Would putting an exo cage on an 80 be a bad idea?

SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD GET PRETTY BULKY, AND HEAVY. IT MIGHT BE COOL IF YOU COULD TAKE OFF alot OF METAL/ PLASTIC [PLASIC CRUISERS :shaking:, AND THEN MAKE A TIGHT FITTING EXO WHERE YOU COULD WELD YOUR SHEETMETAL TO IT. MAKE IT SLIMMER TO GET BY STUFF AND BURLY SO YOU CAN CRASH INTO SHIT AND SLIDE OFF UNSCATHED...

I don't think it's a bad idea if what you're trying to achieve is saving your neck during a roll, but trying to save the body is pointless, it IS going to get bashed.

There's probably less than a dozen FZJ80 guys in the US that do hardcore rockcrawling and you can see it in their trucks, they're pretty chewed up....

If you plan to wheel relatively hard, I think some form of cage (exo or interior) is a good idea, I had a ball roll (endo'd) in an FJ60 and the end result was a steel pancake and I having to squeeze my not-so-petite frame through one of the rear cargo windows, the only one wide enough...

Yeah I was more interested in saving the body. But you brought up some good points. I will have to rethink my idea.

Yeah, there is simply no way you could seriously wheel an 80 in New England w/o some body issues... an exo would save it some, but you'll still see some damage.

Brian

:flipoff2:

Exo cage on an 80? Dude, you build it and you will use it. Anything that would truly save jo noggin on an 80 is going to make you sooooo top heavy, that you'll be spending all your time testing it out.... the hard way. :flipoff2:

Hack it like Christo's war wagon, then you're headed in the right direction. In order to add all that weight, something else has to go.

Mike
non running 80 AGAIN!
SOMEONE PLEASE SELL ME YOUR 40! :flipoff2:

Mike, what happened to the 80?

If you need to get to the point where you're going to be wheeling an 80 so hard you're going to have to cut the top off, bob it, and full-cage it, what's the point of having an 80? Isn't the whole point of wheeling an 80 the fact that you can cruise in comfort, then wheel it pretty hard, still in comfort, with family, pets and plenty of cargo, then drive back to civilization, also in comfort?

Sorry, but at the point where you've lost the comfort and the cargo-capacity, all you have is an overgrown beast with a great drivetrain but too much electronics (read: bad for hard-core wheeling)..., and you're *MUCH BETTER OFF* with a 40 Series or an earlier wagon.

Hey Henry :flipoff2:

Oh, I agree. You're spot on. One of the great things about the 80 is the comfort and cruisability :D . The other weekend, I was running late to meet some guys at PAP. I zipped out the whole way at between 95 - 105, (swampers were in the trailer - long story - read wife says no :flipoff2: ).

For me, 36 or 38's will be it.... at least with this one. I've been able to do some of the hardest trails at PAP, like Voodoo and Rattler 1 & 2. Once my driving skills improve a lot more, I think I'll be in better shape too.

Ah, my rig is just in the shop again. Possibly a blown main bearing or a bad case of piston slap. Everything's been covered under the certified warranty so far, but being without the rig kills me. Hell though, they even covered my candy caned driveshaft even though I'd told them exactly what I was doing! So it's cool, but I hate being without the truck.

Now I'm looking for a 40. Really just something to bop around in town when the 80 is temporarily down or if I get some more drastic trail damage it will allow me to get around town and still be in a cruisa. I figure the 40 may be easier for me to learn about turning the wrench on. There seems to be a great network of knowledgeable folks out there with the 40's, but with the 80, it's a little more touch and go. Plus, this way, I can slowly start to build the 40.

Later,
Mike
:flipoff2:

60seriesguy,

the point in cutting and hacking the 80 for serious wheeling is drivetrain and axles. Great motor, sturdy tranny and tx case and killer axles to a point.

Christo

Christo!

Great Motor

What the fawk?:flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

I'd agree except on the motor part.:flipoff2:

The 1FZFE is pure poison. ... or maybe it's just me.:flipoff2:

I agree with Christo....

I would LOVE to have a FZJ-80 complete driveline in an FJ-40 or my FJ-55.

Why do you say it is poison? I loved mine...just wondering.

Why do you say it is poison?

Problems, problems, problems..... nothing but problems with mine so far.

Bought my 97 FZJ80 in Jan of '01 (luckily as a certified used
:D ). That warranty has saved my fat ass numerous times.

Jan.01 - blown head gasket
Jun.01-Jul.02 - constant overheating issues, FINALLY diagnosed properly by Robbie (mechanic and friend of Christo's) that came out to Paragon for CMCC02. Was fan clutch.
Jul.02 - blown up EGR actuator (looked like Jiffy Popcorn).
Oct.02 - trashed #6 & #5 rod bearings.

May not seem like much, but a LOT of guys I know are blowing head gaskets.

I actually had my truck in the shop a lot more that just the above, but it's been a MEGAhassle. Although, it's given me the kick in the ass to learn more about the truck, hence buying the 40 - so I have something to learn turning the wrench on. (hoping that my 36 year old fat ass and small brain can still learn something).

Nolen, with your rig, the last thing you want is a problem like this. The pics I've seen of that thing are mad.

If you're hard core wheeling, why worry about body damage? Build a cage (internal) to save your life.

TJK