are not needed to start the build process.
Cheers
King 2.5 12" coil overs for front: $1750 w/o springs, + $100-250 each for springs.
King rear reservoir shocks 12": $1000 for a set
New Spidertrax axle housing: $700 and may just try to salvage the rear housing so I only need to replace the front.
Spidertrax axle flanges, may or may not need: $500 each
Warn f/w hubs: $275
PSC Heep Saginaw HD top of the line steering box: $800 new
Sway bars, have not decided, Currie is what I would like to use but they are $400+ each!
Misc fab parts: $200-300
Misc items like tie rod, drag link, pitman arm, steering stabilizer: $500
IH Scout SD33T bellhousing and engine plate: $$?? hoping to find used for cheap
Scout flywheel or Chevy flywheel?? I think it will work out that I use the Nissan SD33T flywheel which I have.
Chevy clutch: $500 for performance top of the line.
That is about it but it looks like I am needing a chunk of change to get everything I need to start building. Ideally having all this in hand is needed to start the build. My guess is that won't be in my budget until at least June/July. There is a few other things like ring & pinions for the 9" 3rds but other items are not needed to start the build process.
Cheers
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
Is my computer playing lary tricks on me or are all the pictures gone??? I saw the vids and I gotta say, that diesel is something special. The way it revs like a little 4cyl street-car motor with a minuscule flywheel is amazing, and to think of the power it'll be making once it's fully broken in is making me kinda giddy... Slow clap for one of if not the outright coolest engines on the Portal in what will be also one of the coolest rigs in my book. I loved the old 83 Patrol you had the Portals on originally but I'm absolutely dying to see what you eventually come up with for a final build on this truck. As a fellow fan of Oil-burners I'm even more in love with the whole concept.
Cheers
Dave
Cheers
Dave
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Thanks Dave. The pictures are gone. When the build picks back up new pictures will be added. I jumped the gun on this build and some other projects have gotten in the way. Not to mention I bought and then traded a 6x6 Pinzgauer last summer and now am DD a v8 Cruiser! I think the big break for this truck and build will come this summer. Looking like I will be getting the sweet big fatty shop next to my house soon. That will boost the build a lot. For how much is going to go into this truck, I am really down to the end in terms of parts. Need some suspension bits, need a clutch and bellhousing, need a new steering box and need a new front axle housing. After that I am nearly 100% ready to build it in terms of parts.
The engine had originally been built for the 83 Patrol. It was built with rock crawling in mind. Then I went and decided I don't want a dedicated rock crawler anymore and don't want a trailer queen truck. Hence why it is going in a new vehicle. I think it suits an overland truck pretty well though. Very reliable, plenty of power, water proof, no electronics (all mechanical) and good mpg.
By the way, I have another SD33T diesel going into my 77 Patrol pick up. It is not built up and will stay pretty stock. I have the build here on ExPo too and it will also get a boost in the right direction in a few months.
Cheers
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
I got the impression you had a few pots on the stove aye (I've been reading about them here and on Mud), I'll look forward to whatever you come up with next. Glad to hear the "dream is still alive" aye. I didn't realize you had your hands on that Pinz so recently either. I've been off playing with my Rally cars and doodling around my own Diesel/Toyota build (2nd Gen 1KZ-TE swap that's been stalled for months trying to work out the oil-pick-up tube in between that crap they call "life") and it sounds like you've been up to quite a bit. It isn't by chance "The WARN Pinz" is it??? I've got a friend who's been at WARN for years and I've getting some "face time" with that beauty a few times when it'd come through town. Those trucks are so neat to me. Trucks like that have character that not many other vehicles can lay claim to and for my taste they're worth some of the drawback the average ones have. I envy anyone who's gotten to own and enjoy one as a personal vehicle, and I'd love to have the money to build one with a fully modern TD drive-train and interior comfort.
Like I said, that Diesel is just a beauty mate. I've had a buddy in HS that had a Binder with the same motor in it. At the time I had no idea what it was, it just made cool noises. Really cool to hear you're putting another in the Patrol restoration. In my humble opinion we just can't have enough Diesels. They're my first choice for any "all-around" trail/travel rig and as you so finely demonstrate hey can make great "performance" engines too. I'm glad to see the USDM finally start to come out of the Diesel shy mentality the 80's created aye.
I'm also so with you on building older, simpler trucks. While I'd love to have a new 79-series GLX Quad-Cab pickup, I hate all the computers and ancillary electronics and that truck has less then most "econo. cars" these days. I wish I had the time and patience to build a 1KZ-T with a mech pump, and it may happen some day, but as is, I'm going with as much off the shelf, easily replaceable stuff as I can in my builds as well.
God luck on all your projects and I can;t wait to see what you eventually produce mate. Great stuff.
Cheers
Dave
Like I said, that Diesel is just a beauty mate. I've had a buddy in HS that had a Binder with the same motor in it. At the time I had no idea what it was, it just made cool noises. Really cool to hear you're putting another in the Patrol restoration. In my humble opinion we just can't have enough Diesels. They're my first choice for any "all-around" trail/travel rig and as you so finely demonstrate hey can make great "performance" engines too. I'm glad to see the USDM finally start to come out of the Diesel shy mentality the 80's created aye.
I'm also so with you on building older, simpler trucks. While I'd love to have a new 79-series GLX Quad-Cab pickup, I hate all the computers and ancillary electronics and that truck has less then most "econo. cars" these days. I wish I had the time and patience to build a 1KZ-T with a mech pump, and it may happen some day, but as is, I'm going with as much off the shelf, easily replaceable stuff as I can in my builds as well.
God luck on all your projects and I can;t wait to see what you eventually produce mate. Great stuff.
Cheers
Dave
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Thanks Dave. The Warn Pinz now lives with Georg at Valley Hybrids in Stockton California. Georg is from Austria (so is the Warn Pinz) and he saw some Pinzie's when he was a kid. Loved them ever since and always wanted one. Well, he finally got one. I think the truck is going to live a good life and went to a great home which was important to me.
As far as diesels, I am a big fan but the cost of the initially is larger than a gas motor. I could easily have bought a big block turn key v8 with over 500 hp for what I have in my diesel. I am a fan of the diesel though as I say.
Cheers
As far as diesels, I am a big fan but the cost of the initially is larger than a gas motor. I could easily have bought a big block turn key v8 with over 500 hp for what I have in my diesel. I am a fan of the diesel though as I say.
Cheers
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Bout' time eh!?
At this time I am thinking 10-12" King c/o in front and radius arms. May change my mind on the radius arms, if I did it is a 3-link with a panhard. Currie style torsion bar for the sway bars, front & rear. Rear is going to be coil springs, stock height 80-series, possibly HD springs though. Rear is going to be triangulated 4-link with the sway bar. Custom link mounts on both frame and axles. Part of the reason to triangulate the rear is to get rid of the panhard and get the shocks behind the rear axle. Either going to run Johnny joints for link ends or make a custom end that uses stock Toyota bushes. Links will be a bit longer than stock but not a ton, so not a long arm. May use 7075 aluminum links or DOM, lowers more than likely chromoly if I go steel.
Cheers